IFReviewed by
Tom Zuchowski on 2006-05-06 01:02
MAIN PGM Version: 4.0
Extra Commands: HIT, FREE, OPEN, DRINK
Deleted Commands: None, no SAVE
Special Features: "Tournament" game: timed play
Playing Time: 30 minutes per attempt
Reviewer Rating: 6.0
Average Rating: 5.8/6
Description: "Baron Hador, being the kind soul he is, took in a man who had collapsed in front of his castle. The next morning he man was gone, and a search showed that gone too were certain private papers, the Baron's crest, and Tanya his daughter!
"The Baron has asked you to recover the stolen items and rescue his young daughter. Knowing a little bit of magic, he will teleport you inside the castle where you can search.
"He told you, "I will be able to arrange a distraction that will keep the Count out of his castle for an hour and a half. You'll be doomed if you are there when he returns. Therefore, I will teleport you back when the time is up."
Comment: This is one of Brown's best Eamons. It is not a complex play, but is simple like most early Eamons were. But the time gimmick greatly heightens the tension. Every move gives you the time elapsed, and I found myself trying to plan how to shave seconds and minutes from my search.
The timings are nicely done. You get a readout to the second, and the timings seem reasonable for the moves made, except for movement. Each room move consumes an entire minute, the time required for most people to walk a city block! You are not penalized for typos.
You are scored at the end of play. You get points for each GP of loot, plus bonus points for the three things you were tasked to recover.
The "90 minutes" of play generally took me about a half-hour. I was not successful in rescuing Tanya on my first attempt, but just made it in my second (the map is a set piece and does not vary from play to play). She is hidden magically and was difficult to find. This plus the time limit puts the difficulty at about (7).
Two hints: EXAMINE is an important command. And be sure to watch for unusual characteristics in the descriptions.
Used with Matthew Clark's kind permition.
Original review available at Eamon Adventurer's Guild Online website.
