Colossal Adventure
{{Short description|1982 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| collapsible =
| state =
| italic title =
| title = Colossal Adventure
| image = Colossal Adventure cover.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| developer =
| publisher = Level 9 Computing
| series =
| engine =
| platforms = Nascom
| released = 1982
| genre = Adventure
| modes =
}}
Colossal Adventure is a text based adventure game published by Level 9 Computing in 1982. It was originally released for the Nascom.{{cite web | url=http://www.filfre.net/2012/10/level-9/ | title=Level 9 | work=The Digital Antiquarian | date=2012-10-22 | accessdate=10 July 2014 | author=Maher, Jimmy | url-status=live | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711194242/http://www.filfre.net/2012/10/level-9/ | archivedate=11 July 2014 }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/nascom/colossal-adventure|title=Colossal Adventure for Nascom (1982) - MobyGames|website=MobyGames|access-date=2018-06-16}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/12074/Colossal-Adventure/|title=Colossal Adventure - Computing History|website=www.computinghistory.org.uk|access-date=2018-06-16}}
Gameplay
Colossal Adventure is an expanded version of the original Adventure by Will Crowther and Don Woods.{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/vgmuseum_rainbird_colossaladv-alt2-manual/page/n1/mode/2up|title=MOCAGH.ORG: Rainbird Software: colossaladv alt2 manual|via=Internet Archive}}{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/ElectronUserVolume6/Electron-User-06-09/page/n23/mode/2up|title=Electron User Volume 6 1988-1989|via=Internet Archive}}{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/vgmuseum_redherring_redherring7/page/n21/mode/2up|title=redherring redherring7|via=Internet Archive}} Over 70 additional locations were added.{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/retro_gamer/RetroGamer_006/page/56/mode/2up|title=Retro Gamer|via=Internet Archive}}{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/Your_64_Issue_006/page/9/mode/2up|title=Your 64 Issue 006|via=Internet Archive}}{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/zx-books-UK/SpectrumAdventures/page/20/mode/2up|title=ZX-Books (UK)|via=Internet Archive}}{{cite web | title=Sinclair User Magazine Issue 038 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive | website=Internet Archive | date=2020-06-10 | url=https://archive.org/details/sinclair-user-magazine-038/page/n59/mode/2up | access-date=2021-04-16}}
Development and release
Colossal Adventure was the first commercial game from Level 9.{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/Page6-34-Jul88/page/n11/mode/2up|title=Page6 34 Jul88|via=Internet Archive}}{{cite web | title=CVG Magazine Issue 010 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive | website=Internet Archive | date=2020-06-10 | url=https://archive.org/details/cvg-magazine-010/page/n15/mode/2up | access-date=2021-04-16}}
It was later released as the first game in the Jewels of Darkness trilogy.
Reception
Allan J. Palmer for Page 6 said "Great Scott (Adams?)! Level 9 Computing have a winner here in this excellent rendition of the original Crowther/Woods mainframe Adventure game."{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/Page_6_Issue_10_1984-07_ABACUS_GB/page/n35/mode/2up|title=Page 6 - Issue 10 (1984-07)(ABACUS)(GB)|date=July 9, 1984|via=Internet Archive}}
Steve Cooke for Personal Computer Games said "Although by contrast with some programs available on other machines this program looks a little dated, it shines out like a star in an empty sky as far as Lynx owners are concerned."{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/Personal_Computer_Games_Issue_05/page/100/mode/2up|title=Personal Computer Games Issue 05|via=Internet Archive}}
John Conquest for Big K said "Even by Level 9's present standards, Colossal Adventure is not the best game available, nor the most engrossing, the most difficult, the most fun, or indeed the most anything."{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/Big_K_Magazine_Issue_07/page/n55/mode/2up|title=Big K Magazine Issue 07|via=Internet Archive}}
Stuart Menges for Acorn User said "Colossal Adventure is one of the best in its class. I would recommend it to any adventurer."{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/AcornUser019-Feb84/page/n145/mode/2up|title=AcornUser019-Feb84|date=February 9, 1984|via=Internet Archive}} Philip Garritt for Acorn User said "The program [...] is good value and will give many hours of entertainment."{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/AcornUser1982/Acorn%20User%20005%20Dec%2082/page/n41/mode/2up|title=Acorn User 1982 Magazine|via=Internet Archive}}
What MSX? said "Level 9 is the number one software house for adventures, and this is the number one title. MSX owners start here."{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/WhatMSX/What%20MSX%3F%20Vol1%20No4%201985%20Winter/page/n43/mode/2up|title=What MSX? (GB)|date=April 16, 1984|via=Internet Archive}}
Micro Adventurer referred to the game as a "first-class version" of the original Adventure,{{cite web | title=Micro Adventurer Issue 07 : Sunshine Books : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive | website=Internet Archive | date=2020-06-10 | url=https://archive.org/details/MicroAdventurer07-May84/page/n23/mode/2up | access-date=2021-04-16}} while Amstrad Action said "it's still the best and lengthiest version of this text-only classic available for a micro".{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/Amstrad_Action_Issue_001/page/42/mode/2up|title=Amstrad Action Issue 001|via=Internet Archive}}
Crash considered the game "Recommended."{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/Crash_Magazine_004/page/72/mode/2up|title=Crash Magazine 004|via=Internet Archive}}
A retrospective review in The Spectrum Show said "If you want the granddaddy of all adventures, this is the one to get, closely followed by the Abersoft one that was bought by Melbourne House and released as Classic Adventure."{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/the_spectrum_show/TheSpectrumShow005/page/28/mode/2up|title=The Spectrum Show|via=Internet Archive}}
Reviews
- Your Computer - September 1983
- Home Computing Weekly - Jun 11, 1985
- Home Computing Weekly - Aug 30, 1983
- Happy Computer - Feb, 1984
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://archive.org/details/ColossalAdventure/Colossal%20Adventure/mode/2up Game manual]
- {{IFDB|id=zjivkumr48f0zbqa}}
Category:1980s interactive fiction
Category:BBC Micro and Acorn Electron games
Category:BBC Micro and Acorn Electron-only games