                          Companions of Xanth
                   Reviewed by Jerry W. Eichelberger

    If you like to dabble in puzzle solving/adventure/role playing
games, then this game is a must have!  I was impressed with the amazing
sound effects and outstanding graphics. The installation from CD-ROM was
a snap and required very little interaction. Within minutes I had the
games installed on my hard drive (one of two options) and was beginning
my adventure. I played this game on my Dell 80486/66 with a SoundBlaster
16 card and Creative 2x CD-ROM drive. I experienced no problems with the
game running xcept an occasional failure of the speech processor to
completely read what was listed in the dialog box.
    You begin you adventure as a boy named Dug. You are sitting in your
room staring at your blank computer screen when your buddy, Edsel, gives
you a call and challenges you to play a game to see if you like it. The
dialog boxes are easy to follow and allow you to select "personalized"
phrases to respond to questions ask by the various characters of the
game. After accepting the challenge, you will wait for the package to
arrive and then load the game on the PC in your room. After selecting a
companion (I ommend Nada Naga), you will begin you adventure into the
land of Xanth.
    The story begins (make sure you watch the introduction screens) ad
demon XANTH and demon EARTH make a bet to see if a "Mundane" could solve
all the clever puzzles and attain the prize. If demon EARTH wins, then
all magic would be stricken from the land of XANTH. Once you have
entered the land of Xanth, you will meet a girl named Kim. She is the
other Mundane that is also searching for the prize. During the game you
will have several opportunities to monitor your adversary's performance
and see how far a g she is. The game continues into a Village the
Crossroads. This is where you will have to solve your first puzzle and
help the villagers by dousing the censorship (BE IMAGINATIVE). You will
also have to find a way to get past the pail (a catapult should work).
After you get past the pail, Fairy Nuff will provide you instructions on
the censorship.
    Once you succeed in passing this puzzle, many more await you in the
Void, Region of Earth, Region of Fire, Region of water, ComPewter
(TOUGH!!!), the Region of Air, The Gap, Humfrey's Castle and then the
Gourd. Each region has a particular puzzle that must be solved before
you can proceed. Be prepared to take your time and take to Nada often.
She will help you with your quest and the dialog boxes you speak to her
with can give you hints to the solution to various puzzle parts.
Remember that she is a nat of Xanth and knows the regions. PAY ATTENTION
to ALL the little puns in the game, they are you best hint source.
    The puzzles in the game are quite clever and paying careful
attention to all the puns in the game will determine whether you succeed
or fail in your quest. Some of the puzzles are logic or require
patience, but others require very specific object to resolve. Don't
overlook anything on your journey that you feel insignificant, from a
jar of mustard to a simple rock. Most items are necessary to solve a
puzzle, or to mix with other items to create potions and solutions.
    The graphic interface of the game is simple to use and provides you
a variety of information. All the items that you obtain in your quest
are displayed along with the commands to assist you in you journey. The
commands are simple (take, put, give, open, look at, etc) to use and
items are easily manipulated and utilized. If you need assistance to
make a solution, you can refer to the compendium of Xanth. This book can
offer you an understanding of various places, potions, people and the
like. If you have a question about the "Love Spring" just open the book
and look under "mystical places" and read what could happen to you
should you decide to listen to the demoness and drink from the spring.
    The land of Xanth is an enchanted land filled with a variety of
wondrous creatures that will delight and amuse you, but be careful that
you don't irritate the wrong individuals and find yourself starting
over. But the way, during this game it is STRONGLY recommended that you
have the presence of mind to save often so that you will be able to
restore should you get trapped or killed. Remember that certain death
could await you around the next corner.
    I enjoyed this roleplaying adventure game, and one a scale of 1 to
10 would rate it a solid nine. This game is anything but "Mundane"!

                        Legend Entertainment Co.
                             P.O. Box 10810
                         14200 Park Meadow Dr.
                          Chantilly, CA 22021
                             (703) 222-8500

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