2004-12-02 c32_comp.zip (137.07 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 1), solution

2004-12-02 c32_comp.zip (137.07 KB)

Z-code 3 executable (version: 1)

Haunting and mysterious, Sommeril is a village between the borders of dream and death. Somehow you have fallen here, naked and alone, the pages of your book scattered. Explore this strange town that resonates with your hidden fears and desires, and hints at unpleasant truths.

Although there are puzzles to solve, a way to win and some ways to die, the main focus is on Sommeril itself and its strange imagery, derived in part from the author's personal experiences. Most of the puzzles in the game are completely optional.

Two criticisms: The spelling, sentence structures, and paragraph structures aren't as polished as they could be. And the game usually requires the player to type the full names of objects, such as "rat-chewed page", to refer to them. Annoying, yes, but you should still try this game anyway.

Rating: ***

Reviewed by David Welbourn (11 Nov 2005)

2004-12-03 Sommeril.zip (809.85 KB)

Adrift 4.00 executable (version: "Special Edition", optional graphics, music)

2005-02-20 springcomp04.zip (1,001.00 KB)

Adrift 4.00 executable (version: "Special Edition"), solution

2004-12-02 c32_comp.zip (137.07 KB)

Z-code 3 executable (version: 1)

2004-12-02 c32_comp.zip (137.07 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 1)

2004-12-02 c32_comp.zip (137.07 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 1), solution

2004-12-02 c32_comp.zip (137.07 KB)

Z-code 3 executable (version: 4), solution

Another of Paul Allen Panks' mini-RPGs in the style of Scott Adams. Fight a werewolf, a troll, and a dragon. This is not a spectacular game, and has some glaring flaws. It's trivially easy to win the game without seeing more than 10% of what there is to see (even though the author says that the endgame is supposed to be "pretty tough").

On the other hand, this game is better tested than Panks' other games, and it has a better parser. And it comes with a really excellent walkthrough, commenting on all the game's locations and secrets. If you're looking to play one of Panks' games (and you're not willing to put in the weeks and months to play Westfront PC or HLA Adventure), this is probably as good a choice as any.

Rating: **

Reviewed by Greg Boettcher (08 Feb 2005)

2004-12-03 frefry.zip (67.05 KB)

BASIC source code (version: 1.28), MS-DOS executable

2004-12-05 cabal.z5 (174.00 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 3)

2004-12-14 Wolf.zip (158.88 KB)

Windows executable in German (version: 1.0)

2004-09-20 typo_hints.html (20.05 KB)

hints

2004-09-24 typo.z5 (94.50 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 1, competition entry)

2004-12-11 typosrc.tgz (32.78 KB)

Inform source code (version: 1)

2004-11-25 typo.zip (61.72 KB)

Z-code executable (version: 1), hints

2004-07-31 SCWalkThru.txt (9.24 KB)

solution

2004-09-07 SquareCircle.t3 (968.73 KB)

TADS 3 executable (version: 1.0, competition entry)

2004-12-05 SquareCircleSrc.zip (191.66 KB)

TADS source code (version: 1.2)

2004-11-27 SquareCircle.zip (382.46 KB)

TADS executable (version: 1.1), solution

2004-12-15 BattleSimDemo.zip (270.32 KB)

TADS 3 executable (version: 1.06)

2004-09-30 GreatXavio.z5 (160.50 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 1, competition entry)

2004-12-04 GreatXavio.z5 (173.50 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 3)

More or less your standard minimalist fantasy adventure with a two-word parser - the kind of thing where nearly every object is used exactly once - but with only one treasure to collect and a greater emphasis on monsters than most games of this type. I found one puzzle quite difficult, and the per-room help wasn't adequate for solving it.

Rating: **

Reviewed by Carl Muckenhoupt (19 Apr 2003)

1995-11-17 atari8gm.zip (790.45 KB)

Atari 800 executable

1997-06-09 C64adv.zip (2.78 MB)

Commodore executable (optional graphics)

1997-09-08 mystsoft.zip (533.94 KB)

Spectrum executable (optional graphics)

1997-11-27 zx.zip (2.88 MB)

Spectrum executable (optional graphics)

1998-04-06 mysterious_inform.zip (108.66 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (ported by Paul David Doherty and Bjorn Gustavsson, no graphics)

2004-12-12 mysterious_z6.zip (907.01 KB)

Z-code 6 executable (ported by Colin Davies, optional graphics)

1994-10-05 mysterious.tar.gz (48.00 KB)

ScottFree executable

1995-10-09 baton.step (1.46 KB)

solution

1995-11-21 jgunness.zip (159.04 KB)

walkthrough

1996-10-15 Sols2.zip (38.22 KB)

solution

A rescue mission through 5 rather small eras. Two-word parser, minimalist style. Reasonable puzzles, but has some word-guessing problems and an unreasonable death or two.

Rating: **

Reviewed by Carl Muckenhoupt (19 Apr 2003)

1995-11-17 atari8gm.zip (790.45 KB)

Atari 800 executable

1997-06-09 C64adv.zip (2.78 MB)

Commodore executable (optional graphics)

1997-09-08 mystsoft.zip (533.94 KB)

Spectrum executable (optional graphics)

1997-11-27 zx.zip (2.88 MB)

Spectrum executable (optional graphics)

1998-04-06 mysterious_inform.zip (108.66 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (ported by Paul David Doherty and Bjorn Gustavsson)

2004-12-12 mysterious_z6.zip (907.01 KB)

Z-code 6 executable (ported by Colin Davies, optional graphics)

1994-10-05 mysterious.tar.gz (48.00 KB)

ScottFree executable

1995-11-21 jgunness.zip (159.04 KB)

solution

1996-10-15 Sols2.zip (38.22 KB)

solution

1995-11-17 atari8gm.zip (790.45 KB)

Atari 800 executable

1997-06-09 C64adv.zip (2.78 MB)

Commodore executable (optional graphics)

1997-09-08 mystsoft.zip (533.94 KB)

Spectrum executable (optional graphics)

1997-11-27 zx.zip (2.88 MB)

Spectrum executable (optional graphics)

1998-04-06 mysterious_inform.zip (108.66 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (ported by Paul David Doherty and Bjorn Gustavsson, no graphics)

2004-12-12 mysterious_z6.zip (907.01 KB)

Z-code 6 executable (ported by Colin Davies, optional graphics)

1994-10-05 mysterious.tar.gz (48.00 KB)

ScottFree executable

1995-11-21 jgunness.zip (159.04 KB)

walkthrough

1996-10-15 Sols2.zip (38.22 KB)

solution

In the first Arrow of Death game, you obtained the materials you needed to make an arrow capable of slaying the evil Xerdoz. Now you've got to find a way to make the actual arrow itself and use it to eliminate that worthy. A typical fantasy game from the Adams era. Still copywritten, but released to the IF archive with the author's permission.

Rating: **

Reviewed by R. Serena Wakefield (29 Jul 2000)

1995-11-17 atari8gm.zip (790.45 KB)

Atari 800 executable

1997-06-09 C64adv.zip (2.78 MB)

Commodore executable (optional graphics)

1997-09-08 mystsoft.zip (533.94 KB)

Spectrum executable (optional graphics)

1997-11-27 zx.zip (2.88 MB)

Spectrum executable (optional graphics)

1998-04-06 mysterious_inform.zip (108.66 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (ported by Paul David Doherty and Bjorn Gustavsson, no graphics)

2004-12-12 mysterious_z6.zip (907.01 KB)

Z-code 6 executable (ported by Colin Davies, optional graphics)

1994-10-05 mysterious.tar.gz (48.00 KB)

ScottFree executable

1995-11-21 jgunness.zip (159.04 KB)

walkthrough

1996-10-15 Sols2.zip (38.22 KB)

solution

1995-11-17 atari8gm.zip (790.45 KB)

Atari 800 executable

1997-06-09 C64adv.zip (2.78 MB)

Commodore executable (optional graphics)

1993-12-07 pulsar7.zip (11.40 KB)

MS-DOS executable

1997-09-08 mystsoft.zip (533.94 KB)

Spectrum executable (optional graphics)

1997-11-27 zx.zip (2.88 MB)

Spectrum executable (optional graphics)

1998-04-06 mysterious_inform.zip (108.66 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (ported by Paul David Doherty and Bjorn Gustavsson, no graphics)

2004-12-12 mysterious_z6.zip (907.01 KB)

Z-code 6 executable (ported by Colin Davies, optional graphics)

1994-10-05 mysterious.tar.gz (48.00 KB)

ScottFree executable

1995-11-21 jgunness.zip (159.04 KB)

walkthrough

1996-10-15 Sols2.zip (38.22 KB)

solution

A very odd early adventure using the Scott Adams interpreter. Your car runs out of gas outside an abandoned circus, and your ostensible goal is to get going again. For some reason this involves utterly destroying the circus. Despite the illogical plot, this is a straightforward game with logical puzzles and only a few guess-the-verb problems. May be best suited to novices.

Rating: **

Reviewed by R. Serena Wakefield (29 Jul 2000)

1997-06-09 C64adv.zip (2.78 MB)

Commodore executable (optional graphics)

1997-09-08 mystsoft.zip (533.94 KB)

Spectrum executable (optional graphics)

1997-11-27 zx.zip (2.88 MB)

Spectrum executable (optional graphics)

1998-04-06 mysterious_inform.zip (108.66 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (ported by Paul David Doherty and Bjorn Gustavsson, no graphics)

2004-12-12 mysterious_z6.zip (907.01 KB)

Z-code 6 executable (ported by Colin Davies, optional graphics)

1994-10-05 mysterious.tar.gz (48.00 KB)

ScottFree executable

1995-11-16 circus.hints (3.30 KB)

hints

1995-11-21 jgunness.zip (159.04 KB)

walkthrough

1996-10-15 Sols2.zip (38.22 KB)

solution

1995-11-17 atari8gm.zip (790.45 KB)

Atari 800 executable

1997-06-09 C64adv.zip (2.78 MB)

Commodore executable (optional graphics)

1997-09-08 mystsoft.zip (533.94 KB)

Spectrum executable (optional graphics)

1997-11-27 zx.zip (2.88 MB)

Spectrum executable (optional graphics)

1998-04-06 mysterious_inform.zip (108.66 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (ported by Paul David Doherty and Bjorn Gustavsson, no graphics)

2004-12-12 mysterious_z6.zip (907.01 KB)

Z-code 6 executable (ported by Colin Davies, optional graphics)

1994-10-05 mysterious.tar.gz (48.00 KB)

ScottFree executable

1995-11-21 jgunness.zip (159.04 KB)

walkthrough

1996-10-15 Sols2.zip (38.22 KB)

solution

1995-11-17 atari8gm.zip (790.45 KB)

Atari 800 executable

1997-06-09 C64adv.zip (2.78 MB)

Commodore executable (optional graphics)

1997-09-08 mystsoft.zip (533.94 KB)

Spectrum executable (optional graphics)

1997-11-27 zx.zip (2.88 MB)

Spectrum executable (optional graphics)

1998-04-06 mysterious_inform.zip (108.66 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (ported by Paul David Doherty and Bjorn Gustavsson, no graphics)

2004-12-12 mysterious_z6.zip (907.01 KB)

Z-code 6 executable (ported by Colin Davies, optional graphics)

1994-10-05 mysterious.tar.gz (48.00 KB)

ScottFree executable

1995-11-21 jgunness.zip (159.04 KB)

walkthrough

1996-10-15 Sols2.zip (38.22 KB)

solution

1995-11-17 atari8gm.zip (790.45 KB)

Atari 800 executable

1997-06-09 C64adv.zip (2.78 MB)

Commodore executable (optional graphics)

1997-09-08 mystsoft.zip (533.94 KB)

Spectrum executable (optional graphics)

1997-11-27 zx.zip (2.88 MB)

Spectrum executable (optional graphics)

1998-04-06 mysterious_inform.zip (108.66 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (ported by Paul David Doherty and Bjorn Gustavsson, no graphics)

2004-12-12 mysterious_z6.zip (907.01 KB)

Z-code 6 executable (ported by Colin Davies, optional graphics)

1994-10-05 mysterious.tar.gz (48.00 KB)

ScottFree executable

1995-11-21 jgunness.zip (159.04 KB)

walkthrough

1996-10-15 Sols2.zip (38.22 KB)

solution

According to the documentation, this Adams-era game concerns your quest to recover a golden figurine left behind by a previous treasure hunter. The game feels a lot more like housebreaking, however, and is really just a traditional treasure hunt in a new guise. Still, the puzzles are nice and logical and it rarely kills you off without warning. The title is obviously meant to recall the Agatha Christie novel, but the two have absolutely nothing in common.

Rating: **

Reviewed by R. Serena Wakefield (29 Jul 2000)

1995-11-17 atari8gm.zip (790.45 KB)

Atari 800 executable

1997-06-09 C64adv.zip (2.78 MB)

Commodore executable (optional graphics)

1997-09-08 mystsoft.zip (533.94 KB)

Spectrum executable (optional graphics)

1997-11-27 zx.zip (2.88 MB)

Spectrum executable (optional graphics)

1998-04-06 mysterious_inform.zip (108.66 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (no graphics)

2004-12-12 mysterious_z6.zip (907.01 KB)

Z-code 6 executable (ported by Colin Davies, optional graphics)

1994-10-05 mysterious.tar.gz (48.00 KB)

ScottFree executable

1995-11-21 jgunness.zip (159.04 KB)

walkthrough

1996-10-15 Sols2.zip (38.22 KB)

solution

You've managed to fall asleep in a wax museum, and you've been locked inside for the night. Now you have to find an escape as the wax figures begin to come to life around you. Some spooky moments, but a little too campy to be truly called horror. This is a Scott Adams-era adventure, with all that implies (two-word parser, no description, and heavy nostalgia value). It's not a classic, but it's certainly not terrible either.

Rating: **

Reviewed by R. Serena Wakefield (29 Jul 2000)

1995-11-17 atari8gm.zip (790.45 KB)

Atari 800 executable

1997-06-09 C64adv.zip (2.78 MB)

Commodore executable (optional graphics)

1997-09-08 mystsoft.zip (533.94 KB)

Spectrum executable (optional graphics)

1997-11-27 zx.zip (2.88 MB)

Spectrum executable (optional graphics)

1998-04-06 mysterious_inform.zip (108.66 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (ported by Paul David Doherty and Bjorn Gustavsson, no graphics)

2004-12-12 mysterious_z6.zip (907.01 KB)

Z-code 6 executable (ported by Colin Davies, optional graphics)

1994-10-05 mysterious.tar.gz (48.00 KB)

ScottFree executable

1995-11-21 jgunness.zip (159.04 KB)

walkthrough

1996-10-15 Sols2.zip (38.22 KB)

solution

2004-12-12 Hotellet.z5 (106.50 KB)

Z-code 5 executable in Swedish (version: 1)

2004-12-12 Storforsen.z5 (101.50 KB)

Z-code 5 executable in Swedish (version: 1)

2004-12-31 introcomp04.zip (2.03 MB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 1, auden.z5)

2004-12-31 introcomp04.zip (2.03 MB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 1, passenger.z5)

2004-12-29 Runestaff_E.zip (13.71 KB)

BBC executable

2004-12-23 zombie4.zip (66.67 KB)

Windows executable in Russian (version: 1.12)

My favourite game in IF-Competition 2004, Blue Chairs almost immediately won me over by a wonderfully surreal (or, more precise, dream-like) atmosphere and setting. As it turned out later, they were combined with one of the strongest stories I'd ever encountered in interactive fiction. On the other hand, it has been (deservedly, it seems) criticized for somewhat obscure puzzles, so that someone could find enough reasons to take away a star off its rating; someone - but not me.

Rating: *****

Reviewed by Valentine Kopteltsev (13 Mar 2005)

2004-09-30 bluechairs.z5 (232.50 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 1, competition entry)

2004-09-30 notes.pdf (195.21 KB)

design document

2004-09-30 walkthrough.txt (1.64 KB)

solution

2004-12-29 bluechairs.z5 (235.50 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 2)

2004-12-31 dreamhold.z8 (377.50 KB)

Z-code 8 executable (version: 5)

2004-09-30 gamlet.z5 (244.00 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 1, competition entry)

2004-12-23 gamlet.z5 (254.50 KB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 2)

2004-04-20 ReeferIsland.gam (356.04 KB)

TADS executable (version: 1.0)

2004-12-08 reefer.gif (84.17 KB)

map in GIF format

2004-12-31 introcomp04.zip (2.03 MB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 1, Herbal.z5)

2004-12-31 introcomp04.zip (2.03 MB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 1, jbbrwkyi.z5)

2004-12-31 introcomp04.zip (2.03 MB)

Glulx executable (gauss.ulx + 18 SND*.aif files)

2004-12-31 introcomp04.zip (2.03 MB)

TADS executable (version: 1.0, betsabet.gam)

2004-12-31 introcomp04.zip (2.03 MB)

Z-code 5 executable (version: 1, Cross-IK.z5)

2004-12-19 ptbad4.gam (56.92 KB)

TADS executable (version: 1.0)