Games in Which You Explore Mansions?

l337CrappyJack

Sure, it's a niche interest, sue me. I absolutely love the Croft Manor level in Tomb Raider: Legend and Anniversary. I bought Underworld when it came out, then returned it when I found that there was no such level (and that it kinda sucked). No enemies, just exploration, uncovering hidden passages, then solving a puzzle you didn't notice was there at first and unlocking a whole new set of stuff to explore? Awesome.

Even Eternal Darkness, where you wander around a creepy old mansion, eventually discovering there's a giant city of evil hellspawn in your basement. Deus Ex had some of this, when you're exploring the DuClare residence, triggering things until you unlock the supersecret awesome basement. Resident Evil didn't really touch the same spirit, since the emphasis was way more on combat and scares than on exploration and puzzles. There HAVE to be some really good examples of this sort of thing. I know there are a ton of first person point and clicks that would fit the bill, but I do get a kick out of being able to actually walk around in the spaces. Anyone out there have any suggestions?

Fatty McBeardo

Alone in the Dark

Maniac Mansion

The Colonel's Bequest

Clue

Camui

This.

Spindrift

I'm going to go with Maniac Mansion.

EDIT: oh shit triple threat

Werewulfy

Vampire: The Masquerade: Bloodlines has a level fairly early on where you explore a mansion. (Actually a hotel, but close enough)

Let's put it this way, you're a super powered nigh invulnerable creature of the night and you will jump out of your chair several times during the level.

Fatty McBeardo

Is it just me or could a "mansion crawl" game if done with the right license and humor be extremely awesome? I was specifically thinking of a Scooby Doo licensed game in the hands of someone like Tim Schafer.

Hahnsoo1

Clive Barker's Undying is another Mansion crawl game. A good PA "Let's Play" of Undying can be found here:
http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showthread.php?t=80663

There's also Luigi's Mansion, but that's probably not what you are looking for.

EDIT: Oops, wrong link. Here's the video link.

Fatty McBeardo

I was about to suggest a game based on Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None", but then I saw the original title of that story.

Taramoor

I would suggest Eternal Darkness, but that has more of an emphasis on sheer awesomeness than on just exploring the mansion.

Maybe Luigi's Mansion?

Monsty

Phantasmagoria, IIRC. Finding it and, more importantly, getting it to work are the true difficulties.

Fig-D

Werewulfy wrote: »

Vampire: The Masquerade: Bloodlines has a level fairly early on where you explore a mansion. (Actually a hotel, but close enough)

Let's put it this way, you're a super powered nigh invulnerable creature of the night and you will jump out of your chair several times during the level.

Listen to this man right here. LISTEN.

The Ocean House Hotel was the highlight of the game, and it occurs like 2 hours in. (I actually loved the rest of VtMB too, but that portion really stood out.)

Bonus points: it also has a crazy Vampire Mansion / Asylum later on. Not as good, but it did have this crazy "Wonderland Gone Wrong" sort of theme to it.

PMAvers

I'd think 7'th Guest would count, wouldn't it?

Gunstar

The first Fatal Frame game takes place in a mansion as well.

A few levels in Thief. Notably the level in the demo. I played that a lot. Clock Tower.

Also 2 really good levels in each of the Condemned games. But that's more of a cabin and a lodge. Damn I love those games.

Spoit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xmOYsa-seQ

surrealitycheck

Vampire the Masquerade bloodlines is the best game ever and should be played by anybody for any reason all the time.

Yes.

TheGreat2nd

It was already mentioned but hey
Luigi's Mansion

Simon Moon

The first thing I thought of was Mystery House. Why, yes, I am old, why do you ask?

l337CrappyJack

V:tM had one hell of a mansion, yes. The only problem with replaying it is that, you know, I'd have to REPLAY it.

I only have so many pairs of underwear.

Is there anything more exploration based as far as mansion crawls go? I loved Undying, for example, but you can't exactly just wander around at your leisure, which was a damn shame, because aside from a skinless Edgar Alan Poe trying to murder me, that mansion was gorgeous. I'm thinking more in the vein of "There's a button hidden behind the dresser that opens a bookcase" or "set the clock to the right time to open a staircase" kind of stuff. More adventure, less action, maybe?

RoyceSraphim

The guys who made Zeno Clash had a mansion game on their website. I would share the link but had to reformat the hard drive.

l337CrappyJack wrote: »

V:tM had one hell of a mansion, yes. The only problem with replaying it is that, you know, I'd have to REPLAY it.

I only have so many pairs of underwear.

Is there anything more exploration based as far as mansion crawls go? I loved Undying, for example, but you can't exactly just wander around at your leisure, which was a damn shame, because aside from a skinless Edgar Alan Poe trying to murder me, that mansion was gorgeous. I'm thinking more in the vein of "There's a button hidden behind the dresser that opens a bookcase" or "set the clock to the right time to open a staircase" kind of stuff. More adventure, less action, maybe?

Bloodlines or Redemption?

Atheraal

There are a bunch of 'escape the room' type flash games out there, are those more along the lines of what you're looking for? I know I've played at least a couple done in mansionish settings.

Norfair

edit: NM, misread the OP.

l337CrappyJack

RoyceSraphim wrote: »

The guys who made Zeno Clash had a mansion game on their website. I would share the link but had to reformat the hard drive.

l337CrappyJack wrote: »

V:tM had one hell of a mansion, yes. The only problem with replaying it is that, you know, I'd have to REPLAY it.

I only have so many pairs of underwear.

Is there anything more exploration based as far as mansion crawls go? I loved Undying, for example, but you can't exactly just wander around at your leisure, which was a damn shame, because aside from a skinless Edgar Alan Poe trying to murder me, that mansion was gorgeous. I'm thinking more in the vein of "There's a button hidden behind the dresser that opens a bookcase" or "set the clock to the right time to open a staircase" kind of stuff. More adventure, less action, maybe?

Bloodlines or Redemption?

Bloodlines.

Bloodlines makes you shit your pants.

Redemption is just shit.

Raiden333

Uninvited for the NES? (oh, nevermind, didn't read you wanted to walk around, it's a point and click)

Mr_Grinch

PMAvers wrote: »

I'd think 7'th Guest would count, wouldn't it?

7th Guest and 11th Hour are THE games I think of when I think of exploring mansions.

Fleck0

Malstrom's Mansion from the Zenoclash folks. It's got mansion right there in the title

LaCabra

It's a point-and-click, but 5 Days A Stranger.

Cherrn

Someone already mentioned Thief, but I'll elaborate a bit. There're mansions in all three games (the mansion level in Thief 1 will blow your mind), and they are, like all Thief levels, huge and full of nooks and crannies. This principle applies to many other types of buildings though; there's an opera house in Thief 1 (Gold), a prison in Thief 2 and (wait for it) an asylum in Thief 3 (and also a kickass museum).

All of them are worth playing - Looking Glass were masters of mixing exploration and atmosphere within a limited architectural space.

Szechuanosaurus

Mr_Grinch wrote: »

PMAvers wrote: »

I'd think 7'th Guest would count, wouldn't it?

7th Guest and 11th Hour are THE games I think of when I think of exploring mansions.

Yes.

Also Resident Evil.

And V:tM Bloodlines has at least three locations that would fit the bill.

Cronus

Szechuanosaurus wrote: »

Mr_Grinch wrote: »

PMAvers wrote: »

I'd think 7'th Guest would count, wouldn't it?

7th Guest and 11th Hour are THE games I think of when I think of exploring mansions.

Yes.

Also Resident Evil.

And V:tM Bloodlines has at least three locations that would fit the bill.

Really the best as it combines mansions with zombie killing.

PatboyX

Fleck0 wrote: »

Malstrom's Mansion from the Zenoclash folks. It's got mansion right there in the title

So what does that code at the end do in ZenoClash?

El Extremo

I'll third Resident Evil. Bonus points if you get the remake.

BloodySloth

I'm not sure if it's funny or just sad that so many people have failed to read the OP. He mentioned Resident Evil.

El Extremo

I did read it! I swear! I just somehow completely missed that sentence.

Meiz

The Tecmo Deception series takes an interesting twist. Not sure if it's what you're looking for but you're a dude that has to set traps for would be heroes that are trying to break into your crib.

Fencingsax

Fatty McBeardo wrote: »

I was about to suggest a game based on Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None", but then I saw the original title of that story.

What's wrong with 10 little indians?

Xtarath

PatboyX wrote: »

Fleck0 wrote: »

Malstrom's Mansion from the Zenoclash folks. It's got mansion right there in the title

So what does that code at the end do in ZenoClash?

Gives you an achievement. Yeah, that's it.

SkutSkut

Clive Barkers Undying is pretty decent, fairly replayable, super cheap these days. I see my LP was linked.

cj iwakura

D on the Saturn and Mansion of Hidden Souls on Sega CD.

Fatty McBeardo

Fencingsax wrote: »

Fatty McBeardo wrote: »

I was about to suggest a game based on Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None", but then I saw the original title of that story.

What's wrong with 10 little indians?

That wasn't the original title.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/And_then_there_were_none

DarkPrimus

Scratches.

Play Scratches.

You are a mystery novel author who acquires the long-abandoned mansion out in the British countryside, and you slowly discover that there is something unholy inhabiting the place.

The game freaked the HELL out of me, way more than the V:tM level.

toolbert

Really what you should be playing is Ducktales for the Nes. The translyvanian stage is just one giant mansion...and then you get even more awesome after that.