89) Adam Wolfe (2016)

Developed by Mad Head Games, Adam Wolfe bills itself as a paranormal mystery adventure. Thrust into the role of paranormal investigator Adam Wolfe, we're presented with a handful of cases that ultimately tie into the larger mystery of our missing sister. With fights against elementals, cultists, and even a car chase sequence, all of the pieces are in place for a what, at least on paper, sounds like a thrilling, action packed adventure.

Set in San Francisco, our first case sees us chasing down a man made of fire, and these opening moments set the bar for what gameplay will mostly consist of, as our first encounter has us performing a quick time event to pull out our weapon. After a chase through the sewers in which we point and click to find our way, the stark reality of the experience sets in. You see, Adam Wolfe isn't just a puzzle adventure game, it's a hidden items puzzle game. On more than one occasion, the action will grind to a halt as we're presented with a screen filled to bursting with absolutely random shit. Along the bottom, a list of items we're meant to find will appear, and the realization that we're playing a glorified version of Where's Waldo creeps in.

For what it's worth, the developers do their absolute best to get the most out of a rather simple formula. There are plenty of more action packed sections, the puzzle presented are quite varied, and holding them all together is what can loosely be called a plot. The artwork for each section is varied and beautiful, and it's actually pretty impressive how much variety the game offers when it can be boiled down to such simple terminology.

The story is rather predictable, but in a way that I found to be pretty endearing. There were a few surprises that, if nothing else, were so out of left field that they made me laugh. While sometimes the logic behind some of the puzzles was questionable, it never gets to the point of being frustrating, as you just have to find the right level of ridiculous that the game is expecting from you.

The voice work ranges from so bad that it's good to some genuinely great performances that are almost laughably out of place. Our lead character, the titular Adam Wolfe, always sound like just some guy, either unable to sell his motivation or going way over the top. It's not a good performance, but I honestly wouldn't have it any other way.

Adam Wolfe does a great job of making the absolute most of a simple and awkward genre. While it's easy to dismiss as it barely qualifies as a game, the stunning artwork and endearing cheesiness make this an easy game to recommend. It's not hard, and the puzzles will rarely leave you stumped, but it's a damn good, albeit a bit stupid, ride.