Photopia - part of Disk 1290 - Written by Opal O'Donnell
           (1998 Interactive Fiction Competition)

       Review by Dorothy Millard (PC Inform Version)

In the Readme file accompanying Photopia it strongly suggests that
the game be played in colour as it enhances the story.  Once you
start playing you will soon realise why, as different scenarios
are in different colours and without that the game would certainly
loose some impact.

Don't be put off by the opening screen, which is a little crude
and really only leads into the red story.  Photopia isn't strictly
an adventure game, but more of an interactive story, or series of
intertwining stories.  For the most part I normally do not like
this type of game and prefer lots of puzzles to solve.  Photopia,
however, grabbed my interest from the start.  It allowed me to
talk to people and examine things to gain more information.  It is
well written and the stories are linked together in an interesting
way.  It is not a difficult game and you are led gently through
it.  I was stuck for a while in a crystal city maze, but typing
help brought the hint I needed, which when I thought about it
should have been obvious.  All you maze haters out there, don't be
put off, it isn't necessary to solve the maze at all and, if like
me, you get stuck the help will soon put you back on the right
path.  Quite an innovative use of a maze when I think about it.

It is unusual for me to like this type of game but I did enjoy it
and would recommend Photopia.










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