                                 Death Gate
                        Review by William M Frazier

        Inspired by the Death Gate novels written by Margaret Weis and Tracy
Hickman, Death Gate is an epic fantasy adventure. It follows the path laid
out long ago for a game of this genre; solve puzzles, interact with dwarfs
and elves, use magic, and ultimately, save the world. Unlike many of its'
predecessors, the solution to this game actually makes sense.
        Before the beginning of time as you know it, the world was sundered
into five parts by an ancient, now lost race called the Sartan. As Haplo, a
member of the Patryn race, your quest is to find the five seal pieces
representing the component parts of the world, reunite them, and thus reform
the world as a single entity. To accomplish this quest you must travel the
Death Gate from the Labyrinth to the other four parts of the world. In each
part, you must interact with the inhabitants to gain valuable information
and gather anything that hasn't been nailed down. Both information and items
from your inventory are necessary to complete the missions set before you.
Often the only course of action that will help you is to use magic. To use
magic, you must first decide upon who or what to use it. Next you must
select which spell to use. Finally you cast the spell. You usually have just
one chance to get it right when you are in a tight spot.
        Death Gate operates in either SVGA or VGA mode. The graphics in SVGA
mode are beautiful, but your system will need to be fast to keep the game
moving at a good clip. The music and digitized speech are both appropriate
for the game. The voices are suitable for the characters they represent, and
the acting added to the flavor of the game. Animation sequences and sound
effects enhance numerous areas in the game. The sound and graphics are way
above average for a game of this type.
        The user interface also adds to the game play. Everything can be
controlled with your mouse. You control direction by clicking on a compass
rose. Only directions that are open for passage are highlighted on the
compass rose. Commands are built by clicking on picture objects, inventory
icons, and verbs. You can enter commands using both object-verb or
verb-object syntax. Frequently, the command you want is completed for you by
just clicking the object on the screen. When you save a game (and you should
do this often), you can use a name up to 30 characters long. This is helpful
when many games are saved and you need to differentiate one from the other.
        I really liked this game for one simple reason, the game itself was
fairly easy. I'm not the best adventure game problem solver. Usually the
solutions to puzzles border on the absurd, the application of logic having
no possible bearing on the puzzle to be solved. Death Gate takes the
opposite approach. The puzzles can be difficult, but logic nearly always
prevails. In addition, if you pay attention to what the characters around
you are saying, and read every book and manuscript you can find, you will be
directed on how to solve even the most difficult puzzles. While some will
not like this, I found it a refreshing change. I also liked the game because
it wasn't overly long. It took a week of steady play to finish, but at least
I was able to get to the end. I will play the game again, just to explore a
number of areas I missed.
        The only real disappointment, for me, was the end game. I felt like
there should have been more, that the ending left things unresolved, but
then, how else to set the stage for a sequel. Death Gate is available in
CD-ROM format. If you like this kind of game, and don't mind puzzles that
are logical, I say get it.

Requirements:  386 DX 33 or higher, 486 recommended,  4 MB of RAM, 4 MB
recommended, CD-ROM & audio board, MPC1 compatible, SVGA-or VGA 256 color
monitor.

                        Legend Entertainment Company
                               P O Box 10810
                          14200 Park Meadow Drive
                            Chantilly, VA 22021
                               (703)-222-8500

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