Heroes
| Heroes | |
|---|---|
| Game | |
| Main links | |
| Published | 2001 |
| Credits | |
| Author | Sean Barrett |
| Reception | |
| Events | |
| IFDB rating | 4 out of 5 (27 ratings) |
| Gameplay | |
| Interaction style |  Parser |
| Literary genres |  Adventure  Fantasy |
| Location |  City |
| Language | English |
| Accessibility | Colour: none. Graphics: none. Sound: none. |
| Technical details | |
| Authoring system | Inform 6 |
| Format | Z-code 5 |
| License | Freeware |
| Browse the games database • Edit this page | |
How it begins
You must rest, dearest. Rest, and I will tell you a story. No. Five stories.
The player is first asked if s/he first wants to play as an [a]dventurer, an [e]nchanter, a [t]hief, [r]oyalty, or a [d]ragon; second, if the character should be [m]ale or [f]emale. (The player is actively dissuaded from playing the dragon option first, but the game will allow the choice if the player persists.)
Based on your choice, you are one of:
- Adrian (or Adrienne) the laze-about, formerly the Adventurer. You are carrying a brass lamp, and stand in Temple Way where a large crate sits.
- Volthar (or Voltha) the Master Thaumaturge. You are carrying a spell book, and stand on an East-West Road.
- Yenold (or Yenalda) the thief. You are dressed all in black and stand on a Shadowy Road where a large crate sits. Concealed on your person are a dagger, a length of wire, a set of lockpicks, and a vial of grease.
- King Elando (or Queen Eleanor), a former bard. You carry nothing and stand in a broad Avenue, but are attended by several nobles and guards.
- a dragon, carrying nothing, standing in an Open Tunnel built by the man-things. A receptacle is here.
All four humans are former members of Thorn's Companions; the dragon was either also a member or a trusted ally. All five have heard that Baron Sedmon Ventillado plans to sell the Dragon Gem (also known as the Kthyress Crystal) to Blackhelm, who could use the gem's powers against them. All want the gem in their hands before Blackhelm has it in his.
Notable features
- Five games in one. The player can choose to play as one of five PCs and play out that character's storyline. Each PC has different goals and abilities, and will view the same locations differently. The five stories are interwoven; a character who is a PC in their own story becomes an NPC in another PC's story. (Compare with Common Ground (Stephen Granade; 1999; TADS 2).)
Versions
Release
Date: 2001
- Heroes (Sean Barrett; 2001; Z-code 5).
- IF Comp 2001: 3rd place of 51 entries.
- XYZZY Awards 2001: Finalist for Best Setting and Best Use of Medium.
Links
N.B. Many IF Archive games are temporarily unavailable in the UK.
General info
- Heroes - Homepage.
- Heroes (archived) - at Baf's Guide.
Reviews
- Heroes - at SPAG.
- Heroes - at IF Ratings.
- Review - by Paul O'Brian.
- Review - by Dan Shiovitz.
- Review (archive) - by Duncan Stevens.
Spoilers
Date: 2001