Wishbringer - Infocom (Deleted)
                     (Text-only adventure)

                     Reviewed by Joan Dunn

You  are a Postal Clerk in a small seaside town.  It is  just  an 
ordinary  day,   after  all  nothing  exciting  ever  happens  in 
Festeron - or so you think.  Little do you know that,  before the
day  ends,  you  will  be  plunged  into a series  of  mysterious
happenings.  Your  quiet  little  town will  become  a  nightmare 
place, full  of strange  creatures,  trolls,  vultures  and  evil 
people.  

It all starts when your boss instructs you to deliver a letter to 
the Magic Shoppe before closing time. On your way you can explore 
the  district,  talk  to  people you meet and  find  some  useful 
objects.

You  will encounter the town librarian,  Miss Voss,  a  friendly, 
twittery soul who rather fancies your boss. Coyly she gives you a 
note on violet paper to deliver to him.  Don't lose it .... it is 
important later in the story.  You also meet Miss Voss's dog when 
you pass her cottage.  It is a snappy little poodle.  There is  a 
friendly  gravedigger  who appears later as an attendant  in  the 
theatre. 

When you deliver the letter to the woman in the Magic Shoppe,  it 
turns  out to be a ransom note.  Her cat has been  kidnapped,  or 
should we say catnapped? Your quest is to find the cat and defeat 
the evil one.

When you leave the Magic Shoppe, your pleasant, familiar town has 
altered  out  of  all  recognition.   Even  the  buildings   look 
different,  and the post office building is now a menacing, black 
tower.  First  you  must find the stone and pass a troll  on  the 
bridge. This accomplished, you can continue with your search.

There are not many locations,  and you are provided with a map of 
the  district.  The  solutions to the puzzles  and  problems  are 

logical.  The text is imaginative and there is a pleasing element 
of humour. 

As  long as you are holding the stone,  you have seven wishes  to 
help you in your task.  Details of these and how to use them  are 
in the booklet, but the game can be completed without using them.
So  it  is a game you  can return to  and replay in  a  different 
way.   

You  will meet  a cute little mailbox who takes a fancy  to  you, 
following  you everywhere,  rubbing affectionately  against  your 
legs. There is an exciting fight between the little mailbox and a 
big one which is very well described.  Not essential to the game, 
but don't miss it.

Be  careful  in  the spooky cemetery that you  don't  get  locked 
in. You will  find  that Miss Voss's dog has now  become  a  huge 
hellhound which will tear you limb from limb if you don't retreat 
quickly.....

Beware  of the  boot patrol - no legs and bodies,  just  marching 
boots.  You must allow yourself to be captured  once, but avoid a 
second encounter.  The text will tell you in which direction they 
are  moving,  so judicious use of WAIT and LISTEN and  occasional 
change of direction will enable you to avoid capture.  

The climax of the game is exciting and satisfying.  Personally  I 
dislike a game that fizzles out like a damp squib.

For those who enjoy magic and fantasy,  this is a great game. Not 
perhaps  for the more experienced adventurer who would  find  the 
problems too easy, but I found it highly entertaining and full of 
atmosphere.

The  pack  contains the story of the Legend  of  Wishbringer,  an 
information card,  and, yes, the Wishbringer stone itself. So you
are ready for the great adventure ...... or are you?