Mite

Mite is an easy-going, picturesque, coming-of-age sort of fantasy anchored in the section of the literary landscape inhabited by The Wind in the Willows. By the way, you're a pixy. The writing here is nearly flawless and engrossing; never once does mimesis break. After a moment or two, only bodily functions will remind you that you aren't actually trodding beneath the caps of mushrooms or interacting with fey creatures.

The plot may not be original, but it is handled deftly and with authenticity. You are Mite, a young pixy lad who has discovered an egg that belongs to the Prince. Your job -- and your parents insist that you accept it -- is to return the egg. You've never been far from home, but this is your chance to learn about the world and take on the challenges of adulthood.

The puzzles in Mite range from simple to almost nettlesome, but none of them are cruel or overly difficult. The only fault I find with them, in general, is that sometimes the solutions lie in rooms you have yet to explore. The map itself is often linear, and so I was concerned that by going ahead a few rooms would result in losing the game. Besides that, they rank as some of the most true-to-the-game, immersive, organic, and satisfying puzzles in the history of IF.

Unfortunately, Mite does have a few typos and grammar problems that prevent it from being a five-star game. None of these make the game unwinnable or foul up your ability to solve any puzzles. They are just unexpected defects, like the cup holder in your new car coming loose as you round a bend. Also, the conversation system is the primitive ask/tell. Conversational purists will probably dislike Mite for that alone, but fortunately, the game manages to soften the impact of those restrictions.

Mite is not too easy, and not too hard. It is packed with memorable encounters and leads to a satisfying conclusion. It touches on various enduring themes, and does so with grace, class, and innate nobility. In short, Mite is a class act from start to finish. Brava, Sara Dee.