Adventure

by William Crowther and Donald Woods

Cave crawl
1976

Return to the game's main page

Reviews and Ratings

5 star:
(14)
4 star:
(26)
3 star:
(43)
2 star:
(9)
1 star:
(1)
Average Rating:
Number of Ratings: 94
Write a review


Previous | << 1 2 3 4 >> | Next | Show All


Just Adventure

Every so often an invention or an event comes along which changes our perception of the world forever.

You wrote this review - Revise it | Direct link | Add a comment

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
Interactive Fiction Origins, August 19, 2023

Introduction:

"Adventure" is a timeless text-based interactive fiction game that stands as a cornerstone in the genre. Developed by William Crowther and Donald Woods, the game's legacy is as enduring as the immersive experience it offers. As an enthusiast of interactive fiction, I couldn't resist the allure of visiting this iconic title. In this review, I will delve into the game's foundational features, narrative and gameplay mechanics.

Story and Narrative:

One of the most remarkable aspects of "Adventure" is its foundational narrative. The game's story transports players into a captivating world of exploration, mystery, and puzzles. As a daring adventurer, players navigate intricate cave systems and uncover hidden treasures, all while piecing together a tale that gradually unfolds through the environment and sparse but evocative descriptions. Despite its simplicity, the narrative's sense of discovery and the player's personal involvement remain its enduring strengths.

Gameplay Mechanics:

"Adventure" excels in its innovative gameplay mechanics that laid the groundwork for future interactive fiction titles. The game presents players with a series of text commands, allowing them to interact with the environment and solve puzzles. The ingenious use of concise descriptions and responsive commands creates a sense of agency, immersing players in the illusion of exploration and interaction. Though rudimentary by today's standards, these mechanics are a testament to the ingenuity of its creators.

Pros:

+Foundational narrative and gameplay +Ingenious use of text-based commands
+Immersive world-building
+Historical significance and influence on the genre

Cons:
-None

Rating: 8/10

Was this review helpful to you?   Yes   No   Remove vote  
More Options

 | Add a comment 

- Hugginnn, April 20, 2023

- VanishingSky (Nanjing, China), June 14, 2022

- lleon, April 20, 2022

- Zerthimon, March 9, 2022

- Dee Cooke, March 8, 2022

- BlueAskew, February 13, 2022

- NorkaBoid (Ohio, USA), November 14, 2021

- Edo, October 9, 2021

- Frodelius, September 19, 2021

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
The First and Still the Best, January 6, 2021
by Ogre (A Cave)

I know some people who play and read these types of game today aren't a fan of this type of game. But really, this one did start it all. I played, learned, and liked the original two-word parser.

Really, even if you've read and played a lot of other types of IF, you really should find a way to play this one. Sure, it's a simple parser, but the adventure is fantastic. No, there's no huge storyline. But finding your way around and learning your way through this massive cave just can't be beat. Try it. Really.

Was this review helpful to you?   Yes   No   Remove vote  
More Options

 | Add a comment 

- mifga (Brooklyn, NY), October 15, 2020

- Arrowhead12 (Edmonton, Alberta), June 11, 2020

- Zape, June 3, 2020

- Zoe Victoria (Under your bed), April 24, 2020

- Elizabeth DeCoste (Canada), April 2, 2020

- plutonick, February 7, 2020

- Ry (Philippines), October 4, 2019

- Zach Shifflett (VA, United States), December 11, 2018

- doodlelogic, July 29, 2018

- stet, November 22, 2017

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
The original, and one of the best depending on your likes, September 4, 2017
by MathBrush
Related reviews: more than 10 hours

Adventure was the very first text adventure of all time. It inspired the genre and its name.

The point of the game is to gather a variety of treasures and bring them back to a small building. The game is pretty accurately based on the Mammoth Caves, which explains the mazes and the fact that exits and entrances sometimes don't match up exactly (i.e. going west and then east may not leave you where you started).

For me, the most enjoyable way to play this game was to keep it at a slow pace, going back to it time and again while playing other games. I kept a numbered list of every room with all of its exits to other rooms. This made the game much easier. After several weeks, I got to a point where I couldn't get any further for several days. I finally looked up a walkthrough for the last three or four puzzles.

Once you get all the treasures, there is an endgame that is surprisingly good; it seems more like a modern deconstruction of the game than the very first game of all.

I played the 350 point version, and I found the game incredibly enjoyable. I admit that I used the wicker cage bug (as mentioned in another review), where you can carry everything in the wicker cage. To get full points, you must remove the items from the cage outside of the building before placing them in there.

Every Interactive Fiction player should play this game because so many other games reference it heavily.

Was this review helpful to you?   Yes   No   Remove vote  
More Options

 | Add a comment 

- tekket (Česká Lípa, Czech Republic), August 12, 2017

- jamesb (San Antonio, Texas), July 12, 2017


Previous | << 1 2 3 4 >> | Next | Show All | Return to game's main page