Jacaranda Jim v4.03 - author Graham Cluley, Cost œ5/œ6
                    (PC text adventure)

                     Review by Rusty

It all starts in an under-lit (pitch black) room. You, Jacaranda
Jim, have crash-landed on a planet which you do not wish to be on.
Your aim is to escape unearthly monsters, a gorilla named Grog and
a gin spitting pirate.  As you make your way around the planet,
with your unwanted accomplice, Alan, you come across problems
which, in turn, end up getting you off the dreaded place.  My
first experience of this game was through the magazine PC Plus.  I
attempted playing the game and miserably failed. So I registered
my copy in the hope that I would get some help. I did, in the form
of a map. I also received the bonus game of Blox which, if you're
lucky, I will review.

Jacaranda Jim is your typical text game with a configuration
system that allows you to choose the colours which light the text
up (well, some of the text).  Most of the colours blend in pretty
well with the text, but I've never bothered to test any out.  The
text descriptions are as concise as they could be. Some are short
where possible. Some are just a damn nuisance to read as they are
long. Spelling, grammar etc was not noticeable, mind you I can't
say much as I am an Australian and the way English grammar is, I
have some trouble defining words (dweezil is only one example).
Inputs can be varied but have to be direct to a certain degree.
You can use alternatives but, as I have mentioned, they have to be
"to the point".

All in all this game was worth the money, not to the extent of
intriguing me but to the point where I want to go back and play
the game many times over. To me Jacaranda Jim is one of these
games where it can be turned into another adventure where Jim may
be in another place in another time. Who knows, maybe one day
Jacaranda Jim may pop up in Australia being chased by a Tasmanian
Tiger or a Bunyip.

Overall Score 8/10
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