DEATHGATE

                 Reviewed by Stefan Herber

Before any of you nag me - no I don't know where you will be able
to get this title. I obtained it as a freebie on an American games
magazine CD cover disc. Local magazines appear to be unable to
provide free finished game product - this apparently doesn't apply
across the waters. I am only telling you about it because of
a) the dearth of current adventure games  and
b) because it is so good.

Short - yes; any experienced adventurer will finish it in 3 or 4
days. Diverting?  - Absolutely!  So keep your eyes open at car
boot sales and second hand shops - I think you'll love it.

I'm told it's based on a series of fantasy novels - as I stopped
reading these after Donaldson copped out and Tolkien died and as I
find Feist about as easy to appreciate as I do Terry Pratchett I'm
not sure how well known they are. Anyway you're a young hero in a
future world that has been split asunder by a previous master race
who has disappeared with your race being confined to a vault of
horrors and evil. You don't get to spend much time in this as the
game starts after you escape with the help of your tribe's boss
and now have to comb the various other worlds for some symbols
that will allow reversal of the sundering process.

Well it's a true adventure game, which means no combat, statistics
etc., although it does have a scoring system which is something I
actually appreciate. It would have made the basis of a wonderful
RPG, as the other characters are colourful and original, as are
all the settings. It's not difficult - I think I was only stuck on
one puzzle for more than 15 minutes. And it's not long as
mentioned above - I think playing through it knowing the solutions
wouldn't take more than 30 minutes. The game shows its age by
relying on static screens for the most part although you can
interact with them and characters therein using an approved list
of commands. It's entirely mouse driven - another feature that
seems to be increasingly rare in this 3D age and something else
I'm growing to miss.

Twee? Maybe. Not as bad as some of the more recent King's Quest
adventures but, yes, definitely a bit twee. It's horrible to say
this but nevertheless I found it refreshing.

@~The books in the Deathgate saga were reviewed back in Issues
@~17, 26 and 35. I thoroughly enjoyed them but there were some
@~serious discrepancies between the books and the game.
@~Nevertheless I would recommend the game too. Deathgate is now
@~deleted but a VGA 'no sound or music' 9 meg version can be
@~downloaded at http://underdogs.gamingdepot.com/legend.htm on
@~their special Legend page if you have no moral objections ...
@~Sue






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