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ballads
(my ancient gramophone doesn't cater for records than
run anything less than 78 rpm) perhaps many may not
be too interested, but I can see that it is likely to
attract fans of their music.
The
adventure itself is certainly an odd one. Set in the
year 2953 (quite a few years after the Beatles hit records,
I gather), you take the role of Keeper of the Archives,
looking after remnants of Ancient Earth while pioneers
search for a New Earth somewhere in space. While researching,
your interest is particularly taken by 'The Four Kings
of EMI' and you yearn to return to those times. By feeding
certain data into the computer you enter a simulated
Beatle world and the adventure begins (what's wrong
with a good spell I will never know but still . . .
)
This
adventure is definitely odd, starting with the infamous
'swirling mists of time', where any move puts you into
a rather drab location -- a late 60s bedsit. All around
you are the seedy remains of the past, from Liver
Birds tapes (the White Wizard has never heard of
such a strange feathered creature) to books, peeling
wallpaper and dim lightbulbs.
There's
also a girl on the bed, a rather happy seventeen-year
old individual who's in the sort of condition that only
a bottle of the finest Pipistrel'56 could possibly bring
about. She didn't prove too helpful, so I pottered about
the place adjusting to such strange surroundings. After
a very short space of time, my condition deteriorated
and I sought vainly for food (a common feature of Quilled
adventures such as this). Moments later my intestines
had gone rather wobbly and I was asked whether I wanted
another game.
Naturally
I set about my duties for a second time. On this occasion
I was accosted by somebody called Maxwell in possession
of a silver hammer and was promptly 'bang-banged' until
I was dead. My third quest was more rewarding, and after
delving much further I discovered some weird and wonderful
things.
The
game's vocabulary is very good, with helpful responses
and verbose descriptions for each of the 150 locations,
generating an excellent atmosphere. The puzzles, although
easier for those with a penchant for Beatles songs,
are tricky but interesting to solve.
I
must say I enjoyed this novel experience and this is
an adventure that wouldn't go amiss even in a collection
of one who's not too keen on the Beatles.
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