~4 minute readCRITICALLY SPEAKING..
Wishbringer
WISHBRINGER (NA / ⭐⭐⭐⭐) is the second introductory-level piece of interactive fiction from Infocom. (The first was Seastalker. The program is very definitely NOT for younsters only, though. Most adults, even those experienced with role-playing fantasy, will find WISHBRINGER a captivating tale. And beginners will appreciate the hints embedded in the story. WISHBRINGER marks the debut of "Professor" Brian Moriarty as an Infocom author, and it's an auspicious debut, indeed.
Rituals to Observe
Those familiar with Infocom programs know that there is a certain set of rituals to be observed. Tempting as it may be to boot the disk and plunge into the story, there is the matter of exploring the package and discovering the goodies inside. In this case, in addition to the disk, there is a postal zone map of the seaside village of Festeron, a Special Delivery letter addressed to the proprietor of Ye Olde Magick Shoppe, a volume from the Local History Series of Festeron concerning the history of the Magick Dream-Stone known as Wishbringer, and wonder of wonders, Wishbringer itself. (The little white stone emits a strange, purplish aura when placed in the dark after exposure to strong light. We were told that finding a suitably non-toxic, glow-in-the-dark purple paint for the stone was one of the toughest problems faced by Infocom in putting this package together!)
A Petrified Heart
ONce you've read the story of Wishbringer, a charming tale cast in verse, you'll know that the stone is the petrified heart of the Princess Morning-Star. She died many years ago, her heart burdened with seven unfulfilled wishes that became part of the stone. As WISHBRINGER begins, you are a postal clerk sent to deliver a letter to the old woman who runs Ye Olde Magick Shoppe in Festeron. The woman asks your help in finding her black cat, kidnapped by the Evil One. You will find yourself in possession of the Wishbringer stone and able to use its seven wishes as you explore the dark side of Festeron. (While you were visiting the old woman, the Evil One transformed the peaceful village into a dark and bizarre world of wickedness known as Witchville.)
Fantastic Settings and Exotic Characters
The pressure of time and the constant forays of the Evil One's henchmen, the Boot Patrol, add urgency to your quest. But it's difficult not to tarry in some of the more fantastic settings: the town graveyard where the eldritch vapors may grab you, the abandoned church that houses an other-worldly presence, the sleazy arcade filled with "half-crazed, stunted humanoids" satisfying their "thirst for electronic violence," or the decrepit theater where the town gravedigger is the ticket-taker. And the characters are as exotic as the settings -- everything from vultures and a platypus to a hellhound and a pair of the strangest mailboxes you've ever met. (The confrontation between big and little mailbox is one of the most unconventional and hilarious scenes we've ever encountered in interactive fiction.) Although the magic wishes (rain, advice, flight, darkness, foresight, luck, and freedom) can be used to get yourself out of tough spots, every puzzle in the program can also be solved logically, without the use of magic. This is an ingenious approach that lets adventurers of differing skill levels enjoy the program equally.
Fairy-Tale Quality
Once again, Infocom should have a hit with this semi-Gothic tale of good and evil, horror and humor. In his initial work of interactive fiction, Brian Moriarty has produced an involving tale that should appeal to a broad spectrum of computer adventurers from beginners to accomplished puzzle solvers. The story has a fairy-tale quality that touches the kid in all of us, and the touch of absurdity make it unmistakably an Infocom program. (Solo player; Keyboard; Disk.) Reviewed on Apple II; also available for IBM PC/PCjr, Macintosh; for Atari and C64 at $34.95; planned for Amiga and Atari ST.)
Recommended. MSR $39.95
The Man Behind WISHBRINGER
Software buyers anticipate new releases from Infocom as eagerly as toddlers awaiting Christmas morning. An Infocom package is always full of unexpected goodies along with many hours of pleasure in exploring the story and solving the puzzles. And for each package, there is an author responsible for weaving the web of fantasy that draws you into its world. In the case of WISHBRINGER, Infocom's latest piece of interactive fiction, the author is 28-year-old Brian Moriarty. Nicknamed "Professor Moriarty" by the Infocom crew, he is the newest member of their team of authors, having come to the Cambridge software company by way of Analog Computer magazine, where he was Technical Editor. Moriarty's rural New England upbringing, his lifelong passion for fantasy and myth, his schooling in English Literature (BA from Southeastern Massachusetts University), and his membership in the Nathaniel Hawthorne and Thoreau Societies are elements of the man's background that contribute to his tale of WISHBRINGER, the magic stone. The setting of the story in the mythical village of Festeron could easily be a small New England town. (Where else would one find a covered bridge?) And a strong sense of Yankee morality pervades the plot -- good deeds performed to save the village from an evil witch. Moriarty has created an entertaining and sometimes amusing piece of interactive fiction that will be appreciated by Infocom's many fans.
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