Day of the Tentacle Remastered

This re-release of the 1993 adventure game spruces up the formerly pixelated graphics and adds a commentary track by the original developers, including co-designers Ron Gilbert and Tim Schafer. Aside from that, it remains highly faithful to the original game, a strategy that dates it in ways non-nostalgic gamers might not appreciate. Classic adventure game fans will love it for its intricate puzzle design and wacky humor. They'll also get a kick out of using three heroes in three time periods, because it multiplies the gags and triples possibilities for item use. For anyone not a hard-core adventure enthusiast, though, the latter can dilute the fun. More options means more time swapping items among characters and more nonsensical puzzle solutions. (Sweater-wearing hamster. Enough said.)

Magnifying this is the Remaster's adherence to the original's clunky controls. Modern adventures would streamline the interface by allowing for fast travel and context-sensitive interactions, but developer Double Fine chooses to preserve a dinosaur-like, travel-heavy interface cluttered with redundant icons. They also retain the original voice cast, which, heard without the benefit of '90s nostalgia, is almost universally annoying. Finally, unlike others of Gilbert and Schafer's games, the jokes are feeling their age. Aside from the occasional clever reference to Star Wars, the jokes are about as good as an old Police Academy movie. They just don't hold up. The truth is, Day of the Tentacle Remastered's entertainment value is ultimately determined by your affection for the games of the '90s.