The Darkest Road - author Clive Wilson
         (AGT text adventure for PC on SynTax 485)

                  Reviewed By James Judge

This game is a standard AGT adventure that has been converted from
the 8 bits to the 16 bit format by the Adventure Workshop who are
starting to branch out to the PC market instead of just the
Amstrad scene.  All the games that I know AW has converted have
been ones by Clive Wilson and this was the first.

The Black Wanderer (ancient evil extraordinaire) has released a
magical evil that is on the verge of wreaking havoc all over the
land.  To the north, over the Darklen Moor and beyond the
Eagleshorn, is where the Black Wanderer is and that is where you
must go to destroy this evil.

To defeat the BW you must use your inherent skill of the silent
song, which you inherited from your father, which a stranger
taught you about after he had stumbled into the village you live
in.  After giving him food and shelter he told you of the BW and
how there was a way to defeat it.  The only way was using the
silent song and, as you own it, it has fallen to you to defeat the
BW.

You start the game outside your home and a quick exploration of
the near vicinity won't do you any harm.  As with most 8 bit games
objects aren't easy to come by and it is the same with this
conversion so don't be upset if you don't find something at the
first glance...

After you've found the first couple of items you'll probably want
to go north to the big bad world which the BW inhabits.  There is
an assortment of locations to visit including grasslands, forests
(which isn't as deserted as you may expect) and a gooey swamp.  In
the game it says it is a death swamp and, erm, well, it does
include a lot of dying BUT there IS a way through but the question
is whether you'll find it (it took me long enough...).  There are
also a few people to make acquaintance with, some being friendly
and others just being a complete nuisance.

Once you've overcome the outside bits you're confronted with a
complex of underground caverns which have strange shrines and
loads of demons which, strangely enough, have to be overcome. Once
they are overcome you finally meet the BW himself, but I haven't
got that far...

The puzzles are all of a good standard and will have most
adventurers stretching their brain cells on more than one
occasion.  They are not overly difficult but in places take some
thought with the solution being very logical.

If this is the standard of Clive Wilson games I must try and get
my hands on other games written by him. Very enjoyable to play.

The registration is œ5 (which I have yet to pay) and from what Sue
has told me the packaging etc.  you get for registering is very
well produced, most professional.

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