Code-Name: Iceman

The Good
Well as the summary hints at this game started out great. When this game came out my brother was a 30 year old Army officer (and gamer) that had this new exciting game. However he could never beat it. So I the younger brother (15) gave it a shot. I loved the opening and though that the sound was good. I liked the grapics and the gameplay. But the best part of this game had to be the plot. It had so much potiental I could hardly wait to find out what happend next.

The Bad
.... And then I got to the sub part of the game. On the way to the sub I had a hard time and resorted to my usual tatic when I cant figure out something... I cheated. I bought the hint book and after much effort got in the sub. But once in the sub not even the hint book could save me. I very very rarely not finish a game. For me it is more important to finish than to stay true to the gaming experience. But in this game I could never ever get that sub working. To this day this game sits on my hard drive. (Now 3 computers later) I dont remember all the problems it had but I do remember the game getting worse and worse as it went on.

The Bottom Line
First of all no offence to the first reviewer but I wonder if they have the right game. I can not immagine it only took 2 hours to beat this game. I cant say that I would recommend this game but for the die-hards and can-do gamers here is a good challenge.

The Good
Codename: ICEMAN ("CI" hereon) follows the Police Quest style of mixing reality with interactive adventure fiction. Instead of following police protocol, CI requires the player to follow some basic military protocol and procedures. Fortunately, most of that information is outlined in the manual, allowing you to work your way through the different scenarios with some study.

There are three main segments in this game. The first is the vacation in Tahiti, where you will begin. There, it opens up as an ordinary Sierra adventure, with above average 16 color graphics and a quick simulation puzzle (using the manual) that provides a glimpse of things to come. Later, you will board and command a nuclear submarine. You will spend the majority of the game playing this section, which adds a lot of simulation to the adventure. Finally, you will leave the submarine for the brief conclusion.

The interface to CI is a text parser, and it is a smart one. Most of what you will consider typing is handled by the parser, and when it is not, it usually indicates what words aren't working. Additionally, the mouse can be used a little bit. The puzzles usually make sense, and overall the gameplay is good, albeit difficult at times.

The Bad
In my opinion, the plot of CI is uninteresting. It is getting through the plot that provides entertainment, but many people will be turned off by the difficulty of the journey. Why? Instead of the typical "You wake up and are suffering from amnesia" plot, your character is a Commander in the Navy, and the game expects you to play along with that! You will be referring to the manual and the submarine chart for help, along with common sense. If you make the slightest mistake, it's Game Over -- or worse, you could become trapped and unable to complete the game.

For example, the submarine simulation has a very steep learning curve at the beginning. Any significant mistakes or deviations from procedure will immediately result in failure; if you don't like saving and restoring, this game may not be for you. Fortunately, once you have mastered the simulation, you will realize that it is actually oversimplified and you won't have so much trouble later on.

Other criticisms: You will need the manual and the chart that came with this game in order to play. The music is not memorable. The endgame is thin.

(note: An early review for this title on mobygames indicated a play time of only two hours. This is entirely inaccurate unless you are using a walkthrough or hint book)

The Bottom Line
Codename: ICEMAN is probably not an adventure game for beginners or those who give up easily; it would not be fun to play if you had to cheat or constantly read hints. For the more seasoned adventurer or for those who are interested in the military or techno-thriller fiction, solving the puzzles and finishing this game could be a rewarding, enlightening experience. Flipping through the manual might help someone decide whether or not to play. Keep in mind, this type of game is not for everyone.

The Good
Firstly, I'm in doubt that any gamer could finish Codename: ICEMAN in only a couple short hours without a hint book. While the game may be overly short, simple is one thing it's not. What's good about it? Enough to warrant a look, if little more. To my knowledge, an adventure game based on this kind of modern political intrigue hadn't been attempted before. That alone gives it some sort of value. The "mysterious girl" subplot was also interesting, and could have been developed further.

The Bad
It ends up feeling like a skeleton of an adventure game. Political intrigue, unrest in the middle east, a mysterious female spy, a silent running submarine, a secret mission... these are all things that ought to add up to a classic game, but none of these elements are as fully developed as they could have been. There are also too "few" adventure portions - too much of the game is played in the submarine simulator. And while the underdeveloped plot is still interesting, the game doesn't explain enough to you. Sometimes you find yourself wondering either what you need to do, or what you need to do to accomplish it. There's no sense of urgency in your mission.

The Bottom Line
It's not so much that I disagree with Mr. Gabel's review, but I think that to dismiss Codename: ICEMAN as a "ridiculous failiure" is to overlook its good elements. In playing the game, you can see what Jim Walls and Sierra were attempting. Unfortunately, the game never quite lives up to expectations.