Of the two English translations available, "Dead Reckoning" is preferable; it has been translated by a native speaker of English, and avoids some of the vague and confusing elements of "Shattered Memory" that may make the game hard to play. With that out of the way, the play experience is somewhat surreal. This is another game that starts with the player's amnesia, though the explanation this time is somewhat different from the usual. Gameplay is mostly not terribly difficult, except for some guess-the-phrasing problems, and one or two places where the action required is not something that one would consider common in IF. Fortunately the hints provided for "Shattered Memory" are general enough to be used with "Dead Reckoning" as well. This is a short game without a lot of puzzles that most reminded me of a Twilight Zone episode. It does have a distinctive flavor that seems to set it apart a bit from most English-language IF, and is worth a try.

Rating: ****

Reviewed by Emily Short (26 Sep 2003)

2001-10-07 clues.z5 (10.50 KB)

hint menu in Z-code format

2001-09-29 readme.txt (3.68 KB)

documentation

2001-09-29 shattmem.z5 (83.50 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 8, "bad English" version)

2003-07-31 deadreck.z5 (85.00 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 1, translated by Nick Montfort, "good English" version)

2002-01-22 Olvido.zip (53.91 KB)

Z-code 5 executable in Spanish (version: 3)

2002-01-26 cia.bas (15.63 KB)

BASIC source code

1997-06-21 cia.inf (32.46 KB)

Inform source code (version: Release 1, ported by J. Kevin Thomas)

1997-06-19 cia.z5 (53.50 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 1, ported by J. Kevin Thomas, full-sentence parser)

1996-10-15 Sols2.zip (38.22 KB)

solution

2002-01-26 elgon.bas (30.69 KB)

BASIC source code (ported by A. Laughton)

1997-11-27 trs.zip (429.95 KB)

TRS-80 executable

1995-03-19 advc64.zip (88.38 KB)

Commodore executable (version: 3.0, ported by David A. Hook), BASIC source code

2002-01-26 quest.bas (10.13 KB)

BASIC source code (ported by Lee Dusbabek)

2002-01-26 soviet.bas (24.79 KB)

BASIC source code

2002-01-21 SpeedIF_O.zip (134.23 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 1)

2002-09-18 speedIF_O.html (5.63 KB)

solution

2002-01-21 SpeedIF_O.zip (134.23 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 14)

2002-09-18 speedIF_O.html (5.63 KB)

solution

2002-01-21 SpeedIF_O.zip (134.23 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 1)

2002-09-18 speedIF_O.html (5.63 KB)

solution

A light-hearted melodrama set ca. 1910 about a heroic manly autoist, his sidekick, and a beautiful young opera singer. It features fairly easy and accessible puzzles and a good deal of humor.

The version of the game as originally released in the competition was beset by some unfortunate bugs, but the author has put in a lot of work and rendered out something that is now, as far as I could tell, more or less bug-free -- at least, I didn't run into any in the course of playing. On the other hand, there are still a few ways in which its implementation seems to let it down, most notably in that the plot does not reach a full conclusion (and it is not entirely clear whether the promised 'continuation' will ever appear).

All the same, the setting is fresh and entertaining; several puzzles have multiple solutions, and many of the possible points are optional; and the NPCs are amusingly characterized and have quite a lot to say.

Rating: ****

Reviewed by Emily Short (02 Jun 2003)

2001-09-29 finetune.sol (2.79 KB)

solution

2001-09-29 finetune.z8 (265.00 KB)

Z-code 8 executable (version: 1)

2001-09-29 readme.txt (285 bytes)

documentation

2002-05-20 FineTune.exe (394.86 KB)

MS-DOS executable (version: 8)

2002-05-20 FineTune.z8 (287.00 KB)

Z-code 8 executable (version: 8)

2002-01-01 FineTune.sol (2.38 KB)

solution

2001-09-29 eleven.z5 (191.50 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 1)

2001-09-29 walkthru.txt (9.83 KB)

solution

2002-01-01 eleven.zip (112.18 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 2), solution

2001-09-29 coast.gam (143.62 KB)

TADS executable (version: 1.0)

2001-09-29 coastmap.gif (7.91 KB)

map

2001-09-29 coastwlk.txt (885 bytes)

solution

2002-01-05 coast.zip (85.61 KB)

TADS executable (version: 1.1), map, solution

This is closer to poetry than a game. As far as I can tell, there are no goals to complete, no objects to create, change, or destroy. What you can do is visit the four locations representing the four seasons, pick up a few seasonal props, examine them, and try to give them to a woman referred to only as "She", to see her somewhat brief and cryptic responses to the same item in different seasons. There's not much more to it than that.

Rating: **

Reviewed by David Welbourn (10 Aug 2002)

2002-01-21 SpeedIF_O.zip (134.23 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 1)

2002-09-18 speedIF_O.html (5.63 KB)

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

2002-01-07 Castle.zip (59.61 KB)

MS-DOS executable, C source code

2002-01-19 dp.zip (763.72 KB)

MS-DOS executable, hints and solution

2002-01-23 depravityBITES.zip (134.35 KB)

TADS executable (version: 1.4), TADS source code, hints

Amusing little adult interactive fiction game with the emphasis more on the puzzle-solving and less on the sexual aspects that more than often bog down this genre. A limited parser and some guess the verb issues aside, this was well worth playing although the subject matter is unlikely to appeal to everyone.

Rating: ***

Reviewed by David Whyld (04 Jun 2004)

1997-05-17 Adult_Int-Fic_1.zip (84.13 KB)

Commodore executable

1997-06-09 C64adv.zip (2.78 MB)

Commodore executable

2002-01-12 farm.z5 (132.00 KB)

Z-code executable (version: 1, ported by The Despoiler)

1998-10-15 farmers-daughter.txt (3.25 KB)

solution

2005-07-04 wf38k.zip (64.57 KB)

Windows executable (version: 1.01, "mini-westfront" version)

2002-04-18 wfpc_dos.zip (258.30 KB)

BASIC source code (version: 7.95), MS-DOS executable

2004-06-18 wfpc.zip (1.17 MB)

Windows executable (version: 20.00), BASIC source code, Windows executable in Spanish

2002-01-31 wstmap.zip (24.13 KB)

map in GIF format with details in an Excel spreadsheet

An odd effort--compelling in spots, but often frustrating as well. You're Sarah Winchester, wife of the gun manufacturer, haunted by the horrors you've loosed on the world, and you bounce between a simpler, less violent past and the future you have helped create. It's a thoughtful and complex work, packed with metaphor and unusual connections. The implementation, however, needs help: the game is written in the third person, and the ">" prompt has been replaced by "Sarah decides to," with most familiar abbreviations disabled. The idea may have been to tell the story without reliance on IF conventions, but requiring that the player type needlessly long-winded commands is likely to yank him or her out of the story. The game also is sufficiently story-oriented that the puzzles, when they do come along, feel out of place; moreover, there are lots of locations that initially help make the landscape feel complete, but which the player ends up having to revisit toward the end in hopes of solving a puzzle, which lessens the overall enjoyment. Plenty of thought went into this, in short, but ultimately it doesn't work as well as it might.

Rating: ****

Reviewed by Duncan Stevens (12 Jul 2000)

2002-01-31 winchest.z8 (287.00 KB)

Z-code 8 executable (version: 5)

2002-01-22 Akbarr.zip (1.32 MB)

MS-DOS executable in Spanish