stassen@trwspp.UUCP (09/12/84)
[] I stumbled across a very interesting book in a local "Computerland" store... _The Book of Adventure Games_ Price: $19.95 Pub: Arrays, Inc. The Book Division 11223 South Hindry Avenue Los Angeles, Ca 90045 It includes more than 75 adventure-type games for all sorts of computers (list later). For EACH game, they have: (1) Company, Price, basic type of game (2) Description of the basic play/goals (3) A review of how fun and challenging the game is In a separate section, there are spoilers: (4) A map of the playing surface (5) The solution (per location in the map) This book is a MUST if you're a serious (or even casual) adventure- type gamer who wants to review games before paying $50 for one. It can also help when you're stuck without giving away the whole solution. If you don't have the willpower to NOT look at the answers until you've really tried, then I suggest you don't buy it ... you can just read the whole solution section ... and there goes your money. In the back of the book is an advertisement for Volume 2, which I am going to order, and will review later. The computers for which the games are listed are: Apple II, Apple II+, Apple III, Apple IIe, IBM PC, IBM PCjr, Atari, Commodore 64, TRS-80 Models I and II, TRS-80 Color computer, TI-99, Northstar Advantage, Horizon, Epson QX-10, HP 150, Dec Rainbow, Dec Mate, Kaypro II. None of the games are available for all of the computers, but a lot of them are available for all of the most popular ones. The games included in the first volume are: Adventure, Adventure in Time, Adventureland, Ali-Baba and the 40 Thieves, Beneath Apple Manor, Birth of the Phoenix, Blade of Blackpoole, Castle of Darkness, Chambers of Xenophobia, The Count, The Coveted Mirror, Cranston Manor, Creature Venture, Crime Stopper, Crypt of Medea, Crystal Caverns, Curse of Crowley Manor, Cyborg, Dark Crystal, Deadline, Death in the Caribbean, Demon's Forge, Doom Valley, Earthquake-San Francisco 1906, Empire of the Overmind, Enchanter, Escape from Rungistan, Escape from Traam, Fantasyland 2041 AD, G.F.S. Sorceress, Ghost Town, Golden Voyage, Gruds in Space, Infidel, Kabul Spy, Knight of Diamonds, Labyrinth of Crete, Legacy of Llylgamyn, Madventure, Mask of the Sun, Mission: Asteroid, Mission: Impossible, Mummy's Curse, Mystery Fun House, Mystery House, Oldorf's Revenge (Wizard I), Oo-Topos, Palace in Thunderland, Pirate Adventure, Planetfall, Pyramid of Doom, Queen of Phobos, The Quest, The Sands of Egypt, Savage Island Part I, Savage Island Part II, Secreet Agent, Serpent's Star, Sherwood Forest, SoftPorn Adventure, Sorcerer, Starcross, Strange Odyssey, Suspended, Time Zone, Transylvania, Ultima I, Ultima II, Ultima III, Ulysses and the Golden Fleece, Voodoo Castle, Witness, Wizard and the Princess, Wizardry, Zork I, Zork II, Zork III. From what I've played, I would recommend Sorcerer and Enchanter as adventure (text) games, and Ultima III as a (rogue-style) graphics game. From what I've read in the book, Deadline is claimed to be VERY good ... but avoid "SoftPorn Adventure" (The goal is to meet and seduce three women). We now exit the era ot teen-hormone-exploitation movies, and enter the era of exploitation computer software! Well -- DON'T JUST STAND THERE WITH YOUR JAW HANGIN' OPEN! GO BUY THE BOOK! I give it **** (out of *****). It would get 5, but some maps are visible (facing) from the review section, and you have to keep your eyes from wandering. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The opinions expressed in this document are my own. They are not intended to reflect the views of my employer - TRW - or anyone else. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Christian W. Stassen [decvax!trwrb,vortex,ihnp4!vortex]!trwspp!stassen "If we knew what the hell we were doing, then it wouldn't be research."