JonQ

Reviews by JonQ

Review for The Deer Trail
05 Nov 2021
I haven't finished this game yet, but I have really enjoyed exploring this strange and haunting farmland. The sequences I've played are the type of game I had wanted to make myself at one time, but never got around to it. I am impressed with the writing and the level of detail. It is a fair set of challenges with sufficient clues, and lots of chilling atmosphere. This has been a pleasure to play, and I hope to return soon and solve it!
(5)

18 Mar 2021
I just got 6 of the titles, and found the various story branches interesting and satisfying. This is a fun CYOA game. The narrative exchanges are well paced, and the scenarios are well composed in a familiar fantasy milieu that lets you take on different wizarding jobs. Good game!
(5)

06 Feb 2021
Love this old-school adventure with the feel of classic 80s games. Although it has amusing references to Zork and King's Quest, the graphics are original & attractive, and the puzzles are a rewarding challenge without being overly tedious. It's forgiving with save options, but it's not too easy either. My 10 year old daughter has enjoyed it, but it's also a decent challenge for me in my late 40s. Great job on this game, and I hope to see more by this author!
(5)

19 Aug 2020
This game is clever, well written, fun, and seems to be in the good old style of text adventures. I have played several times, trying everything I can think of. Sometimes I'm able to chip away another little piece of a puzzle. I don't want it to be easy, but I do wish it were just a tad more intuitive. But from what I can tell, it's a good design. The responses are enjoyable when you try something or interact with artifacts in the maze. I will have to keep trying!
(4)

05 Jun 2020
This is fun, well paced. You make typical moves for a Zombie crisis, but it's appropriately aimed for kids and even satisfying for adult players. Good CYOA. I like the illustrations!
(4)

02 Jun 2020
The layout and game design are outstanding. It's fun to interact with, and it feels like you're reading a medieval manuscript gamebook. The randomness is okay, but the encounters are well written. A great diversion!
(5)

Review for Space Scums
06 May 2020
This game is awesome. Quirky on purpose, and yet very well designed sequence of travels to various worlds. The drawings kept me smiling the entire time. Makes you want to keep exploring to see what each port of call has to offer. Keeto shows up in this author's next game, too, so maybe we have a nice mythos brewing! The writing in this game is clever and amusing. My only complaint is that I looked at the suit in Von Deru's palace, and so it said he gave it to me. Then when I traveled where I needed it, it was not in my inventory. But still, this game is a winner, and I'll be back for more!
(5)

Review for A Lacanian Journey
03 May 2020
Lacanian Journey: It's exactly what it sounds like! Jacques Lacan was kind of a "French Freud" whose controversial psychoanalytic theories were co-opted by literary critics. It's hilarious to read the Lingo of the Literati in the format of interactive fiction. The author of this game has done a beautiful job of turning that stuff into a series of puzzles.

Seriously, this is a nice departure from the typical dungeon crawl or click-the-links-to-change-the-font games (or click to reveal
one.
word.
at.
a.
time!!!).

It actually contains clever and sumptuous writing! The prose is all the convoluted goodness you'd expect from a graduate school seminar in Lit Theory. Yet the game does not merely wallow in such purple prose; it also offers decent hints about what to do.

I have experienced the Pleasure of the Text (Adventure) afresh! Bravo!
(5)

03 May 2020
I just found this game, and it's my favorite kind of text adventure. I like how you put a fresh spin on the old Zork stuff, but also made it more adventurous (*Spoilers follow*). The idea of finding materials for forging better weapons is a cool premise. I loved every step in the game, even though the parser is a bit too picky (tho' seasoned text adventurers won't have much trouble, plus I applaud this author's ingenuity for putting it all together as a non-coder). All except for the bear in the cave and the parts south of that. I had a pitchfork, armor, and a spell roll but due to the parser, I just kept getting killed off. If I knew the right verb, maybe I could have killed the bear with the pitchfork, or maybe the game wanted me to get a different weapon first (though it seems like a pitchfork would do). Somehow, it let me go south past the bear after trash-talking me on death (you get unlimited undo's). But after I helped the elf and found a hoard, I tried to take off the leather armor and put on the new kind that it said would fit just right, but I got charred first by the dragon. When I tried "undo" at this point, it just gave error messages about a turnscript. So... I loved the game up to that point, and I sincerely would love it if it could be fixed up! I really encourage this author to have another go at polishing it, because this really would be a favorite of mine if it was a bit more robust. I would love to play it all the way through! I can't get enough of this kind of game, and I love to see people continuing to make them in 2018 and beyond. As I go through the Quest catalog, it seems like 2015-16 was a peak year, and that things have a slowed a bit since then as far as text adventures go. I think I had a similar impulse in my game "Hawk the Hunter," as far as taking the Zork idea into more fantasy RPG territory, but mine is long, like a Fighting Fantasy gamebook, and you have to do your own mapping. You might like it, I don't know. You'll see a rug and a hidden alcove, like you've got here, and who knows what else in common! Anyway, I hope you'll make more games! This is a promising start, sir!!!
(4)

Review for Spook Wood
03 May 2020
I like the drawings, especially the cover art (reminds me of a book about Skunk & Rabbit on Halloween). I like this a lot, once you get into the puzzles and begin to explore (if you die quickly at the beginning, just try again until you meet the witch). You do have to put up with some deaths that seem a bit arbitrary. But it's like a fun card game. There's a little humor and satisfying mini puzzles. This game is a nice diversion!
(4)

02 May 2020
Awesome soundtrack! That alone makes it worthwhile. But the cards are hilarious, and the vintage font gives me warm fuzzies. This is clever and witty. The motivational quotes are from classic texts, speakers, celebrities and give a nice counterbalance to the satirical work week scenarios. There is a lot of variety in the interactions, considering the limitations of a card game format. Replayable and fun. Very cool!
(5)

29 Apr 2020
I have only played once and got killed off, but I plan to keep on trying. This is one of the best old school text adventures on Quest! Glad to see someone is keeping this grand tradition alive. The special effects made me jump! Reminds me a little of Alone in the Dark from the 90s, but these are great traditions to revive and put a new spin on. It's a lot of fun, and I can't wait to solve this one. Looks like a good challenge. Very nice, sir!
(5)

27 Apr 2020
Really have enjoyed this game. Chose the warrior option and had fun with training and the mini quests, but cannot find the carrots! So I haven't begun the main quest at the castle yet. But the medieval village is fun to explore with nice touches of detail in the NPCs. The puzzles are not too hard, and there are helpful hints. But carrots, where ARE they? I look forward to delving deeper. Great set up and design! Very fun RPG.
(4)

24 Apr 2020
Very well written! Innovative and imaginative. Challenging, but not frustrating. Good level of help balanced with mystery. Great voicing for the different characters. The way the world unfolds through conversations is brilliant. Great job at pacing, keeps you hooked. One of the best I've played!!!
(5)

Review for Lanced!
20 Apr 2020
This is a really fun, well written lark. It has good layout and the interactions make a very enjoyable story as you compete. It has the feel of a Ren Faire. Clever and witty. Good show, sir!
(5)

20 Apr 2020
This is a hilarious and well composed RPG! It will provide hours of amusement and adventure.
(5)

Review for Dungeon Quest
20 Apr 2020
This was a fun micro game of choice with amusing ASCII sketches, something to divert yourself while waiting in a line with your cellphone. You encounter a series of creatures in a dungeon and try the best way to defeat them. I played through twice, hoping it would generate different encounters to try, but it's the same series each time. It would be cool if there were more to explore with more chances to find other creatures, maybe some treasures. I enjoyed seeing what the next illustration would be within the constraints of the ASCII palette.
(3)

Review for A Summer's Rose
11 Apr 2020
Enjoyable read! Attractive layout and interaction dynamics. Choice elements are interesting. Good job on the medieval lore it uses.
(4)

Review for HUNTING UNICORN
11 Apr 2020
Very well written. Chock full of atmospheric details.
(4)


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