C&VG


Myorem
By Robico
Acorn Electron

 
Published in Computer & Video Games #64

Myorem

Welcome to the third part of the Rick Hanson trilogy. After extensive gameplay, I can reveal that it's every bit as good a game as the other programs! Those who read my review of part two, Project Thesius, a few months ago, will recall that it was pretty easy. Myorem is a real killer!

Set in a South American country ruled by a dreadful dictator, it is your task, as Rick Hanson, to go in and overthrow the entire regime.

You begin the game bound hand and foot to a post, in a dusty arena. You have only a few short moves before you are confronted by a firing squad, and shot. You can't move. You can't speak. You have only your thoughts...

Myorem

Once this problem has been solved (and I'm not going to tell you how!) you will find yourself in a drainage ditch, alongside the road.

Everything seems to be going well, until you discover that it runs from east to west, through a number of locations, with an apparent dead-end at either end.

This is where you really have to think long and hard about your plan of action, before taking any. Any slip will lead to death at the hands of the firing squad.

Myorem

If this sounds a little confusing, don't worry. Once you've seen the beginning of the game, and died a couple of times, everything will become clear.

This program features a couple of techniques not previously seen in Robico's games. Initially, there's the text compressor, which squidges the text into 59% less space than it would usually occupy.

The second feature is of far more interest to the player. The Robico Advanced Parser makes the computer about as smart as they come during play. You can type in utterly ridiculous sentences which it will understand with little or no trouble.

Myorem

You can use words like IT, THEM, ON, and plurals, as well as ALL, EXCEPT, etc, etc.

Another feature is the way that throwing an object is handled. You can hurl an object into different locations, instead of merely being able to throw it, or drop it, where you stand.

The puzzles devised by author and programmer Robert O'Leary are pretty tough. You may well see a solution, but to make it work, you will probably have to perform all manner of operations before you can get away safely. There is a competition open to those of you smart enough to complete the whole game, and the prize is £100.

Myorem (I haven't quite worked out what the title stands for yet) is a cracking good adventure - hard, entertaining, and easy to play. Buy it!