<!--
	Title: (Adventure) Borderzone
	Source: Zzap!64, #35
	Date: March 1988
	Transcription by Steve Derby
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**Infocom, £19.99 Commodore 128 disk only**

Behind the Iron Curtain lies a world of espionage, intrigue,
devious plots and death, and Infocom's *Borderzone* takes the player into this
atmosphere of spy vs spy with a 'real-time' adventure full of
thrills, spills and suspense.

*Borderzone* is written in three chapters -- *The Train*, *The Border*
and *The Assassination* -- which are played in any order, though the
game works best when they're tackled in sequence. Each chapter
is played against the clock, which is set to run quickly or slowly to
suit the players' nerves.

### THE TRAIN

Clattering along a wintry landscape in a draughty train compartment,
the player is on his way to Vienna via the (fictitious) neutral
country of Litzenburg, lulled into a restful doze by the rhythm of the
train's movement. But his simple life is suddenly made more
interesting when a wounded American spy enters the compartment
and hands him a document.

The American explains that he has been discovered by the
authorities and must escape the train. He asks that the document
be delivered to his contact on the platform of Litzenburg station,
confiding that this will help prevent the assassination of a top-ranking
American diplomat. His departure is swift and leaves no
time for argument, and the player has little choice but to do as he
asks.

The essential idea of *The Train* is to hide all evidence of the meeting
with the American spy and of his document, avoid arousing the
authorities' suspicious, leave the train without being followed and
safely deliver the document to the contact.

This first scenario is a little disappointing -- it's quite easy to complete,
involving only eight locations, and is over very quickly. The
only challenge is remembering to do *everything* to cover one's tracks,
such as hiding the film and removing the bloodstain.

### THE BORDER

In the second part the player changes character -- now you're
the injured American spy who left the train rather hurriedly in the
first section. The spy finds himself cold and alone near the border,
and has to get across without being discovered.

Hampered by tracker dogs, guards and a mysterious group of
men in a car, the American has to traverse dark forests, swamps and
deep snow before attempting the border crossing. There's also the
injury to his left arm and the biting cold to overcome.

This chapter is played in 'fast time', although thankfully it can
be slowed down if the pace becomes too hectic (which is does).

Once again, the general idea is to cover your tracks and carefully
avoid discovery. But the actual puzzle content is very limited and
instant arrests are far too common.

### THE ASSASSINATION

In the third chapter of *Borderzone*, the player is a third character -- a
double agent trying to prevent the assassination of the American diplomat
while making the KGB think he's actually planning it. The
action takes place in and around Ostnotz square in Litzenburg,
packed with security forces. Movement around and exploring the area
is dangerous and, once again, great care must be taken not to arouse suspicion.

*Borderzone* is unusual in its subject matter, but Infocom impement
it very well and succeed in giving the player a feeling of being
there. The game comes with those now-expected little extras that
Infocom provide with their adventures -- a book of matches, a business
card, a map and a very amusing phrase book/tourist guide.

However, it's much too easy, and I'm not sure I like the built-in
hint system (I prefer invisiclues). Apparently this is a marketing ploy --
the player succumbs to the temptation of reading the hints, quickly
finishes the game and soon needs another Infocom product to play!
Yet perhaps Infocom are releasing *too many* games, and should sit
back on their laurels and come up with some deeper plots.

<table class="larger" style="font-weight: bold;"><tbody>
<tr><td>Atmosphere</td><td>89%</td></tr>
<tr><td>Interaction</td><td>85%</td></tr>
<tr><td>Challenge</td><td>75%</td></tr>
<tr><td>Overall</td><td>84%</td></tr>
</tbody></table>