Torin's Passage - PC, 15/2/96

Well-a, well-a, well-a, huh! How Biffo would have loved to have probed this at length, getting so deeply into it that he would have had literally to tear himself free.

Yes. Now that he's at last cast away the sour cloak of Leisure Suit Larry, this is Al Lowe's try at a Discworld-style fantasy/comedy adventure.

The music is very good.

Though the US blurb promises "more Al Lowe twisted humour", it's pleasing to note that Torin's Passage is free from its tawdry one-liners that made the last few Larry games such a chore.

The only attempt at "humour" we saw was a couple of talking snails, and they were stupid.

However Douglas Adams-derived the funnies in Discworld may be, there's nothing here to challenge them. See: this is more like King's Quest.

Torin's Passage has its gameplay lichen attached firmly to Larry's bark.

There's the score-counter, the rather dated semi-scrolling screens and the infuriatingly tiny click-me hotspots.

Puzzles are usually spoon-fed (complete with a pay-with-points hint system), though the inclusion of your companion - a dog who can change form to help you - adds some platformer-style spice.

Harmless enough, but without the glitz or wit to challenge the best.

Torin's Passage - PC CD-ROM - by Sierra

Req: 8MbR 486SX
Graphix: 70%
Sonix: 88%
Gameplay: 70%
Lifespan: 70%
Originality: 59%
Uppers: Simple and fairly jolly
Downers: Rather dull and charmless
Overall: 70% - Prepare to enter...