i am considering getting tex murphy 1 + 2. i was wondering using a walkthrough are they very difficult to play? as in gameplay wise. i hear there are some action elements involved in one or both of them. i know i get basically the same story with overseer as mean streets but i figure that 5 dollars for the 2nd game is good.

Good question. I picked up Mean Streets and Martian Memorandum a couple of years ago with the same intention of playing through them to get caught up on the franchise.

Mean Streets is a difficult game to play by today's standards. There's a lot the game doesn't outright tell you to do if you don't have the instruction manual. You'll be lost for a while just trying to figure out basic controls and game mechanics have not aged well from the late 80's. If your patient however, and take time to read the materials that come with the game, you should be able to pick it up and have fun with it. I should mention it plays completely different than the later titles (Under a Killing Moon and so on), it's more reminiscent of how old Sierra games played.

Martian Memorandum is much more refined. Plays like an old Lucas Arts adventure game. Easy to pick up and play. Lots of fun.

Overall, well worth the 5 dollars.