Previous Next

In the days of old when knights were bold, wizards were held in high esteem. Well, they were until the people discovered God and the need for those practised in the art diminished.

Of the few wizards remaining, you are one of the best. Hardly surprising, as you were trained by the mighty Mordamir. Sadly, he died many years ago. At least you thought he had... Last night he came to you in a dream. When you woke you knew he was still alive, trapped in a bottomless cavern.

And so, with 20 gold pieces to your credit and a sword and staff in your hands, you set out to discover the secret of The Immortal...

Any similarities between The Immortal and Cadaver are purely superficial. The Immortal isn't as convoluted as Cadaver, but is no less gripping. Its look is more often than no exemplary, with an unparalleled level of graphic detail.

There's a visual treat around every corner, providing rewards for anyone who dares to experiment. Sound-wise, there's a different moody tune for each level, though they don't always generate an appropriate atmosphere. The alternative is a handful of well-placed spot effects, such as the clash of swords and grunts.

Special mention must go to the manual, which provides instruction in the form of a step-by-step solution to the first level, just to get you into the swing of things. Further help comes in the form of cryptic clues from Mordamir - and you need them.

This is where The Immortal stumbles slightly. Progress is linear, which means that when you get stuck there's nothing else to do but pull your hair out. It would have been less frustrating if it were possible to go off elsewhere more often.

Still, the fact that there aren't that many puzzles to solve and there are only seven levels is easily forgotten when you find yourself in the thick of it. Despite a few irritating gripes, such as having to be quite precise when climbing down ladders lest you fall and die, The Immortal manages to absorb and entertain in a way seldom experienced. It's magic!

There's little to separate this version and its Commodore counterpart. What you see here you can expect to get.

Surprisingly, work on this version is still in progress, and it isn't likely to be complete until early next year. CGA, EGA, VGA, MCGA, Tandy, Roland and AdLib compatibility have yet to be confirmed, although it's likely that most, if not all, will be supported.