The Hound of Shadow

Angus' Homepage
I gave up on this game many times
Ultimately, as far as text-RPG go, it is average. It does not compare to classics like Zork, or the many modern MUD-based RPGs still being run today. The only appeal would be to Lovecraft fans, and its value is as a curiosity for being the first Lovecraft-based computer game, and not the actual gameplay itself.
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Good Old Days
A masterpiece of interactive fiction
The game lives from its rich and moody writing. The descriptions of what's happening and the actions are very detailed and the 'sources' (books) you consult later in the game are written in a believable and fitting way. Only the room descriptions are lacking sometimes, especially concerning the game mechanics (missing directions).
The good writing is perfectly supported by the great graphics. For the important settings, there are full-screen pictures which really catch the whole athmosphere of the game with their perfect colouring and excellent style!
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SynTax
The Hound Of Shadow is a large and very verbose adventure which will undoubtably hold a player's attention for a considerable time. Compared with some other traditional adventures, the gameplay does not come to a shuddering halt because a particular puzzle hasn't been solved - in the Hound Of Shadow, you are able to approach puzzles at a more collected pace. If you miss a hint to perform an action, your companion may well suggest the action to take - just as might happen in real life. With the atmospheric text and high quality spot graphics, the Hound Of Shadow has perhaps been rightly described as a standard by which future ST RPGs must be judged. A tall order maybe, but either way, it's gripping stuff!
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