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A Squire's Tale

by Benjamin Appleby-Dean

Fantasy
2020

Web Site

(based on 1 rating)
1 review

About the Story

Battle evil faeries and traitors at court to rescue the prince of England! Can you resist the call of faerie long enough to complete your quest?

A Squire's Tale is a 150,000-word interactive fantasy novel by Benjamin Appleby-Dean, where your choices control the story. It's entirely text-based—without graphics or sound effects—and fueled by the vast, unstoppable power of your imagination.

The prince's abduction has tipped the country toward civil war, and your Lady has been sent on a secret mission to recover him. Save the heir apparent, and you could finally earn your knighthood and leave your squiring days behind. But when your search leads you to a magical market in the middle of nowhere, your loyalties and your Lady are put to the test.

Will you join with the faeries, or deny their existence? Journey further from court and comfort, or seek to rationalize the impossibilities in front of you? As you hunt for clues and amass allies, you'll master the knightly arts of music, combat, riding, and even falconry. Emerge victorious in the tournament, and you may even win a kiss. But stay focused on your questyou’ll need all your skills to survive the tricks of Faerie and discover the truth behind the prince's disappearance.

Do you trust the fair ones?

*Play as a male, female, or nonbinary squire.
*Romance a faerie, a squire, an alchemist, a dancer, or even your own Lady.
*Master the knightly arts of archery, chivalry, falconry, and more.
*Marvel at a world whose wonders depend on how much you believe.
*Battle in tournaments for glory, or duel after dark for blood.
*Uncover long-hidden family secrets.
*Visit a fourteenth-century abbey and ally with its prioress.
*Solve faerie riddles for future boons.
*Insult your enemies in rhyme!


Game Details

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Number of Reviews: 1
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
A great medieval/fairy game sandwiched between two disappointing chapters, August 25, 2020
by MathBrush
Related reviews: about 1 hour

I had trouble starting this game. It begins with a story about you, a squire, helping your lady chase down a rogue baron who may have kidnapped the prince. I found this chapter very lacking, for my tastes one of the most difficult opening chapters of a Choicescript game to get through. Choices were confusing, there were a lot of stats but very few points to go around (my largest stat was a 29 at the beginning, which in most Choicescript games represents dismal failure), and the story seemed fairly dry.

But the middle part of the game was very good for my personal tastes. I love games about the Fae or the fairy world, and much of the game revolves around attending a fair and a tournament. The fair has plausible deniablity with magical involvement, such as a tent that looks suspiciously like a giant flower.

In the path I chose, I ended up in a faery land, and found that part very enjoyable. I left with a strong assurance that I would somehow return.

But the last chapter all built up to a final choice, and I failed that final choice. I didn't die, but apparently I lived a sad life and never had any connection to the faery world again, which seemed a direct contradiction to the earlier paths.

I may need to play again, but I found the last chapter a bit lacking. And as for the first one, I wonder more and more as I play through the Choice of Games catalog whether authors should write the first chapter last, using a small set of 'preset' stats and names for a placeholder for placetesting until the very end. So many Choice of Games titles (pretty much all the ones I've given 4 stars) have mediocre opening chapters but satisfying mid-games. I think that you really get to know your characters and world as you write a game like this, and that you tend to grow as an author as you write. This game has the second-lowest rating on the Apple omnibus app, and I think its opening has a great deal to do with that.

I received a review copy of this game.

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A Squire's Tale on IFDB

Recommended Lists

A Squire's Tale appears in the following Recommended Lists:

Best fairytale/nursery rhyme games by MathBrush
A selection of fairy tale games, nursery rhyme games, or games involving the Fair Folk.




This is version 1 of this page, edited by MathBrush on 25 August 2020 at 12:52am. - View Update History - Edit This Page - Add a News Item - Delete This Page