Q Uf S T1' UST f RS™ The Adventurer's Newsletter Vol.111,#6 June,1986 problem with this version. using the correct objects. Most of the problems revolve You've got alien machinery to 00-TOPOS around the "greed factor" as you figure out, but nothing attempt to obtain objects (a good overwhelming or more Oo-topos was the first regular or hi-res graphics, and adventurer can never have too complicated than a microwave adventure of science fiction the program uses any extra many objects, you know). One oven. The maze is not as hard novelist Michael Berlyn, who RAM to load in most of them might be guarded by a robot, as it looks and can be mapped in went on to Infocom where he so there's less disk access.) another by deadly radiation, a under an hour; just take at least created games such as There's no music or sound third by a bizarre alien. There's three objects and drop them in Suspended, Cutthroats and effects. no character interaction in terms different rooms. Last issue we Infidel. He and Muffy Berlyn Until you escape the complex of talking to creatures or robots, wrote the story line, he and find your ship, the game but you do interact with them by Continued on page 2 programmed it, and Oo-topos doesn't seem to add up. But if was released in 1981 by Sentient you say "status" to the ship's Software in Colorado. Now computer, it tells you which Penguin has illustrated it, parts have to be found and making this the only all-text installed before you can take off, adventure to be adapted into a and everything falls into place. graphics game (unless you count Actually, this is like playing the early Scott Adams' stuft). In Original Adventure -- find the I addition to outstanding double- objects and store them in a resolution graphics, the specific location. At least here reincarnated Oo-topos profits you know what to look for: a from Penguin's fluent navchip, an energy converter, Comprehend parser. It also runs and the usual equipment much faster than the original, necessary to run an "Astro Mega which was in BASIC. Class" space ship. A booklet In the first scene, you find (the Operator's Manual) describes yourself in a familiar situation: each item and shows the ship's locked in a cell. You can't floor plan. proceed without solving this It's not linear at all, allowing Best Quests of 1985 puzzle, but it's a pushover. you to roam the complex freely Outside, you'll prowl the halls (after you find the mandatory After months of vote-counting, Nine Princes in Amber captured of an alien complex on the light source, of course), wander we're proud to announce the the graphic adventure slot. planet Oo-topos, where your off in numerous directions, and official "Best Quests of 1985." Adventure Construction Set space ship was forced to land. track down the initial problems The results are based on several walked away with Fantasy Role­ (Documentation includes a and objects. Mapping is hundred responses from playing; the Non-fantasy winner computer printout describing the important but never taxing. The subscribers, members of the was Universe II . Best Music in events that led up to your being most important item you'll need Apple Pi gamesig, and our an Adventure Game went to taken prisoner.) Your first goal will be the space suit, which is contributing editors. When the Treasure Island (Commodore is to escape and collect the parts found in a place you can only choice for a particular category version). Ultima IV won again of your ship, which are scattered reach by using the grav-tube. was hard to call, we consulted as having best music in a Role­ from one end of Oo-topos to the (See last month's issue for the our mystic orb. (Ferdinand playing game. other. There are also assorted precise answer.) Thankfully, the Marcos volunteered to help At the last minute, we added treasures to acquire -- especially original game's maze in the count the votes, but couldn't get three more categories, whose the cargo of medicine you were hydroponics garden was omitted here in time for the final tally.) winners were selected solely by taking to earth to save the planet from this version. The winner of the Best All­ Shay Addams: Best Adaptation from certain doom -- before you I always enjoy a Berlyn text Adventure Award was from Another M~um -- Perry load the ship and get it in shape adventure because the puzzles are Spellbreaker. In the graphic Mason: Case of the Mandarin to blast off again truly logical -- based on the adventure category, Crimson Murder. Best Shoot-'em-up-in-a­ The game unfolds in four physical laws of cause and effect, Crown was number one. Best Maze Game Gemstone geographic settings: the alien not the logic of the individual Fantasy Role-playing game was Warrior. Hardest Quest of the complex, a cleverly designed who writes the game (as is too no surprise--Ultima IV. Origin Year -- Bard's Tale. maze and a set of rooms that are often the case). Many of the Systems was also first across And the winner of the most reached from inside the maze, the original puzzles remain in place, the finish line in the Best Non­ coveted award of them all, Best jungle surrounding the complex, but elements have been jumbled fantasy RPG category, with Quest of the Year for 1985, was and the interior of your ship. At so even people who played the AutoDuel. Richard Garriott's Ultima IV: last count I was up to 70 rooms, all-text version will find this one The next category was Most Quest of the Avatar. many of which yield several challenging. Inventory Innovative. Mindwheel took it illustrations. (You can choose management isn't as much of a for All-text game, while q. q. ~ ADVENTURE HOTLINE 00-TOPOS Continued from page 1 guilds, casting spells, and getting a job. said it was six rooms, but it turns out the Rollin' on the River Part two of the series, The Dungeon, is maze is actually one room: a cube in which Activision's Murder on the Mississippi is being readied for a fall release. you can walk on the walls and ceiling. It's out for the Commodore; an Apple version is still easier to map if you think of each wall . next. As a famous British sleuth steaming Clues Update as the floor of a new room. No hidden exits to worry about either. up the river on the Delta Princess, you If you bought a copy of Book of Adventures Artwork is more consistent than in discover a body and must nail the killer. II and noticed the map and answers to Penguin's most recent game, Crimson It's a graphic game that is played with a Crimson Crown only covered the first half of the game, you can write the company for Crown. The style is completely different, joystick-directed parser, no typing at all. each scene depicted with realistic perspective Activision's running a related contest, giving a complete map and solution. Future editions will include it. Simon & Schuster and solid colors that reminded me of a cover away a trip on a real Mississippi riverboat. will send a "Kobayashi Alternative off a copy of Analog or some other science Cross Bones, a graphic adventure about Procedures Manual" to warranty holders. fiction magazine. No spot animation. You pirates, is set for the fall. Those who haven't already sailed the disk out may toggle to an all-text display, handy for the window may find the manual's tips mapping purposes because there's no pause Thanks, Infocom helpful. Sierra now sells clue books to while graphics are displayed. The King's Quest I and II for $7.95. Comprehend parser remains top of the line We're finally getting around to saying thanks for graphic adventures, understanding to Infocom for the 20 games we gave away multiple sentences, pronouns, prepositions in the recent contest Most winners asked The Berlyn Wall and complex commands. It's also speedy, a for Spellbreaker, but some requested older Mike and Muffy Berlyn, when not busy major problem with some graphic games. games like Cutthroats, or the latest one, brainstorming new games and other products The Comprehend parser is even superior to Ballyhoo. The winner of this month's at their company, Brainwave, Inc., will be parsers found in most text adventures. The contest is Timothy Walsh of Ontario, . teaching a course on writing science fiction one thing missing is the Berlyn sense of Canada, who won a copy of Wizard's Crown at Harvard University this summer. humor. I seem to recall laughing a lot more from SSI. when playing the original game. New Releases and Recommended for all space-faring Lord British's Gameplan Recent Conversions adventurers, Oo-topos doesn't promise anything revolutionary in character Origin has big plans for the next year, ST: Essex and Brimstone (Broderbund), interaction, plot, or game mechanics -- it is including a game tentatively titled Space Phantasie (SSI), Sword of Kadash simply that rarest of things, a good old­ Rogue in which your character pilots a (Penguin), Apshai Trilogy (Epyx) fashioned adventure in the classical style of combat ship through space to meet IBM: Crimson Crown and Comprehend "find the stuff and grab it," a collection of merchants, fight pirates and explore the far version of Transylvania (Penguin) clever and legitimately logical puzzles that reaches of the universe.