Summary

Release Year: 1986
Genres: Adventure, Point-and-click
Platforms: Apple II, Commodore C64/128/MAX, MSX2
Developers: Lucasfilm Games
Publishers: Activision, Pack-In-Video

Labyrinth: The Computer Game (1986)

Released in 1986, Labyrinth: The Computer Game is a graphic adventure game developed by Lucasfilm Games and published by Activision. It is based on the fantasy film Labyrinth, directed by Jim Henson and starring David Bowie as Jareth the Goblin King. The game tasks the player with navigating a maze while solving puzzles and evading dangers. The player’s goal is to find and defeat Jareth within 13 real-time hours.

Unlike other adventure games of the period, Labyrinth does not feature a command-line interface. Instead, the player uses two scrolling “word wheel” menus on the screen to construct basic sentences. This innovative interface allows for a more natural and intuitive way to interact with the game world.

The game’s graphics are impressive for its time, with detailed and colorful environments that bring the film’s world to life. The character sprites are also well-animated, and the game’s cutscenes are beautifully drawn.

The puzzles in Labyrinth are challenging but fair, and they require the player to use their wits and problem-solving skills. The game also features a number of action sequences, which add to the excitement and variety of the gameplay.

The game’s atmosphere is one of its strongest points. The music and sound effects are excellent, and they create a sense of immersion that is unmatched by many other games of the era. The game’s world is also full of strange and wonderful creatures, which adds to its charm and uniqueness.

Overall, Labyrinth: The Computer Game is a classic graphic adventure game that is still enjoyable today. Its innovative interface, challenging puzzles, and immersive atmosphere make it a must-play for fans of the film and adventure games alike.

Gameplay

The player controls Sarah, a young girl who has been transported to the Labyrinth, a magical world ruled by Jareth the Goblin King. Sarah must navigate the Labyrinth, solve puzzles, and evade dangers in order to find and defeat Jareth and rescue her baby brother Toby.

The game is played from a third-person perspective, and the player uses the word wheel menus to control Sarah’s actions. The player can move Sarah around the screen, interact with objects, and talk to other characters.

The game’s puzzles are varied and challenging, and they require the player to use their wits and problem-solving skills. Some puzzles are simple, such as finding a key to unlock a door, while others are more complex, such as figuring out how to operate a machine.

The game also features a number of action sequences, such as when Sarah must escape from a collapsing room or fight off a group of goblins. These action sequences add to the excitement and variety of the gameplay.

Development

Labyrinth: The Computer Game was developed by Lucasfilm Games, which was founded by George Lucas in 1982. The game was directed by Ron Gilbert, who had previously worked on the classic adventure game Maniac Mansion.

The game’s development was challenging, as the team had to create a game that was both faithful to the film and fun to play. The team also had to develop the game’s innovative word wheel interface, which was a major departure from the command-line interfaces that were common in adventure games at the time.

Despite the challenges, the development team was able to create a game that was both critically and commercially successful. Labyrinth: The Computer Game was released in 1986 to critical acclaim, and it went on to sell over one million copies.

Critical reception

Labyrinth: The Computer Game was praised for its graphics, puzzles, and atmosphere. Critics also praised the game’s innovative word wheel interface, which made the game more accessible to players who were not familiar with adventure games.

The game was also a commercial success, selling over one million copies. It was one of the best-selling games of 1986, and it helped to establish Lucasfilm Games as a major force in the video game industry.

Legacy

Labyrinth: The Computer Game is considered to be a classic graphic adventure game. It is still enjoyed by fans of the film and adventure games alike. The game’s innovative word wheel interface has been used in a number of other adventure games, and it is still considered to be one of the best ways to control a character in an adventure game.

The game has also been praised for its faithfulness to the film. The game’s world, characters, and story are all based on the film, and the game captures the film’s unique atmosphere.

Labyrinth: The Computer Game is a classic graphic adventure game that is still enjoyable today. Its innovative interface, challenging puzzles, and immersive atmosphere make it a must-play for fans of the film and adventure games alike.