Companions of Xanth

1993 Legend Entertainment
Designed by Michael Lindner
Reviewed 1995 March 1

Rating -2 Linearity narrow
Reasonability reasonable Connectivity moderate
Difficulty pedestrian Relevance moderate
Interface 1st paned menu Real-time none

This game is based on a Piers Anthony Xanth novel. You go on a hike across Xanth, a pun-filled fantasy land. Unfortunately, you have no control over the route. The linear nature of the story mirrors the linear nature of the game. This makes the game too easy. It also destroys the sense of entering Xanth: there's no joy of active discovery, just a wait and see what comes next.

The game does manage to display the punny spirit of Xanth. The challenges are nicely integrated into the story. The interface is effective, and the presentation is pleasant. Companions of Xanth would be a good first adventure game, and a good game for younger players.



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