Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Ben There, Dan That! employs a classic point-and-click interface that should feel instantly familiar to fans of early 90s adventure games. Your cursor can cycle through actions—Look, Use, Talk, and so on—by right-clicking, while the inventory bar along the top of the screen holds all the items you’ll collect. This streamlined control scheme keeps the focus on puzzle-solving and witty dialogue rather than mastering complex commands.

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As you guide Ben around the house and then through a series of bizarre alien rooms, the puzzles often rely on inventory combinations and environmental interactions that require a bit of lateral thinking. In many cases, if Ben balks at doing something “dirty,” you can switch to Dan to get the job done—often with even funnier consequences. This dual-character mechanic adds a light strategic layer: who should pick up that alien artifact, and who should hold the vacuum cleaner?

Although some puzzles can feel deliberately obtuse—true to the tradition of old-school AGS adventures—the game’s razor-sharp humor and frequent pop-culture nods keep you engaged. Every time you hit a roadblock, you’re rewarded with a clever line or a visual gag that reminds you why you love these classic point-and-click escapades. The inventory limbo when you try combining absurd items (TV remote + alien tentacle?) is often its own punchline.

Graphics

Visually, Ben There, Dan That! embraces a retro pixel-art style that pays homage to the golden age of SCUMM-engine classics. The 320×200 resolution and vibrant color palette evoke fond memories of early LucasArts and Sierra titles, yet the backgrounds are detailed enough to convey the bizarre, shifting architecture of the alien ship. Each room feels distinct, from the cluttered suburban living room to the sterile, ominous corridors of the extraterrestrial environment.

Character sprites for Ben and Dan have just enough frames of animation to deliver personality without overloading the scene. Dan’s exaggerated reactions when he’s drafted into the tough tasks and Ben’s resigned posture when things go sideways are delightful touches. Even secondary objects—broken televisions, odd machinery, alien flora—have enough shading and careful pixel placement to look alive on screen.

While the graphical fidelity isn’t cutting-edge by modern standards, the art direction maximizes every pixel for comedic effect. Alien contraptions sport blinking lights and rotating gears, while static gags hide in corner details for eagle-eyed explorers. If you’ve ever wanted a new adventure that looks like a lovingly restored 1990s classic, this game delivers the goods admirably.

Story

At first glance, the premise is charmingly mundane: two roommates want to fix their TV signal so they don’t miss an episode of Magnum, P.I. Yet when they’re unexpectedly catapulted into a strange alien environment, the stakes—such as they are—become delightfully absurd. The narrative never takes itself too seriously, and the surprise detours into sci-fi tropes are played entirely for laughs.

Ben and Dan are voiced, written, and animated versions of real people—creators Dan Marshall and Ben Ward—so there’s a self-referential, meta aura to the dialogue. They break the fourth wall, crack jokes about classic adventure games, and even comment on the limitations of their own engine. When you solve a puzzle, the characters often respond with a wink to the development team or a jab at the genre’s clichés.

Despite its brevity, the story has a satisfying arc: from “fix the TV” to “escape the alien complex,” with detours that riff on everything from time travel paradoxes to infamous adventure-game pixel hunts. You end on a cleverly circular note that feels more like a punchline than a cliffhanger, leaving you both amused and eager to see what the duo cooks up next.

Overall Experience

Ben There, Dan That! is a short but memorable trip down adventure-gaming memory lane. It captures all the quirks of early AGS titles—wacky puzzles, witty writing, and lovingly retro visuals—while injecting its own brand of irreverent humor. Whether you’re reliving your first point-and-click obsession or discovering the format for the first time, you’ll appreciate its spirited craftsmanship.

The game’s light-hearted tone makes even the most baffling puzzle feel like part of the joke. When you’re stuck, the laughter you get from a perfectly timed one-liner or an unexpected pop-culture reference can be reward enough. And at a runtime of just a couple of hours, it never wears out its welcome or resorts to filler content.

For anyone seeking an entertaining, nostalgia-driven adventure filled with inside-jokes and alien shenanigans, Ben There, Dan That! is an easy recommendation. It’s a testament to how charm, wit, and a solid grasp of genre conventions can turn a modest freeware project into an unforgettable gaming experience. If you love classic point-and-click mysteries and offbeat comedy, this one is well worth your time.

Retro Replay Score

7.7/10