OtisTDog

Top 25 Reviewer
Member since February 27, 2008
Last visited September 18, 2026
Profile ID (TUID): 8tqtppvpzluoq2jf

I've got some strong opinions for someone who's never shown the courage or skill to publish any IF of my own. Nonetheless, I am a big fan of the medium -- which I think is going to be rediscovered by the mainstream at some point -- and I hope you enjoy my reviews.

Here's a brief guide to my rating system. It is unusually harsh, because I intentionally rate using a power law distribution in which high scores are relatively rare:

5 stars -- a piece so incredible it effectively defines the genre or technique that it introduces or perfects. Very, very few works will get 5 stars from me.

4 stars -- a work that is significantly above average and achieves something notable. In general, a game that excels but does not quite reach the apex of its class. A relatively small number of works will get 4 stars from me.

3 stars -- a game that is competently put together and enjoyable to play, but lacks the special something that would make it stand out. Best summed up as "good, not great". Many games will get this rating from me.

2 stars -- a passable attempt that is deficient in one or more qualities that would make it truly enjoyable. Basically, something that could have been a 3-star game but fell short in some way, or otherwise falls into the "blah" category. Many games will get this rating from me.

1 star -- a work that, in my mind, has no redeeming qualities or is so horribly non-functional that any such qualities are not relevant to the playing experience. Very few games will get this rating from me, as I try to find something good about most games and generally avoid titles that look likely to score this low.

I am most harsh in my reviews when a work shows little evidence of effort on the part of the author. Conversely, I am inclined to generosity when I feel like the author tried hard to realize an interesting goal, even if he or she was not successful in doing so.

Interactive Fiction by OtisTDog

Recommended Lists by OtisTDog

Polls by OtisTDog

Reviews by OtisTDog

Dessert Island Adventure, by Nils Fagerburg   September 15, 2026

"This game is a remarkable achievement, full of cleverly devious (or deviously clever?) little puzzles that are suitable for both kids and..." - See the full review

Raising the Flag on Mount Yo Momma, by Juhana Leinonen   August 15, 2026

"(The title of the review comes from the game itself. I couldn't resist.) Raising the Flag on Mount Yo Momma is from 2010, but its core..." - See the full review

Kissing the Buddha's Feet, by Leon Lin   August 15, 2026

"Having recently enjoyed Good Bones: A Haunted Housewarming, it seemed like a good opportunity to check out an older work by the same..." - See the full review

Custard & Mustard's Big Adventure, by Christopher Merriner   July 24, 2026

"It is a substantial surprise to note that I am only the eighth person to register having played Custard & Mustard's Big Adventure. The..." - See the full review

Fat Bear, by Charles Moore, Jr.   June 20, 2026

"In this entertaining mid-length work, you play a grizzly bear who's on a quest to pack in some more calories before settling in to..." - See the full review

See all 183 reviews by OtisTDog
See all ratings and reviews by OtisTDog

OtisTDog's Played Games List

IFDB Home | Contact Us | Code of Conduct | Terms of Service | Privacy | Copyrights & Trademarks | API

IFDB is managed by the Interactive Fiction Technology Foundation. It is funded by the donations of IF supporters like you. All donations go to support the operation of this web site and IFTF's other services.