Tag Archives: Infocom

PC Games

A Mind Forever Voyaging

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Publisher: Infocom
Developer: Infocom
Year: 1985
Platform: DOS; Macintosh; Amiga

Review: Lauded by critics and ignored by the public, A Mind Forever Voyaging is more of a story than a game, being essentially puzzleless. But man, what a story. Taking place in the year 2031, America is doing poorly and some crackpot scientists have developed a sentient computer named PRISM. It’s purpose: to enter a simulation of the future to see if popular conservative Senator Richard Ryder’s plan for renewed national purpose will lead to prosperity. You are PRISM.

If you can set aside the ridiculous notion that a simulation of the future would ever come close to being accurate (hell, we can’t even predict next weekend’s weather with certainty), then you should enjoy this entertaining look into Steve Meretzky’s political vision of a possible future. While your goal is to record evidence of what’s going down in the years to come (from banal activities like eating a meal in a restaurant to more charged activities like meeting with government officials), the real purpose and joy of the game is to simply explore. The town of Rockvil, South Dakota is vividly imagined and detailed, and one could complete the game without visiting 90% of what the town has to offer. And while the story’s progression is fairly predictable, it consistently remains a poignant and touching story of self-exploration throughout and boasts one of the best endings out there.

My only criticisms are that things can be a little repetitive at times and the NPCs are not as developed as I prefer (especially your simulated wife). But in the grand scheme these are mere trifle. More of an experience to be enjoyed than completed, A Mind Forever Voyaging should be at the top of any gamer’s list of classics to try.

Contemporary Rating: High. If you can get past the whole all-text, no graphics thing.  The parser is perfect and the game should never be frustrating.

Cruelty Rating: Merciful.  No way to die, which makes it hard to believe this game is from 1985.

Interactive Fiction, PC Games

Nord and Bert Couldn’t Make Head or Tail Of It

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Publisher: Infocom
Developer: Infocom
Year: 1987
Platform: DOS, Macintosh, Commodore 64, Apple II, Amiga, Atari ST

Have you ever wanted to get a nice juicy steak, but all you had was a stake?  Have you ever wanted to literally kill two birds with one stone?  Or have you come across a pretty girl and it made you long for a gritty pearl?  Then you should definitely help out Nord and Bert, because they truly can’t make hails or teds of it.  Wait, um…

This adventure has you playing with homonyms, spoonerisms, idioms, and other plays on our language and culture in order to help save the town of Punster from total chaos.  There’s a story, but it’s there to serve the puzzles.  Just dig in and get your lexicon dirty.

The game designers smartly realized that most gamers would not be intimately familiar with every phrase, idiom, and slang the game is riddled with; thus an in-game hint system is a welcome sight. Despite the occasional frustration that ignorance creates while playing, the game can be funny and very satisfying when you do advance on your own intellect. Nord & Bert is a must-play for those who love word puzzles. Hardcore adventurers may want to look elsewhere.

Contemporary Rating: High. If you figure out the answer to a puzzle, the parser is not going to get in the way.

Cruelty Rating:  Tough.  While you can get rid of an item you need and the game won’t tell you you’re stuck, you’ll figure it out pretty quickly.  Also, the game is short enough that even if you screw up it’s not really frustrating.

PC Games

Hollywood Hijinx

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Publisher: Infocom
Developer: Infocom
Year: 1986
Platform: DOS, Macintosh, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, Commodoe 64

Review: Hollywood Hijinx is one of Infocom’s unsung gems.  Your rich aunt has just passed on, and you were the favorite nephew, chosen to inherit the large fortune. However, she needs to know if you are clever enough to be worthy of holding the family finances. She has given you twelve hours to explore her mansion and find the ten “treasures,” or leftover props from her husband’s popular B-movies.

Hijinx captures the flavor of the times and the B-movie industry wonderfully, and is funny throughout. Most of the puzzles are very easy, with only a few mind benders to plunge through. But if you’re just looking for a good time and a few good laughs, this game is great.

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Contemporary Rating: Low.  There’s a copyright protection puzzle, but thankfully it’s at the very beginning and the answer can be easily obtained on the internet.  But what the modern gamer really wouldn’t put up with is the 12 hour time limit.  When I played it, my first run through was gathering information, solving some puzzles, making a detailed map.  On my second playthrough, I knew everything I need to do in order to beat the time limit.

Cruelty Rating:  Nasty.  You can make the game unwinnable when messing with various props, though it should be obvious that you’ve done so.  Considering you know you’re going to have to start the game over from scratch at some point anyway, it’s not a huge deal.  The game isn’t terribly long once you know what to do.