A Bear's Night Out

5 star: (15) 4 star: (21) 3 star: (28) 2 star: (2) 1 star: (0)

Average Rating: Number of Ratings: 66 Write a review

- Audiart (Davis, CA), January 8, 2009

- Genjar (Finland), August 31, 2008

- Martin Braun (Berlin, Germany), July 30, 2008

- LisariaUS, July 17, 2008

- Sarah Mitty (Ypsilanti, Michigan), June 9, 2008

- Grunion Guy (Portland), June 6, 2008

- felicitations, May 3, 2008

Bear is a tenderly written romp through the eyes of a beloved teddy bear, appropriate for players of all ages -- it's a great intro to IF for kids, but still captivating for adults who remember their childhood stuffed friends fondly. Puzzles are tricky but solvable, and the prose is top-quality: Bear does a great job with tone and capturing the POV of a teddy bear. It's one of my very favourite IF games. And I don't just say that because I now have the wonderful fortune to cohabit with Matt and Terry Moose :)

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- Jonathan Blask (Milwaukee, WI, USA), April 21, 2008

- brattish (Canada), April 7, 2008

- Hans Möller (Sweden), April 5, 2008

- Cheryl L (Australia), March 11, 2008

This IF Comp entry may be a little gimmicky, but the gimmick definitely worked for me. What's not to like about a story that features a teddy bear as a protagonist?

A Bear's Night Out (ABNO) is Mr. Dyte's first released work, and it has the feel of a first work -- a little rough around a few edges, a sense that maybe more effort was spent on code than prose. Nonetheless, the main character seems to touch a soft spot in the hearts of most people, and this -- coupled with the consistent but novel logic of the teddy bear universe -- is what makes the piece stand out.

ABNO's fifth place finish in the 1997 IF Comp is a testament to the quality of Mr. Dyte's originality and style, as is the game's receipt of the "Best Setting" XYZZY Award for that year. Lest you think this piece is all gimmick and no meat, note that it was a finalist for "Best Game", as well, and that fans of the story have taken the time to translate it into both German and Spanish.

I do think this game would be suitable for a children's story, assuming the child has some capacity for sustained problem-solving and perhaps the over-the-shoulder advice of a few family members. Only one puzzle seemed likely to stump a group of players for any length of time; be prepared to use the gentle in-game hint system to avoid the bad kind of frustration, if needed.

Though I give it only three stars overall ("good, not great"), it is one of the more memorable stories I've played. I do recommend that you try this game, particularly when you are feeling young-at-heart.

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- jfpbookworm (Hamburg, New York), February 25, 2008

- tfbk, January 10, 2008

- Wendymoon, October 26, 2007

- Emily Short, October 22, 2007

- Michael R. Bacon (New Mexico), October 21, 2007

Baf's Guide

Teddy bears, as anyone who owns one can tell you, come to life when you're asleep. This game puts you in one bear's shoes, making mischief and preparing for a big day. Although allegedly an "interactive children's story", it will probably leave most genuine children baffled, through both its vocabulary and its several major references to other prominent text adventures. Small, with good puzzles based on overcoming the limitations of being two feet tall and made of cloth. Contains an adaptive hint menu.

-- Carl Muckenhoupt