Download


busted.zip
Contains BUSTED.Z5
Requires a Z-Code interpreter. Visit IFWiki for download links. (Compressed with ZIP. Free Unzip tools are available for most systems at www.info-zip.org.)
busted.dat
The AdvSys data file
Requires an AdvSys interpreter. Visit IFWiki for download links.
busted.hnt
ROT-13 encoded hints
busted.sol
solution

Have you played this game?

You can rate this game, record that you've played it, or put it on your wish list after you log in.

Playlists and Wishlists

RSS Feeds

New member reviews
Updates to downloadable files
All updates to this page

Busted!

by Jon Drukman and Derek Pizzuto

Collegiate
1993

(based on 4 ratings)
1 review

About the Story

"Returning from classes, you find a message from your friend Keith on your answering machine. He has been "busted" by the cops; and if you aren't careful, you will be, too..." [--blurb from The Z-Files Catalogue]


Game Details

Language: English (en)
Current Version: 4
License: Freeware
Development System: AdvSys, Inform 5
Forgiveness Rating: Cruel
Baf's Guide ID: 36
IFIDs:  ADVSYS-765B01E241F24E30143E9853BE77D45C
ZCODE-4-941223-528A
TUID: v5xsbaedcb9p29bq

Editorial Reviews

Baf's Guide


This game, which takes place on an unidentified college campus, places you in the position of having to destroy all your drug paraphernalia before the cops find it. Witty and thematic - many of the puzzles are drug-based, and things like videogames and religion are described in the imagery of addiction. The Inform port is quite sloppily implemented, with bugs of varying severity (one puzzle can be avoided completely if you use the right phrasing) and more instances of bad noun resolution ("Which do you mean, the information desk receptionist or the information desk?") than in any other game I care to remember. Contains some constrictive time limits and many opportunities to lock yourself out of victory.

-- Carl Muckenhoupt

SPAG

Check it out if you're interested in some retro adventuring with a drug twist, but it's probably better st0ned. (Reviewer: Murderous)
See the full review

SynTax
I was quite enjoying the game until I reached an impasse, not knowing what to do next, and sadly, couldn't get any further into the game. (Reviewer: Phil Richmond)
See the full review

Xyzzy News
Despite some initial turbulence, the game is a lot of fun when you get immersed in it. If you can tolerate the limited parser and subject matter, you'll find the game fairly enjoyable. (Reviewer: Eileen Mullin)
See the full review

Tags

- View the most common tags (What's a tag?)

(Log in to add your own tags)

Member Reviews

5 star:
(1)
4 star:
(2)
3 star:
(3)
2 star:
(0)
1 star:
(0)
Average Rating:
Number of Reviews: 1
Write a review


1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
Frivolous Fun, March 31, 2020

"Busted's" drug-themed subject matter allows it to play with campus-life tropes in a surreal manner, with a humorous effect. This also allows it to apply some of the more annoying conventions of old-time adventures, like hunger and sleep puzzles, to its collegiate setting in a relevant and clever way.

The result is as much a frivolous survey of university annoyances and practices as it is a homage to first-generation text-adventure games. It's enjoyable, engaging, and funny.

Play the AdvSys version if you're able to; it's much better implemented than the Z-Code version.


If you enjoyed Busted!...

Related Games

People who like Busted! also gave high ratings to these games:

Academic Pursuits (As Opposed To Regular Pursuits), by ruqiyah
Average member rating: (24 ratings)
Dear Ms. ████████ We are delighted to offer you a position in our architecture department. After your application and interview we are confident you will really sink your teeth into this role. Your new office will be ready for you to...

Slap That Fish, by Peter Nepstad
Average member rating: (29 ratings)
This time, those fishy bastards are finally going to get what's coming to them.

Lovely Assistant: Magical Girl, by Bitter Karella
Average member rating: (14 ratings)
A magician's assistant has two very important duties, to point at things and to look good in a form-fitting evening gown. But when Mugwort the Magician is kidnapped by his devious riddle-obsessed arch-nemesis and imprisoned somewhere on...

Suggest a game

Recommended Lists

Busted! appears in the following Recommended Lists:

Campus Capers by Walter Sandsquish
Games set on the author's campus have the same reputation as games set at the author's home: Trite and clumsy. But, some college games have excelled ...

Noteworthy Games Which Aren't Z-Code or TADS Bytecode by Walter Sandsquish
So many text-adventure games have been written with some version of ZIL or Inform or TADS that we might forget other methods get used too. So, here is a list of noteworthy games which don't live on a Z-Machine or a TADS VM. By...




This is version 9 of this page, edited by Lance Campbell on 15 April 2020 at 2:21pm. - View Update History - Edit This Page - Add a News Item