Henrik Refsnes

Sometimes you just need a trip down memory lane (because let’s be honest, author life is not that glamorous) and journey to that place where the passion for story really started.

I could blame those Conan the Barbarian comic books I remember so fondly, but no. The villain of this story is the point-and-click adventure games of the 90s. That’s where I go for inspiration, back to the old classics, and what would a blog post be without a semi-arbitrary list:

Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis (1992). Indiana Jones, WW2, Nazis (featuring Dr Hans of course), romance, multiple endings, and some good old two-fisted action all made it a smashing commercial success rivaling Monkey Island.

Laura Bow in The Dagger of Amon Ra (1992). A badass heroine navigates a museum (at night) in another story with multiple endings. Four different ones in fact, but only as long as you get past that bloody mummy…

Legend of Kyrandia (1992-94). Malcolm, you old fool… It was even called Book One, Two and Three! Everyone loves books.

Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers (1993). A story centered around a struggling novelist and owner of a book store. I mean, c’mon… New Orleans, and Voodoo!

Dragonsphere (1994). An atmospheric adventure that gave us imaginative fantasy cultures, sported wonderful dialogue, and slapped you with a proper plot twist—what’s not to love?

Beneath a Steel Sky (1994). Glorious cyberpunk set in a political context possibly more relevant today than back then.

Flight of the Amazon Queen (1995). Rescue a famous film actress, face down your arch rival, investigate a lederhosen company (if that’s not suspicious I don’t know what is), be abducted by Amazon warrior women, battle a mad scientist, save the day, and pilot a zeppelin into the sunset. Pulp, say no more.

Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars (1996). Saved the best for last (wait a minute, I thought this list was in chronological order?) This one stepped it up in terms of graphics and music and went on to heavily influence the future of all adventure games. For me though, it was the voice acting that sealed the deal. Good voice acting makes everything better—especially books.

Oh to have been alive way back when interactive storytelling truly pioneered on the computer screen… eh, wait. I was, and boy did I die from dysentery on the Oregon Trail (1990 DOS version). On second thought, maybe let’s not go on that trip. Let’s just get back to writing.