Castle of Riddles

[davidn]

I've been rediscovering old BBC Micro games again.


You are standing south of the wizard's
castle which stands on a hill above a
vast forest to the south. Paths go
northeast and northwest around the
castle walls, and a dark gateway leads
north into the castle. The castle
walls are unclimbable, but there are
ledges and ramparts visible far above.

:N
As you move north, a portcullis
crashes down behind you, blocking the
exit
It is pitch dark

:N
You got eaten by the warlock's spider
in the dark
Oh dear, you're dead
You have scored 0 out of 250
Would you like another game?
?BOG OFF



Even this, however, doesn't come anywhere near the level of condescension of Granny's Garden, which I should remind everyone featured this exercise in interactivity:


Can you see a cave?
> NO

Yes you can.
Do you want to go in?
> NO

Yes you do.

Comments

[kibet.livejournal.com]

Oh and I just had a wee look and they have an updated version
http://www.4mation.co.uk/cat/granny.html

[davidn]

Remarkably, they're also still selling the BBC Micro version after all this time (for £14.95, honestly). Perhaps some schools haven't evolved past the Micro yet... curiously, I can't find any videos of the Windows version!

[kibet.livejournal.com]

I am trying to remember the mystery game that was like Cluedo for the BBC. I am thinking that it was called something like 'Mallory towers' but may be wrong. Another game I used to play was 'catch' which was a fishing and trading game.

[davidn]

Oh, here might be an ideal time to ask - do you recall a game that was a text adventure, played in a 'window' in the middle of the screen, with a black plant that slowly grew up the left and then right hand side that was meant to represent the black magic growing? I've been trying to work out what that one was for years (and indeed, an unsuccessful guess as to its title was what led to this post).

The list I was looking at (which may cause popups) lists a Cluedo as well as a Mallory Manor - that second one sounds like it's too close not to be it!

[kibet.livejournal.com]

Can't remember the flower one, sorry.

Mallory Manor, that's it! I am surprised that I remembered the Mallory part of it. It was the youtube video that reminded me of it as when the person wrote Malorie as a password, it gave me a flash of memory and thought it was a nod to the game. Then I saw the name of the user as malorie.

Oh I just looked up and saw no 'Catch' so that might not be the title but did see Beachhead and Chuckie Egg! Incidentally, I was remembering that I used to play Zork: Grand Inquisitor, which was the updated version with the video cutscenes that was so prevalent in the nineties. With Erick Avari as the Grand Inquisitor and Dirk Benedict as an indiana Jones rip off.