Maniac Mansion
Description official descriptions
The Edison mansion has always been a creepy old house on the edge of town. There have been rumors of strange experiments going on and of odd creatures living amongst the Edison family. There is even a story that a meteorite once crashed near the home nearly 20 years ago. More immediately, a girl named Sandy has gone missing from the local highschool and her boyfriend Dave swears that he saw Dr. Fred abducting her. Dave knows that he cannot do it alone and will need help from two other students if he has any hope of infiltrating the mansion and rescuing Sandy.
Players start by choosing two students to accompany Dave to the Edison mansion, and can then switch between these three characters at will. Most actions are carried out by selecting verbs on the screen and applying them to an object (such as "OPEN Door"). Each character maintains a separate personality and may have a different way to solve a problem from his classmates. Thus many of the puzzles can be overcome in different ways depending on the character being used. If any one of the kids are captured by the Edisons, they are thrown into the dungeon and must be rescued themselves by any character who still has their freedom.
GOG release includes both Original and Enhanced game versions.
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Credits (Apple II version)
22 People (20 developers, 2 thanks) · View all
Produced by the |
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Created and Designed by | |
Programmed by | |
Graphic Art and Animation by | |
Sound Effects by | |
Original Music by | |
Apple Conversion Special Support by | |
Creative and Technical support by | |
Lucasfilm Games General Manager | |
Production and Marketing Management by | |
Administrative Support by | |
Lead Playtester | |
Special thanks to |
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Box Cover Art by | |
Package and manual designed by | |
[ full credits ] |
Reviews
Critics
Average score: 82% (based on 54 ratings)
Players
Average score: 3.8 out of 5 (based on 282 ratings with 16 reviews)
The Good
Maniac Mansion is a great adaptation of a classic, point 'n click adventure game. These sort of games rarely got published for the Nintendo or Sega systems and, when they did, they were often hatchet jobs. Maniac Mansion is different.
Maniac Mansion features quite impressive, 8-bit graphics and music. Despite not having a computer mouse, the gameplay mechanics are responsive and easy to master.
The game excels both as a computer adaptation and as a stand alone NES game. Except for a few problems, this game is probably one of the best games legally published for the NES - during its original lifetime.
The Bad
Nintendo was insistent that games made for its system (especially by a third party game designer) reflect a certain, "family friendly" image.
The video game industry had not adopted an industry-wide rating system, and Nintendo felt the need to police the content of all NES, SNES and Game Boy games. Some games were subjected to more censorship than others, with Maniac Mansion being extensively policed by Nintendo.
They wanted games to avoid contemporary politics, Christian iconography (crosses and devil symbols), and they also wanted to avoid anything that might be seen, by parents, as profane, perverse, obscene or otherwise outside the neat and tidy family friendly box.
Nintendo insisted that the NES port of Maniac Mansion be less violent than the original (and already fairly tame) version of the game. Mild sexual innuendos were deleted or made very obscure.
Even representations of famous artwork were deleted to ensure that the LucasArts Adventure game didn't threaten Nintendo's "family friendly" image.
Oddly enough, early versions of the NES game allowed the player to murder a pet hamster. I guess sometimes things slipped by the all-powerful Nintendo censors.
The censorship doesn't ruin the NES game. If you aren't familiar with what has been cut or modified, you probably won't notice. However, it's unfortunate that the game had to be put through the "Big N's" content guidelines.
The Bottom Line
Maniac Mansion is a classic computer game, which is superbly ported on over to the NES. The game has been subjected to the censorship policies of Nintendo, but it is still a great game. This is one of LucasArts' best adventure games, and hopefully all of their adventure games will be made available for future generations.
NES · by Shamal Jifan (20) · 2017
Groundwork for some of the best adventure games of the '80s/'90s.
The Good
The historical value of this game is huge: It was the very first of LucasArts' games to feature the SCUMM (Script Creation Utility For Maniac Mansion) engine, a groundbreaking platform that featured many classic adventure games over the course of the '80s and '90s (such as the Monkey Island series, Day Of The Tentacle and Sam & Max).
It's certainly interesting to play through this game in light of having played through the 'classic' SCUMM games: You can then see how the genre has evolved over time.
The Bad
Some puzzles are quite a bit harder than those found in other LucasArts games; can be dull/frustrating if you get stuck. The interface isn't as intuitive as is found in later SCUMM games, so it can be confusing at times.
I expect that if you played this in 1987 you would really enjoy it and find the graphics and sound to be excellent. Nowadays, it just doesn't stand up to the later SCUMM games in terms of storyline, humor, graphics and just about everything else. I found it interesting to play, but not that much fun really.
The Bottom Line
If you're a fan of SCUMM games, then you need to play this game (make sure to play the enhanced version). If not, stick to the later SCUMM games to fully experience and appreciate the genius of LucasArts.
DOS · by tFX (7) · 2003
When This Games A Rockin Don't Come A Knockin
The Good
Maniac Mansion, was the first adventure game from LucasArts. As well as the first game to use the now infamous S.C.U.M.M. design. That would later be implemented by the Monkey Island series. The NES port is surprisingly an excellent port of the PC classic.
In Maniac Mansion, Daveās girlfriend Sandy, is taken by the loony Dr. Fred. To be used in an experiment. āWeird Fredā, will take her brain! Dave and two of his friends of your choosing, must infiltrate the mansion and rescue Sandy.
Each of Daveās friends has there own unique talents and abilities. Michael for instance, is the only one that can develop Weird Edās secret spy film. While Wendy is the only one that can re-write the memoirs of the tentacle.
Depending on how you solve the puzzles will result in the various different endings. These add to the replay value of the game. And make Maniac Mansion, the only LucasArts adventure with multiple endings.
In the game you explore the house, collecting items, using them to solve problems, and avoiding being caught by the members of the house. Some items are implemented very well, while others tend to be more off-beat. The way Ed reacts to the doorbell ringing is genius.
The Graphics are good for a NES game. But compared to other versions of the game they are more of a mixed bag. The Commodore 64 version for example, features bigger more detailed sprites. But they tend to be less colorful. But overall they are good, practically considering the weakness of the NES.
The Music really shines here. All the kids and situations have a theme song. All of which are very catchy. I have not played this game in years, yet, I can remember the music as if it was yesterday. Why doesnāt all NES music sound this good?
There are very few sound effects to speak of. But the very few there are fit the context, and the game as well as possible.
The Bad
The controls suffer on the NES. A mouse would be ideal for a game like this. And of course there is not one for the NES. You can only save one game. In the Commodore 64 version you could not save at all, so I guess this is an improvement, yet more save slots would have been nice.
This version is pretty obsolete, with the LucasFan Games version. Which is freeware by the way. Thatās the one I play when I have a hankering for some Maniacing.
The Bottom Line
Overall this is one of the best games of the NES. Despite the fact that the free remake is available. Try it if you are one of those types that must play every version of a game that you like.
NES · by MasterMegid (723) · 2006
Discussion
Subject | By | Date |
---|---|---|
Famicom version -- new entry? | Pseudo_Intellectual (66360) | Jul 21, 2012 |
Trivia
1001 Video Games
Maniac Mansion appears in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die by General Editor Tony Mott.
Chuck the plant
In the mansion's library, there is an un-useable plant called "Chuck the Plant" The plant also appears in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade in Henry's room, and Day of the Tentacle in the lobby.
Copy protection
The computer versions featured an humorous copy protection scheme. In a new game a player entered the house, walked upstairs and are confronted by a giant iron bolted door which opens after entering four correct symbols on the keypad as shown in "Nuke'm Alarms - Nukes Burglars in their tracks: Owner's Disarmament Quick Reference Guide" included with the game. The wrong answer proved fatal!
Day of the Tentacle
Maniac Mansion is included as a bonus game inside Day of the Tentacle (on Ed's computer).
Hamster in the microwave
Players can microwave the hamster in any of the computer releases (but not the European NES version), but they have to use a sick-minded character (such as Syd or Razor) when doing it. Showing the exploded hamster to Weird Ed will make him kill that character.
NES version
The game was ported not once, but twice, to the NES. One version was made in America, while another one was made by Jaleco in Japan. The two versions look very different. It was one of the very few NES games to be translated into Spanish.
Many things had to be censored/changed to comply with Nintendo's policies: * Some of the language was toned down, for example: "The meteor is going to be pissed" was changed to "The meteor is going to be mad." * The "KILL THRILL" arcade game was changed to "TUNA" * "For a good time EDNA 3444" was changed to "Call Edna 3444"
A complete list of changes and more info can be found at http://www.crockford.com/wrrrld/maniac.html
In the European NES version, additionally the possibility to microwave the hamster was removed. In turn, at least in the German version, some linguistic points from the above list are closer to the original.
References
- The name of Razor's punk band is "Razor and the Scummettes", a reference to the SCUMM graphical interface used by LucasArts adventures.
- There is an X-Wing model in Ed's room.
- The speakers in the green tentacle's room are "THX" sound speakers. THX is a high-quality sound technology developed by Lucasfilm.
Zak McKracken
Connections between Maniac Mansion and Zak McKracken (based on Amiga version): * In the game room there's a Zak McKracken poster. * In Maniac Mansion there's a chainsaw that has no gas. In the game Zak McKracken there is a can of gas on Mars. The can reads, "For use with chainsaws only". When trying to pick it up the character says, "I don't need it. It's for a different game." * "Tuna head" is said in both games. One of the aliens in Zak McKracken is always saying, "Tum de dum." In Maniac Mansion when Weird Ed is walking through the kitchen to get his cheese he says, "Tum te dum." * It appears that Zak happens to be going out with Sandy from Maniac Mansion. In Zak McKracken, if players go away and come back home enough times and keep checking the answering machine they will soon get a message from Weird Ed from Maniac Mansion. He calls up about going to a monster truck show, and that he'll come by with Sandy at 6:00 in the Edsel. * In Zak McKracken, at the police station in Nepal: there is a wanted poster for the purple meteor.
Remake
The German LucasFan Games developed a freeware 256-colour remake called Maniac Mansion Deluxe.
TV series
The game spawned a comedy series on the Family Channel in the early 90's.
Awards
- Commodore Format
- April 1991 (Issue 7) - listed in the A to Z of Classic Games article (Great)
- GameStar (Germany)
- Issue 03/2013 ā One of the "Ten Best C64 Gamesā
- Happy Computer
- Issue 01/1988 - Best Game Idea in 1987
- Power Play
- 1987 - #2 Best C64 Game '87
Information also contributed by ŠŠ³Š³Šø ŠŃŃŠ³Šµ, Der.Archivar, Garcia, Jason Harang, kelmer44, Hitman23, Ricky Derocher, Tiago Jacques, whatt, Ye Olde Infocomme Shoppe
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Commodore 64 Boxed Sets
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DOSBox Wiki
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DOSBox, an x86 emulator with DOS
Compatibility statistics page between DOSBox versions and the original game. -
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Hints for Maniac Mansion
These hints by Kevin Carnes will get you through the game and help you solve the puzzles on your own. -
Howard & Nester do Maniac Mansion
A regular feature in Nintendo Power magazine, Howard & Nester was a comic strip about two game whizzes who would one-up each other, while disclosing hints and tips, in the settings of various recently-released games for the NES platform. In Volume 18's two-page installment, they explore Maniac Mansion with Razor, encountering Dead Cousin Fred, Green Tentacle, and Nurse Edna (the blue-skinned one, of course, from Jaleco's NES release.) -
IGCD Internet Game Cars Database
Game page on IGCD, a database that tries to archive vehicles found in video games. -
IMDb, the Internet Movie Database
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Lemon 64
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Lemon 64 (German)
For Commodore 64: game entry database; advertisement; magazine reviews; music; documentation; cover art; additional material. -
Lemon Amiga
For Amiga: game database entry; magazine reviews; music; manual; additional material. -
LucasArts' Secret History
A multi-article feature about the game by the LucasArts news site, The International House of Mojo. The feature article includes an unscored review, short responses written by members of the site's community, trivia, easter eggs and other small details in the game, commentary from the developers, a transcription of the original hint book, a long feature article by one of the programmers, and an interview with one of the project leaders. -
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Museum of Computer Adventure Game History (LucasFilm Games, PC)
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Replacementdocs (Apple II, Manual)
Documentation for Apple II. -
Replacementdocs (Atari ST, Manual)
Documentation for Atari ST. -
Replacementdocs (C64, Manual)
Documentation for Commodore 64. -
Replacementdocs (NES, Bulletin Board)
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Replacementdocs (NES, Manual)
Documentation for NES - Famicom. -
Replacementdocs (PC, Bulletin Board)
Documentation for DOS/Windows. -
Replacementdocs (PC, Manual)
Documentation for DOS/Windows. -
Replacementdocs (PC, Quick Reference Card)
Documentation for DOS/Windows. -
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The Expurgation of Maniac Mansion for the Nintendo Entertainment System
an article about the censorship and the revisions the NES version of the game was forced to go through -
The Maniac Mansion Fan Site
Site that gives info on all versions of Maniac Mansion.
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Contributors to this Entry
Game added by Tony Van.
Amiga added by POMAH. Commodore 64 added by Rebound Boy. Linux, Windows, Macintosh added by Sciere. NES added by jeremy strope. Antstream added by lights out party. Atari ST, Apple II added by Servo.
Additional contributors: Jason Harang, Jeanne, tFX, Shoddyan, Sciere, Pseudo_Intellectual, Ricky Derocher, Zeppin, Patrick Bregger, Maniac Mansion Fan, Izmir Egal, Fred Zanfardino, Victor Vance, FatherJack, ZeTomes.
Game added January 10, 2000. Last modified April 1, 2024.