A Midsummer Day's Dream

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1994

You are sitting on a grassy bank alongside a small stream trying to come up with a new idea for an adventure when a small red dragon about a foot high, scuttles past through the long grass. It peers anxiously at a cheap Japanese digital wrist-watch and mumbles something about being late for a Convention. As you've had no luck with a new idea for your adventure, you decide to follow it. The dragon coughs quietly to itself and sets fire to the field in the process, then it sets off in the direction of the woods.

Agatha's Folly

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1994

Agatha's Folly is a two part text adventure. The player takes the role of someone who has just become the proud owner of a country cottage. It's not been live in for ages, because the previous owner disappeared - vanished without a trace, so it's in a bit of a state. Your own furniture isn't due to arrive for a while so you take a camp bed and set off to Bluebell Cottage to take stock and make a start on the cleaning. Luckily you also bought some furniture with the house so the place isn't that empty. The cottage isn't the only thing you bought, along with the house comes some grounds containing a small lake and a derelict mill which is the 'folly referred to in the title. Part One is called 'The Folly and starts with the player exploring their new house. Part Two is called 'Marooned' and cannot be played until part one has been completed as it starts with a question about what happened at end of part one. This game was developed using Professional Adventure Writer. It supports the standard commands such as GET and DROP together with shortcuts such as N/S/E/W for North/South/East/West. It is also capable of accepting more complex commands, the manual has the following example 'GET THE PEN THEN WRITE ON THE PAPER AND PUT IT IN THE ENVELOPE"

Al-Strad

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1985

Join Al-Strad as he struggles to rescue Sally Software from the Evil Sink in this text-only adventure. There are some obvious influences from other adventure programmers like Scott Adams. Author Paul Gill advises you that 'I can't.. yet" if you try to something at the wrong time or with insufficient resources. There's also a classic maze, called (appropriately) The Forest of Deja-Vu. and the location descriptions are amusing, original well-written, and with not a spelling mistake to be seen!

Arnold the Adventurer

Commodore 64 - Released - 1992

Arnold the well know Super Hero and all time good guy reads the message from his old pal Winthorpe the Wizard. Winthorpe's fabled 'Crystal of Conrad has been stolen by the evil Schwartze and Arnold has been asked to retrieve it before Schwartze can use it to dispose of Arnolds old pal. The Crystal is somewhere in Schwartze Mansion and Winthorpe is staying in hiding until you aid Arnold in finding it.

Baby Blues (The Adventure Workshop)

Commodore 64 - Released - 1994

Your heart is pumping so loud you can hardly hear you wife repeat herself....time to go to the hospital. Oh no, where is the hospital number. Where are your keys?! You're not ready, you haven't practiced enough. Should you call an ambulance or try to get her into the Jeep? Oh boy, here comes another contraction!!!

BB in Walesville

Commodore 64 - Released - 1993

One of the author's earliest games, BB in Walesville casts the player in the role of Billy Barker - Daily Chronicle employee. Whilst holidaying in sunny Walesville, Billy discovers a route into an all but forgotten underground complex and then has to escape evading bats, beast-infested pools and other lurking horrors.

BB Investigates

Commodore 64 - Released - 1993

The word on the street is that stole research documents are being brought into the country by a firm fronting as a shipping firm. Billy must enter the firm's warehouse and discover the proof to put the bad guys behind bars. To do so will require the aid of a cat, a dead mouse and a boomerang.

BB's TV Hell

Commodore 64 - Released - 1994

You are Daily Chronicle employee Billy Barker. Recently you have been responsible for the program listings for the TV guide. You started fine, then you began to have these dreams... now you are trapped in a dream. In a world of television and cinema in which you cannot escape.

Because of a Cat

Commodore 64 - Released - 1993

Who ever thought that going out to buy a bottle of milk would be so much trouble? Facing a challenge at every turn the player must overcome insurmountable odds, including bureaucratic bank staff, transport difficulties, and even a greedy tramp! A must for those that think that life is straightforward.

Bored of the Rings

Commodore 64 - Released - 1986

No prizes for guessing the inspiration for this one. The Great Ring needs to be returned to Mount Doom, a treacherous task to be undertaken by Fordo the Boggit. Spam, Pimply and Murky are his country-bumpkin friends, and he will later meet with Bumbadil and Hashberry, two old hippies. The main quest involves meeting up with Legoland the Elf, Giblet the Dwarf and Aragont. In keeping with the humour, familiar locations become "the featureless plain below the pink mountain", "Lake Anadin" and the "Land of the Personal-Stereo-Wearing Goblins". Bored of the Rings is an interactive fiction game with graphics made using Quill. The interface allows the player to take and use items using VERB NOUN commands, and talk to characters. The game is split into three parts, accessed via passcodes. The tape also includes issue 1 of Sceptical, Delta 4's short-lived magazine on tape.

Bounty Hunter (Adventure Workshop)

Amstrad CPC - Homebrew - 1994

While sanctioned by the War Federation, Dr Froglen recently broke ground in the development of neuro-viral life forms and the first 22 of these have been grown and transported under controlled conditoins to Federation Headquarters. Their space ship never arrived. You have been dispatched to the fifth planet of Zeta 23 to find the crashed ship and neutralise them. A text only adventure written with the PAW utility.

Cursed be the City

Commodore 64 - Released - 1987

Cursed be the City is a Gothic-themed text adventure where you play a character called Ashar, and begin your adventure bound to a rack in a dark and damp dungeon. You must find a way to escape this horrid place of misery and fear before the torturer burns out your eyes! As you can tell, this adventure is very dark in places and is not suitable for young children. Once you escape the dungeon you will eventually learn of your preordained quest. The location descriptions are generally rich with detail and it soon feels like you're reading a book. A lot of the characters in this one do have strange names, though, which makes your quest a bit confusing at times. If you're a fan of horror novels, then this one may appeal to you.

Dances with Bunny Rabbits

Commodore 64 - Released - 1992

After Timmy's father confiscates his teddy bear, he knows that the only way he can get his bear back is to make his father proud. Timmy has heard rumours about a treasure at the bottom of a mine outside town in the Badlands, so he sets out to find it.

Danger! Adventurer At Work!

Commodore 64 - Released - 1991

Released in Commodore Force #03 (March 1993) - Reel Action #6. DAaW is a two part game full of humor and adventure and not too tricky, so excellent for text beginners without being too brief. Your quest is to find a quiet room where all time stops so you can play adventures as long as you like with no interruptions.

First Past the Post (Adventure Workshop)

Amstrad CPC - Homebrew - 1993

After a brutal row with your fiancee, you've written a rather scathing and ill tempered letter to her. Waking up the next day, you've realised what you've done and now need to intercept the letter before it's delivered and she calls the wedding off. A text only adventure written with the PAW utility.

House Out of Town

Commodore 64 - Released - 1992

Being a solicitor is not without its problems. One of the most difficult tasks to befall you in your profession is the organizing of wills. In HOUSE OUT OF TOWN, you play Mr Parker, quite experienced in your trade, who has been asked to sort out the last will and testament of a Mr Dickens. The only problem is the whereabouts of the will, rumor has it that it is hidden in the late Mr Dickens' house that lies out of town.

I Dare You

Commodore 64 - Released - 1992

At the local meet of the Birmingham Adventure Players Society you discussed the usual adventure related topics as you always do at these meetings. "What I would like is to play a REAL adventure!" Lizzie, your best friend, said, "Really? Well maybe we can fix that!" she smiled, her usual sarcastic grin spread across her face. "Ya! I believe that when I see it!" you replied. "My aunt has an old house just outside Birmingham. How do you fancy playing a REAL adventure in that old house? She is away on holiday for a couple of weeks and I'm sure I can put something together for you." "Oh yeah! I won't be the subject of another of your practical jokes!" "You coward! You're scared!" "I'm not!" "Do it then! I DARE YOU!" And so the challenge began. Lizzie needed a week to prepare everything and now that week was over!

I'm Innocent

Commodore 64 - Released - 1994

Another fun adventure from Damien Steele. In this one you must escape from your bedroom and watch the film Ninja Cats from Mars.

Jason of the Argonauts

Commodore 64 - Released - 1990

You are Jason, leader of the Argonauts on a quest to find the fabled golden fleece. If you find the fleece, and return it to the ship, you will be able to reclaim your rightful throne from Pelias, who stole it after your father, Aeson was killed. Many dangers and strange creatures are reputed to inhabit this island after all your fifty Argonaut crew were killed in a fierce storm.

Just Another PoW

Commodore 64 - Released - 1994

The spluttering engine began to spew think black smoke. This was it, time to release the canopy. The wind began to tear at your expose face, the smoke obscuring your vision of the ever closing ground. Taking a wild leap you were suddenly falling through the flak filled blackness. A tug on the rip cord and you were hit with the force of a rhino charging... That was how it began six weeks ago. A routine mission over occupied territory and an unscheduled stop. Now you reside at Arnheim POW camp awaiting transfer to another, more final destination.

Larry the Lemming's Urge for Extinction

Amstrad CPC - Homebrew - 1993

Larry the Lemming was in emotional turmoil. Not only had he just got puberty out of the way, but now he had the strange urge to throw himself off a large cliff. Forced to permanently wear a rubber ring and a parachute by his worried mother, Larry now has to find a way to finally throw himself off the cliff at the other end of the beach.

Og the Great

Commodore 64 - Released - 1993

You are Og (The Great!) a noble adventurer of great determination, skill and luck. You have fought many battles and won much fame and wealth... ...in your dreams. In reality, this is your first. You are not rich and nobody knows your name. But some day it will all be yours. Because you have a plan. You are going to rob Death! You have worked out that Death must be rich (or at least comfortably well off) by now, what with all those bodies going over with two coins on their eyes. So you are going to relieve Death of his money. But first you need one or two things...

Pre-History

Commodore 64 - Released - 1992

Written by Simon Avery writing under his 'serious games' pseudonym Michael Hunt along with Dorothy Millard. You start in the ruins of your village, lucky to have clothes on your back. The village is deserted and your father and family have been taken by slavers. You must survive and follow the trail to free your family.

Prison Blues

Commodore 64 - Released - 1991

You're a criminal trying to break out of jail. While you have prepared well for this day you still must get past other prisoners without raising the alarm, all the guards, the prison walls and barbed wire and avoid the snarling bloodhounds.

Rites of Passage

Commodore 64 - Released - 1994

You are currently a junior in the Family of Elders. Today is your Testing day. To become a true Brother Elder you must escape from the testing area using any means possible, both majikal or technological.

Rouge Midget II

Commodore 64 - Released - 1994

This is an S.O.S. distress call from the mining ship Scarlet Shortguy. The crew are dead. Killed by a radiation leak. The only survivors were Dave Lyster, who was in suspended animation, and his pregnant cat, who was safely sealed in the hold. Revived 3 million years later, Lyster’s only companions are: a life form who evolved from his cat, and Arnold Rymmer, a hologram simulation of one of the dead crew. Parodies British sci-fi series Red Dwarf.

So Little Time

Commodore 64 - Released - 1994

Originally a C64 game, written with the Quill by Danien Steele. (There was a later Spectrum port was created with the PAW by Martin Freemantle.) Despite the comment in the solution, this was not a Megapoints game. However, it *is* based around the goings on at the UK Adventurers' Convention, and [the C64 original] was written in response to a bet from fellow attendees that the author couldn't write a game in a day (it was actually written in one evening). Your task is to find and return objects, thus cheering up various people and finish all your tasks before the Convention's awards ceremony begins. The Commodore version has a limit of 200 moves.

Staff of Power

Commodore 64 - Released - 1993

Many years ago, when Arcon became King, the Gods gave him a Staff Of Power. It was filled with strong magic for good or evil but King Arcon has always used it for honest purposes and has been a wise and just ruler. But one day, in the guise of a beggar seeking justice from the King, the evil magician Zyx swiped the Staff from the King's hands. Immediately, Zyx revealed himself in his true form, cursed the King for his goodness and vowed to destroy the kingdom. You have been chosen to regain the Staff and destroy Zyx but first you must find four magical weapons; a sword, shield, ring and war horn. A text only adventure written by Susan Medley with the Adventure Writer utility.

The Assassins Guild

Amstrad CPC - Released

The Black Mass

Commodore 64 - Released - 1993

Another in the series of Billy Barker games created by Damian Steele and plublished by The Adventure Workshop in 1993. This time we see Billy acting as a domestic to procure the proof of Ritual Magic at the manor house. Not a game for those of faint heart

The Eighth Crime

Commodore 64 - Released - 1993

The Eighth Crime sees Billy Barker captured by a gang of thieves Can reporter Billy escape from the Isolated house before the gang returns to "finish him off?

The Gerbil Riot of '67

Commodore 64 - Released - 1993

After being found guilty of instigating the Gerbil Riot of 1967 (a most heinous crime), you are locked up in an asylum and must make your escape!

The Guardian

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1986

The Guardian was written by John Betteridge in 1986, the same year as he wrote Escape from Khoshima which was picked up and re-released by Atlantis Software. The same fate did not befall 'The Guardian', however, which remained available only via mail order. A text only adventure, written with GAC, The Guardian sees you wandering through the great void of oblivion between the living and the dead. A heavy stillness pervades all. You must defeat the Dark Lord and prevent the all consuming war that threatens to engulf your nation. Your journey will take you across the River Styx, as long as you can pay your fare, before you take on the Dark Lord himself.

The Staff of Power

Amstrad CPC - Homebrew - 1993

Many years ago, when Arcon became King, the Gods gave him a Staff Of Power. It was filled with strong magic for good or evil but King Arcon has always used it for honest purposes and has been a wise and just ruler. But one day, in the guise of a beggar seeking justice from the King, the evil magician Zyx swiped the Staff from the King's hands. Immediately, Zyx revealed himself in his true form, cursed the King for his goodness and vowed to destroy the kingdom. You have been chosen to regain the Staff and destroy Zyx but first you must find four magical weapons; a sword, shield, ring and warhorn. A text only adventure written with the PAW utility.

The Very Big Cave Adventure

Commodore 64 - Released - 1986

Essentially a graphical version of Colossal Cave, The Very Big Cave Adventure has the player navigating around a forest, collecting treasures and dealing with strange creatures. It involves reading a description of each scene, then typing in one- or two-word commands to perform an action, with some of them providing some humor to the player. Directions can be abbreviated as N, E, S, W.

The Westbury Mystery

Commodore 64 - Released - 1993

A horror story set in the derelict Westbury House. This text adventure, written by Dorothy Millard using the Quill\Adventurewriter system was released in 1993 by The Adventure Workshop.

Trap Springer

Commodore 64 - Released - 1993

Adventure without whip or Fedora in the Great Pyramid and escape with the gold and your life! A text adventure that belongs in a museum by Damian Steele and released in 1993 by The Adventure Workshop.

TRD: Total Reality Delusion

Commodore 64 - Released - 1991

In TRD: Total Reality Delusion, you are a normal person, somehow transported to a most abnormal place. You seem fated to wander around this strange place, unless you can find a way back to your more sane world. TRD: Total Reality Delusion was developed by Simon Avery and published by The Adventure Workshop in 1991.

Treasure Island

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1992

Robert Louis Stevenson's seminal adventure novel of life on the high seas, buccaneers and buried gold was ripe for a computerised retelling. With characters and plot points that have transcended into popular culture (such as Long John Silver, The Black Spot and Ben Gunn) and is arguably responsible for what everyone automatically thinks of when they think of pirates. This text only adventure looks to recapture the atmosphere of Stevenson's novel (which by this point had entered the public domain).

Yellow Peril

Commodore 64 - Released - 1994

Yellow Peril is a text adventure which takes place in a beautiful but dangerous land where just about everything is yellow. This game was developed by Dorothy Millard and published by The Adventure Workshop in 1994. A fantasy where you have continued your experiments against all advice and this time find yourself in a world where everything is Yellow. You must return before it is too late. The sequel to Land of the Purple Sea.