Dreamhold, The
Zarf's name has come to be a household name among IF fans, and The Dreamworld does not disappoint. The game is full of well-written locations, cool magic, and ingenious puzzles. The locales evoke the blend of fantasy and science from Zork, and almost every 'room' contains something interesting to look at or interact with. There are dozens of puzzles of various types, and while you can explore vast areas from the beginning, you never feel lost about what to do next, since there are always at least a few puzzles waiting to be solved at any one time. Puzzles also range widely in difficulty, from obvious to devious.
The best thing about the game, aside from neat puzzles and multiple (two, actually) endings, is the excellent "smart tutorial" feature: if you get stuck anywhere for a long time, the game will start prodding you in the right direction with gentle hints. It also gives excellent introduction to basic IF commands at the start, so beginners will be well prepared to deal with tough puzzles in the later stages of the game.
While it remains debatable whether the typical "on-line hint menu" feature is better than the automatic hint system in this game, Zarf deserves a lot of credit for writing a superb game and introducing a new tutorial approach to the genre. I think for truly novice IF gamers, the automatic hint system is a more user-friendly and appropriate aproach - especially when it connects simple IF commands to actual puzzle-solving situations. Whether you are new to IF genre or a veteran, The Dreamhold offers something for everyone. Two thumbs up!
Average Rating: | 8.25 [8 votes] |
Genre: | Interactive Fiction |
Designer: | Andrew Plotkin |
Developer: | Freeware |
Publisher: | Freeware |
Year: | 2005 |
Software Copyright: | Andrew Plotkin |
Theme: | Fantasy |
Multiplayer: | |
Related Links: | Official site |
More Info: | Mobygames | The Web |
System Requirements: | Inform |
If you like this game, try: | Lists and Lists, Slouching Towards Bedlam, John's Fire Witch |
Thanks to... | |
Technical Notes: |
Screenshots © The Good Old Days