Beebug


Project Thesius

Author: Mitch
Publisher: Robico
Machine: BBC/Electron

 
Published in Beebug Volume 5 Number 3

Project Thesius

This latest saga from Rob the Welsh wizard, is a follow up to his previous spy adventure Rick Hanson. Yet again, your impossible mission is to boldly go where the bullets are thickest and the dames are slimmest to retrieve the secret plans from an impregnable fortress.

Trigger-happy guards, ferocious dogs and minefields surround the perimeter to the castle, which is hidden deep in the woods. As in the first instalment, previous agents have left clues and equipment to assist you which they have 'thoughtfully' hidden in the least likely locations.

To add realism to the game the author has added a sneaky touch. Should you, by mistake or design, use a piece of information gained on some previous attempt at the game, but not obtained during your current attempt, the game will respond as if the solution was incorrect. For example, should you discover a correct password and then replay the game from a previous saved position prior to your password discovery, the password will not work. This fact can cause quite a few headaches, so ensure you take no shortcuts.

A distressing part of the game is the appearance of the village maze. In retrospect, I found the reason for it, but I gnawed the keyboard just the same.

The game has been written to fit the reduced memory of the Electron... and it shows. On a number of occasions, the normally clever command interpreter used by Robico becomes singularly stupid. There are at least two occasions where great problems are to experienced trying to find the one word which the game insists on obtaining before it will understand. Having just recently finished playing Enthar Seven (which is arguably the best BBC/Electron adventure around, and is also by Robico) this game suffers in comparison. The problems are at an 'average' level which makes it suitable for those among us who find the likes of Level 9 problems a bit below the belt - it's good but he's done better.

Mitch

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