Developer: Adventure International

Golden Voyage (1981)

by Christopher
written by Christopher 4 minutes read

Summary

Golden Voyage (1981): A Text Adventure Masterpiece

Golden Voyage is a text adventure game released in 1981 for the TRS-80, Apple II, and Commodore 64. It was developed and published by On-Line Systems, a company founded by Scott Adams, the creator of the popular Adventure series.

Plot

The game begins with the player character, a young adventurer, being summoned to the castle by the king. The king is gravely ill, and the only thing that can save him is a magic elixir that is said to be found in a faraway land. The player must undertake a perilous journey to find this elixir and return it to the king before it’s too late.

Gameplay

Golden Voyage is a text adventure game, which means that the player interacts with the game world by typing commands. The player can explore the game world, interact with objects and characters, and solve puzzles.

The game world is divided into a number of different locations, which the player can travel between by using the “go” command. Each location is described in detail, and the player can interact with objects and characters in the location by using the “get”, “use”, and “talk” commands.

The game also features a number of puzzles that the player must solve in order to progress. These puzzles can be challenging, but they are also fair and logical.

Legacy

Golden Voyage was a critical and commercial success, and it is considered to be one of the best text adventure games ever made. The game was praised for its well-written story, its challenging puzzles, and its immersive atmosphere.

Golden Voyage has been ported to a number of different platforms over the years, and it is still enjoyed by gamers today. The game is also available to play online at the Internet Archive.

Review

Golden Voyage is a classic text adventure game that is still enjoyable today. The game has a well-written story, challenging puzzles, and an immersive atmosphere. If you are a fan of text adventure games, then I highly recommend checking out Golden Voyage.

Score: 8/10

Tips for Playing

  • Take your time and explore the game world thoroughly.
  • Talk to every character you meet, and ask them for information.
  • Pay attention to the clues that the game gives you, and use them to solve the puzzles.
  • Don’t be afraid to experiment with different commands.
  • If you get stuck, don’t hesitate to look up a walkthrough online.

Additional Information

  • Golden Voyage was one of the first text adventure games to feature a female protagonist.
  • The game was inspired by the 1973 film of the same name.
  • Golden Voyage was followed by a sequel, Return to the Golden Voyage, which was released in 1982.

Conclusion

Golden Voyage is a classic text adventure game that is still enjoyable today. The game has a well-written story, challenging puzzles, and an immersive atmosphere. If you are a fan of text adventure games, then I highly recommend checking out Golden Voyage.

Review Score

8/10

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Rear Guard (1982)

by Nish
written by Nish 4 minutes read

Summary

Rear Guard (1982): A Retro Sci-Fi Shoot-‘Em-Up Classic

Rear Guard is a horizontal scrolling shoot-’em-up game released in 1982 by Adventure International for various 8-bit platforms. The game was written by John Anderson, who was also responsible for other classic games such as Choplifter and Lode Runner.

In Rear Guard, the player takes control of a lone spaceship that must defend a convoy of unarmed transports from waves of enemy attackers. The game is set in a distant future where humanity has colonized the stars, but is now under attack from a relentless alien horde.

The player’s ship is equipped with a variety of weapons, including lasers, missiles, and bombs. The player must use these weapons to destroy enemy ships and protect the transports. The game features a variety of enemy types, each with their own unique攻擊模式.

Rear Guard was a critical and commercial success upon its release. The game was praised for its fast-paced action, challenging gameplay, and impressive graphics. Rear Guard is considered to be one of the best shoot-’em-up games of its era, and it remains popular with retro gamers today.

Gameplay

Rear Guard is a horizontal scrolling shoot-’em-up game. The player controls a lone spaceship that must defend a convoy of unarmed transports from waves of enemy attackers. The game is set in a distant future where humanity has colonized the stars, but is now under attack from a relentless alien horde.

The player’s ship is equipped with a variety of weapons, including lasers, missiles, and bombs. The player must use these weapons to destroy enemy ships and protect the transports. The game features a variety of enemy types, each with their own unique攻擊模式.

The player’s ship can be destroyed by enemy fire, but it can also be repaired by collecting power-ups. The player can also collect extra lives and weapons by destroying certain types of enemy ships.

The game is divided into a series of levels, each with its own unique layout and敵人. The player must complete each level by destroying all of the enemy ships and protecting the transports.

Graphics and Sound

Rear Guard features impressive graphics for an 8-bit game. The game’s backgrounds are detailed and colorful, and the enemy ships are well-animated. The game also features a catchy soundtrack that adds to the overall atmosphere.

Legacy

Rear Guard is considered to be one of the best shoot-’em-up games of its era. The game was praised for its fast-paced action, challenging gameplay, and impressive graphics. Rear Guard remains popular with retro gamers today, and it has been ported to a variety of modern platforms.

Rear Guard has also been cited as an influence on later shoot-’em-up games, such as R-Type and Gradius. The game’s unique gameplay mechanics and impressive graphics have helped to make it a classic of the genre.

Conclusion

Rear Guard is a fun and challenging horizontal scrolling shoot-’em-up game with great graphics and sound. A must-play for fans of the genre.

Review Score

7/10

Art

Cover Art

Screenshots

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The Sorcerer of Claymorgue Castle (1984)

by Christopher
written by Christopher 5 minutes read

Summary

The Sorcerer of Claymorgue Castle: A Retro Adventure Classic

The Sorcerer of Claymorgue Castle is a text-based adventure game developed by Artic Computing and released in 1984 for the ZX Spectrum. The player takes on the role of a sorcerer’s apprentice who must retrieve thirteen Stars of Power from the evil sorcerer Mordred.

The game is set in the castle of Claymorgue, a vast and labyrinthine structure filled with deadly traps and dangerous creatures. The player must explore the castle, solve puzzles, and defeat enemies in order to progress.

The Sorcerer of Claymorgue Castle was a critical and commercial success, and is considered to be one of the greatest adventure games of all time. It was praised for its atmospheric setting, challenging gameplay, and innovative use of language.

Gameplay

The Sorcerer of Claymorgue Castle is a text-based adventure game, meaning that the player interacts with the game world by typing commands. The player can move around the castle, examine objects, and interact with characters.

The game world is described in detail, and the player must use their imagination to visualize the surroundings. The game also features a number of puzzles, which the player must solve in order to progress.

Setting

The Sorcerer of Claymorgue Castle is set in a dark and atmospheric castle. The castle is filled with deadly traps, dangerous creatures, and hidden secrets.

The player must explore the castle, solve puzzles, and defeat enemies in order to retrieve the thirteen Stars of Power.

Characters

The player character is a sorcerer’s apprentice. The apprentice is tasked with retrieving the thirteen Stars of Power from the evil sorcerer Mordred.

Mordred is the main antagonist of the game. He is a powerful sorcerer who has stolen the Stars of Power and is using them to terrorize the land.

The player will also encounter a number of other characters throughout the game, including helpful villagers, treacherous guards, and deadly monsters.

Puzzles

The Sorcerer of Claymorgue Castle features a number of puzzles, which the player must solve in order to progress. The puzzles are varied and challenging, and require the player to use their wits and imagination.

Some of the puzzles involve finding hidden objects, while others require the player to solve riddles or manipulate the environment.

Legacy

The Sorcerer of Claymorgue Castle is considered to be one of the greatest adventure games of all time. It was praised for its atmospheric setting, challenging gameplay, and innovative use of language.

The game has been ported to a number of different platforms, and has been enjoyed by generations of gamers.

Conclusion

The Sorcerer of Claymorgue Castle is a classic adventure game that is still enjoyed by gamers today. The game’s atmospheric setting, challenging gameplay, and innovative use of language make it a must-play for fans of the genre.

Review Score

8/10

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Pyramid of Doom (1979)

by Nish
written by Nish 6 minutes read

Summary

Pyramid of Doom (1979): A Text Adventure Classic

Introduction

Pyramid of Doom is a text adventure game released in 1979 for the TRS-80 and Apple II computers. It was one of the first text adventures to feature a detailed and immersive world, and it quickly became a classic of the genre.

Gameplay

Pyramid of Doom is a treasure hunt game in which the player explores an ancient Egyptian pyramid in search of a hidden treasure. The game world is described in detail, and the player can move around the pyramid, interact with objects, and solve puzzles.

The game’s parser is relatively sophisticated, and it allows the player to enter complex commands. For example, the player can type “examine statue” to get a description of a statue, or “open door with key” to open a door with a key.

Setting

The game is set in an ancient Egyptian pyramid, which is filled with traps, puzzles, and monsters. The player must navigate the pyramid’s treacherous corridors and chambers in order to find the treasure.

The pyramid is divided into several levels, each of which has its own unique challenges. The player must solve puzzles, defeat monsters, and find keys in order to progress through the pyramid.

Characters

The player is the only character in the game. However, the player will encounter a variety of non-player characters (NPCs) throughout the pyramid. These NPCs can provide the player with information, help, or obstacles.

Some of the NPCs in the pyramid include:

  • The Pharaoh: The Pharaoh is the ruler of the pyramid. He is a powerful and dangerous foe, and the player must avoid him at all costs.
  • The Mummy: The Mummy is a undead creature that guards the pyramid’s treasure. It is slow and powerful, and the player must be careful not to get caught by it.
  • The Sphinx: The Sphinx is a wise and ancient creature that can help the player on their quest. However, the Sphinx is also a trickster, and the player must be careful not to fall for its riddles.

Puzzles

The pyramid is filled with puzzles that the player must solve in order to progress. These puzzles range from simple riddles to complex logic puzzles.

Some of the puzzles in the pyramid include:

  • The Door Puzzle: The player must find a key to open a door. The key is hidden somewhere in the pyramid, and the player must search carefully to find it.
  • The Maze Puzzle: The player must navigate a maze in order to reach a treasure chest. The maze is filled with dead ends and traps, and the player must be careful not to get lost.
  • The Riddle Puzzle: The player must answer a riddle in order to open a door. The riddle is difficult, and the player must think carefully to solve it.

Combat

The player will encounter monsters throughout the pyramid. These monsters can be defeated with weapons or magic.

The player can find weapons and magic items in the pyramid. Weapons can be used to attack monsters, while magic items can be used to cast spells.

Reception

Pyramid of Doom was a critical and commercial success. It was praised for its detailed world, challenging puzzles, and immersive atmosphere.

The game has been ported to a variety of platforms over the years, including the Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit family, and MS-DOS. It is still considered one of the classic text adventure games, and it is still enjoyed by gamers today.

Legacy

Pyramid of Doom had a significant impact on the development of the text adventure genre. It showed that text adventures could be more than just simple puzzles; they could also be immersive experiences with detailed worlds and engaging stories.

Pyramid of Doom inspired a number of other text adventure games, including Zork and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. It also helped to popularize the use of parser-based input in text adventures.

Pyramid of Doom is still considered one of the greatest text adventure games ever made. It is a challenging and rewarding game that offers a truly immersive experience. If you are a fan of text adventure games, then you owe it to yourself to check out Pyramid of Doom.

Review Score

8/10

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Questprobe featuring The Hulk (1984)

by Christopher
written by Christopher 7 minutes read

Summary

Questprobe featuring The Hulk: A Classic Graphic Adventure

Released in 1984, Questprobe featuring The Hulk was one of the first graphic adventure games ever released. Developed by Adventure International and published by Parker Brothers, the game follows the Marvel superhero Hulk and his human alter-ego Bruce Banner as they explore the mysterious lair of the Chief Examiner.

The game is played from a first-person perspective, and the player controls both Hulk and Banner. Each character has their own unique abilities that must be used to solve puzzles and progress through the game. Hulk is incredibly strong and can smash through obstacles, while Banner is more intelligent and can use his scientific knowledge to solve puzzles.

The game’s graphics are simple by today’s standards, but they were quite impressive for the time. The game’s world is rendered in a black-and-white ASCII style, and the characters are represented by simple sprites. Despite the limitations of the technology, the game’s graphics are still charming and effective.

The gameplay in Questprobe featuring The Hulk is challenging but fair. The puzzles are well-designed and require the player to use both their brains and their brawn. The game also features a number of timed sequences that add to the challenge.

The story in Questprobe featuring The Hulk is engaging and well-written. The game’s narrative is full of twists and turns, and the player is constantly kept guessing what will happen next. The game also features a number of memorable characters, including the Chief Examiner, who is a truly evil and menacing villain.

Overall, Questprobe featuring The Hulk is a classic graphic adventure game that still holds up today. The game’s challenging puzzles, engaging story, and charming graphics make it a must-play for fans of the genre.

The Development of Questprobe featuring The Hulk

The development of Questprobe featuring The Hulk began in 1983, when Adventure International approached Marvel Comics about the possibility of creating a video game based on one of their characters. Marvel was initially hesitant, but they eventually agreed to let Adventure International develop a game based on The Hulk.

The game’s development team was led by Scott Adams, who was one of the pioneers of the graphic adventure genre. Adams had previously created the popular Adventureland and Colossal Cave Adventure games.

The development team also included a number of other talented individuals, including:

  • Steve Meretzky: The game’s lead designer. Meretzky had previously worked on a number of other graphic adventure games, including Zork and A Mind Forever Voyaging.
  • Bobbi Brown: The game’s artist. Brown had previously worked on a number of other video games, including Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man.
  • David Warhol: The game’s programmer. Warhol had previously worked on a number of other video games, including Donkey Kong and Mario Bros.

The development team worked closely with Marvel Comics to ensure that the game was faithful to the source material. The team also consulted with a number of scientists to ensure that the game’s puzzles were accurate and challenging.

The development of Questprobe featuring The Hulk took approximately one year. The game was released in 1984 for a number of different home computers, including the Apple II, Commodore 64, and IBM PC.

The Release and Reception of Questprobe featuring The Hulk

Questprobe featuring The Hulk was released to critical acclaim. The game was praised for its challenging puzzles, engaging story, and charming graphics. The game was also a commercial success, selling over 100,000 copies worldwide.

Questprobe featuring The Hulk was one of the first graphic adventure games to be released on home computers. The game’s success helped to popularize the genre and paved the way for a number of other classic graphic adventure games, such as King’s Quest, The Secret of Monkey Island, and Myst.

The Legacy of Questprobe featuring The Hulk

Questprobe featuring The Hulk is still considered to be one of the best graphic adventure games ever made. The game’s challenging puzzles, engaging story, and charming graphics continue to entertain and challenge players today.

The game has also been praised for its faithfulness to the source material. The game’s narrative and characters are all based on the Marvel Comics characters, and the game’s puzzles are all based on real-world science.

Questprobe featuring The Hulk is a classic graphic adventure game that still holds up today. The game’s challenging puzzles, engaging story, and charming graphics make it a must-play for fans of the genre.

Review Score

7.5/10

Art

Cover Art

Screenshots

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