Ratings and Reviews by R Headkid

In this game, we get to play as Gerald Mouse, who has appeared in a few of Jones's previous games.

This short work is a lot like the author's other Christmas games (trading items we acquire for items on our list), except this game has a bit of adventure at the end.

---
As another reviewer has noted, there are a few typographical errors, but not so many that it detracted from the fun.

This is another fun game by Luke A. Jones.

The characters are well-written. The puzzles are well crafted. I laughed quite frequently throughout.

Two thumbs up!

"What Once Was..."

(Oh, just you wait until you get to that line during play! It's so GOOD!)

---

What Once Was is what INFOCOM games would have been, if they weren't too busy frustrating the player.

It is pun-filled Sci-Fi/Comedy at its finest!

So, grab your ID, make sure you've got your requisition form at the ready, and don't forget to bring some cheese!

I very much enjoyed this game.

[I'll give BRIEF descriptions, to keep this as spoiler free as possible.]

The story is very well-crafted, and it's extremely funny. I laughed aloud at least every four to five turns.

The puzzles and riddles were spot-on as well. (Not too difficult, but not too easy.)

The NPCs (that means 'non-playable characters, for those of you who are new to the IF scene) are extremely enjoyable. (HINT: (Spoiler - click to show)Sometimes you need to 'ASK so-and-so ABOUT such-and-such', and sometimes you need to 'TALK TO so-and-so' -- depending on the situation and the NPC.)

Here's a question: do you enjoy a good pun? This game's packed full of them!

It has a satisfying ending as well.

Overall, I found it very enjoyable. (Did I say that already?)

If you miss the old-school parser adventures, then give this one a shot! I bet you'll be glad you did!

-----------
One note regarding the version of the game available from textadventures.co.uk as of 4/28/17 5:30 pm, CST (which I believe to be the most recent version):


Do not read this until you've officially declared that you are stuck.
(Spoiler - click to show)

If you are stuck at any point, try examining things. Sometimes you need to examine one thing to discover another.

Sometimes I'm just in the mood for a short game, and sometimes I'm just in the mood for some Tolkien.

This game is both, and it is parody done correctly.

The original was for MS-DOS. Each command was a separate BAT file. It may sound strange nowadays, but, if it weren't for seeing the DOS prompt instead of the good, old ">", you'd barely even notice that you weren't running an interpreter.

The Glulx version available here doesn't play very well for me. Glulxe spits out a few memory errors after each command, and, worse than that, I can't progress beyond (Spoiler - click to show)Smaug's Den because the cigar is not in scope (I can enter TREE or Showobj cigar, and it says (in Smaug) -- which should mean Smaug is holding it, but the game insists that I 'CAN'T SEE ANY SUCH THING').

It's a good time, though. Especially if you're a sick, twisted Tolkien fan like myself.

"Pogoman GO! Review" by A Guy Who's Never Played Anything Ending in GO!

When play begins:
The player is collecting Pogomen, (Spoiler - click to show)spinning pogostops, and hitting the gyms until enough attributes are built up to begin the next part of the game, which is when the feeling that you may as well be playing Pogoman subsides, and the real IF begins. (It's not that the beginning isn't actually IF; it actually is, but the game is so well-written, it feels like you are actually doing whatever you're 'doing' in the game. Hence, the first part feels like you're not playing IF in the classic sense, even though you definitely, totally are.)

When 'Act Two' begins:
Now the player is (Spoiler - click to show)in Nyantech, and it's time to use your brain (rejoice!) to learn how to get around as well as how to (Spoiler - click to show)get different colored badges. You (Spoiler - click to show)actually fight some Pogomen in one part, where you are eventually the one whom is in danger of being captured! (There are at least two storylines as far as escaping from this section is concerned, as well, so pay attention!)

In the third act, the player (Spoiler - click to show)has to fight two boss battles, then the player (Spoiler - click to show)chooses from numerous endings.

Act Three ends when the player has finished reading this review.

When Act Three ends:
End the review saying "You have (Spoiler - click to show)done the thing or the other thing! You enjoyed the game, and completed it(Spoiler - click to show) every way (except one! AARGH!) that you believe was possible. Now, you'll review the game, and probably play again tomorrow to see what you missed the first time. YOU HAVE WON!".