Home Computing Weekly


Ulysses And The Golden Fleece

Categories: Review: Software
Author: E.D.
Publisher: U. S. Gold
Machine: Commodore 64

 
Published in Home Computing Weekly #133

Despite the apparent confusion within the title this is an excellent adventure which has stood the test of time successfully.

If my Greek mythology is correct it was Jason who undertook the original quest for the Golden Fleece, but I'm sure, the programmer's were aware of this and have merely added Ulysses' name for the sake of a richer series of problems on which to draw.

About five years ago, this was the first adventure which I ever played, so forgive me if this review has something of a rosy glow of nostalgia about it. In those days it was available for the Apple computer and its graphic screens even predate The Hobbit, plus the fact that even the original had a certain amount of activity included. For instance, at one point you see a bottle floating about in the sea. The command "take bottle" results in the expected response "taken", but the bottle also disappears from the graphic screen.

Ulysses And The Golden Fleece

The aim is to find the Golden Fleece and to accomplish this you must first of all wander about the town finding money and buying weapons and provisions to see you through. A visit to the king's palace is always a good idea, but before you can enter you must give the guard the password. In the original game this, for some inexplicable reason, was "yes" but I'm pleased to note that this has been changed and my lips are sealed.

Another guard is positioned on the seafront guarding a ship which is also required for the adventure but first a crew must be hired. The only likely source of a crew is the local tavern where a motley assortment of drunken sots can be found. Still beggars can't be choosers and with a bit of luck and bribery they will follow you anywhere and may not even mutiny.

The game is only available on disc and, like the Zork Trilogy from Infocom, the vast majority of the game is called into the computer when needed. Even some of the responses are left on the disc which gives this game a slower response time but access to many more phrases than would otherwise be possible.

Ulysses And The Golden Fleece

The only way in which this game shows its age is the range of vocabulary used. In a game of this sophistication we have come to expect a reasonably intelligent system which can decipher fairly complex sentence structures. Since this is the preserve of the elite and also because I judge adventures by the complexity of the situations encountered I won't harp on too much about this.

During the game you will meet many other characters who will help or hinder - remember, strange things happen at sea. If your ship drifts around too much as you try to negotiate the maze, a wretched seagull appears to steal all that you possess and you may as well quit and start again.

In common with most adventures this has the facility to save your position at any point so that you can come back. another day to complete your journey or merely safeguard against being wiped out at the next turn in the road.

The conversion to the 64 appears to have been extremely faithful to the original, even the graphics are recognisable though colour has been added since I first played it all those moons ago.

Meeting this conversion has reunited me with an old friend and I recommend that you give him a chance too.

E.D.

Other Reviews Of Ulysses And The Golden Fleece For The Commodore 64


Ulysses (US Gold)
A review by The White Wizard (Zzap)

Ulysses And The Golden Fleece (US Gold/Sierra)
A review by Mike Pattenden (Commodore User)

Other Commodore 64 Game Reviews By E.D.


  • Hyper Sports Front Cover
    Hyper Sports
  • Karateka Front Cover
    Karateka
  • International Tennis Front Cover
    International Tennis
  • Theatre Europe Front Cover
    Theatre Europe
  • Knockout Front Cover
    Knockout
  • Donald Duck's Playground Front Cover
    Donald Duck's Playground
  • Now Games Front Cover
    Now Games
  • Elidon Front Cover
    Elidon
  • The Chess Game Front Cover
    The Chess Game
  • Orm And Cheep: Narrow Squeaks Front Cover
    Orm And Cheep: Narrow Squeaks