THE LEGACY OF BALDORK
                  ---------------------
                 Author:  Ray Richardson
            Reviewed by:  Philip Richmond on an Amiga
          2 part Text Adventure on Syntax Disks 1146a/b


The time  - Any time.
The place - The Land of Dragod.
Here, in this idyllic, utopian world you are about to celebrate
your twentieth birthday and are set to marry the beautiful
Princess Zondralyn.  Unfortunately for you, Gorak, a would be
usurper, banished centuries ago by your forefathers, returns to
exact his revenge and kidnaps the fair Princess on the eve of your
wedding!  The simple(?) object of this quest is to rescue
Zondralyn from the clutches of the evil Gorak.  To do so, you must
venture into the surrounding landscape at an astrologically
propitious time, and use your wits to confront magic and sorcery,
deal with the diverse inhabitants of the strange domain and secure
and utilise items and weapons to your own advantage.

The game commences in your simple one-roomed accommodation, on the
outskirts of Dragod. Clad only in your plain tunic, and carrying a
few gold coins and a family heirloom, you prepare for the enormity
of your task. A brief gander at your furnishings may be fruitful
before you boldly step out to traverse the road to Dragod's tiny
village.  Here you will meet the 'Keeper of the Way', Gresham the
peasant, and Vorlaf the Guardian. You should visit the village and
the nearby gold mine before negotiating the fast flowing river
which will lead to some of the more dangerous areas of Dragod. Can
you outwit the Master Swordsman, defeat Kariss the two-headed
monster, and solve Gundum's riddle??  Coping with a locked chest,
a magic sword, a mischievous dwarf and a floor tile puzzle will be
essential to make progress, before visiting the turreted castle to
the east.  Ingredients for a couple of spells must be collected
along the way, too.  To solve Part One it is vital to dispose of
the fearsome Ice Queen and to heed the words of your spiritual
Advisor, a valuable source of wise counsel.  All good stuff, and I
thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it.

Part Two proves to be equally as enjoyable, if not more so, and is
set within the confines of Gorak's menacing castle, once you have
worked out how to gain access, that is.  The castle is large with
many chambers and secrets to unravel. There are some neat puzzles
to solve, more riddles to muse over and several pitfalls to avoid.
How to escape the tiny cell, the door-less room, and the Room of
Contradiction and Confusion? All is not as it seems in this dark,
shadowy realm and it's sensible to be wary of deceitful
characters.  Ultimately, you have to destroy Gorak and free your
betrothed from an enchantment. This is the culmination and reward
for your eventful journey through a series of fine puzzles and
memorable experiences, in what turns out to be a well-penned tale.

You are invited to enter your first name prior to beginning your
quest, and this is occasionally referred to in game text.  Not
essential, but does give the adventure a more personal slant.  The
standard adventure commands are understood as well as
abbreviations. The 'examine', 'search', and 'look at' commands
should be used in good measure when inspecting your surroundings,
objects and location scenery.  The usual 'save/load' and
'ramsave/ramload' are there.  A list of acceptable words and
syntax can be summoned by typing 'help'.  Bits of text are colour
highlighted for a pleasing effect.  The text and descriptions are
well written; style and prose lending the game adequate
atmosphere, helping to draw you into the scenario.

Ray has added a few short sound effects and included several
pictures which are helpful to look at.  You even get to play a
game of 'Find The Lady', a welcome diversion, but ensure you don't
lose all of your cash!  There's a lot to like about this game, and
I'm sure most adventurers, especially those who favour this theme,
would be happy with it and the challenges it contains.  The author
intends to write a sequel in the not-too-distant future - I think
this would be welcomed by all Amigans who like text adventures.
Check 'BALDORK' out now!

To sum up: This is Ray's best game to date.
           A good yarn. I was sorry when it was over.
           Don't miss it!
                              - o -