Summary

• Release Year: 1993
• Genres: Adventure, Point-and-click
• Platforms: DOS
• Developers: Legend Entertainment
• Publishers: Legend Entertainment

Eric the Unready (1993): A Hilarious and Absurd Text Adventure

Introduction

Eric the Unready is a humorous text adventure game with graphics, developed and published by Legend Entertainment in 1993. The game is similar in concept to Legend’s own Spellcasting series, as well as other text adventures such as Zork and Adventure. The player controls Eric, a hapless and incompetent adventurer, as he attempts to save the kingdom of Loathing from the evil sorcerer Malkil.

Gameplay

Eric the Unready is played using a text parser interface. The player types in commands, which Eric then carries out. The game also features full-screen character portraits with pre-set dialogue choices. The game’s parser is relatively forgiving, and players are encouraged to experiment with different commands.

The game world is divided into a number of different locations, which the player can explore by typing in the appropriate commands. Each location contains a variety of objects and characters that the player can interact with. The player can also collect items and use them to solve puzzles.

Story

The story of Eric the Unready is full of humor and absurdity. Eric is a hapless and incompetent adventurer who is constantly getting himself into trouble. He is joined on his quest by a talking dog named Desmond and a sarcastic wizard named Rincewind. Together, they must travel to the four corners of the kingdom of Loathing and collect the four pieces of the Amulet of Malkil. Once they have the amulet, they can use it to defeat Malkil and save the kingdom.

Humor

Eric the Unready is full of humor, both in its writing and its gameplay. The game’s writing is witty and clever, and it is full of pop culture references and parodies. The game’s gameplay is also humorous, as Eric is constantly getting himself into absurd situations.

Graphics

The graphics in Eric the Unready are simple but charming. The game uses a text-based interface with full-screen character portraits. The character portraits are well-drawn and expressive, and they help to bring the game’s characters to life.

Reception

Eric the Unready was well-received by critics upon its release. The game was praised for its humor, its clever writing, and its charming graphics. The game was also a commercial success, selling over 100,000 copies worldwide.

Legacy

Eric the Unready is considered to be one of the best text adventure games ever made. The game’s humor, clever writing, and charming graphics have made it a cult classic among fans of the genre. The game has also been ported to a number of different platforms, including the PC, the Amiga, and the Atari ST.

Conclusion

Eric the Unready is a hilarious and absurd text adventure game that is sure to entertain fans of the genre. The game’s witty writing, charming graphics, and memorable characters make it a must-play for anyone who enjoys a good laugh.

Review Score

8.5/10

Art

Cover Art

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