LITTLE SHAKER: SUMMER ADVENTURES

A young boy named Cliff spends his dull vacation at home in Ritztown, a village on the outskirts of Clank City. One day, though, the family receives a mail-order package that would change his life. Using this new magical shaker and recipe book to synthesize items with various powers, Cliff concocts a medicine that turns the lonely village elder's pet pig into the speaking bipedal Piggy! This gives Cliff the courage to continue helping his neighbors and exploring the wider world. It was the most exciting vacation he'd ever have. Little Shaker is a 2001 Windows action-RPG where you play as Cliff, adventuring around Ritztown, Clank City, and various locales as his summer goes from boring to bombastic. You collect ingredients and key items to create new ones using the titular tool, then use them to solve puzzles and complete quests. The game has you exploring a world of Americana, from grassy overworlds to many "dungeons" like the Ritztown cemetery. Talking to NPCs not only advances your connections with them, but will increase your total health as you earn friendship points.