<!--
	Title: Mines of Titan
	Author: Stephen King
	Source: QuestBusters v7(1)
	Date: January 1990
	Transcription by Steve Derby
-->

<div class="article-sidebar-box float-left" style="border: 4px solid;">
<strong>Type:</strong> Science Fiction RPG<br>
<strong>Systems:</strong> IBM (384K, CGA, EGA, VGA—16-colors, better resolution—MCGA, Tandy; Apple (128K)<br>
<strong>Planned conversions:</strong> none<br>
<strong>Version reviewed:</strong> IBM
</div>

Infocom's new *Mines of Titan* was done by Westwood Associates, who also did
*Battletech*. It's really not a new game at all, but an enhanced version of *The Mars
Saga*, released for the C64 by EA back in 1988. Since *QB* has already published a
[positive](/library/questbusters-mars-saga-review) and
[negative](/library/questbusters-kobold-corner-mars-saga) review of this game
([February](/library/questbusters-mars-saga-review) &
[June](/library/questbusters-kobold-corner-mars-saga) '89), I looked over
both before playing the game.

Personally, I didn't like *Mines of Titan* very much, but did see potential
and lots of originality. While both previous reviewers made good arguments
in support of their opinions, I found the negative one far too harsh.
The graphics are definitely not up to the quality of
*Bard's Tale*, but they are far closer to that than public domain. I would say they are
up to contemporary mediocre standards. Some are even quite nice.

If the documentation was sketchy in the original, Infocom remedied that in *Titan*.
Not only is the manual informative on the game mechanics, but it also now
includes lots of background on your situation and comes with a battery of maps.
And you now get a "Your Eyes Only" packet with crucial information about
your situation, as well as a rundown on some of the indigenous life forms.<br>
**Conclusions:** *Mines of Titan* has much to recommend itself to avid players
of science fiction oriented RPGs. If you enjoyed *Battletech* or *Sentinel Worlds*,
you may find this one will be a valuable part of your collection too. [Editor: Infocom
could at least have mentioned on the package that the game had been previously
published under another title, as Mastertronic did with *Time to Die*, formerly
published as *Borrowed Time*.]

<hr style="border-top: 4px double;">

**Skill Level:** Intermediate<br>
**Protection:** Key word<br>
**Price:** $44.95<br>
**Company:** Westwood/Activision
