Al Pond 2: Island Quest

When I remember point-and-click adventures on PC, I'd like to say Al Pond 2 belongs to those you deliberately forget. But it's not that bad at all — it's just an average, forgotten oddity from the time when every indie maker thought that clicking on things and writing simple dialog was enough.

It's a classic adventure with an island setting: you rescue a character who ends up on an island full of mysteries and collectible objects. Goal is traditional — move around locations, solve simple puzzles and collect things into inventory to use elsewhere. Story isn't complex, but that doesn't matter — it's not a required element here.

You play it with a mouse, everything is intuitive. Graphics are primitive even for 2007, colors remind you more of a textbook art project than a game. Sound? They exist. You mostly hear just silence and occasionally a song in the background that soon surprises you with its monotony. Puzzles aren't hard, more boring — combine objects, click on right spots, progress is linear and without surprises.

What does it have going for it? Nostalgia. This game belongs in the class of unknown titles that got lost on disks somewhere in a hidden box after the computer was sold. It's neither bad nor good — it's empty, but not unpleasant. For lovers of classic adventure point-and-click waiting games who want to enjoy a quiet afternoon without pressure.

Today? You can play it in a browser via emulator. Don't expect a miracle — you'll click, wait and think where to go next. It's not something that'll get you out of bed, but like a magazine in a waiting room it doesn't disappoint at all.