EVEN THE DEVIL MUST DIE Written by Mark Hancox Download from www.richmond62.freeserve.co.uk Reviewed by Bev Truter It's been ages since I've played any text adventures, so when I noticed this CAT game on Phil Richmond's site recently, I promptly downloaded it and spent 3 happy 3-hour sessions rambling through this entertainingly addictive little number. I emailed a very obliging Mark once for a clue as to the whereabouts of one object, but other than that, this game is easily finishable, with some thought and logic, in a few pleasant days. The storyline of 'Devil' runs something like this: Just like Father Christmas, Death is also a very busy person. So to update and simplify things he's been remodelling the whole death business - out with the old 'Grim Reaper' image, and in with the new style of doing business - a float on the stock market, a customer-focused philosophy and much more smiling. You (as Sam) are part of this new intake at Death (PLC). You've just completed your first year of training and have been recommended for a very special mission indeed. Everyone's got to die, and the devil himself is no exception. The present incumbent of this post in Hell (Hieronymous IX) is proving a tough nut to crack, and already 3 experienced agents have failed to penetrate Hell and assassinate the current Prince of Darkness. Wouldn't it be nice if you could accomplish this task - and escape with your life in the process? Think of the glory! All the drinks in the bar.... 'Devil' is neatly divided into 3 sections - the classic beginning, middle and end. The game begins in a small village just across the river from Hell, then moves across the river to a cemetery outside the city walls of Dis (the capital of Hell), and the final section takes place mainly in the devil's residence in Dis - appropriately number 666. You begin 'Devil' standing at a lonely bus-stop near the village. Your few possessions are a mobile phone (don't make any unnecessary calls) and a handy library book about Hell and its various aspects ('look up' anything you're curious about). Also of use are the commands HELP (brings up a list of general tips and basic inputs understood in 'Devil') and HELP ME - more specific hints on the objects you need to find and use to complete each of the 3 sections. But I digress; so back to the bus-stop. After exploring the village and surrounds have a chat to the barman in the tavern. You soon realize that Randolph, the resident village drunk, could do with a drink....or two; so one of your first tasks is to find some money. Then it's off to collect a few more handy objects in the village and nearby forest before tackling the problem of the deep chasm and how to cross that murky river that separates Hell from the village. Section 2 is definitely a bit trickier than section 1, with Filippo proving quite a challenge to communicate with. Yes, he certainly is willing to help you, but how to get him to oblige can be quite a puzzle in itself. Then finally section 3 is the short, but very sweet, end-game where you get to meet (sort of) Hieronymous himself. Overall 'Devil' has a feeling of fun, humour and zest - attributes often lacking in many other games of this genre, with their earnest, dogged gameplay and trudging through endless locations filled with poorly-described scenery. 'Devil' is spread over 52 well-described and interesting locations, is short enough to sustain your interest, easy enough to complete without resorting to pleas for help, and difficult enough to hold your attention and keep you entertained for a few days. There are short but well-written responses to most of your inputs and attempts to fiddle with the scenery, and the same goes for game characters. While not overly-chatty, most characters in the game have a vocabulary extensive enough to make them sound 'real'. Mark has created a deceptively simple tale with a straightforward, no-fuss progression through all 3 sections of the game, which probably means a lot of thought and effort went into the programming of this very satisfying game. It's a pleasure to play a well-written game like this, with a deft touch of tongue-in-cheek humour. So when will you charge off on your quest to find Hell and eliminate its current top man? - o -