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
A Fantastic Game for Those who GET IT!
The Good
What did I like about the game? Everything! In fact, it hurt a lot to read the comments of others (especially considering the poor use of grammar and spelling). So many people missed the point of the game: it's supposed to provide a good time. While others were busy nitpicking the "poor" graphics and bad story line, I was busy having a blast playing the game.
I don't simply like the game because it heralded a new era in graphic adventures. Why do you think all those other graphic adventures came after Maniac Mansion? Because of the precedence set by Maniac Mansion! Do you honestly believe that if Maniac Mansion was a poorly-conceived flop, other graphic adventures, such as the Monkey Island series, would have been released? No! Corporations may not always know what product will turn out to be good or bad until it's released, but sales figures and customer feedback doesn't lie! Maniac Mansion was a solid hit in 1987, and it has left a legacy still being felt today.
The game play is great! Even though the graphics were unrealistic, I was still panicking (and yes, putting an ING after panic includes a "k") when Weird Ed (one of the villains) comes down to get the door and I'm still in the living room.
The creators of "Monkey Island" didn't wake up to a comic epiphany in the middle of the night. The comic genius of the creators is very evident in Maniac Mansion, even though some of it is missing in the watered down NES version (by the way, there is much more to Maniac Mansion than you think. You should read "The Expurgation of Maniac Mansion" at http://dott.mixnmojo.com)
I can't say enough about the game.
The Bad
There's all sorts of reasons why people don't like the game, I'll describe the most common complaints:
THE GAME GRAPHICS ARE BAD! Well, no offense, but "DUH!" The game was made in 1987. Also, if some gamers find that graphics are the sole point of playing a game, then they should probably consider playing more "up to date," "shooter" games. The graphics adventure genre probably goes over their heads anyway.
THE PLOT'S STUPID! And so are the special effects on Mystery Science Theater 3000. Have many gamers missed the point? It's a PARODY of really bad teenage entertainment of the '80s (do I have to bring up "Hobgoblins?"). Obviously people associate bad graphics (due to being dated, not the fact that they were particularly bad in the first place) with a bad plot! If you're not looking for humor in a game, might I suggest "Loom?"
IT'S SO OLD! Well, granted there are nice things about games being new, but who says that old is the same as bad? Is the movie "To Kill a Mockingbird" bad? Is the Mona Lisa or Michaelangelo's "David" lame because they're aged?
The only complaint I've ever had about the game was the fact that you can waste certain objects that will become necessary in a future puzzle. This will just teach you to be careful and save the game often.
The Bottom Line
How would I describe this game to others? I don't know, let's see...will I have to use picture flashcards?
Some think that Maniac Mansion is remembered fondly because it brought about a new age in graphic adventures. On the contrary, Maniac Mansion was so GOOD that it was able to bring about a new age in graphic adventures. If Maniac Mansion really was as bad as some of these reviews describe, most of the games would have been banished to the backs of closets and landfills across the U.S. by now.
Serious graphics adventure gamers who are looking for a campy classic, listen up! Don't let the "McDonalds-esque" instant-gratification gamers deceive you! If you're looking for a solidly built graphic adventure from a long forgotten era where gameplay mattered more than whiz-bang special effects, THIS GAME IS FOR YOU! Get to eBay immediately and pick up a copy. You certainly won't break the bank, they only go for $3-4.
DOS · by X X (3) · 2002
Think of all the games you love, then thank THIS game for them.
The Good
This, along with King's Quest, pretty much started the whole genre, so you have to give it the proper respect in that regard. Also, the different characters (with their different abilities/solutions) made for quite a bit of replay value, which is something that modern games sadly do not have. And the challenge...I don't think many people will ever say this game was "too easy."
The Bad
That pesky old challenge. There are sometimes multiple solutions to a puzzle, but only one "right" solution. Use another, and you are screwed. Save constantly!
The Bottom Line
The grandfather to all things LucasArts, and most other games as well. Has a greater challenge and more replay value than all the games released in the year 2000 combined.
DOS · by Toka (13) · 2001
Discussion
Subject | By | Date |
---|---|---|
Famicom version -- new entry? | Pseudo_Intellectual (66423) | 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 – One of the "Ten Best C64 Games“
- Happy Computer
- Issue 01/1988 - Best Game Idea in 1987
- Power Play
- 1987 - #2 Best C64 Game '87
Information also contributed by Игги Друге, Der.Archivar, Garcia, Jason Harang, kelmer44, Hitman23, Ricky Derocher, Tiago Jacques, whatt, Ye Olde Infocomme Shoppe
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AtariMania (France, Kixx, Atari ST)
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AtariMania (Lucasfilm Games, UK, Atari ST)
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AtariMania (Lucasfilm Games, USA, Atari ST)
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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. -
Hall of Light
For Amiga: game database entry; digitalised manuals; game packaging; screenshots; additional material. -
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
Game database entry: reviews, trailers, ratings. -
Lemon 64
For Commodore 64: game entry database; advertisement; magazine reviews; music; documentation; cover art; additional material. -
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. -
ManiacMansionFan's complete Maniac Mansion reference page
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Museum of Computer Adventure Game History (LucasFilm Games, Atari ST)
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Museum of Computer Adventure Game History (LucasFilm Games, C64)
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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)
Documentation for NES: Famicom. -
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. -
ScummVM
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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. Macintosh, Windows, Linux added by Sciere. NES added by jeremy strope. Antstream added by lights out party. Apple II, Atari ST 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.