Review scoopings 3/5 · Nov 5, 2022
Closest I've Come To Re-Engaging With The Text Adventure Genre
Play: 7/10 If only the parser were a bit more advanced, eg able to drop or get multiple items listed as many contemporaneous text adventures had, this game would really shine. But at this point in the chronology project, purely text adventures released in 1984 are just coming across as dry, even when the best of the best. I am …
Play: 7/10 If only the parser were a bit more advanced, eg able to drop or get multiple items listed as many contemporaneous text adventures had, this game would really shine. But at this point in the chronology project, purely text adventures released in 1984 are just coming across as dry, even when the best of the best. I am excited to try the graphic re-release, because the foundation of this adventure is exciting and well-done. The puzzles were approachable tho tough; the RNG-based tacky deaths were minimal (nonexistent?); and the adventure was my type, with the Ice Queen and time travel etc. The inventory mechanic was relatively nice and forgiving, with the clock time travel room as a reasonable item storage spot and the Rucksack upgrade a well-done item find.
Feel: 8/10 The firefly as a lighting mechanism reminds me of Crash 3 Warped (currently playing through that on stream.. albeit very slowly due to the Xfinity cut-outs ugh), but also a nice touch compared to the usual tacky candle/torch/flashlight-battery mechanisms. And I love the "return" (for me, at least ha... after playing so many action and action-adventure games in 83 and 84) of a "treasure room" where you drop stuff off, with the added feature of time travel/"home base" so to speak. Nice. Always liked both those mechanics in early text adventures. Now I'll be real happy if there is a 100/100 concept at the end... (turns out no 100/100 score at the end, but at least it has a true conclusion where you combine ingredients to truly end the game... tho I didn't get that far heh)
Attachment: 6/10 Well, I thought I'd finally push through a text adventure--it'd been a while since I clicked with one!--but when I accidentally gave the Golden Nugget to the Messenger guy blocking the Drawbridge in Time 5, I gave up. I can only blame myself for that, since I knew I was supposed to trade the Nugget for an Ale then give the Ale to the thirsty Messenger guy, but unfortunately the game allowed me to waste the Nugget on the Messenger guy (lol he even said something like, well I don't need this but thanks anyway). Doesn't seem to be a way to get it back, argh, and didn't love it enough to play it from the beginning again. Closest I've come to enjoying a purely text adventure in a while, and at least I didn't die from some nonsensical RNG moment (tho this felt almost as frustrating ha, cuz I wish he had just declined it argh!). Worth a playtest if you are playing through well-done text adventures--cuz this definitely qualifies as one!
Completion: Part-way through Zone 5 (tho hard to say precisely how far into the game) Playtime: ~35 mins