'Steading of the Hill Giant Chief

Mike Russo's entry in to 2024's Really Bad IF jam is truly impressive. It is a very short, very stereotypical fantasy game in the sense that it provides the player an objective reachable with a few minutes of exploration, and it pays off appropriately in amusement delivered.

At first, the major complaint is that it's too short. Though overcoming the minor obstacles presented is too perfunctory an exercise to constitute a real challenge, it is a perfectly serviceable micro-entertainment -- so much so that it was summarily disqualified as not being bad enough to qualify for the jam. It's not enough that the player feels a bit cheated by the game's failure to continue the scenario past the point where it stops.

"Cheated" is a loaded word. Russo only makes an implicit promise here, and one could argue that the apparent promise is just an unintended side effect of the author's naturally engaging style. However, I believe that dangling that promise is intentional -- leaving the player wanting more certainly provides the impetus to take the game up on its offer when it ends with an invitation to examine the source code.

At this point, the work transforms entirely, moving from the style of classic fantasy RPG to pure horror.

The underpinnings of this work are just... horrendous from a coding perspective. Russo assiduously avoids using any of the tools in Inform 7's toolbox for its correct purpose. With a certain malevolent genius, he implements a consistent (if consistently awful) collection of misuses, assembled into a structure that, like Frankenstein's monster, invokes a deep repulsion (if also a dread fascination) simply by functioning at all.

I've often seen it said that one doesn't have to be a good coder to create a good game; this work is a very extreme form of proof for that argument. I don't know how much the code's uncanny framework could be extended before collapsing under its own weight, and there is no reason at all to emulate the coding style in one's own work, but many a new author can probably benefit from experiencing this work both as scenario and source. The effect might be similar to watching that infamous driver's ed film of yesteryear: "Red Asphalt".

To keep the meaning of my ratings consistent, I'm sticking to 3 stars for this one in consideration of it solely as a miniature game. However, in terms of higher levels of craft, I salute this work as a standout example of a well-executed genre twist.

[Lest the above be construed as an insult to the programming abilities of this author, who holds two XYZZY Awards, I remind the reader that the whole intent of the jam was to produce bad games, and that 'Steading delivers beautifully. I am reasonably certain that the reaction of amused horror that I experenced was exactly Russo's goal, and that only someone with a keen understanding of design principles could so lovingly craft this monster. So... Bullseye! And bravo!]

'Steading of the Hill Giant Chief is a short fantasy parser game where you play as a wizard just back from a beating by a giant. Though your ego is a bit bruised (and maybe your body is too), nothing will stop you from defeating those perfidious creatures… you just need a new plan and get ready.

Using a (very) limited list and ample hints, the puzzles are fairly easy to complete. You just need a good weapon, a fitting costume, and maybe a potion for extra help. Some of the commands even do extra steps (like taking an ingredient will also put it in the cauldron). Always a bonus point for including a cat and letting us pet it.

On the other hand, some objects are not always quite obvious (like the exact ingredient listed somewhere else but that general descriptions) or not described (though, they don’t really matter, so that’d OK). But if you read the responses properly, it isn’t really difficult to go around it.

Finally, the writing. It’s fantastic. It hits just the right balance of hilarious, but in that kind of old TTRPG/Fantasy game style. I didn’t even finish the intro that I was already laughing so hard. It was so much fun, I was disappointed to see it end so quickly!