If it's Tuesday, that means it's time for The Vault, where we pour a glut of premium nostalgia down your throat. Mmm, now that's good and good for you! This week features a selection of games that belong to my personal favourite genre; weird. You might not think weird is a genre. I might think you're just being contrary, bub. Here are several games that are weird, wonderful, and, most importantly, fun.
Kao Fu-Sen - Oh, Syongo Maruyama, you stole my heart with your touching tale of a girl, her balloon, and her... detachable head that... turns into a balloon because that usually happens and... uh... huh. You know what, I don't even know, but I don't care. It's a surreal point-and-click puzzle that fans of Samorost will find a lot to like about. You might wind up wishing the girl's body moved a bit faster, particularly since it's easy to get knocked back down to the bottom of the screen, but HEY. Lay off. You try taking off your head and see how quickly you can navigate ladders.
Peasant's Quest - If you've ever been royalty before (and who hasn't!) then you likely got sick very quickly of the piteous moans of your unwashed subjects. "Waaah, my family is starving!" "Waaah, your guardsmen are corrupt and stole all our gold!" "Waaaah, my house and all my belongings just got burninated!" Well, if you've ever been the slightest bit curious as to how the "other half" lives, then this classic text adventure from Videlectrix, the fictitious video game company of Homestar Runner, will give you some perspective. With retro visuals (like, really retro) and an absurd sense of humour, Peasant's Quest is a solid, silly adventure that will finally let you feel what it's like to be on fire like a real peasant.
Tork - How many languages can you speak? And I mean speak well, not just swear words, oaths upon your family, or directions to the nearest toilet. (I prefer elaborate pantomime, a la Donna Noble.) Following a fellow whose spacecraft winds up stranding him on an alien planet, Tork requires you to pay attention to the strange lifeforms and how they react when you speak to them, puzzling out their language from the sounds you pick up. Originally created way back in 2002, despite some clunky control issues as you fly around, Tork remains a great example of exploration-themed adventuring that is a perfect piece of weird fun.
While we welcome any comments about this weekly feature here, we do ask that if you need any help with the individual games, please post your questions on that game's review page. Well, what are you waiting for? Get out there and rediscover some awesome!
Doctor Who reference makes me happy :)
Tork is fun, but you need to stick with it to let it grow on you. I remember that I've found it initially frustrating, then rather enjoyable, and ultimately fun but slightly disappointing - although I cannot remember what exactly disappointed me.
But it's definitely a new and original concept (even today) and it's worth exploring a bit more.
I think you never get the whole parody of peasants quest without having ever played or mention the gone fame of sierra online adventures. For those too young to have been there, e.g. Kings Quest 3, heir to human is recoded free to play, somewhere in JIG archives.
Very much enjoying the Vault. I'd noticed Kao Fu-Sen before but never followed the link so it was a pleasure to play it snd I seem to remember the exact same feelings as baba44713 about Tork but was just as happy to re-discover it.
Ah the good old days!
I remember Tork - a really cool game! It'd be good to see more games like that!
I missed Tork the first time around. I really enjoyed it, so thanks for bringing it to my attention!
Yay, Kao Fu-Sen!
A few days ago I was wondering "what was the name of that game where a little girl loses her head, already?" but it slipped out of my mind before I did the research.
I would just like to say how much I am enjoying the Vault. I've been lurking around here for a couple years now, but I still missed so much content from way back when, and I'm so happy that you guys are bringing some really excellent finds back to the top of the pile. The Vault might be my new favourite thing about JiG, and I just wanted to say thanks for doing this. :D
Oh new Vault feature, you make Tuesdays worth living. Too bad I have to wait until my Tuesday is done beating me up to enjoy these finds.
I personally love this feature, although in my opinion todays was the weakest of all 3 so far. Please continue this JIG, it makes a lot of people happy!
Thank you thank you for posting Tork!! I remembered this game but couldn't remember the name of it so I'm glad I can play it again!
Tork:
I think it is funny how the first thing you learn to do is swear.
Ah, Peasant's Quest, the game of utter absurdity. Throw in a dash of mighty muscly dragon (aka Trogdor) and a pinch of un-peasant hero, and you have accomlished nothing. Even if you win. I was hopeless, I had to look at the walkthrough.
Dora, I've been a lurker here for a while but I just commenting now just to say that I really enjoy your writing.
All I can say now is Doctor Who ;)
I played all of Peasant's Quest a few years ago. I didn't realize it had been featured on JIG at some point.
I don't know if it was ever featured on here, but there's another game on the Homestarrunner website that I liked. I don't remember what it was called and I didn't finish it, but it was a platformer featuring the 20X6 bean-headed protagonist and his companions. I think it had several worlds or levels, so it's probably on par with Peasant's Quest.
Oh, Tork, you stole my heart all those years ago with your fake symbol language, and floating eyeball buddies, and delicious-looking cooked alien thingamabobs. I know you by heart, but I'm always willing to go back and give you a big ol' hug.
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