| Riddle Of The Maze | Fathom Pictures / Interplay | 1994 | |
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This is a rare game based on Christopher Manson's interactive book Maze. Yes indeedy, this game is simply one giant maze. Now before I hear groans from those who spent days trapped in any number of mindless adventure game mazes, let me clarify this a bit. The is not your mama's adventure game maze. This is something new entirely. The book itself has a very devoted following. Upon release, this was billed as "The World's Most Challenging Puzzle". This may take you quite a few days, and some extensive notes, to navigate. The story is simple. You are deposited in front of the Maze, as a member of a group touring it, given instructions and clues from a voice-over guide, and are told to go ahead and go on in. The entrance looks a bit like a museum or old house that you might visit. The purpose of the game is to find your way to the center of the Maze, gathering clues along the way, solve the riddle at the center, and find your way back out via the shortest route. The graphics are reproductions of the rooms from the pages of the book, which are illustrated with Manson's original art. Each room is entirely different, and each contains clues to solve the riddle as well as doors to other rooms. Clues are found in the artwork of the room and in animations. Each has its own bit of prose delivered by your guide, designed to give you further clues as well. I found the illustrations very reminiscent of the style of Edward Gorey or Charles Addams—they are extremely well-designed and slightly surreal. Each room is a puzzle and has clues to figure out from examination. These aren't puzzles in the normal adventure game sense, these are puzzles where you look at the picture in front of you to determine what it means. The goal is to find the shortest route to the center and back while solving the puzzle in the center room, once you determine what that puzzle is. The ideal number of steps that can be done in and back out of the maze is 16. | ||
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