The demise of the Puzzle Adventure

... So there I was, this enormous monster in front of me, my only options to escape being "fight", "item" or "run", since I wasn't equipped with any magic casting abilities.

• 42. Every now and then I'm afraid I'm becoming an alcoholic. But then I push it aside, remembering it's just the sobriety talking.

Anyone else remember back in the good old days? When games didn't need twitch reflexes, enormous amounts of gore or puzzles based on judicious use of the force manipulating physics-based objects to win?

You know what I'm talking about. The Puzzle/Adventure Game. The closest real equivilents in modern days are things like Pheonix Wright and the like. But in the past, the P/A game ruled the roost.

Monkey Island, the classic bumblings of a wanna-be Pirate trying to defeat the evil, undead pirate LeChuck and win the heart of the beautiful Governerss. Day of the Tentacle, giant, anthropomorphic tentacles causing trouble throughout time and space, only stopped by a heavy metal fan, an air-head, and a geek. Sam and Max, a giant talking dog and rabbit (something no one ever questions) resolving crimes their own way. That particular way being 'violently'.

But while the P/A game is down, it is not dead. Sam and Max lives on, bringing episodic content out regularly, and allowing the world to again rejoice at seeing Max elected president and fighting a giant robot Lincoln. The above mentioned games like Pheonix Wright keep the genre going.

But most importantly, MOST importantly... Pirates of the Caribbean. Look at Barbossa and try not to think of the Ghost/Zombie/Demon pirate LeChuck. Jack Sparrow is Guybrush Threepwood's bumbling "somehow comes out ahead" side, while William Turner is his "dashing heroic hero out to do the right thing" side. And, let's face it, the voodoo priestess is the voodoo priestess.

Rejoice, for the Puzzle/Adventure shall never die.