IFReviewed by
Andrew Plotkin on 2006-06-25 07:10
I kiss somebody's feet. This is short and perfect. (Well, not perfect per se; there are several little syntax annoyances, and there seems to be no way to see the skateboard unless you know it's there. And too much looking under, inside, and behind things. But this is fixable.)
The six characters are very snappily presented. They're not deep characters, but this is not a deep game; it's silly and the personalities are on the right level for that. Not stereotypes, mind you.
(Six characters, one of which is you, I should add. Didn't I comment on an earlier game saying that it was a good argument for first-person writing for characterization? This one is a good argument for second-person writing for characterization.)
The atmosphere is frenetic, which is of course the point of the story. People constantly wandering around doing things. Annoying things. Heh. Which is of course the point of your character.
Lots of terribly cute side comments.
You know, I just realized that this is "a college game". I hate college games. I didn't make the connection until well after I'd finished. Am I inconsistent? All the time, yes, but not in this instance. This game doesn't use any of the overused tropes of the college IF cliche (exploring, re-creation of real locations, in-jokes over-explained.)
Not difficult; I figured out all the puzzles quickly, except for finding the skateboard. Mmm, and getting the TV off.