I
hate shopping. I’m constantly overwhelmed by what’s on offer, and underwhelmed
by what I can afford. Adventure games as well sometimes include a shop or store
as a location. Is it an easier way to offer items that can lead to puzzle
solutions? Or perhaps it's one huge red herring trap. Are these places designed
to prolong the game by having to examine tons of hotspots? To frustrate because
it often relies on pixel hunting? Or are there really people out there who
enjoy browsing these virtual shelves?
Whatever’s the case, here’s a list of a couple of in-game shops that certainly
kept me entertained (I’m not affiliated with any of these chains, so this is
just a random collection of stores that popped into my head while writing this):
I only ever played the text parser version of the Quiki Mart. I don't know what it's like in the VGA remake. There are a couple of items you might need here, though now I'm wondering if that's only to get a full score and if it's possible to beat the game without ever buying them. There's a famous funny scene in this store when you buy a particular item. Suffice to say Larry Laffer taught me quite some new English vocabulary, especially since I was probably way too young to already be playing this game...
Lou’s Loans is a pawn shop, so if you don’t have the money to buy the items on sale, you can sell your rare inventory items and perhaps scrunch up the necessary funds for whatever it is you think you need. Or you could try playing the lotto and try to make an end to your financial worries, instead. It’s becoming close to resource management here, especially when you’re not entirely sure what you’ll need later on, and also because you still need money to travel. After all, Zak McKracken is one tough game, with loads of dead ends and unbeatable states.
The first true adventure game I ever played, of course I had to include this one! There are a couple of key items you need to buy in the Mêlée Island Store to complete the three trials, and one you need to steal when the game's real mission presents itself. Most fun to be had is getting on the storekeeper's nerves by ringing the bell and asking him about the Swordmaster. This old coot is more nimble than he seems!
Other than the shop in The Secret of Monkey Island, The Booty Boutique is filled with vintage stuff you can buy but never need to use - like a wreath and a plate with a picture of Elvis - and lots of stuff you would want to buy very much but can't - like Indy's whip! To me, this place is the epitome of the adventure game store that I always loved visiting.
While there isn't much to buy in Snuckey's, you CAN acquire a key item there (pun intended). Most fun, however, is that there are multiple stores throughout the game, with a cashier that always looks slightly different, and of course the three optional mini-games you can pick up, like a version of Battleship, a dress-up game, and a coloring plate.
Ah, the Dixieland Drug Store, where you first meet Madame Cazanoux, where you try to barter with proprietor Willy Walker over a crocodile mask, and where you can always pick up some lagniappe for "that little something extra". This shop just drips atmosphere and authenticity in a game which I think was the first one I played in a realistic, non-fantasy or sci-fi setting. And Willy always comes over as knowing more than he lets on...
The dark and gritty Bird's Nest is a pawn shop where you can find lots of interesting items, but also sell them to make some more money. My personal problem was that I was constantly insecure in this game, and I didn't dare sell anything out of fear I might need it later on. Hence I was always short of cash, which gave me yet another kind of anxiety. I was so glad when I finally finished this game after more than 42 hours...
The town of Figgington actually has TWO in-game stores: the Charity Shop and the Happy Shoppie convenience store. I guess developer Tom Hardwidge DOES like going shopping. Either that, or he loves tormenting his audience with loads of unattainable items. I've chosen to display the Charity Shop here, since they take donations for the important "Protect Our Weasels" campaign. God forbid one of those little critters loses its head...
Not really a store but an Antique Shop, there's not much to actually buy here, but the place is filled with adventure game paraphernalia. Finding all these little easter eggs is even a Steam Achievement. You'll definitely be visiting this place several times, since it's where your main objective is to be found, and you'll have a hard time prying it from the uppity owner's hands.
I lost count of the amount of times I entered Raju's Strange Things in the hope of finding a new item that could help me with one challenging puzzle or other. After all, Raju told me at the start of the game to "come back soon, we always have new goods!" Yeah, right... But indeed, sometimes he could help me out of a bend.
There are probably more games featuring more shops and stores, so please comment with your favorite go-to places when you're shy some inventory items!
No comments:
Post a Comment