The Lesson of the Tortoise

Baf's Guide

A short fable of wisdom, adultery, and magic, based loosely on Chinese folklore. Nicely done. Very linear, but with good storytelling. Uses a simplified conversation system that some have complained about, but which seemed to me suited to the style and context.

-- Carl Muckenhoupt

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Flipping Through a Simple, Oriental Tale, July 17, 2010
The Lesson of the Tortoise has a simple eastern flavor, with none of the bows and whistles of many modern-day IF games. You're a man who happens upon a tortoise on his way home. Upon your return to your house, you witness a terrible betrayal by your wife. The puzzles are quite linear, making it very clear that you should get from point A to point B. The puzzles are relatively easy, but allow for a lot of ways to die if you've forgotten to do something or pick up an essential item earlier in the story. Fortunately, the UNDO command will allow you to go as far back as you want.

The writing is clear and concise. The game is short, but polished, with a classical,interesting narrative. Playing through the felt like reading a storybook of old Oriental fables. I think that quite often, all the new ideas, unique implementation, and break-through mechanics allow us to forget what an old, unadorned IF plays like. It's a great relaxation game, where you can focus on the story and the atmosphere, while giving minimal effort to the puzzles and simplified conversation system.

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