What’s your favorite interface in adventure games? Doesn’t necessarily have to be the most perfect or easy to use; just the one that you’re the most partial to.

Off the top of my head, a couple of low-hanging fruit suggestions (feel free to add more):

  • LucasArts “9 verb” interface (Monkey Island 2, Day of the Tentacle, etc.)
  • LucasArts “verb coin” (Monkey Island 3, Full Throttle)
  • Sierra “icon bar” (King’s Quest V, Space Quest IV, etc.)
  • Revolution “Left does/right looks” mouse buttons (Beneath a Steel Sky, Broken Sword, as well most Wadjet Eye titles)

Mine is actually the one in Leisure Suit Larry 7. You click on something and up comes a contextual menu of appropriate verbs. If it’s a door, you can “open” it; if it’s a button, you can “press” it; etc. — and it also has an optional text parser for inputting your own verb.

  • @eldrichhydraliskEnglish
    2•1 year ago

    I really liked Broken Age’s interface, but that game is pretty in every aspect. A simple collapsible inventory and conversation options that will just use the item you’re talking about without additional clicks. Lets you focus on puzzles, story, and art.