Zzap


Werewolf Simulator
By Top Ten
Commodore 64/128

 
Published in Zzap #36

Werewolf Simulator

Newshound Tommy Astle thinks he's seen everything during his vocation as a reporter with the local rag. Big City life is never dull and there seems to be nothing left that could surprise him... until one fateful night.

People are suddenly dying in strange circumstances and there's talk of the supernatural being involved. Cynicism is the order of the day, and rumours of unearthly creatures stalking the City are brushed aside. However, as the story unfolds and Astle's investigations take him deeper in to the mysteries of the gruesome deaths, the impossible slowly becomes feasible.

People speak in terrified whispers of a creature from the realms of myth and superstition, and Astle's belief in such an animal grows and grows. He has to investigate; discover the secret of the creature and reveal all to the public in the scoop of the century.

Werewolf Simulator

Werewolf Simulator is an adventure written using the Graphic Adventure Creator from Incentive Software, and as such it leaves room for improvement. Location descriptions are sparse and the graphical representations are basic. However, the gameplay is of a slightly higher standard than the bulk of utility-created adventures, and a certain appeal is achieved via the ease with which initial progress is made.

Inputs are either understood, as the author has included a multitude of synonyms, or rejected completely. This helps guide the player through the first few locations and puzzles until familiarity with the game style is accomplished. There are the obligatory eyebrow-raisers and errors in the game, such as "Two rooms lead off north and east" when in fact only one room leads off in each of the two directions; one character is described as "Dr. Willis" but may only be conversed with by inputting 'DOCTOR', and the layout of the City streets is illogical.

I didn't play Werewolf Simulator for very long, but I quite enjoyed the little of it I did see. It has many drawbacks having been written on the GAC, but, taking into account its retail price and overall feel, it is by no means a bad adventure.