Prisoner 2

The Good
Prisoner II, like the previous game in the series, is one of the most diabolical puzzle/adventure games ever created. It is a game that sets out to trick the player in ways that many would argue are unfair. Well, perhaps it is a bit unfair, but that is exactly the point. This is in keeping with the themes of the television show upon which this game is based.

As an example, one of the challenges of the game is to play a game of Simon says against the computer. The player is tasked with repeating an ever growing string of numbers. Players are punished for wrong answers in several ways such as by losing money or items. As the stakes get higher, the computer will eventually threaten to format and erase the game disk! In any other game, most players would take this as idle threat. However, in Prisoner II, you just never know to what lengths the computer will go to keep you imprisoned. As a case in point, there are times in the game in which one is dropped out of the game to the Apple ][ command prompt with a standard error message. But this is just another devilish plot by the computer in order to get you to reveal your secret code.

These creative scenarios in which the virtual fourth wall is broken are the unique charm of this game. The player can truly feel the paranoid sense of being captive in an Orwellian computer prison in which your every action is monitored and escape is just out-of-reach.

The Bad
The challenges can be very difficult and, at times, border on tedium. The solution is never obvious and it can become a bit of trial and error to get past certain obstacles. If you aren't willing to step away from the game and think about it off-line, you will find yourself getting very frustrated very fast.

The Bottom Line
Prisoner II requires a good deal of patience and an open mind. If you are willing to take your time and explore “The Island” you will find some of the memorable and unique challenges ever offered in a video game. Along the way, you may just learn a thing or two about individualism and freedom along the way.