I really don't get why characters in a pixel-graphics game in 1990 could be so nice to look at and relatively detailed and human looking, but now we get these spindly stickmen with a blob of pixels for a face like they are hiding a witness' identity in a news program.

It feels like the animating artist and the rest of the artists weren't communicating on the same page, as there is some detailed Monkey Islandesque detail to be found in the rest of the screenshots.

Could be interesting.

Btw: Vlad Circus: Curse of Asmodeus: a simultaneous prequel and sequel to https://www.gog.com/en/game/vlad_circus_descend_into_madness.

Only 13 games by Blowfish Studios? What the hell happened to their catalog here?

My issue with modern pixel adventure games.

That's because pixel art in the 90s was trying to be realistic within its limitations, while pixel art nowadays is just a cheap way to get something out (and yes, there are exceptions, but broadly speaking)

And we don't see proper, beautiful pixel art because most devs move from cheap pixel art to cheap 3D

This reminds one of games like Darkside Detective. Might want to get it some day if time and money permit. Until then I play other things and watch the skies for creatures from the nether realms.

As Memecchi points out, original artists had to work within the limits of resolution, and maximally using those pixels bred skill and creativity, something sorely lacking in most modern indie devs, where it's much easier to devolve everything into blocks than it is to actually create quality low res artwork, and unfortunately it happened so much that it's become its own ugly art style.