Murder most foul

From Sam Supplement 57:

MURDER MOST FOUL.

SAM PD. price £5.00 

Reviewed by Phil Glover. 

A text and graphic adventure for the SAM Coupe and SAM Elite.

Written by Robyn Campbell, Graphics by Phil Glover and Ken Gager, Music by Bob Brunsden. 

Murder Most Foul is the long-awaited second SAM adventure written by New Zealand's Robyn Campbell. As with most SAM adventures, it's been written using SAS, the SAM ADVENTURE SYSTEM, in 42 column mode. This allows for clear text and is very suitable for the graphic content. The tried and trusted SAS PREFS routine (by David Munden) has been used within the game, allowing the player to select any of twenty fonts, and their own preferred palette options for the text display. 

On booting the disk you are given the choice to read the introduction or go stright into the game. If you're no used to SAS-written games, you would be strongly advised to read the introductory notes. You can then read about the setting of the game to help you get going. The story is a whodunnit set in the

1950's, in the style of an Agatha Christie-style author. You take the part of Neil Parker, a private detective. You have received a note from your friend Ron Bounty, who has unearthed incidents of blackmail, and he's invited you to visit him and soft things out.

Unfortunatley you are delayed in your arrival at Ron's house, and must quickly get to grips with the siuation you find there.

Ringing the doorbell summons the butler, Alfred, who lets you into the house. From thereon, you're on your own. TALK TO everyone, take note of what they say, explore the house and make a simple plan to help you get around the property with speed when necessary. EXAMINE every person and object to learn more.

Some objects can be picked up and used. Most characters are graphically portrayed, as well as some locations and objects.

Some clues just may be hidden in the graphics rather than the text.... 

Before long, various events will happen, maybe even fatal ones. When a major event occurs, make sure you talk to all the characters as they will tell you different things during the course of the game. At all times, TAKE NOTES and make sure you talk to EVERY character, or you may miss a vital clue.  Eventually you will have learnt enough to know who is responsible for blackmail/murder or whatever crime may have been committed.

The game is of moderate size and it's relatively easy to find your way around, as there are no mazes or tortuous trails that are often found in other adventures. Solving the game isn't too hard if you uncover all the clues and listen to what people tell you. (Some may not be as honest as others.)

I won't comment on the game's graphics as I created them myself (using the excellent SAM PAINT), with some additional graphics by Ken Gager. The in-game music is a Glenn Miller medley called 'Jive' which was featured on FRED 45, but has been used by kind permission of Bob Brunsden. Music can be controlled by MUSIC ON or MUSIC OFF. The game has no scoring system, so you'll have to decide how well you are progressing in the game. The text is nice and descriptive, with touches of humour which doesn't spoil the unfolding drama of the game. 

MURDER MOST FOUL is another SAM adventure that doesn't use the sword and fantasy themes of many games. It helps increase the range of types of SAM adventures and, as many other SAM adventures, proves that SAM is a superb maching for this type of game. A welcome addition to the available range of SAM software.

MURDER MOST FOUL.

SAM PD. price £5.00 

Reviewed by Derek Morgan. 

You will have read the review of Murder written by Phil Glover and seen his view of the game. As I am selling the game for Robyn, you may think that a review by me may be bias towards it.

Well it is.

I played the adventure and liked it very much. 

Some people like a text only adventure, but the excellent graphics help to bring out the feel of taking part in the adventure.

Murder Most Foul is an on-going whodunnit which carry's on while you are in the house. People and objects move about as they would and vital clues are there to be found. 

It's not as hard as an Agatha Christie plot, as all the clues are there to be found. People will talk to you and the plot thickens.

Characters seem to be people who live and not just names in a game. The house is no maze and can be easly maped. In fact I would recamend you to make a map of the house as you go though it.

If you have never played an adventure before, this would be a good one to start with.