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Forget gnomes and magic. Don't expect to see any nice, comfy hobbit holes. The name of the game here is survival and eventually help although the Guardian that you seek is no more than legend. But first, you have to survive...

The people of Meridian were gentle and peace-loving and under no circumstances were they prepared for the latest invasion of the Silvian warriors who can wield new weapons of terror and left leaving a trail of devastation and destruction.

You, a young lad, somehow managed to survive the onslaught. Whilst returning to your house for a weapon, you are knocked unconscious by falling masonry. When you awake you have but one thought - to find the Guardians of Meridian, rumoured to live somewhere in the depths of a mountain and who, if he exists, is supposed to help the People of Meridian in their hour of greatest need.

Pilgrim is a text adventure of the traditional verb-noun variety. What it lacks in the sophistication of its parser though, it makes up for in its superb atmosphere and text descriptions. The author, Rod Pike, has set out to create a feeling of terror and he succeeds admirably. Your memory is suffering from assorted lapses, your co-ordination is awry as you trip over various objects. Familiar buildings lie in ruins, the bodies of your friends lie slaughtered in their houses. And there is the Silvain warrior who quickly discovers your whereabouts and who takes great delight in preparing himself for your imminent execution. The problems too are original. When was the last time you had to find a way of mending your broken arm?

The game's vocabulary seems more than adequate with "examine" being particularly well supported. Mapping is logical with a nice touch being that you are told what you can see in assorted directions. You are even told when you are about to enter a maze.

Atmosphere makes or breaks an adventure game and Pilgrim certainly has a lot and is an excellent advertisement for why there is no need to insist on graphics. Pictures could never do this game justice.