LucasFilm has a lot to answer for… when the text adventure genre was slowly becoming a dying breed as the 16-bit era was coming of age, LucasArts took the adventure game into a new era with the advent of their point and click adventures. Nowadays we’re accustomed to this form of interactive storytelling but back then it was something rather special. When playing his games, it’s clear that Mike Oliphant, the lone programmer behind Nostatic Software, has a great deal of love and affection for the 8-bit and 16-bit era both in terms of its aesthetic appeal and gameplay and of all of his releases on PlayStation Mobile, this ranks amongst his finest…
Vacation Vexation is an adventure, styled after the old-school point-and-click games but with visuals reminiscent of the 8-bit graphics seen on the Commodore 64 and this blend of styles works remarkably well. The game itself puts you in control of the games un-named protagonist who is travelling on holiday with her family. All she wants is some peace and quiet to relax on the beach but it seems that everyone and everything is determined to get in her way. What follows is a vast array of puzzles, mini games and even a seaside amusement arcade that you can visit to spend some time in, complete with mini arcade machines.
Despite it’s pixelised visuals, the game is packed full of charm and character, humour and puzzles which aren’t too taxing but will still need you to put some thought into them before you manage to complete the game… and there’s a handy autosave which you’ll need as it’s a big game! Unlike most adventures, it’s got plenty of replay value as well thanks to the arcade that you can revisit once you’ve completed the game.
Simply one of the best adventures available for PlayStation Mobile and an essential addition to the collection.
Title: Vacation Vexation
Developer: Nostatic Software
Type: Adventure
PlayStation TV Compatible: Yes
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