Which Tex Murphy Game Should I Start With?

[RogueSpyke]

I've never played a game in the series before and it looks pretty interesting, however I don't know where to begin. Should I start with the first game (whichever that one is) or with a later entry?

[sbenrap]

Probably a later entry (as the really old ones are harder to get into these days), I'd go for Under a Killing Moon first, then Pandora, then Overseer (if you can) and then Tesla Effect

[RogueSpyke]

Thanks, I'll definitely do that :3

[Heroic]

yes i tried the first tex murphy, but it is too hard for the eyes. i will start with killing moon too.

[Hiei-]

I would also advice to start with Under a Killing Moon, that's the one the majority started with.

[segunnell]

I actually started with Tex Murphy Under a Killing Moon and that was over 20 years ago and I loved the series.

[beguinregis]

Under a killing moon first, then Pandora, Overseer, and Tesla effect.

[Hiei-]

Seems everyone agrees to advice "Under a Killing Moon" as the first one :)

[[Dieux] - Nomad Eole]

Totally agreed Under a Killing Moon, Pandora, Overseer and then Tesla Effect

[SR212787]

Definitely start with the first one, Mean Streets. The big part of these games is story, and if you don't play them in order you'll miss out on some story!. Trust me, They are ALL good games, and if you get stuck there are plenty of walktroughs and tutorials out there. I guess you could leave out the first two games, but Mean Streats is really a fun one. Martian Memorandum is short and my least favorite of the 6 games. But still worth a go.

[flarefan]

Major thread necromancy here, but I totally agree with SR2112787. You really want to start with Mean Streets. Three reasons:

1. As SR212787 said, there are continuity aspects which, though not necessary to understanding the game, add to a better appretiation of its story.

2. Mean Streets really teaches you how to think like an investigator. While Martian Memorandum and Under a Killing Moon often require the investigating train of mind (or a walkthrough), they aren't the rigorous training ground for the series gameplay that Mean Streets is.

3. Speaking as someone who is playing through the Tex Murphy games for the first time myself: While Under a Killing Moon did a great job of updating the series gameplay, overall it's not as good as Mean Streets, and hasn't aged as well. With Martin Memorandum Access Software seemed to develop a craze for trial-and-error puzzles, and while that considerably cooled down with Under a Killing Moon, there are still a few points where your course is to keep on trying and re-loading your last save until you chance upon the solution. Don't get me wrong: For 90% of its playing time, Under a Killing Moon is nothing but great. But it just doesn't give as good a first impression of the series as Mean Streets.

[invaderzim48]

Personally I blitzed through mean streets in a day and loved it. It's not incredibly hard, but then again I did fill out 11 full sized pieces of graph paper front and back as well as garner the concern of family members.

[อานนท์]

Originally posted by invaderzim48:

Personally I blitzed through mean streets in a day and loved it. It's not incredibly hard, but then again I did fill out 11 full sized pieces of graph paper front and back as well as garner the concern of family members.

Mean Streat wasa one of the best game experiences for me, it was like detective work, too bad there isn't games like that nowadays.

[thirdkeeper]

It is true detective work, it's an excercise in critical thinking. Made more relistic because
it actualy requires examination info gathering and deduction to make progress.
SAVE your notes ! <smile>

Can't help but to remminisce about it here..

SO glad to hear that others have pleyed the original MEAN STREETS..

Had a note book filled with names and addresses, found items, passwords,
pass cards and chess terms - with detailed notes on every interview.

What a great cast of characters - including my gal-friday "Hiya Tex <winks>"
and my paid informant "What you want Murphy.." - Arnold Dweeb - heh -
Delores Lightbody - wow.

First played it in '92 - I think.. 'Flew' manually all over and explored the stadium
and the Spruce Goose.. etc. - Some were annoyed by the flying but I thought it
was a very cool feature. I'd use the time to call my contacts to get more info and
occasionally explore the few landmarks that I could find..

I thought that surely within a few years there would be a similar game in first
person with a true flight sim. - Amazed that it never happened.

Wish so much that I could play the game now.. It's been years..


This is definatelay where anyone should start the series (they're in my head!)

The later remake is good but doesn't have all the great characters or the intrigue
of this one. - For one thing - you can't play pong for $$ <smile>


Have to mention that Chris Jones was a case of perfect casting for the roll of Tex.

His ' I care but I don't give a damned ' attitude and dry but both nieve and humble
delivery so ideal for the roll of awkward and often bumbling gumshoe..

SO well written. - I played the later games many times through just to hear all the
rediculas questions Tex could ask..Well worth the effort - Chris actually had me
laughing till my sides ached.

I've suggested to some producers about doing a movie Using Jones in the roll but
none will do the legwork to even find out about the Murphy phenomanon.

Mebbe bumbling detective is "old hat" but I don't think it's been done with a comic
sci-fi twist.


Glad to have discovered this group.

Thanks to everyone - for the feed -> !

[flarefan]

Originally posted by thirdkeeper:

First played it in '92 - I think.. 'Flew' manually all over and explored the stadium and the Spruce Goose.. etc. - Some were annoyed by the flying but I thought it was a very cool feature. I'd use the time to call my contacts to get more info and
occasionally explore the few landmarks that I could find..

I thought that surely within a few years there would be a similar game in first
person with a true flight sim. - Amazed that it never happened.

I really like the flying, too. It's accessible even to someone like me (I never play flight sims), and interactivity gives you a much stronger connection to Tex's drives in his flying car, which are, after all, an iconic element of the series.

Originally posted by thirdkeeper:

Wish so much that I could play the game now.. It's been years..

Why can't you play it now?

Originally posted by thirdkeeper:

Have to mention that Chris Jones was a case of perfect casting for the roll of Tex.

His ' I care but I don't give a damned ' attitude and dry but both nieve and humble
delivery so ideal for the roll of awkward and often bumbling gumshoe..

SO well written. - I played the later games many times through just to hear all the
rediculas questions Tex could ask..Well worth the effort - Chris actually had me
laughing till my sides ached.

Yep, very much so. I just played The Pandora Directive for the first time last month, and I fell out of my chair and rolled on the floor at "I dunno. I just pushed a bunch of buttons, and there you were."

[thirdkeeper]

I just discovered that the steam release will run on my system, and I'm seeing it again for the first time in over 25 years.. This is great ! - I'm lovin' it - but can't help feelin' the absense of Chris
Jones as Tex. - Guess when I finish MS I'll have to load up Under A Killing Moon again to get a Chris Jones fix for my Chris Jones jones..heh!

Very glad to hear that you're enjoying this old gem also : )

Thanks so much for the feed -

- Best Wishes -