<!--
	Title: Cutthroats
	Author: Nigel York
	Source: QuestBusters, v1(11)
	Date: November 1984
	Transcription by Steve Derby
-->

<img class="float-left" src="/public/img/articles/questbusters-cutthroats-review/cutthroats-ship.jpg" alt="Clip art of a ship">

The second in Mike Berlyn's "Tales of Adventure" series is set on Hardscrabble Island,
and casts you as a washed up diver. Unlike the lonely <u>Infidel</u>, <u>Cutthroats</u> boasts a crew of lively
characters who really come to life on the screen. Just before he dies, one gives you a book that shows
the location of two sunken treasure ships.

Then someone slides a note under your door, which leads to a meeting with Johnny Red, Pete the
Rat, and the Weasel at a local pub. Johnny found some gold from one of the wrecks, and they want
you to dive for the rest. But they don't know which of the four ships in the bay holds the treasure, so
they need you and the book (a copy is part of the package). It has **a color map** showing where the
wrecks lie and the water's depth. By comparing Johnny's clues with the map and information in the
book, you must decide whether to dive for an old wooden sailing ship or a WWI passenger ship.

The island is small, so little mapping is necessary. You will have to wander around it to
meet with the crew several times before sailing. (As in <u>Enchanter</u>, you must eat and drink often, but
not as frequently as in <u>Planetfall</u>.) Another character, McGinty, wants to beat you to the gold.
There's also a traitor in your group, and unless you're careful he will slash your throat from **ear
to ear** before you ever set foot on the boat. You've also got to buy supplies. A list of nautical gear --
batteries, air compressors, and other items -- is included with the packaging. Scuba gear and other
tools can be found elsewhere. Get the right stuff, because you can't return to the island after setting
sail. Choosing from the two rental boats, rigged for diving at different depths, is another key decision.

It's still possible to get your throat cut on the way to the site, but usually you'll be able to reach
the sunken ship and attack the problems that lie between you and the treasure. You might run out
of oxygen, but can't surface for more -- the game ends if you return to the ship without the goods.
And unless you've discovered the traitor's identity and put him out of action -- **and he can't be
killed!** -- you'll have a nasty surprise even if you do retrieve the treasure. Top score is 250
points, and after completing the game you can dive for a different treasure on the other ship.
Different tools are used for each set of problems.

The puzzles on land are reminiscent of <u>Deadline,</u> and hinge of figuring out what the other
characters are up to. Those underwater are based on object manipulation. Tougher than <u>Seastalker</u>,
<u>Cutthroats</u> is the perfect introductory game for teenagers and adults, but anyone who's solved more
complex adventures may finish it in a week or even less. If <u>Zork</u> still has you scratching your
head, though, you might try this one just to savor the thrill of finally beating an Infocom game.

<u>Cutthroats'</u> outstanding aspect is its emphasis on interacting with the characters, who skulk
about from the lighthouse to the Shanty quite independently. Hardscrabble Island comes across
as a real place with genuine people, the reason it represents a substantial work of "interactive
fiction" (perhaps Berlyn's best so far) and a hint at what the future holds for the genre.

<hr>

**Computer:** All Home Computers<br>
**Skill Level:** Introductory/Novice<br>
**Serves:** 8<br>
**Price:** $49.95<br>
**Flavor:** Salty<br>
**Manufacturer** : Infocom
