Computer Entertainer, v6(1)

~1 minute read

Apr 1987

Critically Speaking...Multi-Systems

Bureaucracy

BUREAUCRACY (NA/⭐⭐⭐⭐) from Infocom is another bit of inspired zaniness from Douglas Adams, author of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." This time the humor is Earthbound, but no less entertaining, as Adams conducts a hilarious tour through the wonderful world of bureaucratic red tape. The tone of the game is set with the opening words on the screen: "Our records show that you do not have a license to operate this software." After you fill out the on-screen application, an exercise in illogic to be sure, you begin the game in your new apartment, as yet unfurnished. You're supposed to be off to Paris for a training seminar for your new job. Of course, the promised check hasn't arrived, and a delivery man brings you a bag of llama food, and your Boysenberry laptop computer keeps giving you internal error messages, and maybe you shouldn't have gotten out of bed this morning! Since there seems to be some problem with your new address, you head for the bank to set the record straight, but the teller at the window labeled "Address Changes" doesn't have any change-of-address forms, and your blood pressure keeps rising. Well, you can see where this is leading -- straight to a nervous breakdown at this rate! This is not a game, fols -- it's real life. We've all been where Douglas Adams is taking us in BUREAUCRACY, but it's never been quite this funny before. (Solo play; keyboard.) Available for Amiga, 128K Apple II, Atari ST, Commodore 128, IBM, and Macintosh.

Recommended. (MSR $39.95, except C128 at $34.95)

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