Slouching Towards Bedlam

Baf's Guide

A rich Victorian steam-punk setting, low-key but intriguing NPCs, atmospheric prose, and a plot that gives the player an unusual amount of free choice: it's little wonder that this piece won the 2003 IF Competition by the healthiest margin ever. There are a few elements of implementation which could have been smoother (and will probably be cleaned up in future releases), but the overall effect of the game is quite impressive, and it offers considerable replay value.

-- Emily Short