Dead End - Martyn Westwood/Interactive Technology
            An Adventure tale with added graphics.
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                   Reviewed by Clive Swain.

Opening the package I was immediately impressed by the glossy
manual with colour printing! I scanned the pages to learn that
the adventure had been written using STAC and GAC and utilised
most of my favourite controls such as Ramsave/load, Oops,
Forty/Eighty (text size) and Graphics On/Off. Read on and first
time users are taught how to interact with the game. Finally I
came to the story introduction which really does set the mood:
the excitement is about to begin.

The year is 1942 and I must become that famous private eye Philip
Marlowe in order to solve his latest case.  So.....  I pull the
wide brimmed hat further down over my eyes, draw deeply on the
cigarette which dangles between my lips, lean forward and......

.........switch on the computer.

The game loads quickly. I am in my office. The period atmosphere
is further enhanced by the graphics which are well digitized
screen shots from the 1944 film 'Farewell My Lovely' starring
Dick Powell.

I find that my client has just left, leaving behind a photograph;
the only clue to this murder mystery. I gather my belongings and
try to leave the office to follow my only lead. At this point my
first criticism of the game becomes apparent. Whilst, for much of
the time it will carry out a series of actions from only one
command it suddenly reverts, becoming pedantic, insisting on one
word, the correct word and that word only, before one can proceed
further.

I leave the office and discover that I am immediately in my car!
If I get out of my car, then, to my amazement, I am back in the
office!!

There is no lateral movement allowed in this game. Every location
is a necessary one, so, you cannot explore at leisure but must
follow the logical step from clue to clue. However, having said
this, I soon became so wrapped up in questioning characters and
examining evidence that any idea of swanning around the
countryside on a sight-seeing tour had long faded into oblivion.

I must be honest and say that at the time of writing, I am
nowhere near to completing this adventure, but, I have
experienced enough to fully appreciate the mood, the gameplay and
the puzzles. Nine out of ten for atmosphere because the text is
pure Raymond Chandler and the graphics show the brilliance of
Edward Dmytryk. Only seven for the puzzles and gameplay. There
could be some improvement here but, all in all, a very out of the
ordinary adventure, easy enough for a first timer but, with the
addiction and content to keep even the most experienced player
happy for days and days.

My recommendation, buy it, now.