Jedadiah Leland’s Horrorfic Adventures In The Internet Archive #28: Stephen King’s The Mist (1985, Angelsoft, Inc)

Posted on October 31, 2017 by Jedadiah Leland

For my final horrific adventure of the month, I returned to the Internet Archive and I played Stephen King’s The Mist (1985, Angelsoft, Inc.)

The Mist is a text adventure based on Stephen King’s novella. (The game came out before both the television series and Frank Darabont’s film version.) You are at the supermarket, just trying to buy your groceries and get home, when suddenly a thick mist envelopes the entire town. There are monsters in the mist and you soon discover that there are monsters in the store as well. Can you survive the mist and make your way back to your home where, hopefully, your son is still alive and waiting for you to rescue him?

The Mist does a good job of turning King’s story into a work of interactive fiction. Even if you have read the story or watched the movie, The Mist is still not an easy game. This is a game where it is very easy to get killed and there’s one puzzle where, due to randomization, you can do everything right and still end up dying. It is unfortunate that you cannot save games while playing them in the Internet Archive because The Mist is a game that can only be won through trial and error.

The best advice that I can give is don’t spend too much time in the supermarket, pick up everything that you can, and don’t shoot Mrs. Carmody, as much as you may want to.

Of course, you can just play the game with a walkthrough, like I did.

Jedadiah Leland’s Horrific Adventures in The Internet Archive #23: Psycho (1988, Starsoft Development Laboratories)

Posted on October 29, 2017 by Jedadiah Leland

For my next horrific adventure in the Internet Archive, I played Psycho (1988, Starsoft Development Laboratories).

Psycho is an example of game that borrows a famous name but has next to nothing to do with its supposed inspiration. Despite the picture above, you do not play Norman Bates in Psycho. You are not Marion Crane, either. You are not even Aborgast, Lila, or Sam.

Instead, you are a nameless detective who is searching for some jewels that were stolen from a museum. For some reason, you believe the jewels were stolen by Norman Bates and that Norman is holding a curator hostage at his motel. (None of that sounds like Norman.) You go to investigate.

You have only four hours to find the jewels and rescue the curator. Unfortunately, once you enter the house, you will be randomly besieged by ghosts, dogs, and other members of the Bates family.

If they touch you, you fall asleep for a period of time. Somewhere in the game, there is a gun. If you find it, you can at least shoot at the ghosts. Why wouldn’t a detective have his own gun? I’m not sure.

Psycho the game has not aged well. What was probably state of the art in 1988 now feels clunky and slow.

I do like the painting of Mother Bates, though.

Since first discovering it, I have tried to play Psycho on ten separate occasions. Each time, I got frustrated with the slow gameplay and I quit. Norman can have the jewels and the curator. After all, he wouldn’t hurt a fly.

Jedadiah Leland’s Horrific Adventures In The Internet Archive #22: The Dark Convergence (1993)

Posted on October 28, 2017 by Jedadiah Leland

For my today’s final adventure in the dark side of the Internet Archive, I played The Dark Convergence (1993).

The Dark Convergence is another haunted house game. Like Uninvited, it starts with a car crash.

Since you crashed the car, it is up to you get help. That means that it is time to start walking.

I tried to go into the woods but the game would not let me. I also tried typing “kick sign” into the parser, just to be told that I was not allowed to do that either. So, I kept walking until I found the house:

The house looked haunted but it was also the only sign of civilization that I had come across in the game. Plus, I tried to keep walking down the road, just to run into an invisible wall as soon as I passed the house.

In the house, I discovered this:

That mess on the floor was the house’s owner.

I explored the house a little further.

This bedroom was nice until all of the monsters came through the door.

So much for that. Fortunately, in a game like this, you can always restart after you die and hopefully, apply the lessons that you learned from the first time you played. The main lesson I learned was to close the door after me.

The Dark Convergence is a typical haunted house game, the type where you have to solve puzzles to keep from having a bunch of monsters use your organs to “decorate the room’s interior.” The puzzles are not hard, though some of them require more patience than others. If you enjoyed Hugo’s House of Horrors, you’ll enjoy The Dark Convergence.

Jedadiah Leland’s Horrific Adventures In The Internet Archive #21: Haunted Mission Adventure (1987, Agency Automation)

Posted on October 28, 2017 by Jedadiah Leland

For my next horrific adventure in the Internet Archive, I played Haunted Mission Adventure (1987, Agency Automation).

Everyone loves the Blairs’ annual Halloween party. However, this year, the Pumpkin Man has been kidnapped by the evil Lady Windsloe. According to the game’s introduction, Pumpkin Man is world-famous and beloved by children and adults. Maybe he is somehow related the Great Pumpkin.

This text-based game is simple and I think anyone who is in the mood for a retro horror game will enjoy it. You move around the neighborhood, searching for clues and trying to not get captured by monsters. One thing I liked about this game was that it was not hard to find the tools that I needed. At one point, I went south and I was told that I was in a lumberyard and that I saw a “stake.” Figuring that there would be vampires around, I grabbed it. Two turns later and I was suddenly in an occultists shop and I was told that I saw “spirit neutralizer.” Again, that sounded like something I needed.

Of course, neither one did me any good when I ran into the Moss Man.

That did not go well.

Haunted Mission Adventure is simple and fun. I have yet to find The Pumpkin Man but I won’t give up until he makes it to the Blair Party.

Jedadiah Leland’s Horrific Adventures In The Internet Archive #20: Countdown to Doom (1987, Topologika Software Ltd.)

Posted on October 28, 2017 by Jedadiah Leland

For my next adventure in the dark side of the Internet Archive, I played Countdown to Doom (1987, Topologika Software Ltd.).

Man, this game is tough!

You have just crashed your spaceship on a mysterious planet called Doom. You have 400 turns in order to find the spare parts necessary to repair your spaceship. To do that, you will have to figure out how to get out of your spaceship. Assuming you survive the escape, you will have to explore the planet and find everything that you need.

The best thing about Countdown to Doom is that it is really well-written. The descriptions are so detailed that you will feel like you are actually on the planet. The bad thing is that you only have 400 turns so if you spend too much time exploring, your ship will collapse and you will be forever trapped.

This is a challenging game because if you make one mistake, you will die. For me, the most humiliating moment was when I tried to pull the door of the spaceship and it fell on me.

Next time, I tried push door and I had better results.

Countdown to Doom is one of the best games that I’ve found in the Internet Archive. It may be difficult but it is not impossible. There is also a walkthrough but, for best results, suck it up and figure it out for yourself. It will be worth it.

Jedadiah Leland’s Horrific Adventures In The Internet Archive #18: Daleks (1985)

Posted on October 27, 2017 by Jedadiah Leland

For my next adventure in the dark side of the Internet Archive, I played Daleks (1985).

I’m the Doctor!? It’s about time! And I’m battling the Daleks?

It’s time to let those dogmatic salt and pepper shakers know who’s the boss! Press any key to continue? Just try to stop me!

Those do not look like Daleks. I guess that stick figure is me, the Doctor.

The game itself is simple. Every time that The Doctor moves, the Daleks move:

If a Dalek touches you, the game is over. The only way to eliminate a Dalek is to get it to run into another Dalek. It is not easy but it can be done, as my high score of 30 attests. It took me a while to get over my disappointment that the Daleks in the game did not say “Exterminate!” but if you can overlook that, Daleks is an addictive and challenging game.

Jedadiah Leland’s Horrific Adventures in The Internet Archive #17: Uninvited (1986, ICOM Simulations, Inc)

Posted on October 27, 2017 by Jedadiah Leland

Continuing my journey through the dark side of the Internet Archive, I played Uninvited (1986, ICOM Simulations, Inc.).

At the start of Uninvited, you are driving down an isolated road when something darts out in front of you. You swerve to avoid it and crash your car. When you regain consciousness, you discover that your younger brother, who was in the passenger’s seat, has disappeared. Did he go for help or has something else happened?

Maybe it has something to do with the mansion that is looming in front of your car.

You can search for your brother in the house. In fact, that is the only option that is available to you. There are a lot of rooms to explore but be careful. There are also ghosts, zombies, and other things that you do not want to run into. On the plus side, the game will usually warn you before you go into the wrong room. On the negative side, sometimes it won’t and this will happen:

Though Uninvited‘s point-and-click system can seem clunky by today’s standards, I enjoyed playing it. I haven’t found my brother, yet, but I am sure he is out there somewhere.

Jedadiah Leland’s Horrific Adventures In The Internet Archive #15: Ghostbusters — Basic Training (1987, Activision)

Posted on October 26, 2017 by Jedadiah Leland

Who wouldn’t want to be a member of the Ghostbusters? (No, not the new version. I’m talking about the version with Venkman and Ray and Egon.) I got a chance to try when, while exploring the dark side of the Internet Archive, I played Ghostbusters — Basic Training (1987, Activision, Inc.).

Unfortunately, it turns out that catching ghosts is far more difficult than I originally assumed.

This is what the game starts with. A night in a haunted house? No problem, I can do that standing on my head. I pressed return.

There’s the familiar logo! I pressed return again.

Good. I’m in front of the house. Let’s get started with the training. From my own experience playing text adventures, I know that the first thing I should do is check my inventory.

A text adventure that does not understand one of the most basic commands in interactive fiction? That seems strange but I’ll adjust. Since the description of my location disappeared when I typed in inventory, I’ll take another look around.

“Look,” I type.

An adventure game that doesn’t know the look command? I search my memory and try to remember the directions that were previously listed. The house was to the northwest.

“NW” I type.

“Northwest”

What? Maybe I got the directions wrong.

“North”

“South.”

“East.”

“West.”

“Go house.”

“Go porch.”

“Annoyed.”

“Rage”

You get the idea. Because the game and I are speaking different languages, I have yet to actually enter the house and get trained. I haven’t even managed to step on the porch yet.

I’m never going to be a Ghostbuster.

Jedadiah Leland’s Horrific Adventures In The Internet Archive #14: Terror in Christmas Town (1995)

Posted on October 26, 2017 by Jedadiah Leland

For my latest journey through the dark side of the Internet Archive, I played Terror In Christmas Town (1995).

In Terror in Christmas Town, you are on a mission. A magic elf has been kidnapped by an evil demon and is being held prisoner in a castle. You must rescue the elf. It’s a typical first person shooter.

Does this look familiar? Is anyone else getting a Wolfenstein/Doom feel yet?

Using the arrow keys, I start to explore the game. This sure is reminding me of Wolfenstein 3D. Remember how exciting it was the first time that you managed to kill Hitler in that game? That was so cool and … oh hey, who is that ahead of me? Maybe this friendly polar bear will show me how to break into the castle.

Excuse me, Mr. Polar Bear?

Bad idea.

Just as Wolfenstein has Nazis and Doom has demons, Terror in Christmas Town has mutant polar bears and they are definitely not your friend. I do not know if that snowman in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen was meant to literally be me but I do know that, every time I got hit by the polar bear, the snowman melted a little. Once Frosty has been reduced to a puddle and a hat, the game ended.

As with all games, there is a learning curve here. The curve is even steeper when you’re playing the instructionless version that has been uploaded to the internet archive. Once you figure out how to actually draw and fire your gun, the game gets a lot easier. I like the holiday theme but the game mostly just made me want to play Wolfenstein again.

Jedadiah Leland’s Horrific Adventures In The Internet Archive #13: Night of the Walking Dead (1992, John Olsen)

Posted on October 25, 2017 by Jedadiah Leland

For today’s horrific journey through the Internet Archive, I played Night of the Walking Dead (1992, John Olsen).

In order to claim a million-dollar inheritance, you have to find the grave of your Aunt Bedilia, dig her up, and get her locket. It will not be easy because the graveyard is haunted by zombies and other strange things. Plus, you have decided to search at night.

This is a text adventure, where you have to solve puzzles and examine your surroundings. The puzzles are not too difficult and, while the game’s descriptions are terse, they still provide you with everything that you need to know.

Still, as with most text adventures sometimes this will happen:

I turned out that the proper command was “get recorder.” Sometimes, coming up with the right command can be frustrating but it is nothing that cannot be figured out. After you get the recorder, you can find a tape and get some background information on what’s been happening in the cemetery: