Classic ‘adventure’ action returns for nostalgia-soaked Unusual Findings

Do you love the 80s? Adventure games, in the classic style? Sci-fi and supernatural stuff? Well then you’re gonna eat to see Unusual Findings.

That title is oddly familiar…

While there was an ‘adventure game’ resurgence back in the Telltale days, I think we all know those games weren’t really what you traditionally expect from the genre. That’s not to say they were bad at all, because some of them were excellent. But the fact remains, they weren’t really point-and-clicks.

We’ve seen something of an actual return to the genre as of late though. A few select games have appeared here and there, and brought back the pointing, and yes the clicking as well. One of those is most definitely Unusual Findings.

But more than just mechanics, Unusual Findings from ESDigital Games and indie dev Epic Llama rolls back the decades in seemingly every way. Fans of the iconic Lucasarts titles will find that UF not only plays like those timeless gems, but looks like them too. And you can add to that, that it will also be loaded with 80s themes and riffed characters.

Here’s a tease of what to expect…

It’s the 80s and Christmas is coming. Vinny, Nick and Tony are young and their new cable signal descrambler just arrived. While trying to decrypt a pay per view adult channel, they pick up the distress signal of an alien spaceship crash-landing in the woods near their town.  Things only get weirder as they realise that the towering alien is killing specific members of their community!

Immerse yourself into a world that pays homage to 80s classics such as The Goonies, Monster Squad, Terminator, Aliens and The Lost Boys amongst many others, and gameplay that combines the mechanics of a classic point and click adventure such as “Full throttle”, but with it’s own unique twist and much more. A world that is designed to ooze nostalgia from every pore, check the Video Buster Store out for clues, challenge other kids at the Laser Llamas Arcades, learn a new trick at the Emerald Sword comic store, try to get along with the Lost Boys with their punk aesthetic in their hideout, or perhaps even dare to ask The Bull -the quintessential 80s action hero- for some help!

ESDigital Games press release

Epic Llama promises that you’ll find some innovation here, along with the familiarity. For one thing, choices matter. According to the developer, the choices you make while exploring Unusual Findings’ town will affect not only the story, but also the relationship between the starring-trio of buddies.

From the sound of things, that can be pretty drastic too. The press release says that the paths you choose for your heroes will alter “the way they solve each puzzle, how they visit each location, the answers that they find along the way, and much more”.

Color us intrigued, as Unusual Findings is striking all the right chords so far. Set for release on Xbox and PlayStation platforms, as well as Switch and the PC “very soon”, Unusual Findings is also going to be at Gamescom this week. If you’re at the show, you can find it in Hall 3.2, at stand A-03.