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	Title: (AMIGA Software) Arthur: The Quest for Excalibur
	Source: Computer Entertainer, v8(4)
	Date: July 1989
	Transcription by Steve Derby
-->

**ARTHUR: THE QUEST FOR EXCALIBUR (⭐⭐⭐½/⭐⭐⭐)** by
Bob Bates for ***<u>Infocom</u>*** is a re-telling of the familiar classic. The player
takes the role of the young Arthur at the point in his life when he learns
of his previously unsuspected destiny as King of England. Freeing the
legendary sword Excalibur from the stone in which it is imprisoned is
the final deed which will grant Arthur his birthright, but there is much
for the player to accomplish as Arthur before that is possible. And there
is very little time. The evil King Lot has stolen the sword in the stone,
and young Arthur has but three days to prove his worthiness before Lot
steals Arthur's legacy. Within that time, eh must win back the sword
in the stone by developing his wisdom, chivalry and experience. The
core of the game is achieving these goals by learning to use Merlin's
gift of magic. Merlin's magic, properly used, is an aid to solving the
puzzles of the game. The magic allows Arthur to assume the form of
many different animals, which in turn lets him do things and go places
that would otherwise be impossible. Marlin's magic, in the form of a
crystal ball, also gives the player access to on-screen hints. And on-screen
mapping is also available, which shows where you've been plus
available exits. ARTHUR: THE QUEST FOR EXCALIBUR is a
typically well written work of Infocom interactive fiction which
happens to be illustrated by very lovely, though mostly static, graphic
paintings. It's a "Classics Illustrated" approach to fantasy role-playing
rather than an actively interactive graphic adventure. Now that Infocom
has added pictures to its games, we still feel a sense that
something is missing because there is no sound. This will not be a
serious drawback for at least some adventure gamers who will certainly
enjoy the good story and its puzzles, but it bothers us sufficiently
that we are very aware of the silence now that Infocom has stimulated
our visual sense. (Solo play; Keyboard & mouse; Blank disk required.)
Amiga version reviewed; also available for Macintosh. Planned for
Apple II and MS-DOS at $39.95.

**Recommended.** (MSR $49.95)
