• Completed
& Reviewed by Brendan Phoenix
Just given this little text adventure a go and I have
to say that it's bloody good! Would even go as far to say it
is the best ending I have seen from a text adventure.
Let's be honest, that isn't saying a lot. The
majority of them always seem to end rather abruptly with
a curt 'congratulations you completed the game in 56
moves' - or something similar - which I have always found
rather strange given the descriptions of rooms and
items, etc.
Then there are the graphical text adventures that give
us the same. I'm thinking the CRL ones like Jack the
Ripper and Dracula with no end game piccy at all -
pathetic.
However, this time we have a graphical text adventure
where the graphics play a great part in the game.
Admittedly
they are basic, but they match the mood of the game. We
have animation of cat statues turning into living
jaguars, demonic reflections in pools, and also some okay
spot FX too. Thought was put into them and it comes
out in the game...
"Kick his ass!"
"HANDS UP"
"Erm... nope. Don't
have the mask. Anything else you need - a diet Coke?"
"Yeah - I've heard
about you and your 'passages'!"
"There's that mask
thing again. You really want that mask don't you?"
"Okay - I give in.
Here you go..."
"Ah fuck off!"
"WTF?!?!"
"Oo-er, missus"
"KILL HIM!"
"Here kitty kitty.
Good puss puss..."
"TFFT!"
"BYE!"
"Phew!"
I skipped a few
screens, but this is finally The End.
HOW WAS IT COMPLETED?:
Although I followed a walkthrough I still got into the
storyline of the game and enjoyed playing it - although I was
thinking that the end would follow the usual rubbish
text adventure endings we see, which would make me
really mad given the game pictures that came before it.
However, I am happy to say the ending is great. I have
saved it from the point in the labyrinth where you are
confronted by your rival who wants the Mask of the Sun
that you have found. You just need to type 'Give Mask' and
then 'Play Flute' when the jaguar approaches you. I think
it would be unfair to show the ending after these scenes
- this is the true ending.
SO WHAT HAPPENS?:
Lots going on in this ending. It's best you see it for
yourself via the download, video or screenshots above.
But basically - the baddy dies and the goody wins ;-)
COMMENTS:
- Brendan:
I felt really good seeing this ending and I did it with
a walkthrough, so would be even more happy if I
completed it without one.
Given that it is from 1984 and it's head and shoulders
above most other text adventure endings I have seen, I
would stick my neck out here and give it 7/10.
- Vinny:
I'm really impressed with this ending because it
maintains that level of excitement that is
originally created by the game. It really fits in
well and is executed with style. Obviously there are
elements that could have made it a more polished
offering, but it certainly is a good'un for 1984.
- Andy Vaisey:
That is actually pretty cool for such an old
game! Shame they didn't 'know' about anti-aliasing
back then though...
- Andrew Fisher:
Very impressed by this ending, not played the
game as I didn't play many text adventures back
then.
Some nice touches of sound and I liked the shimmer
effect. 7/10.
- Guerilla:
Superb ending: It really presents a sound plot,
rounding off the game in a truly rewarding way. And
the graphics are stylish and look nice, especially
considering the age. A clear 8 from me - and I might
go as far as to claim that in 1984, this would have
been a 10 indeed! Excellent!
- Gaz Spence:
Broderbund always tried to inject a little extra
thought into their releases, which set them apart
from many of their contemporaries. I suppose the
game is influenced to a degree by Raiders of the
Lost Ark and the ending is quite cinematic. Thumbs
up!
Mask of the sun
