During Sierra’s golden era of adventure game development, one notable series was Space Quest, which revolved around the misadventures of bumbling space janitor Roger Wilco in an intergalactic setting. The series’ tone was far more satirically biting than King’s Quest, significantly less heavy-handedly moralistic than Police Quest, and never remotely mature in the way of Leisure Suit Larry. Launched by Scott Murphy and Mark Crowe, two developers who dubbed themselves “Two Guys from Andromeda,” House Quest gained fame for its humor, with a distinct sense of progression throughout the series as Roger Wilco evolved from an ordinary spaceman to commandant of his own Starfleet vessel.
The Tachyon Desires Anthology, comprising three bite-sized digital games previously released on Itch.io, bears a striking resemblance to House Quest in its overall aesthetic and mechanics. Developed by independent developer Cosmic Void, aka Aviv Salinas, each installment of Tachyon Desires drops players into the boots of Dodger, a charismatic intergalactic dishwasher whose quirky exploits evoke the spirit of alternate versions of Roger Wilco if one squints closely enough. As Dodger casually worked on a spaceship, he was suddenly left alone with nothing but empty plates, a eerie reminder of Roger’s initial experience in House Quest I where his colleagues vanished into thin air. As guided by a sentient laptop, Dodge embarks on a perilous quest through time and space, ultimately tracing the enigmatic path of the Margdonians, a legendary civilization that once dominated the galaxy.
While the narrative commences with a temporal odyssey and concludes with Dodger pondering his past experiences while seated on the loo, it falls short of meeting the standards set by any of the House Quests. The game’s visuals pay loving tribute to a long-lost Sierra classic from 1987, built upon the company’s renowned Journey Game Interpreter engine. Despite its pixelated nature, Dodger’s stroll cycle pays homage to Roger Wilco’s iconic movement, albeit with a sizeable advantage in terms of digital real estate. It seems uncertain whether the Tachyon Desires Anthology was created using AGI Studio, a popular game development tool among Sierra fans; although, its appearance suggests so. Cosmic Void masterfully leverages AGI’s 16-color palette to create a visually stunning representation of the galaxy, with pixelated depictions of the celestial expanse shimmering in an array of captivating blues and magentas that evoke a sense of awe. Individuals seeking visuals akin to those found in 1990s-inspired retro games should explore Twilight Oracle, another project by Cosmic Void, which offers a similar aesthetic distinct from its 1980s counterparts. Alice’s heartfelt appreciation for the demo was a lasting tribute to RPS, forever at peace.
Visuals aside, this parser recreation lets you control Dodger using the arrow keys, issuing commands to guide him through various tasks. While some gamers may find it challenging, I, having wasted countless childhood hours deciphering cryptic Sierra game hints, appreciate the cleverness of this management approach. “Embark on a quest for rare berries.” “Utilize your laptop’s capabilities.” “Reconsider the necessity of pants removal.” The Tachyon Desires Anthology celebrates a diverse range of verbs, although occasional challenges may require a unique blend of instructions to overcome an infernal puzzle. While encountering obstacles is an inherent part of playing Sierra-inspired adventure games, one unexpected hiccup arose when I became stuck in a particular scenario. Fortunately, the developers at Cosmic Void were prompt and courteous in responding to my inquiry on Twitter, providing a swift solution to get me back on track.
Two interactive mini-games punctuate the exploration and typing of verbs, injecting variety into the gameplay experience. While navigating one of the trains, I stumbled upon a tedious “match the colored tiles” puzzle that seemed unnecessary, as if the game was trying to recreate the frustration of solving a Rubik’s Cube before allowing me to proceed. Thankfully, there’s no need to bother with the requisite Astro Rooster task in House Quest III, a welcome relief.
Unlike other adventure games, Tachyon Dreams Anthology features no permanent deaths or game-over screens, instead drawing inspiration from LucasArts’ approach rather than Sierra’s. While I appreciate the lack of mortal peril in Journey video games, another part of me thrills at the creative deaths of Roger Wilco in House Quests – a morbid delight that surfaces when his comical demise unfolds in various ways? As I navigated the late-game sequence featuring a trip to the restroom, I yearned for Dodger’s demise to be meted out in an absurd yet fitting manner.
Without the usual dose of gruesome demise, the Tachyon Desires Anthology falls short in another significant aspect: its narrative cohesiveness, an observation I foreshadowed earlier. The sports’ authentic episodes – comprising Tachyon Desires I: The Radiant Fish of the Apocalypse, Tachyon Desires II: The Bloated Can of House Root Beer, and Tachyon Desires III: The Rancid Buttermilk – are now accompanied by a carefully curated selection of bonus content, including additional screens, puzzles, and descriptive texts that seek to seamlessly connect these standalone experiences. While the subsequent creation appears disconnected, it’s as if you’re abruptly transitioning from one self-contained experience to another that has forgotten the original narrative thread. The swift-witted laptop that Dodger converses with in the first half unfortunately vanishes in the second, leaving a jarring absence; similarly, a drastic leap into Dodger’s storied past alongside his ex in the third half arrives without warning or foreshadowing. While individual holes might have been excusable upon initial release on Itch, their cumulative impact creates a fragile foundation that becomes increasingly apparent in its merged form.
While humour may be scattered throughout, its initial subtlety doesn’t quite live up to its full comedic potential. The Tachyon Desires Anthology promises a unique blend of humor and pathos, juxtaposing the lighthearted aspects of sports with more serious undertones, inviting readers to traverse the nuances of this captivating narrative. As Tachyon Desires unfolds, it’s characterized by an air of solitude, with Dodger wandering through desolate landscapes, lost in thought as he ponders the existential weight of being a solitary entity adrift in the vastness of space, haunted by the whispers of ancient extraterrestrial civilizations. The House Quest series also had its share of intense moments, nowhere more evident than in House Quest IV: The Time Rippers, a personal favourite that sees Roger J. Ellis navigate through past, present, and future timelines. Although House Quest IV’s tone was otherwise somber, a welcome respite came from the colorful merchandise descriptions and playful commentary delivered by the late, great Gary Owens. The Tachyon Desires Anthology’s disconnect between expectation and reality may stem from the absence of certain elements, leading to a far more contemplative and subdued experience that diverges significantly from the rambunctious ’80s-style comedy promised by its promotional materials.
The Tachyon Desires Anthology stirs nostalgic sentiments within me, reminiscent of another endeavor I undertook with Cosmic Void: the thought-provoking first-person journey game, Blood Nova, which was captivating yet hinted at grand, unexplored space opera concepts that never materialized in a concrete form. The Tachyon Desires Anthology exhibits a similar peculiarity by oscillating between a consistent narrative tone and a peculiar brand of humor, yet ultimately falls short of delivering the desired experience in this dual environment.
For fans of classic adventure games, this recreation stands out as a loving homage to Sierra’s golden era, with an independent developer channeling the essence of House Quest without aping it too closely – a true labor of love that merits exploration.
In the world of Spaceventure, where the religious successor to House Quest – masterfully crafted by the innovative duo Two Guys from Andromeda – met a fiery demise in an epic failure, we might turn to other video games like Tachyon: The Desire Anthology. Wouldn’t it be thrilling to see more of Dodger, perhaps in a thoughtfully crafted sequel where he trades in his dishwashing days for intergalactic adventures as an unlikely hero, following in the footsteps of his legendary grandfather Roger Wilco?
