QF's Comp'06 Review: Wumpus Run
quic...@quickfur.ath.cx
scheme I use.]
A rather daring entry, considering that Hunt the Wumpus is a very old,
worn-out theme, and Plotkin has already previously entered a rather
impressive modernized entry on the same. Overall, I liked this one a
lot. The gameplay itself isn't all that interesting, but this is
definitely a good "modern remake" of Hunt the Wumpus. The intro is
pretty good, and the randomized cave descriptions are not bad (although
not breathtaking either). A lot better than "twisty tunnels, all alike",
for sure. Not relying on the worn-out trick of dropping objects to
identify caves helps a lot. There are also nice witty remarks every now
and then, which add a lot more depth to an otherwise overused theme. The
game even attempts to make things more interesting when you miss the
wumpus, or if you kill the wumpus but forget to do something else.
Unfortunately, there are technical problems: some typos, not enough
synonyms, the game unwinnable if the bats and the wumpus are in the same
cave. I found the cavern map several times, but it didn't appear to show
anything...? The story says the rope ladder is hauled up into the gloom,
but looking around shows that it's still there. Also, after cutting the
mane, the wumpus' description shows code instead of text.
OVERALL: 6. Not bad, but not enough synonyms, and has typos. Needs more
betatesting! Also, the randomized layout could be better---it's always
the same topology even though the descriptions switch. (It *is* a lot
better than most random-generated games I've seen, though, so it does
deserve some credit.) Had there been less technical problems, this game
would've scored a lot higher than it did.
Writing: 6 Not bad, but too over-the-top (cut down on the exclamation
marks). Does capture the excitement quite well, at least.
Setting: 8 Much better than the original Wumpus game, for sure.
Story: 5 Nice premise for the Wumpus hunt, but still, this *is* hunt
the wumpus after all. No real story to speak of.
Puzzles: n/a Well, we all know how to hunt the Wumpus by now.
Technical: 8 Randomization of cave descriptions is clever, although it
could be taken further.
Brownie: 9 Extra Brownie points for a very good remake of the worn out
Wumpus game. Extra Brownie points for the humorous additional
twist necessary to convince the judges of your feat.
QF
--
"No, John. I want formats that are actually useful, rather than
over-featured megaliths that address all questions by piling on
ridiculous internal links in forms which are hideously over-complex." --
Simon St. Laurent on xml-dev