The Next Big Thing

The Next Big Thing is an adventure game featuring the reporter duo Elizabeth 'Liz' Allaire and Daniel 'Dan' Murray stumbling into a plot of kidnapping, conspiracy and strange incidents in the movie business. Though real monsters running around and performing as actors in horror movies is a rather ordinary situation in the world of this game. Placed in an alternate reality LA of the fifties humans, monsters and robots live side by side. During an interview job at the local horror movie festival the protagonists keep quarreling with each other in love-hate relationship. That's when they accidentally observe movie star Big Albert breaking into the office of film industry mogul William A. Fitzrandolph. Liz chasing after a big kiss-and-tell story triggers the mentioned plot, which is pushed forward by a narrator.

In The Next Big Thing the player gets the control of one of the protagonists at a time in each of 8 chapters of puzzle solving. It is a traditional adventure in the manner of A Twist of Fate. It features hand drawn backgrounds and cell-shaded 3D characters and objects to provide cartoon like visuals. The puzzles concentrate mostly on object combination.

The game can be controlled entirely by mouse, but there are a few hot-keys for help systems, inventory and options. Each object or character offers the choice of being observed or interacted with. The specific interaction may be take, talk to, or manipulate. There is a hotspot function that shows all usable object and exits in the scene. The help system is realized by the mentioned narrator, who gives vague hints about what the players character did next or thought in the current stage of the plot. Additionally a task menu shows all of the problems already solved and those to be solved actually.

Added March 8, 2020
Published By Focus Entertainment
Developed By Pendulo Studios
Media (Austria,Germany,Switzerland) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Front Cover (United Kingdom) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Back Cover (United Kingdom) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Media (United Kingdom) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Media (Russia) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Back Cover (Russia) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Front Cover (Russia) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Inside Cover (Russia) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Inside Cover (Russia) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Front Cover (Worldwide) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Front Cover (Germany) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Back Cover (Germany) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Media (Germany) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Back Cover (Italy) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Media (Italy) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Front Cover (Italy) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Front Cover (Worldwide) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Front Cover (Worldwide) (Windows) from mobygames.com
Front Cover (Worldwide) (Macintosh) from mobygames.com
Front Cover (Worldwide) (Macintosh) from mobygames.com
Header Image (Windows) from Steam
IGDB Cover from igdb.com
Entering the hall of Fitzrandolph's mansion (Windows) from mobygames.com
Conversation with gofer Edgar (Windows) from mobygames.com
Liz is trying to interview Big Albert (Windows) from mobygames.com
This is actually the office of Fitzrandolph's secretary. (Windows) from mobygames.com
Edgar believes to be the next Vulkan Flash actor thanks to Liz' efforts. Dan is not really convinced. (Windows) from mobygames.com
Are you ready to get aboard! (Windows) from mobygames.com
The carnivorous dog like plant Tobbey (Windows) from mobygames.com
The Poet Of Pain is experimenting with unique measures of self inflicted mayhem to get inspiration for his lyrics. (Windows) from mobygames.com
The two bully bots watch Dan in amazement Dan destroying his bosses wife's car. (Windows) from mobygames.com
Dan observes his newest masterpiece of senseless havoc. (Windows) from mobygames.com
Nice temple site (Windows) from mobygames.com
Don't mess with that extremely smart Robot watching the exit. He has already taken your precious, battered club. (Windows) from mobygames.com
These two robots won't let you get to the sarcophagus on the left, hiding the body of Big Albert. (Windows) from mobygames.com
The strange rabbit doll in midair is a magical displacement. (Windows) from mobygames.com
Believe it or not: the DD temptress on the right is actually a nasty mummy. After some time of mutual seduction Dan has to use the Book of the Dead to get rid of her. (Windows) from mobygames.com
The MKO Zeppelin - Location of rather disturbing revelations! (Windows) from mobygames.com
This view shows achieved objectives and current goals. (Windows) from mobygames.com
The straight forward inventory (Windows) from mobygames.com
All in one options screen (Windows) from mobygames.com
Official Screenshot (Windows) from Steam
Official Screenshot (Windows) from Steam
Official Screenshot (Windows) from Steam
Official Screenshot (Windows) from Steam
Official Screenshot (Windows) from Steam
Official Screenshot (Windows) from Steam
Official Screenshot (Windows) from Steam

Year of Release:
2011

Genre(s):
Puzzle Adventure Traditional

Camera View:
Third-Person

Control Type:
Point and Click

Setting/Theme:
Mystery

Available From: