The Dreamhold

by Andrew Plotkin profile

Fantasy
2004

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Imaginative Setting but Unsatisfying, December 23, 2012
by Andromache (Hawaii)

I'm a bit conflicted on this game. I loved the exploration but am frustrated by a couple puzzles I never found the solutions to. The writing was too vague to get more than fleeting impressions, and even though I did complete the game, I'm still not sure if my impressions are correct. If they are, I have to say I don't like the player character much, which probably influences my feeling of dissatisfaction. On top of that, I'm left with questions concerning the character's backstory that don't have answers that I've found in-game. (Spoiler - click to show)I realize the character doesn't remember specifics, and using masks as devices for recall was a neat idea. But by the end of the game, the character should be able to fill in gaps, and I don't see that happening. Also, the issue with his child's deformed foot and the crutch, which figures prominently but not sure what happened to the child. Was he killed in combat? Was he killed by the player character?

Due to the sketchiness and ambiguous writing, puzzles don't feel precisely natural. Ostensibly, the character knows what everything is and how to use them, and the puzzles feel like they are just put there for something to do. (Spoiler - click to show)No real reason why the masks would be scattered around the property, or that there'd only be one glove in the shed.

Mechanically, I thought the game played well. Writing was good also. But ultimately, my frustration with the extra puzzles and unclear storytelling leave an unfavorable impression.

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Andromache, December 26, 2012 - Reply
I asked Stephen Granade and he said he hadn't heard anything about a TADS interpreter for iOS. He also said it's not used as much nowadays. Too bad, since I liked a lot of games written in it. Ah well. I still have a laptop, so will just have to carry on this way. Plenty of INFORM games I haven't tried yet, anyway.
Andromache, December 24, 2012 - Reply
Many people seem to like Plotkin's work. I'm usually left dithering. I guess his characters just don't resonate for me the way Emily Short's does. I've only played a few of his games, but they have all been mechanically and verbally sound. They are just missing that crucial subjective appeal that really cannot be controlled.

Off topic, but have you heard any news about a TADS interpreter for iOS? I would be thrilled if someone made one. It is currently how I play IF these days - on my phone.
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