Game:

Uninvited (1986)

Duration: 15:21

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Uninvited is the third and final NES/FC adaptation of an ICOM Simulations text-adventure game (the others being Deja Vu and Shadowgate, with the games originating on home computers). It is a horror-adventure game published by Kemco in the U.S. in 1991 and in Japan in 1989. While a pretty nice game in and of itself, Uninvited doesn't grab my attention like the other aforementioned titles. Part of the reason lies in the unusual localization of the games with Uninvited being released in the U.S. well after Shadowgate, (although Uninvited originally came before Shadowgate) but the game's narrative and music in general just isn't as engaging as NES Deja Vu or Shadowgate. The puzzles are mostly very easy to solve (if you at all care to examine things in detail) while at the same time being illogical, and since the NES version of Uninvited also lacks the timed-gameplay of the original MacVenture release (where an evil presence gradually controls the mansion and ultimately turned you into a zombie) that would've really benefited a game of this type, it seldom instills real fear (compared to Shadowgate where deaths can approach from every which way). While this is of course my opinion, I think it's a fairly reasonable one.

The game is very simple; you (the player who has no name) crashes your car near a mansion and while slightly dazed, your sister runs off to get you help in the confusion of the moment, only to disappear. Now, being the kind sibling that you are, you must rescue her and learn about the mansion's different chambers and deadly secrets. The game's graphics are on par with other NES ICOM titles, if not slightly better due to certain scene and character animations. The music is decent, but seem a little more repetitive and grating than the tunes found in the aforementioned games and I found DV/SG music a little more atmospheric. The game itself is pretty easy to play and understand even though you're given less cues when entering areas, and as most things in the game don't kill you outright, let you save or retreat in several cases, and don't get you flat-out stuck, I'd actually consider this game more for beginners due to its less dire pacing, with NES Deja Vu being harder and Shadowgate being reserved for those ready for a challenge (but the irony is that the harder games were released for NES first).

This is a video of the game in action, ending with a death segment. Enjoy.