Summary
- Release Year: 1984
- Genres: Adventure
- Platforms: Amstrad CPC
Don Juan (1984)
Don Juan is an adult adventure game developed by DB-Soft and released in 1984 for the NEC PC-8801 and Sharp X1 home computers. The game was later ported to the MSX, FM-7, and PC-9801 platforms. Don Juan is notable for being one of the first adult adventure games to be released in Japan, and for its high quality graphics and gameplay.
The player takes on the role of Don Juan, a young man who travels the world in search of love and adventure. The game is set in a variety of locations, including Spain, Italy, France, and England. Don Juan must interact with a variety of characters, including women, men, and children, in order to progress through the game.
The gameplay in Don Juan is similar to other text-based adventure games of the era. The player types in commands to control Don Juan’s actions, and the game responds with text describing the results of those actions. The game features a variety of puzzles that the player must solve in order to progress, as well as several different endings depending on the choices the player makes.
Don Juan was a critical and commercial success in Japan, and it helped to popularize the adult adventure game genre in the country. The game was also released in North America and Europe, but it did not achieve the same level of success in those regions.
Gameplay
Don Juan is a text-based adventure game with a strong emphasis on exploration and character interaction. The player controls Don Juan as he travels the world, meeting new people and getting into all sorts of adventures.
The game is played from a first-person perspective, and the player interacts with the world by typing in commands. The game’s parser is relatively sophisticated, and it allows the player to type in a variety of natural language commands.
Don Juan can interact with a variety of characters in the game, including women, men, and children. The player can choose to be friendly or hostile towards these characters, and the choices the player makes will affect how the game progresses.
The game features a variety of puzzles that the player must solve in order to progress. These puzzles range from simple riddles to complex logic puzzles. The player must use their wits and ingenuity to solve these puzzles in order to continue their journey.
Don Juan features multiple endings, depending on the choices the player makes throughout the game. The player can choose to end the game early by getting caught by the police or by dying, or they can choose to continue playing until they reach one of the game’s several happy endings.
Characters
Don Juan is the protagonist of the game. He is a young man who travels the world in search of love and adventure. Don Juan is a charming and charismatic character, but he can also be arrogant and selfish.
The game features a variety of other characters, including women, men, and children. These characters can be helpful or harmful to Don Juan, depending on how he interacts with them.
Some of the most notable characters in the game include:
- Isabella is a beautiful young woman who Don Juan meets in Spain. She is the daughter of a wealthy nobleman, and she is immediately smitten with Don Juan.
- Maria is a kind and compassionate woman who Don Juan meets in Italy. She is a nurse, and she takes care of Don Juan when he is injured.
- Catherine is a strong and independent woman who Don Juan meets in France. She is a doctor, and she is not afraid to stand up for what she believes in.
- Elizabeth is a beautiful and intelligent woman who Don Juan meets in England. She is the daughter of a wealthy merchant, and she is very interested in learning about the world.
Setting
Don Juan is set in a variety of locations around the world, including Spain, Italy, France, and England. The game’s world is richly detailed and immersive, and it brings the time period to life.
The game’s locations are all based on real-world places, but they have been altered to fit the needs of the game. For example, the city of Madrid in the game is much smaller than the real-world city, and it is home to a number of fantastical creatures.
Themes
Don Juan is a game about love, adventure, and the pursuit of happiness. The game explores the different ways that people define love and happiness, and it asks the player to question what is truly important in life.
The game also explores the dangers of arrogance and selfishness. Don Juan is a deeply flawed character, and his actions often lead to negative consequences for himself and others. The game shows that it is important to be humble and compassionate, and to always consider the consequences of one’s actions.
Legacy
Don Juan is a classic adult adventure game that helped to popularize the genre in Japan. The game is still enjoyed by gamers today, and it is considered to be one of the best examples of the genre.
The game has been praised for its high quality graphics, gameplay, and story. The game’s characters are well-developed and believable, and the game’s world is richly detailed and immersive.
Don Juan has been ported to a variety of platforms over the years, and it is still available for purchase today. The game is a must-play for fans of the adult adventure game genre, and it is a great way to experience a classic piece of gaming history.
Review Score
7/10
