Review: Day of the Tentacle – Remastered

The revival of LucasArts’ adventure classics continues, much to our satisfaction. How does the Maniac Mansion sequel, Day of the Tentacle, stand the test of time 23 years later with its updated HD graphics?

Old version vs Remastered (which also provides a kind of adapted widescreen)

It has been nearly three years since we noted the official closure of LucasArts following Disney’s acquisition of George Lucas’ entertainment empire. However, exceptional games endure, and shortly after that news, came the announcement that classic LucasArts adventures would be re-released in updated versions for contemporary platforms. We recently revisited Grim Fandango in HD, and now Day of the Tentacle, Tim Schafer and Dave Grossman’s seminal sequel to Maniac Mansion, has arrived. Maniac Mansion was one of the first graphic adventures to utilize the SCUMM system, an adventure interface employing verbs and inventories. DOTT, released on Amiga in 1993, was among the first games to genuinely capture the aesthetic of an interactive cartoon, reminiscent of the style of Chuck Jones and the classic Warner Bros. shorts. A “talkie” version, featuring excellent voice acting, was later released on CD-ROM for PC.

This remastered version presents the same core gameplay, now featuring HD-remastered graphics in 1080p, skillfully adapted visuals for widescreen displays (with subtle and effective enhancements), and refined music. LucasArts also pioneered interactive music with its iMuse system, which dynamically adapted the score to the on-screen action – a significant achievement considering the memory constraints of the time. Players can seamlessly switch between the remastered and original graphics, highlighting the enhanced resolution and the shift from the original 4:3 aspect ratio.

Laverne ends up in a bleak future for humans – if the three friends can’t change it

Day of the Tentacle features a well-crafted and humorous narrative centered on a power-hungry purple tentacle who, after consuming toxic waste, evolves into an even more menacing figure – complete with arms. Friends Bernard, Hoagie, and Laverne must travel through time to prevent this mutation from occurring. However, their plans are disrupted, leading to an adventure spanning three distinct time periods. This adventure demands considerable problem-solving, experimentation, and lateral thinking.

While DOTT was originally designed for mouse-driven point-and-click interaction, the developers have implemented a competent adaptation for game controllers. The context menu and inventories are intuitively integrated, requiring minimal button presses. The game features a no-fail state, encouraging players to explore unconventional solutions. Indeed, creative experimentation is often rewarded. DOTT includes a total of 58 unlockable achievements, many of which involve pursuing seemingly absurd actions.

The classic Maniac Mansion is also included and can be played in its entirety (in the game – meta!)

Revisiting the ingenious writing and game design of Tim Schafer and Dave Grossman was a genuine pleasure. The remastered version also incorporates a commentary track that is highly recommended for returning players. This commentary features anecdotes from the development team. These can be enabled during specific scenes without disrupting the gameplay. Furthermore, hundreds of concept sketches from the original graphic artists and animators are unlockable. Day of the Tentacle: Remastered is a faithful and well-executed re-release of a classic graphic adventure, featuring a bizarre plot and consistently entertaining dialogue. At its price point, it’s an easy recommendation – whether experiencing it for the first time or revisiting a beloved classic.

Note: The PS4 version of the game supports cross-play with PS Vita (included).