Posted on: July 2, 2015
ACDude800
Verified ownerGames: 170 Reviews: 2
Childhood classics
In the late 90s, Humongous Entertainment was the premier developer of children's PC games. The company had four flagship series, each of which targeted a slightly different age range: Putt-Putt for the youngest players, Spy Fox for the oldest, and Freddi Fish and Pajama Sam for those in between. All four series were charming, but Pajama Sam is the best-written, most imaginative, and most memorable. In the first game, our protagonist stumbles into a fantastical world inside his closet to do battle with the sinister forces of Darkness, capital D. However, in true adventure-game form, he is mugged (by trees!) and stripped of his superhero gear. Your primary goal throughout the game is to explore Darkness' mansion and the surrounding areas to reclaim his gear once and for all. Along the way, you'll encounter likable characters, a mad scientist's laboratory, a cheesy take on Tic-Tac-Toe, and a truly addictive iteration of Snake. All of this is wonderfully animated in the style of a 1990s cartoon. The game is short; if memory serves, it can be easily completed in three to five hours. However, the game is worth replaying because of an ingenious gimmick: certain aspects of the game are randomized. Some dialogues and puzzles change whenever you start a new game. It's surprising to me that so few adventure games implement this value-adding feature. The sequel sees Sam tackling the forces of thunder and lightning. To me, it's not as memorable as the first game, but still fun. Its writing and production values are on par with the original. Lost & Found a bonus feature to the two relatively meaty adventures. These games have aged well, but they do benefit from nostalgia goggles. If you didn't experience these in your youth, you might be put off by their genteel atmosphere and simplicity of play. If that's the case, try introducing them to a niece or nephew -- preferably one who hasn't been playing COD and GTA since birth. Their enjoyment might prove contagious. :)
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