Four Symbols, The
Adventure Workshop, The 
, FSF Adventures 1992
- Language:
- English
- Authors:
- Grue, The
- Systems:
- Hatrack 2 , PAW , TADS
- Platforms:
- Amiga, Amstrad CPC , Atari ST, PC , Spectrum, TADS
- Entered by:
- Alex, Dorothy, Garry, Gunness, Strident
- Added:
- 10-05-2010
- Edited:
- 20-05-2025
Synopsis
Can you recover the Four Symbols?
Can you prove yourself innocent of witchcraft?
Will you curse the day you encountered the black cat?
Will you survive? Only time will tell as your wits are challenged to the utmost on this seemingly simple quest, but with a sting in its tail!
Notes
The game was originally written for the Amiga using HATRACK II. The later TADS version, for PC and ST, was enhanced with more messages and a larger vocabulary. The ending of the TADS version is slightly different.
The Spectrum version was converted by Larry Horsfield using the PAW. It exists as a two part game for 128K machines and a four part game for 48K machines.
The Amstrad CPM (PAWs) version was converted and published by The Adventure Workshop by Philip Reynolds; probably based on the database from the Spectrum release.
Resources (Upload file)
- Solution
- by terri
- Further Info:
- Search at Atari Legend
- Search at CPC-Power
- Search at IFDB
- Search at Lemon Amiga
- Search at Museum of Computer Adventure Game History
- Search at Spectrum Computing
- Search at The Tipshop
- Search at World of Spectrum
[+] Users who have solved this game
- —
The black cat that you own and love? In the same description it says that the cat's owner is the palindromic Morgrom.
I'm guessing it's the owner of the hovel that is angry, because it's burnt down.
I think the synopsis was copied from either the game or an advert... so I'm blaming Geoff, the game's author, for any confusion. :)
That makes more sense. There is still nothing in the gameplay to suggest that the black cat is owned by the protagonist but maybe that has been left equivocal deliberately.
An impressive game so far despite the fact that you can be inside a closed coffin and still turn around and see the nightwatchman. The text dumps don't vary to match changes in the plot.
Ha, I have just realised that this is a sample version and can go no further. Oh well.....
Has anyone ever worked out how to keep the peg in your possession after being ducked in the village pond playing the Amiga version of this game? I have tried everything from putting the peg on my nose to putting it in my pocket (for some unknown reason you can put the cheese in your pocket but not the peg). OPEN POCKET does not parse. I am beginning to think this could be a bug.
And the Spectrum version (191k .dsk version) is unplayable. After you are surrounded by the villagers you are supposed to deny that the black cat is yours, whereupon the game automatically segues to you strapped to a ducking stool. One of the villagers steps forward and asks, "Is this your black cat?" You cannot parse, "no" as an acceptable reply and they never respond to you, so the game reaches a stasis. The parser even up to that nascent point is very wobbly; you have to CLIMB IN WINDOW to leave a building for instance. Perhaps the tape version works.
The Amiga version is rather buggy as well. "Insert gravel." "You're not carrying a handful of gravel." "Take Inventory." "You're carrying a handful of gravel." "Examine dust", parses "You don't see the spell book." You can add typos, misspellings and apparently invented words like "fungerous," which is clearly meant to describe "fungus" in a particular location. The author also likes to add question marks to the end of sentences for no apparent reason.