Maniac Mansion (NES) - Retro Gaming Review

[@Happysoul44]

I love listening to Dave’s Theme in my car. Lots of great memories of playing this game for hours with my big brother and best friend.

[@ObiWanBillKenobi]

We actually had both the NES version and the PC version. At the time I thought the NES version was superior, mainly because it had music. Inspired by Weird Ed's hamster and mention in "Nintendo Power" that a Nintendo fan had named their hamster Weird Ed, we got a succession of 3 hamsters. We named the first one Ed. We had our computer room in the basement of our house, and I used The New Print Shop to print a clipboard-shaped letter-size poster that said, "Do Not Enter! Nuclear Meltdown in Progress!" and I taped it to the door that led into the basement.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

ha, that's awesome.

[@the7thcircle734]

I'm so late to this channel but I'm glad I found it

[@Cannotbetamed1]

Welcome!

[@madspunky]

Don't be a tuna head!

[@kashiewm]

I spent so much time on my NES as a kid playing this. I actually think about this game so often. It is stuck in my psyche.

[@TheAmishElectrican]

I'm 42, Just re bought this game. The game is just as friggin impossible as it was 30yrs ago!!

[@Happysoul44]

Same! I remember playing on hot summer days as a teenager with my big brother and best friend. I love playing Dave’s Theme in my car. Pure happiness!!

[@steponmemommy9323]

After figuring out every nook and cranny possible in this game, having collected all the items, beat the game with all the characters and witnessed every possible ending numerous times, I spent an EMBARASSINGLY LONG amount of time trying to get the chainsaw to work (gas from the Ed-Sel?) so I could carve through the boarded up window in the attic. I also refused to believe that the library staircase couldn't be repaired. (What were they hiding up there?) I bet the creators had plans for those things but couldn't implement them for whatever reason.

[@joelawson33]

This is still my favorite video game to this day. I got it on NES when it first came out in 1990. I figured it out back in the day when there was no internet. (There was Nintendo Power, but I didn't use it.) I know a lot of people like the PC version better, but not me. The NES music is some of the best music ever to appear on the console. I downloaded Maniac Mansion Deluxe earlier this year and it is pretty good.

[@ps-lover8380]

The NES soundtrack is awesome

[@willeysingleton3057]

What a great game to have as you're number 1.

[@andrewchristianson2086]

Hi there Pam about retro video games ;) I remember this game. Never beat it but was pretty interesting. I think you have a video now for almost every retro game out there... at least most of the main ones. You do a great job editing. Wish I had the software to do that... or the skills LOL

[@boardgamecloset]

This just took me way back. I loved this game.

[@sleepydumbdude]

I need to go back and play this. It’s once of the few games I owned that I never finished but played a bunch.

[@The_Badcompany]

I love Manic Mansion, it's one of the first click and point adventure games I ever played. The NES cart holds a lot of nostalgia for me.

[@lazarus30001]

I lost track of the number of times I blew up the house. ;-)

[@childrenoftherez]

love teh review! this too is one of my favorite nes games. theres something just magical about playing this in the halloween season.

[@retluoc]

OH my goodness -- so many hilarious things you could do. I once sent the music producer a tape of the "tentacle mating call". When it shattered his window I almost died laughing.

[@retluoc]

Yes, I wrote that before you mentioned which version it was...I played the PC version. Still I loved this version, only because this is a game I would have written if I were on LSD...but I was too young...yea, let's go with that excuse :) Oh crap, maybe I did write it :P

[@woohunter1]

Wow!!! This brings back memories, I was 15 years old when I played this game on nes

[@Venoix]

This game set the imagination of 8 year old me on fire. I never owned it, but when I rented it from the video store I was obsessed. I am pretty sure this is the first point and click adventure game that I ever played, and it made me fall in love with the genre. I also love how The Cat Lady rebuilt some of the mansion for one of its scenarios.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

I noticed that too when I played the Cat Lady. As soon as I walked from the kitchen to the dining room I immediately thought of Maniac Mansion.

[@Teraneuah]

I remember this one, I always liked the music.

[@beefcurtainz69]

Great vid!! Just got this game last week! Keep them coming!

[@LiamMcanBhaird]

This just popped up in my suggested videos.....great game....so much Nostalgia watching your video.

[@bezoticallyyours83]

I love Maniac Mansion. Its so bizarre and fun.

[@mars_sumner]

This was also my first point and click adventure game back in the day. Had it on NES and was definitely too young to know what I was doing so I never beat it and it always freaked me out. Loved the music and putting the hamster in the microwave. It still holds up well and I would like to play it again

[@iClone316]

Loved this as a kid. Nurse Edna used to scare the crap out of me anytime she caught me.

[@nemoirl3299]

"Hi, I'm Pam and I'm here to talk aboot retro video games"

[@FoxHunt444]

😂

[@spaceuzi]

Thank you! The Meteor is in control now!

[@titusmccarthy]

It's about not ABOWT, Amerikkkkan.

[@unocarb]

I was a tuna head..

[@kri249]

I love this game. I remember hiring it at the video store because of the Canadian TV show. Only to realise how different it was. And later on discovering the show was based on the game and not the other way round, which was very uncommon at the time.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

The show was so different

[@midwestmonster9886]

I'm kinda surprised they didn't re-release this for the SNES. Imagine the game with updated graphics, possibly less censorship, and SNES mouse compatibility.

[@Thrakus]

There is a AGS Remake and a GAS remake that did start in 2008 , They say shortly it should be done this year. The AGS ver is very true to the dos port plus it works on new computers with the GAS ver being done by hand looks great.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

Ah, I had no idea they had remade them again.

[@eyeseer1]

For a LucasFilm game of the mid-80’s, this series had intrigue on horror/ sci-fi epics of its time which deserves a revival from Disney in a series, if ever.

[@chadgarrett6947]

This game and final fantasy made me and my brother want to create video games for a living. I have played many of the PC versions if not all and I still hold this one above them, not only because of nostalgia, but because I actually like the graphics, they give it a dirty, grungy aspect I love. The BIG drawback really is the lack of mouse though. I wonder if anyone made an NES version with mouse support?

[@Cannotbetamed1]

Mouse support would certainly help with games like this and the ICOM Simulations games. Though I'd still prefer them on PC

[@jamesnetwall6168]

Subscribed. This is awesome I don't know anybody else that ever knew about this game I picked it up based on the title and the storyline on the back of the box and when I was a kid and I absolutely loved it and I have since not met one person that knew about it thank you

[@princessevans6487]

Just found and bought this game,haven't played it yet!!!

[@Cannotbetamed1]

I hope you enjoy it

[@depp_dawgthebuttonsmasher4343]

good game,was the only kid on my block or school that had it back then,my friends never dissed it,but would take me too long to explain how to play to them to catch on,u had to be into the story to digg further into it,not saying it's also very hard

[@simovihinen875]

Your emulator (?) had some kind of graphics smoothening setting on? That doesn't look like the NES.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

+Simo Vihinen Yep, I play my NES games on a Retron5 when I record.

[@simovihinen875]

specifically when you record? I've never really enjoyed any of those mechanical... improvement techniques. And it almost gives you a false impression about how the graphics would have looked like (like is this super advanced for the time?), but you COULD argue that well, you can play them like that TODAY. I mostly just feel it demeans the games... as if some little trick like that "improves" them. It feels like it's missing the point and focusing on something totally banal. But feel free to differ.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

+Simo Vihinen Hmm, I feel graphical and sound improvements generally improve the experience.

[@Johnnybad82]

My first adventure Graphics, this game is in my heart :)

[@Balla_Bo]

I agree 100% that the PC version is superior, but when I play it, I miss that NES soundtrack. I really liked how the NES port gave each character their own feel. Plus, whenever the Edison's theme came up, you knew something unpredictable was about to happen. Thanks for the review!

[@Cannotbetamed1]

I don't remember the music from the PC version :(

[@Balla_Bo]

PC soundtrack was pretty minimal, and I don't think there were any character-specific themes.

[@KeybladeMasterAndy]

Tim Lawson If it's anything like the version in DoTT Remastered, it has only about 2 or 3 tracks altogether.

[@TheRamVox]

I really want to play this now.

[@tiamatmichellehart6821]

I was rather curious about this game back in 1990 when I read of how it had fashionable females among the PCs but never actually played it; I never watched Maniac Mansion when it was shown on the telly (though I remember it having a fly with a human head) and was worried I wouldn't be able to get into it for that reason.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

I was a fan of the game when the tv show came on and I really don't know why they called the show Maniac Mansion. They both have an odd family in a big house, but otherwise it doesn't seem connected.

[@only257]

Cannot be Tamed loved the tv show too wanted to play the nes version my neighbor didn’t have it his cousin did took me years later to play the emulator fun game😎

[@Zedrocksaa]

this game kicked my ass back in the day

[@Dirrtydeano]

I'm so pleased I watched this Review I just looked up Day of the Tentacle and it's coming to PS4 …….. I used to play it on my PC when I was younger .

[@Cannotbetamed1]

+Dean Allman I'm looking forward to the Day of the Tentacle remake, I never played that one.

[@Dirrtydeano]

Oh yeah it's a remake …… Hopefully it won't have changed to much. I'm guessing you played the original though ?

[@Cannotbetamed1]

+Dean Allman No.

[@Dirrtydeano]

That's how I 1st played Manic Mansion there is a computer in Day of The Tentacle and you can play the game on it.

[@nicholasmoose6574]

PLAY ZOMBIES ATE MY NEIGHBORS!!!

[@Cannotbetamed1]

I've played that (just haven't reviewed it)

[@danteperry8734]

Always Person Favorite NES Games that they always Like

[@joek1978atyahoo]

Loved this game

[@82nddave38]

Dave has the best music

[@bbqnetwork8536]

Hello thank you for the review do you have any tips on how to win the game

[@Cannotbetamed1]

Try a walkthrough

[@Kain5th]

Gonna be playing this on the NES for the first time

[@zakmckracken4018]

That's for the mention!

[@Cocosteed]

Its 2020 and i still have it for nes

[@ryanroux9467]

was wondering if you did any on the Dragon Warrior series

[@Cannotbetamed1]

I haven't played those

[@ryanroux9467]

thanks, just wondering

[@teremomba5376]

Well, you know there's a version called Maniac Mansion Deluxe available for PC for free, made by group called Lucas Fan Games. MM Deluxe is remake of original Maniac Mansion with better graphics but including original story. And the creators of MM Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick are at the moment making a new old school P'n'C adventure game called Thimbleweed Park which is "like opening a dusty old desk drawer and finding and an undiscovered LucasArts adventure game you've never played before" (quote from their Kickstarter page).

[@Cannotbetamed1]

+Tere Momba I didn't know about that MM Deluxe, I'll check it out. Thanks!

[@heebs9728]

God i love this game. I remember getting a Nintendo Power as a kid with this game on the cover. I never heard of it before that. I do prefer the nes version over the pc version but that may be cuz of nostalgia :)

[@mattayoub3516]

the music when the house explodes..

[@adventureoflinkmk2]

Almost three years later, did day of the tentacle ever come out, or did maniac Mansion get re-released or remastered?

[@Cannotbetamed1]

Day of the tentacle got a remaster.

[@adventureoflinkmk2]

Oh good... now to go and track it down

[@classicwrestlingcollection]

omg I loved this game. I wish Nintendo would put it on the wii u for download.

[@sonichuizcool7445]

my favorite game from NES.

[@michaelmojica3862]

You looked incredibly awesome in your awesomeness mamm...

[@JohannesYtterstrom]

The controls for this on the NES isn't optimal but if you give it enought time (NES-style) it's pretty okay. I enjoyed this game a lot as a kid. Friends helped me figure out how to beat it and I sure miss LucasArts!

[@Cannotbetamed1]

I think it depends on where you played it first. I'm sure if the NES port was the first thing you played it would be great, but its a real step down if you've played the PC version.

[@segaoldschoolsega925]

Ah nice intro

[@DylanPattyn]

This was a fun game but I think I was 4 or 5 when I last played it.

[@binarydreamz]

I always got reminded of The Rocky Horror Picture Show when I played this game.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

I can see that

[@RetroIslandGaming]

Maniac Mansion!! I didn't play through the NES version very much. I agree the PC version is vastly superior, but it's too bad the music for the PC version is lacking. Adventure games are special, and it's too bad they have fallen off in popularity. I recently reviewed this game and Day of the Tentacle on my channel and wanted to check out other peoples' impressions of the game. That's how I found you! :) Looking forward to seeing what else you have reviewed.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

+Retro Island Gaming I've always loved adventure games - if you haven't played them already I recommend the Blackwell series (or anything by Wadjeteye games, really). They're excellent more recent games. I'll check out your channel. I'm excited for the upcoming Day of the Tentacle remaster, I never played that one.

[@RetroIslandGaming]

Never played it huh? Wow, you'll be blown away at the game. It builds on a lot of the lore from Maniac Mansion and just does wonderful things from there on. I think the remaster is set for early 2016 now. Should be worth the look for sure :) Thanks for mentioning the Blackwell series. I never even heard of them before.

[@bplumb82]

Love this game!

[@only257]

Heard about this NES game and the pic version when I was 7 in 1991 these two guys told me about it they worked for a pharmacy told me about👻

[@AggressiveMenace]

One question Pan, how old are you? Due to huge knowledge of NES games as well as many DOS and/or old games from 90s, I assume you was born in the early-to-mid 80s.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

I was in fact born in the early-to-mid 80s.

[@AggressiveMenace]

@@Cannotbetamed1 Such a great generation.

[@OthoDaFe]

When I was a kid I was kind ashamed of liking so much that game, because I taught real gaming was "arcade" gaming. I'm still a gamer, but I mostly only care for creative and weird adventure games. And horror games (but not jump scare horror). Maybe it's all because of that game.

[@mncdssctn9110]

I like the graphics in the NES-version a lot better than the PC-version. But still, the censorship and the fact that playing point and click games with a d-pad is tedious makes the PC-version a better experience.

[@mrwillkidd]

Pam was this a personal favorite for you?

[@Cannotbetamed1]

The PC version, not so much this one.

[@mcconfusing9961]

Still own this game never finished it. Great game tho

[@whirlwindraccoon]

I loved the lucasart bundle! Loom

[@Cannotbetamed1]

It was such a good bundle! I played those games so much.

[@whirlwindraccoon]

Another great one you may have missed is willy beamish. It was a fantastic PC game with lots of humour. :)

[@Cannotbetamed1]

whirlwindraccoon I've heard of that one, but I never played it

[@adventureoflinkmk2]

Ever notice how Maniac Mansion had an obsession with Ed?

[@aweawe5723]

My Super Friend Loves you and I love you too. I'm glad you like NES hames.

[@noisebleed1980]

One of my childhood favorites! New subscriber here, enjoying this channel a lot! Have you played a game called Thimbleweed Park?

[@Cannotbetamed1]

I haven't played it yet, but it's on my list of games to buy.

[@rudem850153085]

Loved this game as a kid and now to see it being reviewed by a gorgeous woman is tops.

[@AndrewNewZealand]

Yeah the NES version was pretty damn inferior. I first played Maniac Mansion in 1993 on my rather old family PC, slow, without a hard-disk and CGA, 4-colour graphics hardware. Enjoyed it though and kept at it long and hard enough to crack some of the tough puzzles, but only got so far before I got help from hints in a games magazine. I think we were supposed to realize that the pool water was radioactive after discovering the radioactive rods at the bottom of the pool and then try using it on things around the house. That of course is the key to discovering the code for the inner door to the secret lab. Since Pam posted her review here, the game has been released on GOG.com and I've played it many times to see all the different endings.

[@lejoueurdugoulag888]

It's true the amiga and PC versions are uncut, have better controls and better graphics (at least more detailed ones) than the NES version ... but I still prefer the NES one for it's music and also because, for some weird reason, I kinda prefer the NES graphics also, even though they are clearly way more simplistic. It's not a preference out of nostalgia, I knew the game on amiga before owning a NES copy ... but honestly aside from the funny cartoony faces of the whole cast, I find the esthetics of the computer versions somewhat ugly for some reason, while the nes version is kinda cute.

[@timerider6646]

Amazing game

[@Donscottmusic]

Cult classic

[@johnnytrash2839]

Great review! Maybe it's because I was a kid at the time (or because I'm an idiot), but I was not good at this game.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

It's a tough one, I had a lot of problems getting through it on PC.

[@wrathchild8920]

You are awesome.

[@1luarluar1]

great game! thank you for your review....and as you mention...and confirming my thoughts, chensorship is not a good thing...cheers!...oh, there is something missing in this version that is very important...I dont know how they missed this absolutely crucial detail....the walk! yes, the funny way the characters were walking around...an unmistakable funny walk...I played it on Amiga...great game.

[@almightymonkeypower]

hi pam review power blade for nes its a cool game

[@MykhailoChuha]

Nice review! Keep going! =)

[@coktoe4487]

A fav. Played it on the C64. And even though it's 1982 hardware, I feel that version is superior to the NES version, which TBH, I couldn't get into at all.

[@stucazzo2000]

I played it for the first time on a C64. It blew my mind. i found it mind blowing that the people in the mansion (Ed, Nurse Edna, Purple tentacle) could be walking around the mansion while I was doing my thing. Also, I never experienced a cut scene before in a video game. It really opened my eyes to what video games could do.

[@willeysingleton3057]

Great video this game is in my top 9 games of all time mainly due to nostalgia. Remember how bad the tv show sucked though. I do.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

The tv show had so little to do with anything from the game.

[@willeysingleton3057]

@@Cannotbetamed1 yeah absolutely nothing it did have the happy Gilmore Jack ass guy though only redeeming quality.

[@jaym5118]

I NEVER play games on PC. Never have, and probably never will. I only play games on dedicated game consoles. But with that said, Maniac Mansion is one of my favorite NES games. It's also the only point-and-click game I ever had interest in. Others (such as Uninvited and Deja Vu) bores me because they don't show you're character walking around.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

+Jay M Yeah, if you're not into PC there's very little reason to play point and click adventures. And not too many available. Though I think The Secret of Monkey Island also came out on Sega CD, that's a good one you might like if you liked Maniac Mansion.

[@ImpendingDeathProd]

+Jay M That whole console thing seems weirdly specific for no good reason. Be that as it may, you might want to try discworld on ps1. It's a really good game and it fits your... special conditions.

[@Office_De_Receiver_Complaints]

12 fl. Oz that's a lot!

[@jimx117]

Great review! You just got a new subscriber. :) I was lucky enough to play through MM on an actual Commodore 64, and while it's hilariously racier than the NES version, unfortunately, it also makes you navigate the cursor using a joystick since (to my knowledge at least) the C-64 never had a mouse. Womp-wommmp...

[@Cannotbetamed1]

+jimx117 I really want to play a non-Nintendo version again, I remember it being so much funnier.

[@JimWells1983]

+Cannot be Tamed did you know about the drastically different Japanese version that came out (in Japan) about a year before the US got its NES version? Pretty wild. It's explained a bit more on this page: www.listentome.net/games102.php

[@Cannotbetamed1]

Jim Wells I had no idea!

[@LUCKO2022]

jimx117 Wrong the C64 did get a mouse later on in it's life and it can be used with Maniac Mansion. It was called the 1351 mouse. It came out when GEOS a GUI came out for the C64.

[@jimx117]

Pixar The Great oh nice! man, GEOS. Memories! haha

[@corydeceased]

Yea the game is great but what about the tv show???

[@Flantomas]

Really liked Maniac Mansion, but I always thought Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders was the best of the bunch, and it was probably my introduction to satires of conspiracy theories.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

I need to replay Zak at some point, I only played it once and it was so long ago

[@jameswilson-dn9ox]

i will share a true story about a video game i consider "haunted" maniac mansion on the nes.. i havent seen these glitches happen on any other version of the game but the nes. i got the game on my 11th birthday and some friends stayed over to eat pizza and play it.. along with tmnt2 the arcade game also on nes. but anyways i selected the girl "razor" and bernard the nerd.. whe i started up the game i noticed the girl character already had items, in fact, nearly every item in the game was already in her inventory and not in their usual places in the game.. which made it unplayable and i was forced to start over.. this was the FIRST time it was ever even opened which freaked me out to this day.. theres another glitch i found after years (unsuccessfully) trying to make this happen again.. if you take both razor and bernard into the library.. now turn off razors cd player.. when she walks into the main hall.. BERNARDS music will come through her cd player and you an walk around with the punk playing the nerds theme. this always works even on a rom emulator.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

Woah, that's weird.

[@Artfanster]

Wow good music.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

I love the intro music in this

[@Artfanster]

Cannot be Tamed yep!

[@galacticzombie1942]

I used to rent this one for the NES. I wanted to beat it so bad, but the puzzles kept stumping me. Then, the store I rented it from got rid of the game, so I guess it just wasn't meant to be for me.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

+Galactic Zombie As much as I like Maniac Mansion, the puzzles are quite obtuse. It seems made to sell hint books or calls to the hint line.

[@galacticzombie1942]

I agree. It was horrible back then how if you became stuck on something in a game, you were pretty much screwed, unless there was a book to read or phone number to call. Thank goodness for the internet and information we have now.

[@jaspr-es2uz]

Thank you! I remember how addictive this game was... It took me, what felt like forever, to figure out the puzzles. Then I became horrible and tried to find every way possible to kill off the kids. I have to admit that during the time I played this game I was still playing text-based games like Zork, Hitchhikers Guide, and a couple of others. A Far Cry from the GTA, Dragon Age I play today, but still fun!

[@Cannotbetamed1]

I didn't play any text based adventures until I had already played some point and click, so they were a bit hard for me to get into. I think Quest for Glory 2 was the only one I ever finished.

[@jaspr-es2uz]

Cannot be Tamed I remember that! I had a wonderful time with it. As for the text games, my wife and I spent hours and hours trying to figure out the puzzles. If you do want to give them a shot I would suggest Zork... If you can still get it anywhere. Either way it is so wonderful to see your take on Maniac Mansion. No offense but people your age don't often even consider even looking at older games much less play them, so it is a true delight to find your channel and get your take on one of our favorite games. It got my wife and I reminiscing our extreme aggravation playing and finally finding different ways to win.

[@K0RP53]

Uninvited is another point and click style game on nes. Its more spookier than this. It can get a little cryptic so patience is a must.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

I haven't played that one or Shadowgate, but I have played Deja Vu. It's also kinda cryptic.

[@K0RP53]

Well if you guys have an everdrive n8, id recommend playing the Uninvited hack that re-adds the content that Nintendo censored. Regardless, I'm sure you'd dig Uninvited. Spooky game indeed.

[@algol291]

but the NES version has the best music not just for different versions of the game, but out of all NES titles and video games in general.

[@BryanHo]

COOL GAME !!!

[@1984Brandon]

I never played it so I am not sure 100% but in the Nintendo Entertainment Systems you could still murder the hamster right? it was the re-released PC engine that edited out the animal abuse. The color commentary was different as you mentioned, I just don't get you Nintendo sometimes.

[@Cannotbetamed1]

Yes, you're right. I was playing the wrong character when I tried to nuke the hamster.

[@1984Brandon]

Why would anyone do that? even in a video game, it's so freaky! I don't want to...

[@only257]

🙂love this game played it on emulator

[@cjarmour7288]

THIS GAME USE TO PISS ME TF OFF!!! WAS A COOL GAME BUT VERY CONFUSING AT TIMES. I BEAT IT ONCE AND IT WAS A BITCH TO FINISH BUT IM GLAD I DID THOUGH. NICE REVIEW PAM THX!!!

[@samuelarroyo2643]

The game kind of reminds me of Resident Evil but with out the gore,

[@chakrazoo]

Hi Pam :)

[@Cannotbetamed1]

Hi!

[@unocarb]

Loved the DOS but NES was passable