Summary
- Release Year: 1983
- Genres: Adventure
- Platforms: Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST/STE, Commodore 16, Commodore C64/128/MAX, Commodore Plus/4, DOS, Mac, TRS-80, TRS-80 Color Computer
- Developers: Infocom
- Publishers: Infocom
The Witness (1983): A Classic Text Adventure Murder Mystery
The Witness is a text adventure game developed by Infocom and released in 1983. It is the seventh game in the Zork series, and the first to be released for personal computers. The player takes on the role of a detective who is summoned to the Cabeza Plana, California office of Mr. Linder, a millionaire. Linder fears that his life is in danger… and indeed, as he sits in his office with the player, he is murdered before the player’s eyes. The player then must solve the murder.
The Witness is a classic example of an interactive fiction game. The player interacts with the game world by typing commands, and the game responds with text descriptions of the player’s surroundings and the results of their actions. The game world is richly detailed, and the player can explore a variety of locations, including Linder’s office, the surrounding town, and a nearby forest.
The murder mystery at the heart of The Witness is well-written and engaging. The player must interview witnesses, collect evidence, and solve puzzles in order to uncover the identity of the killer. The game features a variety of red herrings and dead ends, which makes the mystery all the more challenging to solve.
In addition to its strong mystery plot, The Witness is also notable for its innovative use of language. The game’s parser is one of the most sophisticated ever created, and it allows the player to interact with the game world in a very natural way. The game also features a number of puzzles that require the player to think outside the box.
The Witness was a critical and commercial success upon its release. It was praised for its well-written story, innovative gameplay, and sophisticated parser. The game has been ported to a variety of platforms over the years, and it remains a popular choice for fans of interactive fiction.
Gameplay
The Witness is a text adventure game, which means that the player interacts with the game world by typing commands. The game’s parser is one of the most sophisticated ever created, and it allows the player to interact with the game world in a very natural way. The player can type commands such as “go north”, “examine desk”, and “talk to witness” to explore the game world and interact with objects and characters.
The game world is richly detailed, and the player can explore a variety of locations, including Linder’s office, the surrounding town, and a nearby forest. The player must interview witnesses, collect evidence, and solve puzzles in order to uncover the identity of the killer.
The Witness features a variety of puzzles, some of which are quite challenging. The puzzles require the player to think outside the box and use their problem-solving skills. The game also features a number of red herrings and dead ends, which makes the mystery all the more challenging to solve.
Story
The Witness is a murder mystery story. The player takes on the role of a detective who is summoned to the Cabeza Plana, California office of Mr. Linder, a millionaire. Linder fears that his life is in danger… and indeed, as he sits in his office with the player, he is murdered before the player’s eyes. The player then must solve the murder.
The murder mystery at the heart of The Witness is well-written and engaging. The player must interview witnesses, collect evidence, and solve puzzles in order to uncover the identity of the killer. The game features a variety of red herrings and dead ends, which makes the mystery all the more challenging to solve.
Characters
The Witness features a cast of well-developed characters. The player character is a detective who is tasked with solving the murder of Mr. Linder. The player can also interact with a variety of other characters, including witnesses, suspects, and the victim’s family and friends.
The characters in The Witness are all well-written and believable. The player can learn a great deal about each character by talking to them and observing their behavior. The characters’ relationships with each other are also complex and well-developed.
Setting
The Witness is set in the small town of Cabeza Plana, California. The town is a quiet and peaceful place, but it is also home to a number of secrets. The player can explore a variety of locations in the town, including Linder’s office, the surrounding town, and a nearby forest.
The setting of The Witness is well-realized and atmospheric. The player can easily imagine themselves walking through the streets of Cabeza Plana and interacting with the townspeople. The game’s setting also plays an important role in the mystery plot.
Themes
The Witness explores a number of themes, including murder, mystery, and justice. The game also examines the nature of good and evil, and the consequences of our actions.
The Witness is a thought-provoking and challenging game that will stay with you long after you finish playing it. It is a classic example of an interactive fiction game, and it is still one of the best murder mystery games ever created.
Legacy
The Witness was a critical and commercial success upon its release. It was praised for its well-written story, innovative gameplay, and sophisticated parser. The game has been ported to a variety of platforms over the years, and it remains a popular choice for fans of interactive fiction.
The Witness has also been influential in the development of other video games. The game’s parser has been used as a model for other interactive fiction games, and its innovative gameplay has inspired a number of other games. The Witness is a true classic of the video game genre, and it continues to be enjoyed by gamers today.
Review Score
8/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
