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cobaltnineTitle: Interface
Author: Ben Vegiard
C9-HFS-19 Scores
1. Technical: Full points for being a not-broken z-code game.
2. Writing: Full points on grammar, and, although grudgingly, setting. Not so much for story, though.
Taking a strict interpretation to setting, I have not seen this particular sub-genre of setting yet. (That doesn't meant it's not out there, I just haven't seen it.) However, I have been listening to a bunch of metal albums that have similar 'trapped in an inanimate object' theme, so it's bothersomely familiar in some way. The setting could have been developed a lot more. So, while there's full points for 'new setting to me,' in much the same way as that game set in a grammar school last year, there's just not much story development. I almost want to go so far to say that the very conceit of putting the PC into a robot body conveniently removes the need to describe emotions, etc. The whole 'your grabbers are awkward' nonsense felt slap-dash and had no real effect on gameplay.
Also, I kept pretending I was a dalek. Wait! I remember the command I wanted to try now! BRB.
3. Puzzles: A low average score, for having low-difficulty, seen-it-before type puzzles. I do note the multiple solutions to one problem, though.
4. Bonuses: None. Upon pretending I was a dalek, trying 'exterminate' had no effect. Could have gotten a bonus point there. Also, the sheer number of fake hints was kind of strange.
Calculated score: 6. I kind of want to bump this down to a 5, but I do give the author some credit for this short, finishable game, with a note of thanks that he did make at least one puzzle solvable in more than one way. On the other hand, I ended the game short 10 points, and I don't care about it enough to play it through again to figure out where they come from.
Summary: An inoffensive game with more writing in the preface and denoument than in the bulk of the gameplay section.
During the play of this, I think I'm just not fond of games with school-age protagonists. I'd like to see one that proves me wrong, but perhaps just writing a 12 or under sort of kid is tougher than people realize.
EDIT on 15 Nov, as I was putting in votes:
Talk about not memorable - as I was copying out the votes from my spreadsheet to the IF comp form, I had to look at this review again to even remember what the game was about. Eesh.
Author: Ben Vegiard
C9-HFS-19 Scores
1. Technical: Full points for being a not-broken z-code game.
2. Writing: Full points on grammar, and, although grudgingly, setting. Not so much for story, though.
Taking a strict interpretation to setting, I have not seen this particular sub-genre of setting yet. (That doesn't meant it's not out there, I just haven't seen it.) However, I have been listening to a bunch of metal albums that have similar 'trapped in an inanimate object' theme, so it's bothersomely familiar in some way. The setting could have been developed a lot more. So, while there's full points for 'new setting to me,' in much the same way as that game set in a grammar school last year, there's just not much story development. I almost want to go so far to say that the very conceit of putting the PC into a robot body conveniently removes the need to describe emotions, etc. The whole 'your grabbers are awkward' nonsense felt slap-dash and had no real effect on gameplay.
Also, I kept pretending I was a dalek. Wait! I remember the command I wanted to try now! BRB.
3. Puzzles: A low average score, for having low-difficulty, seen-it-before type puzzles. I do note the multiple solutions to one problem, though.
4. Bonuses: None. Upon pretending I was a dalek, trying 'exterminate' had no effect. Could have gotten a bonus point there. Also, the sheer number of fake hints was kind of strange.
Calculated score: 6. I kind of want to bump this down to a 5, but I do give the author some credit for this short, finishable game, with a note of thanks that he did make at least one puzzle solvable in more than one way. On the other hand, I ended the game short 10 points, and I don't care about it enough to play it through again to figure out where they come from.
Summary: An inoffensive game with more writing in the preface and denoument than in the bulk of the gameplay section.
During the play of this, I think I'm just not fond of games with school-age protagonists. I'd like to see one that proves me wrong, but perhaps just writing a 12 or under sort of kid is tougher than people realize.
EDIT on 15 Nov, as I was putting in votes:
Talk about not memorable - as I was copying out the votes from my spreadsheet to the IF comp form, I had to look at this review again to even remember what the game was about. Eesh.
