Varicella

+) it's huge

-) but it's not deep

+) lots of potientially interesting characters (Charlotte, anyone?)

-) that aren't developed properly

+) lots of conversation topics

-) but no actual physical interaction with the "dummys" (and I mean none whatsoever! not even with yourself! oh the missed opportunities!)

+) interesting premise

-) but horrible retro-future-medieval Italy setting (THAT genre again! NO make it stop already! please! the horror!)

+) lots of funny moments

-) that take you right out of the illusion of a believable world since they very often violate the continuity of the setting

+) interesting ambivalent main character

-) we learn nothing about afterwards (where is his personal life! oh the missed opportunities!)

+) detailed world, in which

-) the puzzles MAKE NO SENSE, without a solution this is impossible to finish (e.g. the crack in the compass rose - I did find it by myself but to deduce that this detail of thousands is plot-critical is IMPOSSIBLE)

-) generally clever and I think researched writing

-) but sometimes the writing drops significantly for inadequately explored reasons, certain moments take you right out of the game - e.g. that guards would shoot you for offending them, I mean gee you're only the 5th most important man in the state, that means nothing?! or the feminist whore (sic!!!) *epic facepalm*

this also includes extreme mood swings in the tone of the game - compare Charlotte's saddening backstory with the entrance guard antics for an example

generally speaking, exploring the world is great fun! talking to characters is sometimes, but once you're done with that better whip out the solution and finish it quickly, cause you will discover nothing more interesting afterwards

the actual story is very thin, that you potentially have to replay it multiple times while there is no variation whatsoever doesn't really make it more interesting

the single worst part of Varicella is the epilogue, I deduct one half point for this complete and utter nonsense that seems to have been written by Andrew Plotkin since it's so totally opposed to anything that happens in the game in tone and content

overall, go play it, it has its moments that make it worthwile, but it's no Photopia or I-0, and it's no masterpiece by any standards