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Bastich · 11-30-2003, 09:08 AM

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1984)

Story: 95%

Read the book. No, seriously. Get up, go to the nearest bookstore, buy it and read it. If you already own a copy, read it again. This saves me the effort of describing the story so I can spend more time touching on the killer graphics and sound.

Graphics: 100%

I wasn't sure what to make of the graphics at first. They were very subdued, but with a underlying sense of implied aesthetics that I couldn't ignore. For example, I could tell that great thought went into choosing just the right font to express their ideas, but an equal amount of attention was given to making it look hackneyed. It was amazing how they could find such intricate balance between the two. Anyone who was less observant than I, wouldn't even notice this subtlety. The legibility... the contrast with the background... all poignant homages to past masters, yet with an artistic edge of its own that would influence future generations. THIS, my friends, was what text was all about in 1984. Incomparable.

Sound: 100%

Quite simply, the most stunning mimicry of silence I have ever encountered. From the instant the game loaded, I was sucked into its spinning vortex of deafening "no sound," and plunged past the event horizon into greater and greater silences until I was left sitting at my desk saying, "Wow! Like, boffo! That was REALLY neat, man!" All the while, clenching my fist, shaking it for emphasis, and exhibiting a smile not seen since the first giraffe, after countless millennia of craning its neck to reach the succulent leaves at the tops of the trees, finally evolved to the point where it could do so and take its first bite. Of course, it wasn't long after, that I became distracted by my digital watch. And the giraffe? Well, let's just say, the leaves weren't as special as it thought they would be, and it realized that the only thing that all that evolving had accomplished, was to make it look rather silly.

Gameplay: 85%

I had originally purchased this game when it was first released aeons ago and solved it without assistance. Obviously, both my patience and my intelligence have been ravaged by years of abuse and neglect as it was far more difficult for me this time around. There is nothing like having a game make you realize you aren't THAT many generations away from thinking a good branch to sit on and a banana to eat are all one needs for complacency. A limited parser and a very poor typist do not mix well. I don't hold this against the game as it is older than the hills as far as games go, and they certainly have no control of my typing skills, but it certainly could have contributed to frustrating my time-addled brain. The puzzles were, how shall I say, puzzlingly puzzling. Perhaps the most annoying puzzle of the game is the fact that there is a portion where about 5 or so events occur randomly, yet you have to complete all of them. I got to a point where I had finished four and it took me like 20 tries to finally get the last event I needed. Needless to say, my patience meter was showing a negative reading at this point from all the unnecessary (mis)typing. And if you look up the word illogical in the dictionary, you will find a description of some of the puzzles in this game. (Looking in the dictionary is cheating BTW) Also, save often under different save names as the game requires reloading at points as you have a limited number of moves to complete certain things.The counter point, and this is important, is that it is their very lack of logic that makes them so funny and enjoyable. In other words, there is usually a good payoff once you twist your brain up into a few thousand knots and throttle yourself a few times. Overall, it is a challenging and fun game, albeit limited by the technology of the time. This game REALLY needs to have a modern remake. And the Babel fish puzzle is simply awesome!

Overall: 90%

The limitations of a text parser and no graphics or sound may stunt its appeal for those weaned on point and click, but any fan of Douglas Adams would be foolish not to revisit this classic game based on his classic novel. Just remember when you play, the ever so important words printed on the Hitchhiker's Guide itself: DON'T PANIC!

11-30-2003, 09:08 AM	#1
Bastich Iconoclast Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: USA Posts: 1,169	Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1984) Story: 95% Read the book. No, seriously. Get up, go to the nearest bookstore, buy it and read it. If you already own a copy, read it again. This saves me the effort of describing the story so I can spend more time touching on the killer graphics and sound. Graphics: 100% I wasn't sure what to make of the graphics at first. They were very subdued, but with a underlying sense of implied aesthetics that I couldn't ignore. For example, I could tell that great thought went into choosing just the right font to express their ideas, but an equal amount of attention was given to making it look hackneyed. It was amazing how they could find such intricate balance between the two. Anyone who was less observant than I, wouldn't even notice this subtlety. The legibility... the contrast with the background... all poignant homages to past masters, yet with an artistic edge of its own that would influence future generations. THIS, my friends, was what text was all about in 1984. Incomparable. Sound: 100% Quite simply, the most stunning mimicry of silence I have ever encountered. From the instant the game loaded, I was sucked into its spinning vortex of deafening "no sound," and plunged past the event horizon into greater and greater silences until I was left sitting at my desk saying, "Wow! Like, boffo! That was REALLY neat, man!" All the while, clenching my fist, shaking it for emphasis, and exhibiting a smile not seen since the first giraffe, after countless millennia of craning its neck to reach the succulent leaves at the tops of the trees, finally evolved to the point where it could do so and take its first bite. Of course, it wasn't long after, that I became distracted by my digital watch. And the giraffe? Well, let's just say, the leaves weren't as special as it thought they would be, and it realized that the only thing that all that evolving had accomplished, was to make it look rather silly. Gameplay: 85% I had originally purchased this game when it was first released aeons ago and solved it without assistance. Obviously, both my patience and my intelligence have been ravaged by years of abuse and neglect as it was far more difficult for me this time around. There is nothing like having a game make you realize you aren't THAT many generations away from thinking a good branch to sit on and a banana to eat are all one needs for complacency. A limited parser and a very poor typist do not mix well. I don't hold this against the game as it is older than the hills as far as games go, and they certainly have no control of my typing skills, but it certainly could have contributed to frustrating my time-addled brain. The puzzles were, how shall I say, puzzlingly puzzling. Perhaps the most annoying puzzle of the game is the fact that there is a portion where about 5 or so events occur randomly, yet you have to complete all of them. I got to a point where I had finished four and it took me like 20 tries to finally get the last event I needed. Needless to say, my patience meter was showing a negative reading at this point from all the unnecessary (mis)typing. And if you look up the word illogical in the dictionary, you will find a description of some of the puzzles in this game. (Looking in the dictionary is cheating BTW) Also, save often under different save names as the game requires reloading at points as you have a limited number of moves to complete certain things.The counter point, and this is important, is that it is their very lack of logic that makes them so funny and enjoyable. In other words, there is usually a good payoff once you twist your brain up into a few thousand knots and throttle yourself a few times. Overall, it is a challenging and fun game, albeit limited by the technology of the time. This game REALLY needs to have a modern remake. And the Babel fish puzzle is simply awesome! Overall: 90% The limitations of a text parser and no graphics or sound may stunt its appeal for those weaned on point and click, but any fan of Douglas Adams would be foolish not to revisit this classic game based on his classic novel. Just remember when you play, the ever so important words printed on the Hitchhiker's Guide itself: DON'T PANIC!