IFReviewed by
Andrew Plotkin on 2006-06-25 07:46
A good story; unfortunately, totally undermined by implementation flaws. It's possible to bypass important parts of the plot. (This is not deliberate, as far as I can tell from the walkthrough.) Most puzzles require a precise syntax, no synonyms, and it's often somewhat non-standard IF syntax. Room descriptions, while well-written, refer to objects that aren't actually implemented.
Programming aside, the game is nicely designed (although I think I've had enough Mastermind now, thank you very much.) The scenario makes sense, with a touch of looking-glass logic. There's a certain tendency to tell the player how to react, rather than evoking the effect through prose, but only in a few places.
