Lesson of the Tortoise  (Author G. Kevin Wilson)
         (Text adventure, part of Disk 1211 for PC)

                  Reviewed by Nick Edmunds

Lesson of the Tortoise is an enjoyable little game based loosely
around Chinese folklore.  The game opens with your character, Wang
Lo, on his way back from a day working the fields.  Wang Lo is a
humble farmer, content with his achievements and life in general.
As he walks home Wang Lo begins to reminisce at his success, but
we all know what pride precedes, and Wang Lo's world is about to
be shattered when, on his return home he is betrayed by his wife
and her lover in a murderous plot.

Tortoise is very well written, from a literary as well as coded
point of view, with some lovely little touches.  My favourite is
the "fortune cookie" style variations to many of the standard TADS
responses, which serves to round off the game while giving it a
slightly whimsical feel.

With under a dozen locations LOTT is compact, uncomplicated and
very linear in that you are passed between "cut scenes" as the
plot progresses. All in all a slightly cheesy, not terribly
taxing, but enjoyable little jaunt.  It's just a shame that LOTT
isn't based around a Japanese folklore so that I could have used a
cheap bonsai analogy, for LOTT is indeed small and well finished.

My only disappointments were that the game did not warrant its
caution regarding age (as it didn't address any 'adult concepts'
that I could see) and that it was all over too quickly.
Fortunately, we are left with a promise of more games to follow.
I'm particularly looking forward to the one based on the folklore
of Native American as I'm developing quite a liking for these
cultural folklore jobbies.





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