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Shogun

by James Clavell and Dave Lebling

Historical/Literary
1989

(based on 12 ratings)
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About the Story

Experience the sweeping drama and power of James Clavell's Shogun.

The year is 1600. You are John Blackthorne, Pilot-Major of a privateering merchant ship and the first Englishman to set foot on Japanese soil. Thrust into the exotic culture of feudal Japan, you must rely on your wits and sheer physical strength to survive. As you are drawn into the political intrigue and teeming violence, your most basic beliefs and assumptions will be tested. Act with care: in a land where honor is valued above life itself, you make a wrong decision at your peril.

In this interactive adaptation, Dave Lebling - co-author of the enormously popular Zork series - captures all the drama and spell-binding style of James Clavell's matchless novel. Color graphics crafted in the exquisite style of 16th century Japanese court painters illustrate the unfolding saga. Infocom's new, friendlier parser understands more commands than ever. And if you ever need help, on-screen hints will lead you back to the action.


Game Details

Language: English (en)
Current Version: Unknown
License: Commercial
Development System: ZIL
IFIDs:  ZCODE-292-890314
ZCODE-295-890321
ZCODE-311-890510
ZCODE-322-890706
ZCODE-292-890314-69B8
TUID: w3pz3v8wckaw1wgb

Referenced in Nothing But Mazes, by Greg Boettcher

Editorial Reviews

SPAG
The game itself is extremely linear. If this really turns you off, you won't like the game. You go through a number of "episodes" or scenes, very closely based on the book. Honestly, I don't think I could have won the game if I had not read the original novel (or used the built-in hints extensively.)
-- Preston Landers

Your point total is the only thing that carries over to the next chapter; the items in your inventory are pre-determined. Admittedly, this is probably the only way to adapt such a novel to game form, but the effect is still not entirely satisfactory. Many text games end up being all puzzles and no story. Shogun is exactly the opposite. Too often the story just seems to go on around you while you get meaningless points for smiling, nodding, or bowing at the right times. [...] Shogun is a very good game to read, though a bit less satisfying to play. Overall though, a fine effort.
-- Graeme Cree
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This is version 8 of this page, edited by Lance Campbell on 15 July 2021 at 8:53pm. - View Update History - Edit This Page - Add a News Item