Big K


Castle Adventure

Publisher: Virgin Games
Machine: Dragon 32

 
Published in Big K #3

Castle Adventure

Uninspiring text adventure that dares you to venture into a dark old castle in search of the legendary Staff of Gomora. The program boasts 120 locations but whether you'll feel inclined to visit them all after your initial tentative steps across the drawbridge is another matter.

I mean, there are so many faults with this that it almost becomes depressing listing them. A text adventure stands or falls by its literacy. Locations should be clearly described and messages interesting. After all, the more evocative the text, the more enjoyable the adventure is likely to become. Unfortunately, 'Location: An allure' is not my idea of an elaborate description, but it's typical of Castle Adventure.

Not only is the text brief but it's peppered with meaningless architectural jargon. I mean, what *is* an allure for God's sake? (Sounds like a loose woman!) Even worse, you are unable to act in any satisfactory way within the program. Try something interesting and you'll get the inevitable response 'Eh! What? Pardon?'

Highly entertaining. Sudden death also abounds. For no apparent reason you'll trip over a cassette recorder and break your neck. What is a cassette recorder doing in a gothic adventure? Why are you given no indication of its presence?

The whole thing is exceptionally tedious. This is one quest most definitely not worth girding your loins for. An Allure! Pshaw...