HORROR OF RYLVANIA by Dave Leary (full version)
 A text adventure now released as `freeware' by Adventions
     Available for PC & Amiga (PC version on Disk 1190)

                    Review by Bev Truter

Hooray, hooray, hooray. Adventions have recently released the full
version of "Rylvania" as freeware, whereas previously you had to
order the registered (US$20 per copy) version from the U.S.A.
I've always wanted to play the full version, and it wasn't that I
objected to coughing up the cash either; it was that both the
Daves (Baggett and Leary) seemed strangely uncontactable via
snail-mail - and I tried often enough. Sue's better(??) half
reviewed Rylvania way back in issue 28 of SynTax, as his annual
Christmas offering for 1993/94, and he made it sound so appealing
that I was inspired with enthusiasm. (Yes, I *know* you were
itching to tell us about your new Psion at the time, and giving
you Rylvania to review was like casting a pearl before a swine<g>,
but you did a rather good job of the review, ta Alan). So at last,
nearly 4 years down the track, I have a copy of this full, uncut,
unadulterated masterpiece on my computer; drooled over,
longed-for, played and completed in a week-long haze of
adventuring ecstasy.

Horror of Rylvania is written using TADS, and unlike the Unnkulian
series by the same author(s) this is not a funny, jokey game at
all - just the opposite, in fact. Rylvania has a much deeper,
darker plot rooted firmly in the horror genre. There are a few
amusing quips and responses to input now and then that lighten the
mood occasionally and relieve the mounting tension, but basically
this is a nail-biting horror / mystery story, vastly different to
anything I've seen from Adventions before.

Dave Leary gives Rylvania a difficulty rating of 5/10, and I'd
agree with that. It's challenging without being logic-defyingly
difficult. He also suggests that Rylvania is for "mature
audiences", and makes it plain that there is no user-support for
Rylvania any more - i.e. if you want hints, help, etc., don't
bother Adventions with your problems.

The quality of writing in Rylvania is superb, with exquisite
location and object descriptions; and you are quickly drawn into
the utterly believable game world as the story opens on a scene
charged with drama, and proceeds with unrelenting tension from
there to the bitter end. Briefly, the storyline is that you and a
college friend (Carolyn) have been on a hiking trip all over
Europe, finally reaching the small Central European nation of
Rylvania - "nothing but farmers and creepy old castles", according
to Carolyn. As night fell you approached a small village in search
of an inn to spend the night when suddenly the howling started,
the wolves appeared from the black forest around you, and attacked
Carolyn. She fell to the ground, blood gushing from her neck as
the wolves disappeared back into the forest, and now you only have
a short time to find help before she dies - perhaps in the village
up the road to the north?

You begin the adventure in a state of panic about Carolyn, and the
suspense never lets up. You manage to find the local doctor still
in his office in the village, but when you return to where you
left Carolyn, she has mysteriously disappeared, and Dr. Trolovitch
stamps off in disgust. Now it's up to you to explore the village
and surrounds, and find out what on earth has happened to her.
There's the local inn where the locals sit about muttering darkly
about peculiar goings-on in the village, with pointed references
to the doctor ("he knows what's going on...."); and you catch the
odd phrase about wolves and evil happenings. Better not risk
entering the forest, yet; but there's the church further east, and
northeast of that the moors. High up in the mountains to the north
is Gloomfen Castle, shrouded in mist...

Before long you are transformed from a human into something else,
and in this new form you have some extra powers, and some
limitations too. You'll have to find Carolyn before it's too late,
but will you be able to save her, and yourself, from a very nasty
fate?

There are several game characters to interact with, all perfectly
believable with their own distinct personalities. Particularly
memorable were the ghost of Von Rhisthoven, and the delightful
Madame Hulga. As the plot unfolds you discover more details about
the tragic events of the past, and find various clues to help you
deal with problems in the present. Throughout the game you never
lose sight of your most urgent problem - that of finding Carolyn,
and rescuing her. Although this is not a "timed" game, i.e., you
have ample time to wander around and examine things, you are never
allowed to forget that you simply *must* discover what has
happened to your friend Carolyn and defeat the evil presence that
you sense lurks in Gloomfen Castle.

There are some hard decisions to make in this game, and you are
faced with a terrible dilemma near the end. I found Rylvania an
utterly compelling game, in my opinion the best yet from
Adventions. [No, I haven't played "The Legend Lives" yet].  I'd
recommend Rylvania to every text adventurer who hasn't played the
full version; turn off the T.V., take the phone off the hook, and
immerse yourself in the world of Rylvania.



                              - o -