IFReviewed by
Tom Zuchowski on 2006-05-14 10:16
MAIN PGM Version: 7.0
Extra Commands: SEARCH, CAPTURE, SWALLOW, KISS
Deleted Commands: SAY, DRINK, USE
Special Features: Optional lower-case intro
Playing Time: 1 hour
Reviewer Rating: 5.0
Description: Pyotr Baranov, the emperor of Vaalpa, has gone insane, borrowing and spending money on a wild spree to pay for his huge palace and military, which he is using to oppress his people and raid the surrounding lands.
The banker Shylock and others are doing much to aid the underground resistance, but things are going badly. Therefore Shylock has hired you to enter the kingdom and capture or assassinate Baranov.
Baranov's soldiers are expert at recognizing members of the Resistance. You will have to enter the city unarmed and unarmored, and find your way to a cache of locally-made weapons that will be waiting for you.
Comment: This little foray has a few interesting specials, but is otherwise unremarkable, though it is quite competently written. One such special is that you can read the intro text in lower-case or upper-case text, at your option. The adventure itself is all upper-case, and everything is 40-column text.
The map is coherent and logical. The monsters, however, seem over-armored for the weapons you are provided, with most melees taking dozens and dozens of rounds with only slight damage being incurred every third or fourth round. They seem closely matched to your own fighting ability, which is no doubt realistic, but can be rather tedious to play. It soon gets old to see a seemingly endless series of BLOW BOUNCES OFF ARMOR messages during combat.
You start out with no weapons or armor and must make do with what you find in the adventure. But don't worry about your good stuff that you brought from the Main Hall. You will get your original armor back, and your original weapons will be made available on your way back to the Main Hall.
This is a comparatively easy, relaxing play, but the combat is closely matched and needs careful watching during play, making this a good pick for the Hack'n'Slash crowd. I give it a (6) for difficulty, for the combat.
Used with Matthew Clark's kind permition.
Original review available at Eamon Adventurer's Guild Online website.
