The Time Machine (1981)

Play: 7/10 Another fun, well-executed concept from the Mysterious Adventures series. I'm liking this series so far, seems the best set of interactive fiction since the Adams adventures era. I had a lot of fun with this one, exploring just for the sake of exploring and figuring out the parser on my own which is rare for me who usually relies on guides/solutions/etc. I suppose I did need a guide for some of the terms, like Jam Lever and Lever Plate. It got a little redundant near the end, since you can't completely control where the Time Machine ends up, which would have been a nice touch imo (randomness doesn't really add any true challenge). Not a big deal, just feels silly getting Swamp area three times and having to Leave Machine, Go Machine, repeatedly. Tbh, the puzzles don't really make sense, so I am probably overrating this--but it's fun with hints and a map available online.

Feel: 8/10 I actually liked the setting of this, though I thought it was going to be another medieval or fantasy setting like the first Mysterious Adventure. Gotta love a time travel concept. Collecting the Prisms in different time eras reminded me soooo much of Putt Putt Travels Through Time ha. Wait wow this is so alike Putt Putt Travels Through Time with the dinosaur era. Cute that it walks away eating biscuits. I love that the puzzles are forgiving but still use the multiple eras to get all the right items etc. Its similarities to Putt Putt and other nostalgic time travel games probly boosted this a bit.

Attachment: 7/10 Like with Golden Baton, I will likely replay this when/if I ever replay classic text adventures!