A port of the Museum of Inform. Uses the author's own 'inform.t' version 4.0

Rating: Not rated

Reviewed by Mark Musante (07 Jul 2000)

1999-12-14 museum.gam (247.24 KB)

TADS 2.5.1 executable (version: 2)

A fun little game that blends the punk-rock club scene with Lovecraftian horror, often with amusing results. You're seeking a nameless chord lost deep within the bowels of a nightclub. The Alan parser isn't great, but it's good enough that you shouldn't need to guess the verb or the syntax often, and the writing is terrific--vivid and extremely funny in places. Some of the puzzles are a mite peculiar, and there are some rough spots, technically, but on the whole this is plenty of fun.

Rating: ****

Reviewed by Duncan Stevens (27 Aug 2000)

1999-12-11 hebgb.zip (203.13 KB)

Alan 2.8 executable (version: 2)

1999-09-12 hebgb.acd (154.00 KB)

Alan executable (version: Release 1)

1999-09-12 hebgb.dat (113.50 KB)

Data file

1999-09-14 hebgbsol.txt (2.94 KB)

Walkthrough

A faithful rendering of the earliest known IF game--even earlier than Colossal Cave--ported to Inform; it became famous when Ahl included it in his book of Basic programs. Essentially, you're wandering through a network of numbered caves, looking for the Wumpus; when it's nearby, you'll smell it, and you can try to kill it by shooting into one of the caves that's near you. If you wander into the same cave as the Wumpus, you die. Other hazards include bats--which pick you up and dump you somewhere else--and pits, which kill you. The interface is rather primitive--you can shoot, move, or quit at any given time--but what did you expect in 1972? The main innovation in this port is that you can choose the design of the cave--Moebius strip, dodecahedron, etc. Not much of a game, but good for a nostalgia trip. The port was inspired by Andrew Plotkin's Hunter, in Darkness, an altogether novel take on the original.

Rating: ***

Reviewed by Duncan Stevens (12 Jul 2000)

2001-09-02 wumpus.bas (6.30 KB)

BASIC source code (compatible with GW-BASIC)

1999-12-16 wumpus.inf (16.96 KB)

Inform source code (version: Release 1)

2003-03-07 IOCCC-1994-dodsond2.zip (5.79 KB)

C source code (ported by Don Dodson, entry in 1994 IOCCC)

1999-12-16 wumpus.z5 (12.50 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: Release 1)

Inform School is a "compiler" for Inf, a miniaturized version of Inform that operates within the adventure itself, allowing you to construct simple environments. It's intended to be used as a tool for learning Inform itself. While there are some programming exercises provided, the main idea is to familiarize the player with Inf commands to facilitate later learning Inform.

Rating: Not rated

Reviewed by R. Serena Wakefield (29 Jul 2000)

1999-12-18 School.z5 (236.00 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 1, crashes some interpreteres)

You're a Dwarven Reclaimer, who is charged with going into ancient Dwarven cities and cleaning them up for future habitation. In the case of this particular city, this includes getting the power and water working again, surveying the city itself, and exorcising three ghosts. Your basic fantasy puzzle-fest, including a bit of random combat, mechanical puzzles, a maze you don't need to map and some spellcasting. Some minor bugs involving the rail-car. An afternoon's entertainment.

Rating: ****

Reviewed by R. Serena Wakefield (30 Jul 2000)

1999-12-10 deephome.z5 (130.00 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 1)

2000-01-18 deephome.sol (3.64 KB)

Solution

Scenes from a handful of ordinary lives alternate with chapters of a child's colorful science-fantasy. Sweet and sad, and complex enough that you may need to go through it twice in order to fully understand how all the fragments fit together. Very story-driven, with menu-based conversations and virtually no puzzle content. My only complaint is that it isn't terribly interactive - indeed, you're practically driven through it on tracks, and any actions that you don't take tend to be rendered unnecessary. But the story is intriguing enough, and well-written enough, and moving enough, that this seems a small quibble. This is probably the most successful example I've seen of interactivity at the service of fiction, rather than vice versa.

The author intended this game to be played with colored text. Although I normally dislike such things, I agree that it works in this case. A monochrome version is also provided for those who feel differently.

(NB: The first release of this game credits Opal O'Donnell as the author. This was a deliberate deception on the part of the real author, carried out with the permission of the real Opal O'Donnell.)

Rating: *****

Reviewed by Carl Muckenhoupt (30 Jun 2000)

1998-10-07 bug.txt (639 bytes)

Way to avoid a bug in the competition release

1998-09-14 photobw.z5 (183.50 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: competition release, black and white version)

1998-09-13 photopia.z5 (184.00 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: competition release)

1998-09-16 read1st.txt (1.57 KB)

blurb

2002-03-31 photo201.zip (639.67 KB)

Glulx executable (version: 2.01, optional graphics, bundled with Windows runtime)

1998-12-25 photopia.exe (235.95 KB)

MS-DOS executable (version: Release 1.22)

2001-07-13 ACgamesForPalm.zip (638.44 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 1.22, ported by Trevor Menagh, converted to PalmOS .prc file)

1998-12-25 photopia.z5 (189.50 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: Release 1.22)

1999-12-20 fotopia.z5 (209.00 KB)

Z-code 5 executable in Spanish (translated by José Luis Díaz)

2000-07-02 photopia.sol (3.79 KB)

Walkthrough

The best Western game I've seen yet. You start out in the middle of a showdown on Main Street, but, due to a night of heavy drinking, you can't remember what it's about. This gives you two goals: (1) Find out what's going on, and (2) avoid getting arrested for murder once you win the gunfight. (A third goal comes along before the story is very far advanced.) The writing is superb. Despite the good-guys-vs-bad-guys plot, the style owes more to Brett Harte than to John Wayne, with colorful imagery and a good variety of characters, even including a couple of children. Difficult in places, but never really unfair, as long as you're observant. Has some crucial timed events - you'll probably have to replay the beginning multiple times before you get it fully right. I have some quibbles with the library used: many of the verbs I tried were unrecognized, and I found several (purely cosmetic) bugs. Still, it does do quite a lot to support reasonable commands for the context (e.g., "draw").

Rating: ****

Reviewed by Carl Muckenhoupt (30 Jun 2000)

1999-12-05 spur.hex (180.99 KB)

Hugo executable (version: 9)

1999-12-05 spur_src.zip (64.99 KB)

Hugo source code (version: Release 9)

A laughably bad attempt at pathos and moral anguish: "I just can't believe that dear little Billy, the kid I used to sit on my knee, became a murderer." If the writing weren't bad enough, the only input the player has is at the very beginning and the very end. The rest of the time, you just page through endless "Click here to continue" prompts. It's all CYOA-style, and yet the author couldn't even be bothered to give us the occasional illusion of choice. Instead, we have what may as well be a noninteractive short story, except you have to read it through an inconvenient hypertext thingy.

If you feel you must play it, the easiest way is to select the file Child.dxr using a Shockwave-enabled browser. (You spare yourself two megabytes of download time that way, too.) If you must play it offline, you'll need all of the files (including Child.dxr), with the files ending in .x32 in a subdirectory called "Xtras". If you're going to be downloading the other Competition 2000 games, I suggest grabbing the complete set instead, which will have it already set up correctly when unpacked. But no matter how you download this work, it isn't worth the trouble.

Also, be warned that some of the filenames have spaces in them, and thus might require special handling. In fact, I had to rewrite sections of this Guide's back-end just to accomodate this lousy game, which leaves me not at all inclined to be charitable in this review.

Rating: *

Reviewed by Carl Muckenhoupt (17 Apr 2001)

2000-09-30 Child.dxr (378.75 KB)

Online version (requires Shockwave)

2000-01-09 Dirapi.dll (946.00 KB)

Driver

2000-01-09 Iml32.dll (385.00 KB)

Driver

2000-09-30 quest.exe (102.65 KB)

Windows executable (version: competition release, Requires the above dll's in the same directory and x32 files in a subdirectory called Xtras.)

1999-12-29 Font Asset.x32 (48.00 KB)

Multimedia file

1999-12-29 Font Xtra.x32 (225.00 KB)

Multimedia file

1999-12-29 Text Asset.x32 (49.50 KB)

Multimedia file

1999-12-29 TextXtra.x32 (326.00 KB)

Multimedia file

A rather traditional text adventure set in the Zorkian universe. Well, it's not *entirely* traditional - for the author tries to inject RPG-elements into it - in form of quests the NPCs entrust the player character with; however, since these quests were trivial, they didn't add much (at least, for me). The game has got a branching story with two different "winning" endings, but since entering one of the plot branches depends on a pretty unmotivated and obscure action somewhere in the middle of the story, it's not very likely for the player to find it on his/her own. The setting is rich and detailed, though an assortment of randomly scattered minor bugs spoil the impression a bit. I think my main complaint about this work was, the puzzles just were too easy. On the other hand, going through familiar rooms of the Zork trilogy, the descriptions of which received a new interpretation, was a great feeling, so that a certain amount of nostalgic value surely was present.

Rating: ***

Reviewed by Valentine Kopteltsev (27 Dec 2002)

2000-09-29 rtzas.z8 (271.00 KB)

Z-code 8 executable (version: Release 0)

2000-09-25 Back.htm (8.95 KB)

Background material

2000-09-07 flame.class (8.51 KB)

Graphics file (for background material)

2000-09-25 Index.htm (5.00 KB)

Main page for background material

2000-09-01 1.JPG (20.12 KB)

Graphics file (for background material)

1999-12-12 2.JPG (18.73 KB)

Graphics file (for background material)

1999-12-12 3.JPG (14.65 KB)

Graphics file (for background material)

1999-12-12 4.JPG (5.53 KB)

Graphics file (for background material)

1999-12-25 5.JPG (13.10 KB)

Graphics file (for background material)

1999-12-25 6.JPG (15.78 KB)

Graphics file (for background material)

1999-11-21 Barfull.gif (2.39 KB)

Graphics file (for background material)

1999-02-11 Bull014.gif (979 bytes)

Graphics file (for background material)

2000-05-28 CHURCH.JPG (14.23 KB)

Graphics file (for background material)

1999-02-11 Emu_blue.gif (267 bytes)

Graphics file (for background material)

2000-09-07 Endless.jpg (6.54 KB)

Graphics file (for background material)

1999-12-29 Envelope.jpg (110.52 KB)

Graphics file (for background material)

2000-09-01 INDEX2.GIF (9.29 KB)

Graphics file (for background material)

2000-09-01 Maintit1.gif (9.32 KB)

Graphics file (for background material)

2000-09-01 Mount16.gif (12.70 KB)

Graphics file (for background material)

2000-09-07 PLAZA.JPG (12.98 KB)

Graphics file (for background material)

2000-09-01 Under16.gif (8.13 KB)

Graphics file (for background material)

2000-09-01 WestS16.gif (9.91 KB)

Graphics file (for background material)

2000-09-08 XYZZY.JPG (8.64 KB)

Graphics file (for background material)

2000-09-25 Maps.htm (2.93 KB)

Background material

2000-09-25 Next.htm (4.38 KB)

Background material

2000-09-25 Photos.htm (2.79 KB)

Background material

2000-09-25 readme.txt (4.37 KB)

Author's notes

2000-09-25 Secrets.htm (10.13 KB)

Background material

2000-09-25 Solution.htm (27.76 KB)

Walkthrough

2000-09-25 solution.txt (14.61 KB)

Walkthrough

2000-09-25 Times.htm (11.27 KB)

Background material

1999-12-18 reverzi.inf (17.99 KB)

Inform source code (version: Release 1.0)

1999-12-18 reverzi.z5 (9.50 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 1.0)

2000-02-09 guilty.hex (241.18 KB)

Hugo executable (version: 2.09, graphics and sound resources not included)

2000-02-09 guilty.zip (3.76 MB)

Hugo executable (version: 1.09)

2002-09-27 guilty.exe (4.07 MB)

Hugo executable (version: 2.09)

1999-12-03 gbsource.zip (109.06 KB)

Hugo source code (version: Release 2.08)

2002-12-10 GuiltyBastards.txt (3.74 KB)

minimal solution

The original. What more can be said? This was the first adventure game; the whole genre is named after it. Without it, Infocom would have been just another maker of business software, Sierra On-line would be primarily known for adaptations of coin-op videogames, and Volker Blasius would have a life. A detailed description of this game's history and significance can be found in Graham Nelson's "The Craft of Adventure".

Ignoring the profound historical significance for a moment, it's a treasure hunt in a cave, like most of the early adventures (including Zork). It has a verb-noun parser, minimal detail, two big annoying mazes, magic words, nonsense puzzles, and occasional death without warning. None of this matters. Download it anyway. You cannot consider yourself a true adventurer until you've played this game.

There are many different versions of this game, some of which include additions by later authors. The original gave a total of 350 points. Later additions usually award a higher final score.

Rating: ***

Reviewed by Carl Muckenhoupt (03 Jul 2000)

1997-12-04 adventions.tar.gz (1.08 MB)

TADS executable (version: 2.0G, additional material by David Baggett, full-sentence parser, all the Adventions games gzipped together)

1997-12-04 adventions.zip (1.08 MB)

TADS executable (version: 2.0G, additional material by David Baggett, full-sentence parser, all the Adventions games zipped together)

1993-10-26 ccr.sit.bin (481.13 KB)

Macintosh executable, TADS source code (version: 1.0, additional material by David Baggett, full-sentence parser)

1993-10-26 ccr.sit.hqx (655.11 KB)

Macintosh executable, TADS source code (version: 1.0, additional material by David Baggett, full-sentence parser)

1993-07-25 ccr.oldtr.tar.Z (352.14 KB)

TADS 2.1 or earlier executable, TADS source code (version: 1.0, additional material by David Baggett, full-sentence parser)

1993-07-10 ccr.tar.Z (264.27 KB)

TADS executable, TADS source code (version: 1.0, additional material by David Baggett, full-sentence parser)

1993-07-10 ccr.zip (374.29 KB)

MS-DOS executable, TADS source code (version: 1.0, additional material by David Baggett, full-sentence parser)

1993-07-22 firstadv.zip (159.08 KB)

AGT executable (version: 1.4, ported by David Gasior, bundled with MS-DOS runtime, full-sentence parser)

1993-08-04 hugecave.zip (437.88 KB)

AGT executable (version: 2.0, additional material by David Malmberg, bundled with MS-DOS runtime, full-sentence parser, 1000 points)

1996-07-02 adv350.lha (68.28 KB)

Amiga executable (ported by Don Ekman and David Kinder, 350 points)

1996-11-20 adv350jg.lha (82.26 KB)

Amiga executable (ported by Jim Gillogly and David Kinder, 350 points)

1997-08-03 adv350r4.lha (69.92 KB)

Amiga executable (version: DECUS release 4, ported by David Kinder, 350 points)

1996-02-06 adv430.lha (161.50 KB)

Amiga executable (version: 2.5, ported by David Kinder, additional material by Donald Woods, 430 points), C source code

1996-01-08 adv550.lha (201.46 KB)

Amiga executable (ported by David Kinder, additional material by Ken C. Wellsch, 550 points), C source code

1996-05-28 adv551.lha (123.36 KB)

Amiga executable (ported by David Kinder, additional material by Doug McDonald, 551 points)

1996-01-08 adv660.lha (274.78 KB)

C source code, Amiga executable (version: 10.06, ported by David Kinder, additional material by Mike Arnautov, 660 points, requires Kicksart 2.04)

1996-11-20 Adventure.lha (644.33 KB)

Amiga executable (ported by David Kinder, contains all of Kinder's amiga ports listed below)

1993-06-30 hugecave.lzh (237.20 KB)

Amiga executable (additional material by David Malmberg, 1000 points)

1995-11-17 atari8gm.zip (790.45 KB)

Atari 800 executable

1992-12-06 adventr.arc (64.75 KB)

Atari ST executable (ported by Marvin W. Rasmussen)

2003-07-06 beebgames.zip (1.32 MB)

BBC executable (additional material by Mike Austin, Nick Austin, and Pete Austin)

1997-02-13 ColossalAdventure.zip (19.77 KB)

BBC executable (additional material by Mike Austin, Nick Austin, and Pete Austin)

1995-03-19 advc64.zip (88.38 KB)

Commodore executable (ported by Jim Butterfield), BASIC source code (version: 4)

1997-06-09 C64adv.zip (2.78 MB)

Commodore executable

1997-05-17 Int-Fic.zip (96.11 KB)

Commodore executable

2005-02-11 cpm-advent-b03.zip (118.01 KB)

CP/M executable (version: B03, ported by Mike Goetz, 580 points)

2000-08-13 cpm-advent.zip (736.95 KB)

CP/M executable (version: A02, ported by Mike Goetz, 350 points), FORTRAN source code, CP/M executable (version: B00, 550 points), CP/M executable (version: B01, 550 points), CP/M executable (version: A02, 580 points)

2002-11-15 advent.blb (190.83 KB)

Glulx executable (version: 5, ported by Simon Baldwin, GUI enhancements)

2000-04-01 advent.ulx (163.50 KB)

Glulx executable (version: release 5, ported by Andrew Plotkin)

1997-01-03 colossal.hex (121.24 KB)

Hugo 2.2a executable (ported by Kent Tessman)

2001-12-19 adv440-linux.tgz (98.93 KB)

Linux executable (ported by Mike Arnautov, 440 points)

2002-01-04 adv550_glk_linux.tar.gz (146.54 KB)

Linux executable, Linux executable (ported by Mike Arnautov)

2002-01-04 adv660_glk_linux.tar.gz (213.96 KB)

Linux executable (ported by Mike Arnautov, 660 points)

2006-12-30 adv770-1.80-linux-glk.tgz (717.16 KB)

Linux executable (version: 1.80, additional material by Mike Arnautov, 770 points)

1993-01-13 adventure-11.hqx (134.81 KB)

Macintosh executable (version: 1.1, ported by Anthony C. Ard, 550 points)

1999-01-29 Adventure.sit (100.93 KB)

Macintosh executable (version: 2.5.m2, ported by Jacob Munkhammar, additional material by Donald Woods, 430 points)

2005-12-02 HCMacPkg.sit (710.41 KB)

Macintosh executable (version: 1, ported by Al Golden, additional material by David Malmberg, 1000 points), hints, maps in GIF format

1994-04-29 advos2.zip (70.15 KB)

OS/2 2.x executable (ported by John W. Kennedy, additional material by Jerry D. Pohl, three-score version)

1992-11-12 adv.arc (55.75 KB)

MS-DOS executable (ported by Jerry D. Pohl, three-score version)

1992-11-12 adv350de.zip (138.78 KB)

MS-DOS executable (ported by Don Ekman), FORTRAN source code, walkthrough

1997-03-05 adv350kb.zip (76.99 KB)

MS-DOS executable (ported by Kevin Black, 350 points)

1994-10-11 adv350kp.zip (220.38 KB)

FORTRAN source code, MS-DOS executable (ported by Ken Plotkin)

1996-09-16 adv370.zip (56.05 KB)

MS-DOS executable (ported by Paul Munoz-Colman, 370 points)

1999-08-21 adv375.zip (60.00 KB)

MS-DOS executable (additional material by Walt Bilofsky and Jim Gillogly, 375 points)

2001-12-30 adv440.zip (124.20 KB)

MS-DOS executable (ported by Mike Arnautov, 440 points)

2002-10-19 adv550_glk.zip (886.27 KB)

MS-DOS executable (ported by Mike Arnautov and David Kinder, 550 points)

1993-07-22 adv550.zip (115.75 KB)

MS-DOS executable (version: B00, ported by Steve Dover, 550 points)

1993-03-25 adv551.zip (118.40 KB)

MS-DOS executable (version: 6.6, ported by Magnus Olsson, additional material by Doug McDonald, 551 points)

2002-10-19 adv660_glk.zip (468.19 KB)

MS-DOS executable (ported by Mike Arnautov and David Kinder, 660 points)

1995-11-29 adv660.zip (199.93 KB)

MS-DOS executable (version: 10.06, additional material by Mike Arnautov, 660 points)

2006-12-30 adv770-1.80-dos.zip (732.34 KB)

MS-DOS executable (version: 1.80, additional material by Mike Arnautov, 770 points)

2006-12-30 adv770-1.80-win-glk.zip (1.17 MB)

Windows executable (version: 1.80, additional material by Mike Arnautov)

1996-06-16 advbds.zip (140.99 KB)

C source code, MS-DOS executable (ported by Bob Withers, three-score version)

1996-02-05 advent25.zip (95.56 KB)

MS-DOS executable (version: 2.5, additional material by Donald Woods, 430 points)

1993-03-25 advtc2.zip (98.40 KB)

MS-DOS executable (by Jerry D. Pohl, three-score version), C source code

2006-10-17 CCave.zip (1.57 MB)

Windows executable (version: V2006.1.2, ported by C. Young, relies on graphics, music, primitive parser, GUI version)

2005-12-02 HCWinPkg.zip (774.07 KB)

1000 points, hints in Z-code format, maps in GIF format

2004-11-01 advent_rus.zip (259.05 KB)

MS-DOS executable in Russian, C source code in Russian

1992-11-12 winadv21.zip (127.25 KB)

Windows executable (version: 2.1, ported by Wolfgang Strobl and Ken C. Wellsch, additional material by David Platt, 550 points)

2000-12-28 adv350-pdp10.tar.gz (48.85 KB)

FORTRAN source code

2003-04-08 adv350-php.zip (54.47 KB)

PHP source code (ported by Matt Cox, requires MySQL)

1996-11-13 adv350jg.zip (62.31 KB)

C source code (version: 1.2, ported by Jim Gillogly, 350 points)

1997-03-05 adv350kb-src.zip (64.56 KB)

FORTRAN source code (ported by Kevin Black)

2002-11-01 adv350r4_f77.tar.gz (51.85 KB)

FORTRAN source code (version: DECUS release 4, ported by Linards Ticmanis)

1996-12-12 adv350r4.tar.gz (51.06 KB)

FORTRAN source code (version: DECUS release 4, ported by Kevin Black)

1996-09-16 adv370s.zip (181.10 KB)

FORTRAN source code (ported by Paul Munoz-Colman, 370 points)

2001-12-17 adv440.tgz (156.53 KB)

FORTRAN source code (additional material by Peter Luckett and Jack Pike, 440 points)

1993-03-25 adv550s.zip (131.48 KB)

C source code (ported by Ken C. Wellsch, additional material by David Platt, 550 points)

1995-11-29 adv660.tar.Z (227.66 KB)

C source code (version: 10.06, additional material by Mike Arnautov, 660 points)

2006-12-28 adv770-1.80-C-src.tgz (619.12 KB)

C source code (version: 1.80, additional material by Mike Arnautov)

2002-01-04 advent_acode.tar.gz (778.67 KB)

A-code source code (ported by Mike Arnautov, 550 points), A-code source code (ported by Mike Arnautov, 660 points), solution

2003-08-20 advent_forth.zip (56.92 KB)

Forth source code (350 points, compatible with Gforth, Win32Forth, bigFORTH, VFX Forth, Swiftforth, and PFE)

2002-09-30 advent_unisys2200.zip (24.95 KB)

MAPPER source code (ported by Jared Mathes)

2003-03-18 advent-5.2.2-5.tar.gz (161.34 KB)

FORTRAN source code (version: 5.2/2, ported by Johann Gunnar Oskarsson, additional material by David Long)

2003-03-19 advent-orig550.tar.gz (115.35 KB)

FORTRAN source code (additional material by David Platt, 550 points), PL-6 source code, A-code source code

1996-03-18 advent-original.tar.gz (50.42 KB)

FORTRAN source code (This is the ur-text from which most other versions are derived.)

1992-12-21 advent.tar.Z (155.56 KB)

FORTRAN source code (version: 5.2/2, additional material by David Long, 501 points)

1996-01-29 Adventure2.5.tar.gz (67.18 KB)

C source code (version: 2.5, additional material by Donald Woods, 430 points)

1994-04-29 advos2s.zip (58.45 KB)

C source code (ported by John W. Kennedy, additional material by Jerry D. Pohl, three-score version, for OS/2)

1994-02-16 advqnx.tar.gz (38.63 KB)

C source code (additional material by Jerry D. Pohl, three-score version, for Unix)

1992-12-16 advsrc.zip (115.03 KB)

FORTRAN source code (version: 6.6, additional material by Doug McDonald, 551 points)

1993-03-18 cave.zip (45.12 KB)

AGT source code (350 points)

1995-12-29 hugecv-s.zip (216.23 KB)

AGT source code (additional material by David Malmberg, 1000 points), solution

2000-10-12 colossal.hug (121.68 KB)

Hugo source code (version: Release 2.2a, ported by Kent Tessman)

2003-04-26 Avontuur.inf (149.62 KB)

Inform source code in Dutch (version: 8, translated by Yuri Robbers)

2006-11-12 polyadv_320a.zip (1.22 MB)

TADS source code (version: 3.20a, ported by David Baggett, David Picton, and Bennett Standeven, original 350-point version, 550-point version by David Platt, 551-point version by David Long, 580-point version by Mike Goetz, and combined 701-point versions)

2003-07-22 level9.zip (1.26 MB)

Spectrum executable (optional graphics)

1997-11-27 zx.zip (2.88 MB)

Spectrum executable (optional graphics)

2006-11-12 polyadv.gam (849.18 KB)

TADS executable (version: 3.20 Rev. A, ported by David Baggett, David Picton, and Bennett Standeven, original 350-point version, 550-point version by David Platt, 551-point version by David Long, 580-point version by Mike Goetz, and combined 701-point versions)

2006-06-12 Advent.z5 (135.00 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 9, ported by Graham Nelson, 350 points)

2001-11-23 advent.z6 (115.50 KB)

Z-code 6 executable (version: 10, ported by Jason C. Penney)

2003-04-26 Avontuur.z5 (150.00 KB)

Z-code 5 executable in Dutch (version: 8, translated by Yuri Robbers)

2000-05-17 aventure.z5 (126.50 KB)

Z-code 5 executable in French (translated by Jean-Luc Pontico)

1998-04-19 abent.z5 (123.50 KB)

Z-code 5 executable in German (version: 5, translated by Toni Arnold, full-sentence parser)

2005-12-02 HugeCave.z8 (325.00 KB)

Z-code 8 executable (version: 1, ported by Al Golden, additional material by David Malmberg, 1000 points)

2005-12-02 HugeHint.z5 (122.00 KB)

hints in Z-code format for Humongous Cave 1000-point version

2002-12-10 nuntalylihu.z5 (144.50 KB)

Z-code 5 executable in Lojban (version: 5)

1997-12-09 aventura.zip (79.16 KB)

Z-code executable in Spanish (version: 1, translated by José Luis Díaz)

1995-01-19 Craft.Of.Adventure.txt (96.89 KB)

essay by Graham Nelson, containing quite a bit of background on this game

1996-09-24 ColossalAdventure.clues (18.34 KB)

clue sheet

1995-11-24 col-adv.step (6.45 KB)

solution

1998-02-07 Adv_walk.zip (7.51 KB)

solution and map in GUEmap format for 350 point version

1997-09-12 adv660-hints.txt (23.86 KB)

hints for 660-point version

1993-08-02 adven550.sol (25.93 KB)

solution for the 550-point version

1997-08-17 adventure-walkthrough.txt (13.75 KB)

solution for the 350-point version

1992-12-31 adventure.step (10.29 KB)

solution for the 350-point version

1999-12-26 hcavesol.zip (68.01 KB)

solution to 1000-point "humongous" version

1995-11-21 jgunness.zip (159.04 KB)

Walkthrough for Level 9 version

1996-10-15 Sols1.zip (213.57 KB)

solution

1992-12-02 winadsol.zip (29.96 KB)

solution to the 550-point version

1999-10-19 Acheton.zip (122.64 KB)

MS-DOS executable

2006-08-29 Acheton-Map.zip (947.04 KB)

maps in PDF format

1999-12-03 Acheton.pdf (2.49 MB)

documentation

2000-03-17 topologika_manuals.zip (42.50 KB)

documentation in HTML format

A large, solidly built game with a promisingly starting plot. And even if the latter finally doesn't live up to the expectations, turning into a treasure hunt; the parser is rather primitive by modern standards; the player is treated most unfairly (not to mention such trifles as sudden deaths without the possibility of undoing the fatal action, and landing in a "cul-de-sac" without warning, this is the only game I've ever encountered that can be made unwinnable by simply saving it! As the authors explain, that's done to avoid "brute-force" solutions to some of the puzzles; still, it'd be nice if the players at least received a warning about it); and the game requires from you to slay a few people for no apparent reason, this work still remains admirable in several respects. Among them are the clever Shakespeare references (the game starts with the player character being magically transferred to Shakespearian time), the humour (admitted, it may appear odd to some people, but fortunately for me, I seem to share the authors' preferences in this regard), and, of course, the fulcrum of the whole game, the puzzles (to tell the truth, the ones in the last of the three structural sections of the game appeared to overuse the "try a random object in a random situation and see what happens" kind of approach (at least, to me), but most of them were logical and elegant). Thus, if you are a puzzle-lover, and the aforementioned issues don't scare you away, you should give it a try.

Rating: ***

Reviewed by Valentine Kopteltsev (01 Jun 2005)

1999-10-19 Avon.zip (69.92 KB)

MS-DOS executable

2001-10-22 Avon (129.07 KB)

T/SAL source code

2000-03-08 avon_solve.pdf (61.72 KB)

solution

2000-03-08 avon_solve.tex (17.91 KB)

solution

1999-12-02 Avon_Murdac.pdf (1.57 MB)

documentation

2000-03-17 topologika_manuals.zip (42.50 KB)

documentation in HTML format

Regarding its overall concept, this game is very similar to Zork, except it's playing in a lower league - being smaller in size, and having a weaker parser, terser descriptions, and much less versatile characters. One good aspect of Monsters of Murdac is its hint system (you have got to download the game "feelies" available at the IF-Archive to be able to use it). On the other hand, I thought one couldn't do without the hints to win, because at least 30% of the puzzles were quite obscure (at least to my taste), and the whole thing was anything but fair (one illustration: at the very beginning (which effectively means - from the very first move), the player has got to solve a tightly timed puzzle crucial for his further progress, not even being told there's a problem to deal with). And, as with the vast majority of old-school games, there's a maze (admitted, it's a slight variation of the standard, but it still requires being mapped out). The aforementioned accompanying materials, as well as the intro to the game, hint at a fancy story, but these promises remain unfulfilled. In spite of all these flaws, I can't say I'm regretting the time spent on Murdac - some puzzles were fun, and, being a former commercial game, it's very well polished and thoroughly tested. Plus (although that's not applicable to me), it possesses a certain nostalgic value. Still, if puzzles aren't your main attraction in text adventures, you'd better try something else.

Rating: ***

Reviewed by Valentine Kopteltsev (13 Mar 2005)

1999-10-19 Murdac.zip (48.04 KB)

MS-DOS executable

2001-10-22 Murdac (87.67 KB)

T/SAL source code

1999-12-02 Avon_Murdac.pdf (1.57 MB)

documentation

2000-03-17 topologika_manuals.zip (42.50 KB)

documentation in HTML format

1997-02-13 CountdownToDoom-tape.zip (17.16 KB)

BBC executable

2003-07-06 beebgames.zip (1.32 MB)

BBC executable

2000-09-20 CtDoom.z5 (129.50 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 1)

1999-10-19 Doom1.zip (58.95 KB)

MS-DOS executable

1999-12-03 Doom1.pdf (1.74 MB)

documentation

2000-03-17 topologika_manuals.zip (42.50 KB)

documentation in HTML format

2000-09-20 RtDoom.z5 (175.00 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 1)

1999-10-19 Doom2.zip (93.53 KB)

MS-DOS executable

1999-12-02 Doom2.pdf (907.25 KB)

documentation

2000-03-17 topologika_manuals.zip (42.50 KB)

documentation in HTML format

2000-08-02 LDoDoom.z5 (195.50 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 1.01)

1999-10-19 Doom3.zip (113.74 KB)

MS-DOS executable

1999-12-03 Doom3_Hezarin.pdf (3.82 MB)

documentation

2000-03-17 topologika_manuals.zip (42.50 KB)

documentation in HTML format

1999-10-19 Hezarin.zip (160.61 KB)

MS-DOS executable

1999-12-03 Doom3_Hezarin.pdf (3.82 MB)

documentation

2000-03-17 topologika_manuals.zip (42.50 KB)

documentation in HTML format

1999-10-19 Hamil.zip (49.48 KB)

MS-DOS executable

2001-10-22 Hamil (94.75 KB)

T/SAL source code

1999-12-03 Hamil.pdf (6.82 MB)

documentation

2000-03-17 topologika_manuals.zip (42.50 KB)

documentation in HTML format

1999-10-19 PhilosophersQuest.zip (67.49 KB)

MS-DOS executable

1999-07-21 BrandX (138.94 KB)

T/SAL source code

1999-12-03 PhilosophersQuest.pdf (1.77 MB)

documentation

2000-03-17 topologika_manuals.zip (42.50 KB)

documentation in HTML format

1999-10-19 SpySnatcher.zip (85.83 KB)

MS-DOS executable

2000-03-08 spysnatcher_solve.pdf (58.88 KB)

solution

2000-03-08 spysnatcher_solve.tex (14.80 KB)

solution

1999-12-04 SpySnatcher.pdf (1.95 MB)

documentation

2000-03-17 topologika_manuals.zip (42.50 KB)

documentation in HTML format

2002-09-08 airleak.wav (46.46 KB)

sound effect

1996-11-18 click.wav (890 bytes)

sound effect

2002-09-07 doorslide.wav (19.74 KB)

sound effect

2002-09-07 hiss.wav (33.39 KB)

sound effect

2002-09-08 hiss1.wav (116.50 KB)

sound effect

2002-09-15 moonbase.gam (163.53 KB)

TADS executable

1999-12-07 powerdown.wav (73.74 KB)

sound effect

2002-09-07 scream.wav (118.87 KB)

sound effect

2002-09-07 transport.wav (38.89 KB)

sound effect

2002-07-21 transport1.wav (5.65 KB)

sound effect