Ratings and Reviews by Aintelligence
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Hercule Poirot I presume?, November 28, 2010Let me start off by saying that I am a detective story buff. I read everything from agatha Christie to dorthy l. Sayers, so I was rather impressed by this adventure in a number of ways. The setting itself is very remminisciant of many mystery novels; taking place in a large mansion, looking over a cliff into the ocean, and of course a body has been found at the bottom of the cliff. The story is short and not too difficult, but the story changes each time you restart making it very re-playable at least the first few times. The story itself feels rather like an Agatha Christie short story, with five suspect in the house, and the musical adds a bit of originality. Don't expect a " Roger Acroyd" ending though.
I'll first start with the one thing I especially disliked. I felt that the characters had no feeling at all that the murder happened. They sat around playing pool like usual or reading the newest mystery novel, and not once did anybody show the slightest remorse that there had been a murder. I mean sure, some of them should have been uncaring, but a story should also have some who are Teary eyed. This in my opinion really took away from the characters.
Of course I thought most everything else was well done. I've played mystery adventures before which are brutally tough because of time constraints and obscure evidence, but both in this case were good. An adequate amount of time was given, and evidence took some thought, but was not too difficult. It is a game about your next move, meaning that you have to think 'what next' after everything you do.
I also loved the notebook. It made my life so much easier.
Interesting short story, November 27, 2010This is a short story about delivering candy grams to all of the classes In the school. The adventure is different from most adventures, designed not with a gripping plot, or suspenseful, or difficult, but designed to ease beginners into interactive fiction.
( side note: I was impressed at how non-linear the story was, letting you go in any order you wished)
There were two things though which could have been slightly better.
Firstly, the so-called puzzles were just word problems which had to be solved, and actually I thought that was a cool idea, but those were the only puzzles (except finding who to give the cards to but these are hardly puzzles) I thought that the riddles were ingenious, one relating largely to interactive fiction, but as I said interactive fiction needs puzzles which involve the use of examining objects and using them to their full potential.
The story includes a small middle school romance (oh those days) but all in all the story is relatively plotless and non-descript. This I feel is almost too bad. Sure,it's for beginners, but plot and characters are really what interactive fiction is all about, so it would have been nice to expose the players to a decent plot.
All in all though, it was enjoyable and a good example of interactive fiction originality.
Interesting premise, if a bit confusing, November 27, 2010I'm going to say right now that I really enjoyed this adventure. It's short- only two or three rooms- and few puzzles, but it's very well developed and maintained to keep a little horror in the main character. I will also say that the story is rather confusing during parts, but In my opinion, this adds significantly to the story. It's designed so that you are in constant 'fear' and in complete bewilderment, not knowing why things happened or where the heck you are. I mean come on, you're in a mysterious lab with frightening beasts, locked doors and other instruments, so it's bound to be a somewhat creepy story with unexplained happenings.
Critical breach is very linear, short and simple though. Puzzles are obviously aimed at the beginner so don't expect too much. What the story does have though, is fairly well done. The beginner will be pleased with the variety of tasks needed to complete the adventure, from finding a way to 'escape' the mysterious beginning to doing simple puzzles, and using the limited tools to solve problems. This adventure gives a toolbox of activities which will be needed for future, harder adventures.
It's no zork, but critical breach is perfect for the IF beginner
Well done, November 27, 2010My first combat game I've played in interactive fiction, and I quite enjoyed it. The adventure is very short and linear, but somehow manages to fabricate a nice little story in such a short space.
at the beginning I'll admit I was overwhelmed with all of the instruments, but as it turns out, only the drones were needed to win.
I was really impressed by the fighting format. In time you would learn all of the hints which pertained to the move your opponent was going to make. It took a few dead drones, but eventually it got pretty easy.
This is a great game for those just beginning the fighting format of interactive fiction, but honestly it would have helped if it were longer and had even one or two simple puzzles. I struggled a bit with the terminology at the beginning of the game, and it refuses to except some simple commands.
All in all though, it was well done and recommendable to the begginner
Good if not on ipad, November 21, 2010Great game, and a good idea. You're out with your buddies on the golf course trying to beat them. It's challenging, but really fun and entertaining as well as re-playable. I really like how this game is away from the regular format of an adventure; it's nice to tAke a break.
The only thing I disliked about this game was that although it is downloadable for the iPad, it lags way to much on the spacebar. For a regular computer though, it's great
Good idea, bad result, November 21, 2010'wow'! What a great idea' I thought, 'an adventure all about switching through time'!
Turns out that this was horribly developed.
1. The characters were so flat it wasn't funny. The characters were usually only seen once or twice, not nearly enough time to do anything with their personalities. The main character was so hopelessly pathetic, and ill developed. He spent most of his time getting captured, moping, then trying to escape, and doing nothing of free will. There is no fun in that.
2. This story was too linear. I'm actually a fan of fairly linear adventures, but this was pitiful. There were hardly any puzzles in this whole work and to make matters worse, you got no control over what the character does. You do one obvious thing and it leads you to another obvious thing. It was infuriating how every action you did, it took you on a completely scripted part.
3.the plot was not terrible though, but take out the character dimension, and the free will and you get nothing
Brilliant from start to finish, November 21, 2010I thoroughly enjoyed this adventure from Emily Short. She sets up the adventure and myths very well, creating a world which is mysterious and spectacular. The adventure is very linear, with few puzzles, but the mystery and suspense keeps you on edge the whole time you play it.
Characters in this story are sure to please most readers as they did to me. I found half way through that I was attached to some of the characters while others I frowned when they were in the room. That was really a great attraction to me because many other adventures have bland 2d characters. The story included a lot of talking to other characters which developed them nicely. The short romance also added a nice new plane in the story Which was well done.
The mythical sense was also well thought out, but I would have preferred it to be a little further in front.
All in all a fabulous story
Good starter, November 21, 2010Although I am not new to interactive fiction, I wish I had started with this one. It would have saved me a lot of pain.
Although the game has no plot and just one room, it is great for beginners to learn the basics of if. Really enjoyed the few minutes I played
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