Summary
- Release Year: 1998
- Genres: Adventure
- Platforms: Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows)
- Developers: Adam Cadre
- Publishers: Adam Cadre
Photopia (1998)
Photopia is a short, narrative-driven piece of interactive fiction written by Adam Cadre in 1998. It won first place in that year’s Interactive Fiction Competition. The game is played entirely through text, with the player typing in commands to interact with the environment and progress the story.
The game takes place in a single room, a dimly lit attic filled with boxes and old furniture. The player character is a young woman named Anne, who has come to the attic to search for a photo of her late mother. As she explores the attic, she begins to uncover the secrets of her family’s past.
Photopia is a masterclass in interactive storytelling. Cadre uses the limited medium of text to create a rich and atmospheric world, and the player is constantly surprised and delighted by the twists and turns of the plot. The game is also very well-written, with Cadre’s prose being both evocative and economical.
One of the things that makes Photopia so special is its use of puzzles. The puzzles are all logical and fair, and they are integrated seamlessly into the story. The player never feels like they are solving puzzles just for the sake of solving puzzles; they are always working towards a specific goal.
Another highlight of Photopia is its characters. Anne is a well-developed and relatable protagonist, and the supporting cast is equally well-drawn. The player quickly comes to care about the characters and their fates.
Photopia is a short game, but it is a very memorable one. It is a game that will stay with you long after you finish playing it. If you are a fan of interactive fiction, or if you are just looking for a great story, then I highly recommend checking out Photopia.
Gameplay
Photopia is played entirely through text. The player types in commands to interact with the environment and progress the story. The game’s parser is very forgiving, and it will often understand commands that are not perfectly phrased.
The game takes place in a single room, a dimly lit attic filled with boxes and old furniture. The player character can move around the attic, examine objects, and talk to other characters.
The game’s puzzles are all logical and fair. They are integrated seamlessly into the story, and the player never feels like they are solving puzzles just for the sake of solving puzzles.
Story
Photopia tells the story of Anne, a young woman who has come to the attic to search for a photo of her late mother. As she explores the attic, she begins to uncover the secrets of her family’s past.
The story is full of twists and turns, and the player is constantly surprised and delighted by the way the plot unfolds. Cadre does a great job of building suspense and tension, and the player is always eager to see what happens next.
Characters
Anne is a well-developed and relatable protagonist. She is a strong and independent woman, but she is also vulnerable and flawed. The player quickly comes to care about Anne and her fate.
The supporting cast is equally well-drawn. Each character has their own unique personality and motivations, and the player quickly comes to feel like they are part of the story.
Themes
Photopia explores a number of themes, including family, loss, and identity. Cadre does a great job of weaving these themes into the story in a way that is both subtle and powerful.
Conclusion
Photopia is a masterclass in interactive storytelling. It is a short, but incredibly well-written and atmospheric story with a great cast of characters and a thought-provoking plot. If you are a fan of interactive fiction, or if you are just looking for a great story, then I highly recommend checking out Photopia.
Score
9/10
Review Score
9/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
