If you really want a multiplayer adventure game, Zork Grand Inquisitor has a online multiplayer mode... I never played it, but it looked pretty dumb. Adventure games just aren't meant for multiplay...
Hmm, they weren't originally meant for it, but now...
Let's see... "Survival Horror" games are essentially a type of adventure game, but with the added element of fighting and surviving while you run about solving very PC adventure game style puzzles (though to be honest, I hardly think most of those puzzles are the kinds of brain stumpers I enjoy, though if they employed a weakened version of the FREE system in Shen-mu, I suspect much harder puzzles could be developed). Oh right, my point is that REOnline is being made. We have no idea how that will work out, but it could be a success. The key question is will it focus completely on the survival aspect or will there also be puzzles? Even then, the fun aspect would most likely be attributed to the combo at the most, not the puzzle solving alone.
There's also Four Swords, the Zelda style adventure game. That in fact is still hailed as an incredibly fun and innovative system of puzzle solving multiplayer. I suspect something based on this could also work for the, yes, very different, but in the key aspect of puzzle solving, similar (cooperative puzzles could be developed in most PC style adventures, I'm imagining ways right now) so I suspect a well done multiplayer PC adventure could indeed be very fun.
You may notice I only said FS is hailed as such, because I still haven't played it. My friends all don't seem to want to buy the game. However, I have a plan. Most store display GBAs lately have Zelda in them, so simply put I'm going to link up to a store display and get someone there to play against me. If this doesn't work, I'm heading to a park to find an old fellow who got bored feeding ducks. The problem is, the elderly aren't exactly Zelda fans. Well, that's a cruel generalization based on only a few old GBA owners I've talked to, but it seems they would rather play Mario or Tetris than Zelda.
"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." ~ Charles Babbage (1791-1871)
Yes, it's a dern shame isn't it? To be honest I'm surprised anyone is able to find another owner of the game to link up with.
"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." ~ Charles Babbage (1791-1871)
That's the whole point of it. It wouldn't be fun with bots.
I made my friend buy the game the same day I did so that we could play some Four Swords. It's so much fun! I really hope Nintendo makes a 3D version of FS for their next Zelda game and gives it online support. That would like, be the coolest thing in the universe!
But of course. I didn't take what ABF said to mean they should include bots so much as they should have put in a single player mode for the dungeons. The idea of having AI that sofisticated is something that is a LONG way off anyway.
I mean, the main point of the Four Swords adventure is the multiplayer interaction, but for those who don't have access to others with copies of the game, a toned down single player mode would have been nice. I mean, you and I are already missing out just playing with two people, with many of the 3/4 player puzzles either being reduced to 2 players or removed.
Oh, I finally played a match of FS today. I did exactly as I planned and dragged my GBA into a store to hook it up, and then when someone interested in playing a game demo passed by I'd hook them into playing with me. It is indeed a very fun game. However, eventually I had to go. I must make a friend buy this game!
"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." ~ Charles Babbage (1791-1871)
Quote:But of course. I didn't take what ABF said to mean they should include bots so much as they should have put in a single player mode for the dungeons.
Exactly. I somehow doubt a GBA game could do advanced AI like that...
I played Four Swords-GBA once. It wouldn't work just with formations, as you have to have the people in different places... but I see no reason it couldn't be like Lost Vikings crossed with that formation idea! That is, like a PC RPG, like, specifically, Baldur's Gate... where you can move everyone together with formations (the game has like a dozen of them for your 6-person party), or can move each person seperately. I think that would work great. Oh, not as good as playing with others, but it would definitely work and doesn't seem like it'd have been TOO hard to do... too bad they didn't try in the GBA game. :(
Oh, and for more proof against multiplayer adventure games look at Myst IV's massively multiplayer mode! Oh wait, it was dropped for lack of interest...