C&VG


Escape From Khoshima

Categories: Review: Software
Publisher: Atlantis
Machine: Amstrad CPC464

 
Published in Computer & Video Games #66

Escape From Khoshima

You have been held Prisoner Of War by the Japanese for over a year. Relying on the difficulty of escaping through the Burmese Jungle, security at the camp is nominal.

Today, there are only two guards left in the camp, and they are both sleeping in the heat of the afternoon...

The object of the game is to escape from the camp and through the jungle.

Escape From Khoshima

The game starts off in the barrack room. There are just rows of empty beds, an open door through which a soldier can be seen.

Oh well, be bold and try the obvious. I walk through the door and straight into the camp compound. The soldier did not stop me. My luck is holding.

The jungle lies to the south. I keep on walking on and on and on. Guess what? I'm hopelessly lost. I cry for help. "Pardon?" comes the reply. It was worth a try. Back to the beginning.

Various objects are lying around the camp, most are immediately visible. So the first stage of the camp involves collecting everything you see lying around, and finding one or two other items.

One doesn't have to be too discerning, since everything that is available can be carried.

After visiting the Commandant's office, guard room, barracks and hospital, there are numerous exits to the jungle - but which one should be taken?

And will you make it unobserved? If not, the guards will send the dogs after you.

The weather is hot enough to kill you through thirst, and finding water is not so easy - although once you do, you may find more of it than you bargained for!

This adventure is quite competently written, but lacks that certain sparkle necessary to make it stand out from many others.

It is all rather touine and tedious.

There are graphics, but many of the pictures are almost identical to each other, and none are particularly inspiring.

The worst I came across was of a waterfall, with a plain zig-zag sheet of blue crossing a cliff.

From the way the game reacts and displays, I strongly suspect the GAC was used to create it, although no mention is made on the inlay.

Escape From Khoshima uses normal verb noun commands such as Drink Water, Open Drawer, Get Knife, Direction commands are N for North etc.

You can turn the graphics off and play it as a straightforward text adventure which, when taking into the quality of them into consideration, is no bad thing.

Not bad for the price, and should give some hours of play.