Five ways they could have improved... Gabriel Knight 3 (1999)
This is the game that's widely regarded as having killed the classic adventure genre. I can think of some ways that might have been prevented:
1. Make it earlier. It was released just after adventure games full into a popularity dip, a full six years after its highly acclaimed predecessor. Get started pronto, and release the third part in 1998 instead of 2001. (You can't prevent the dip, really, but the way GKIII ended up is considered to have "driven the nail in the coffin" of the genre...)
2. Also, make it 2D in some form. The two previous parts were known for a creative style. Try something new, sure, but don't jump on the "3D is the future!" bandwagon. 3D, especially relatively early 3D, is ill-suited to plot-driven adventures. Using high-quality 2D art can much more effectively create a beautiful, stylish backdrop for the story.
3. For the love of Pete, no insane make-a-fake-moustache-from-cat-hair puzzle! It is widely seen as the worst puzzle in any adventure game ever, and it was only added because trying to make a game in 3D (which was generally unfamiliar to the creators) caused such delays that there was no time to invent anything better.
4. Don't replace the voice actors for the supporting cast. (Starting development earlier would, again, be crucial here.)
5. Since there is a scoring system, add some kind of reward (e.g. a special ending) for completing the game with full points. People who did their best to get full points were rather disappointed that it all came to nothing. (Why have points if they are... pointless?)
1. Make it earlier. It was released just after adventure games full into a popularity dip, a full six years after its highly acclaimed predecessor. Get started pronto, and release the third part in 1998 instead of 2001. (You can't prevent the dip, really, but the way GKIII ended up is considered to have "driven the nail in the coffin" of the genre...)
2. Also, make it 2D in some form. The two previous parts were known for a creative style. Try something new, sure, but don't jump on the "3D is the future!" bandwagon. 3D, especially relatively early 3D, is ill-suited to plot-driven adventures. Using high-quality 2D art can much more effectively create a beautiful, stylish backdrop for the story.
3. For the love of Pete, no insane make-a-fake-moustache-from-cat-hair puzzle! It is widely seen as the worst puzzle in any adventure game ever, and it was only added because trying to make a game in 3D (which was generally unfamiliar to the creators) caused such delays that there was no time to invent anything better.
4. Don't replace the voice actors for the supporting cast. (Starting development earlier would, again, be crucial here.)
5. Since there is a scoring system, add some kind of reward (e.g. a special ending) for completing the game with full points. People who did their best to get full points were rather disappointed that it all came to nothing. (Why have points if they are... pointless?)
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