BSE

Acorn User (issue 173, October 1996)
In first place
Our overall winner is also a comedy, set this time in the Yorkshire Dales village of Skebdale. BSE, by Chris Smith, sends in the player as an environmental health officer to investigate a local epidemic of mad cow disease, and 'if possible... allegations of widespread devil worship in the Skebdale area'. A mixture of Dennis Wheatley, James Herriot, Ian Fleming and reports by the Veterinary Advisory Committee, this is a truly inspired game, from the helpfully supplied history of Skebdale (ancient times up to 1650) to a sound-effect-producing water pistol.
It's easy to pour scorn on this government over beef, but that's no reason not to, and in BSE a score of 0 out of 60 achieves the rank 'Secretary of State for Agriculture'. And there's the award for best locked door, a heavy incentive to keep the Country Code, a well-written hailstorm and much more.
-- Graham Nelson
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