<!--
	Title: Suspect
	Author: Ray Berube
	Source: Analog Computing, #29
	Date: April 1985
	Transcription by Steve Derby
-->

**SUSPECT<br>
by David Lebling<br>
INFOCOM, INC.<br>
55 Wheeler Street<br>
Cambridge, MA 02138<br>
(617) 492-1031<br>
48K Disk $39.95**

Infocom has released a new text adventure for its
mystery series. It is titled **Suspect** and is not for the
inexperienced player. Retailing for $39.95, it is certainly
a chock-full adventure for the money. However,
as varied and detailed as it is, **Suspect** doesn't satisfy
as well as some of Infocom's earlier mystery adventures.

Written by David Lebling, co-author of **Zork** and
a mainstay of creative imagination at Infocom, **Suspect**
invites you to play the role of a newspaper reporter
attending a "chic" Halloween costume party.
As expected, your hostess is murdered with your lariat
(you had to come dressed as Roy Rogers), and you suddenly
become the primary **Suspect**. The familiar character
of Sergeant Duffy is on hand to arrest you if
you can't solve the crime by discovering the identity
of the real murderer.

According to Lebling, "**Suspect** combines the rich
texture of **The Witness** with the complicated plot
structure that distinguishes Infocom mysteries." It is
also supposedly characterized by the dry humor familiar
to Infocom fans.

Well, before addressing these claims in detail, I'd
like to take a moment to comment on one of **Suspect**'s
best features -- its new packaging. There was a
time when interested computer owners could spot an
Infocom game from across the crowded software store.
Its packaging was unique and very often beautiful, as
with the fantasy game **Enchanter**. However, Infocom
discovered a few drawbacks with implementing innovative
packaging, namely: poor dealer space utilization
and customer dissatisfaction.

It looked pretty, but you couldn't stack it, shelve
it, or put it in a drawer (the frisbee of **Starcross** springs
to mind). It only caught your attention as a buyer if
the dealer would display it. So some of Infocom's
games began to experience sales declines, because of
dealer reluctance to allot space displaying the unusual
boxes.

What to do? The wizards at Infocom got together
and came up with a solution both practical and attractive.
The change to a more uniform shape for the
package, with a distinctive design for each game, has
helped some Infocom titles, especially the **Zork** series.

**Suspect** has arrived in a new box, compact and
functional. It serves well as a storage unit for the game's
components and it stacks neatly on the dealer's shelf.
So, from now on, look for Infocom in a classy book-sized
package. The days of **Suspended**'s mask are gone
(and I still haven't found the right opportunity to wear
my **Suspended** mask).

Now, on to the game itself. The opening moves reveal
a cast of very well-detailed characters, who can
be interacted with most effectively. However, trying
to map or chart their movements from ballroom to
hallway to outside to office is quite a challenge. Not
to mention that some of these characters are only
known to you by their costume. Considerable care
and patience is required to chart this opening.

The inexperienced player should take heed! **Suspect**
requires careful mapping and charting of characters
to keep things straight and to give you any chance
to solve its riddles. The play is very user friendly, as
with all Infocom's games. You can't fault a parser which
allows you to communicate on a nearly conversational
level with the game elements.

<figure class="float-right">
	<img src="/public/img/articles/analog-suspect-review/suspect-packaging.jpg" alt="Suspect packaging">
	<figcaption class="center" style="font-weight: bold;">Suspect</figcaption>
</figure>

In fact, technically, this is probably Infocom's most
complex and truly "interactive" adventure thus far.
There is a whole rogues' gallery of characters with
whom you can converse and interact. This reviewer
could not find any negative aspects to report on concerning
the programming of the adventure.

The complaints I have are involved more with the
tone and style of **Suspect** than with its mechanics.
From the moment you open the package and read
"Murder and Modern Manners" (the game's expository
text), you get the feeling this whole adventure
promises to be a joke -- at your expense.

The idea of finding oneself *Suspect*ed of murder and
then being forced to find the real killer is a good one.
A real sense of danger, excitement and a little paranoia
is possible. So **Suspect** has a good idea, but fails to
take that idea seriously.

Throughout the adventure, references to other familiar
mysteries are forever cropping up: for example,
empty window box seats and *Arsenic and Old Lace*.
Somehow, this adventure would be more fun, realistic
and intriguing from a mystery point of view without
these "dry humor" intrusions.

All of this leads me to a point that I feel I must
make at this time, concerning Infocom's current crop
of adventures. Are these wizards of the text adventure
afraid to be serious for a change? There seems
to be a cynicism underlying their adventures, from
**Zork** to **Infidel** and now **Suspect**. I haven't had the
opportunity to play **Cutthroats** as yet, but its packaging
seems to suggest more of the same.

Perhaps it's time for Infocom to consider dividing
the task of writing text adventures. There is no question
that they have the technical know-how. I can't
think of a software company that is even near to challenging
their technical skills. Maybe they need an infusion
of new blood from the creative writing end of
text adventures. **Seastalker** and **The Hitchhiker's
Guide to the Galaxy** were collaborative efforts, and
it may be time to do more games along this line.

The future of text adventures is bright, and its
brightest star is Infocom. If anyone is to succeed in
bringing us more exciting adventure, I'm sure they
will be a prime source.

I don't recommend the novice adventurer buy **Suspect**.
He or she will be more frustrated than entertained
by this game. I recommend **The Witness**, if
you want to get a taste for mystery.

If you're a seasoned gamer, and you aren't upset by
constant kidding, then **Suspect** may be just your cup
of tea. It is certainly complex, detailed and imaginative.
I just wished it took itself a little more seriously,
both as a game and an example of truly interactive
fiction.
