Electron User


The Survivor

Author: Merlin
Publisher: MP
Machine: Acorn Electron

 
Published in Electron User 2.05

The year is 1910 and you're on a cruise of the tropics when there is an accident and the ship sinks. The result is that you find yourself swimming in a shark-infested sea. Can you survive and find your way back to civilisation, or alternatively find happiness on a tropical island?

There are very few actual puzzles to solve in this adventure. Almost everything is accomplished by choosing between two alternatives - HIDE or STAND, EAT or STARVE, ACCEPT or REFUSE. The results of these choices can be hilarious. For instance, on entering a village you have to bribe the tribal chief. If you have what he wants, he then offers you his daughter's hand in marriage.

If you accept, you are given your own hut. You are then given a further choice - STAY or ESCAPE. If you STAY, the game ends and presumably you live happily ever after. If you REFUSE, the chief gets angry and swaps you with another village for a pig. Here you are offered some food and again, you have a choice - EAT or REFUSE. If you REFUSE, you become lunch for the tribe. If you EAT, you are imprisoned in a hut and have to steal the witchdoctor's clothes to escape.

Survivor

You'll also meet Robinson Crusoe who asks you to stay and be his friend. If you accept...end of game again. There is also a secret civilisation in the depths of the island. If you find them, guess what? Yes, end of game yet again.

I'm not sure I'd call this an adventure as such and I'm sure I didn't manage to find all the endings - how do you get past the rhino?

Overall, a departure from the usual MP style of adventure but there are so many alternatives in the course of the game for you to choose from that I'm sure, like me, you'll spend your time discovering the results of all of them. It's an unusual and highly entertaining adventure.

Merlin

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