> You basically just had to click around randomly and try different inventory item permutations by trial and error until something happens.
Not at all just like you don't need to save scum in action games. Both are soft cheats used when you are unable to complete the game properly - but that's on you not the game.
I doubt that my own lack of skill would've resulted in the creation of a whole term and corresponding TVTropes...
Game design was still in its adolescence back then, and EGA/VGA resolutions didn't easily allow for clearly noticeable graphics for every item on the screen, especially in cluttered scenes (like in Fate of Atlantis: https://i0.wp.com/presentperfectgaming.com/wp-content/upload..., what item is or isn't clickable?)
Not at all just like you don't need to save scum in action games. Both are soft cheats used when you are unable to complete the game properly - but that's on you not the game.