I had never heard of Adam’s Venture before I purchased Adam’s Ventures Origins on sale a few months ago. Apparently there are enough Adam’s Venture entries to warrant an ‘origins’ story, but alas, the Xbox One version was the first I’d ever experienced.
Adam’s Venture Origins is an Indiana Jones-esque, puzzle-based adventure game with a little bit of platforming and no combat to speak of. It’s a decent diversion, and I really didn’t hate my time with it. One of the best aspects of the game is that it just isn’t very long. While this might be a complaint in some games, for this particular genre, “puzzle fatigue” can definitely be a thing if they drag on too long. Luckily, the game can be burned through in a weekend, or possibly even a single sitting if you really, really like puzzles.
If I had to compare this game to anything, it would probably be those Artifex Mundi hidden object puzzle games that you see at Walmart or even on the Xbox and Playstation stores. The main difference here is that while those games have static screens, Adam’s Venture allows for full 3D movement with static puzzles as well as environmental puzzles and some platforming. Honestly, if Artifex Mundi ever moved to this type of setup, I’d be more willing to drop full price on them instead of waiting until they go on sale for $1.50.
I say that, but I think I bought Adam’s Venture for about 3 bucks. It was an impulse purchase. At that price, it was well worth my time. For $20 though, eh, I’m not so sure. The reason I say this is because once I’ve solved the puzzles, I really don’t have any desire to go back and play them again. They are the best examples of a one-and-done game, and that’s coming from someone who loves to go back and replay old games.
For what it is though, Adam’s Venture Origins isn’t bad. It’s clunky, the graphics aren’t that great, the writing and acting are average (but not annoying). The physics and jumping mechanics are kinda weird, but at its heart the game has a strange charm to it. It tickles the nostalgia bone, harkening back to a time when AA and mid-tier games were still the norm, and you really could find those hidden gems at the electronics store for $15. This would’ve been the kind of game I would’ve picked up off the shelf at Circuit City and been like, “Yeah, I’ll give it a shot.” That’s pretty much what I did anyway. Virtually, at least.
There’s not a lot to say about the game. Don’t expect Tomb Raider. The puzzles are decent, but there were really only a few that had me scratching my head for a little while before my “Aha!” moment. Depending on how much dumber or smarter you are than I am, you mileage may vary.
