DOS

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Arguably the best Infocom game ever made, “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” was an instant hit when it was first released in 1984. Based on homonymous book by Douglas Adams an hilarious sci-fi comedy which gave origin to words today world-known (what if I say Babel Fish? Or Trillian?), Hitchhiker’s Guide is a literary gem, and you’re into it! Definitely a must for everyone....expecially for people not interested in Interactive Fiction, that would probably change their mind once downloaded this diamond game...... And remember: DON’T PANIC!!!

Gra odziedziczyła po książce podstawowy pomysł i atmosferę. Jest tak samo jak oryginał pełna typowo angielskiego humoru i wyjątkowo przewrotnych zagadek. Trochę denerwujący jest kompletny brak grafiki i dźwięku - jest to czysta tekstówka. Nic zresztą dziwnego, powstała w 1985... Za te drobne braki odpłaca wyjątkową "inteligencją" - na poziomie opisanej w "Bajtku" gry "Demon's Tomb". Cóż, nobody's perfect i nie zawsze mamy naraz extra grafikę, super muzykę i genialny scenariusz. Efekty i bajery nie są jednak najważniejsze, szczególnie gdy gra nadrabia to pomysłami w innych dziedzinach. Dobrze znających angielski zapraszam do gry. Jeśli nie będziecie już zupełnie wiedzieć co zrobić, zróbcie coś całkowicie szalonego. Powinno pomóc.

In 1984 during the golden age of Infocom when interactive fiction is king, Douglas Adams is asked to write a text adventure game based on his popular BBC sci-fi series The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Intrigued by the possibility that computers can tell stories, he readily agrees. The game he has created with Infocom is The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, based on his book series of the same name. The game is richly described, backed by an excellent forgiving parser, and more fun to play than you can shake a stick at. The only dark spot in an otherwise sterling effort is Adams’ convoluted sense of logic, compounded by an unsatisfying ending. Other frustrations of the game owe more to the paradigm of game design from the early era of interactive fiction than anything Adams has done himself.

The writing is some of Infocom's very best, which is fortunate because the game itself is a little too short. The atmosphere produced is almost exactly like that of the book, even if specific details of the plot are often changed. The puzzles (including the legendary Babel Fish puzzle) are based on a brand of "consistent illogic" that is rather reminiscent of Lewis Carroll, and make the game one of those few that many will some day play again even after having solved it once.

I myself find it very sad that part 2, or 3, or whatever they had planned back then, was never released (or even made), because this is an experience you should take for yourself. For those who've read the books, it'll be even more fun that way. Besides, it's small, and won't take up much space.