Discworld

Terry Pratchett books are one of the few things in life that you can strike up a conversation with anyone about. Imagine the scenario: youre down the pub with some people that you dont know very well, and the most terrible thing in the world has happened. The conversation has dried up and someone has already used the current favourite: Have you seen Pulp Fiction yet?. Horror scenario. What do you talk about? Have you read the new Pratchett book? is certainly something that has potential. There are few authors (especially British) who command such widespread appeal and chances are everyone has a strong opinion about Pratchetts work.

To say that the officially approved game based on the Discworld series is one of the most eagerly anticipated adventure games since Monkey Island 2 would probably be an understatement. There are people who are quite literally drooling at the prospect but, unfortunately, there are also fears about how close the game will be to the books. What if the developers do a Lord of the Rings on us and produce something that doesnt match our expectations? What if the characters dont look or act the way we expect them to? Wouldnt that be awful?

Fortunately, thanks to the intervention of Mr P himself, the chances of this being the case are pretty remote. Having spent considerable time with the game, I can safely say that this is one of the best adaptations of a work of fiction I have ever come across.

All the characters behave in a way that I'd expect them to (and I've read a fair number of Pratchett books in my time) and even the voices seem spot on.

Its a big one

It was a foregone conclusion that it was going to be a point and click adventure. What else could capture the spirit and style of the Discworld environment? Teeny Weeny Games has worked hard creating an accurate representation of the world and all its inhabitants. Working with Terry and collaborator Stephen Briggs (the chap who assisted with the recently published Discworld Companion), the team have created something which not only captures the essence of the description found in the books, but also manages to blend it with an artistic style that is not dissimilar to the excellent Josh Kirby artwork used on the book covers (and the cover of this issue).

As far as scale goes, this certainly appears to be a biggie. The guys at Teeny Weeny swear blind that it will take more than 100 hours to complete and, as far as numbers of locations and puzzles go, its about three times the size of a typical LucasArts game. So, if you finished Day Of The Tentacle reasonably quickly, this ones for you. Couple this sheer immensity with the fact that it has some absolutely blinding puzzles, and Im sure that an average player will find that 100 hours is a pretty conservative estimate.

While Im on the subject of puzzles, I feel that this is something worth dwelling on for a while. You know that really satisfied feeling you get when youve sussed a sequence of problems and you finally achieve something? Well, Discworld is so chock-full of Puzzle sequences that you seem to have that sense of satisfaction throughout most of the game. I don't want to give too much away, but the gameplay structure is not only very involving, but its also inspired. There are puzzles and sequences mercilessly pinched from all manner of sources, including a particularly amusing Indiana Jones scene - I wont spoil things by telling you what is involved, but the effects are hilarious. The overall feel of the game gives you the impression of having a purpose pretty much all the time. Theres very little meandering around doing nothing.

Puzzle sequences in many adventures are simply a case of performing a certain action with a particular object to create the desired effect. But a typical puzzle sequence in Discworld is quite different, demanding a series of events to take place which, in turn, develop the players situation within a scenario. Only once all the elements are in place can you achieve your goal. In effect, many of the larger puzzles are almost like mini quests which involve a series of simple, less important puzzles to be solved. The net result is that you always feel as though you are working towards something.

The story of the game is divided into three separate acts which all involve our heroes, Rincewind and the ever-present luggage, with a central theme running throughout the entire game. The basic idea is that a dragon has been set loose (remember, dragons only exist if you believe in them - a vitally important theme in the game) and Rincewind has to get rid of it. Obviously, its not that simple, but without completely ruining the whole plot, thats about as much as I can tell you.

The control system

One of the biggest problems weve had with British-developed adventures over the years is that, more often than not, they pale into insignificance next to the stuff that comes from LucasArts. One of the main reasons for this is that Lucas has scumm, its intelligent user interface, which the rest of the world is still trying to match while not obviously copying it. Fortunately, things are changing and the system developed for Discworld is one of the best interfaces Ive come across, rivalling even the superb system that appeared in Sam & Max.

Apart from the fact that the game employs a superb intelligent cursor which dispenses with the tedious process of trying to interact with things that dont want to be interacted with, it also makes use of a unique windowing system. Whereas most games either have your inventory on screen at all times (Monkey Island) or as a separate screen (Sam & Max, Gabriel Knight), Discworld employs a unique window which pops up whenever you click on either Rincewind or the luggage. This window can be moved anywhere on screen and can also be resized to anything from full-screen to teeny weeny (ahem... sorry). Objects can then simply be picked up from the inventory and dragged into the main playing area in true Windows style. After spending some time with this system, youll wonder why no-one has ever thought of it before.

The dawn of the talkie

The initial launch of Discworld will be on CD as opposed to floppy, which is understandable when you consider the amount of production work that has gone into the project. While the game is one of the best point-and-click adventures as a standalone product, it really comes into its own when you hear the sound.

Its no secret that Psygnosis and Teeny Weeny have invested an awful lot of time and money in creating one of the best aural experiences so far in a computer game. And when you consider some of the talent used, its obvious that this is going to be something special. With ex-Monty Python and all-round good egg Eric Idle playing the part of Rincewind the wizard and the remaining 77 characters all acted by voice talents like Kate Robbins (of Spitting Image fame), Rob Brydon (one of the UKs hottest up-and-coming voice talents) along with Tony Robinson and Jon Pertwee, its safe to say that this is an extremely professional sounding project. While previous talkie games have been of a good quality - although many of them have sounded simply like a bunch of people sitting around talking along to a game-Discworld is different. The quality of the voices and the talent of the actors used has produced something more akin to a radio play rather than a simple voice-over for a game. The variety of characterisations and the wit with which the characters are played are truly superb.

But is it really Discworld?

Okay, so the production is fantastic and its a bloody good adventure game, but does it really capture the spirit of the books? People will buy it on its strengths as a game, but chances are there are more people who will want it simply because its a Pratchett game.

To be frank, I must admit that theyve done a bloody good job Pratchett-wise. The humour is in style, the use of voice is inspired and, most importantly, the game draws inspiration from the whole series of books. All the locations youve read about are there, as are most of the characters and many of the situations. Its definitely one of those games that has you jumping up and down and going Ooh, ooh, yes... thats that bit from... er, you know... Many of the scenarios are recognisable, but situations arent duplicated from the books. Thankfully, there are very few moments in the game where just a sound knowledge of the novels will see you through. Teeny Weeny hasnt fallen into that trap.

The end bit...

Its not often that a game comes along that is brilliantly scripted, well executed and superbly produced. Discworld is such a game. The artwork throughout is of an extremely high quality, the characters are all drawn in a convincing cartoon style (in places they are reminiscent of the characters from Asterix) and the voice acting is brilliant.

To be honest, I cant really find many faults with this game. Obviously, if you dont like Pratchett, you wont really be into the humour, but if you dont at least snigger at some of the gags, you either dont have a sense of humour or have recently died. The overall quality of this is almost certainly down to the fact that such a wide range of talent has been employed. The project has been overseen by Terry Pratchett himself. Teeny Weeny has made use of its best artists, musicians and v programmers, and the actors used are all seasoned professionals. Not only is this a superb game in its own right, but it will be something to which future talkie-adventures will be compared.

Action The Wardrobe To Take the pouch. Go to the Arch Chancellor's room and talk until he sends you to get the book. Go to the closet on the bottom level and get the broom. Operate the broom on the chest in your room. Now go to the library and give the banana from inside the chest to the librarian. Talk to the librarian to get book. Give book to the Arch Chancellor. Go to the Dining Room and operate the broom on Windle Poon's staff. Talk to the apprentice wizard in the grounds until he gives up the secret of the doors. Get the frog that appears. Go to gate and operate it.

Move to the Square on the map. Pick up tomato and throw it at tax collector. Pick up another tomato. Pick up worm which falls to the ground. Speak to urchin to get the pick-pocket trick. Use the trick to get bloomers from old men. Enter the door behind Dibbler and talk to Troll. Leave room then return. Once Troll has moved to another seat, pick up butterfly net. Go to the Alley on the map. Use the spring to reach the roof. Go left and dislodge ladder. Exit roof via window. Go to the Palace and talk to guards until they let you in. Go to room with star on the door and get mirror. Go to the rear of the University and pick up bag. Put the net into your inventory, then use the ladder on the window. Go to window and use the net to catch the pancake. Go to the kitchen and get the pan and banana. Go to the Street and enter the hairdressers. Look at the hair-roller then talk to the woman. When the hairdresser removes the roller and puts it in his pocket, talk to him. When the hairdresser daydreams use the pickpocket skill on his pocket to get the roller. Get the picture from the Fishmonger's. Go left to the Toy Shop. Get string from Toy Shop counter. Use the string on the worm. Go to the Livery Stable (bottom right). Get corn from sack. Return to the Alley and, bypassing the spring, enter the Alchemist. Talk to Alchemist. Look at camera. Use camera release switch to reveal imp. Use corn on the flask. Try to get imp. Use the worm on the hole outside to get imp. Put mirror in Rincewind's inventory. Get onto roofs. Move to the tower. Use mirror on the tip of the flagpole. Use the mirror to attract dragon and get his breath. Return to Chancellor and hand over all five items. Enter the Lair on the map (situated bottom left). Collect Gold.

ACT II

Go to the library and look at the banana in the sleazy guy's ear. Use the banana icon to talk to the guy. Give all of the gold to get the banana. Give the banana to the librarian to reveal 1-space. Enter 1-space and follow thief through bookshelves to the Hideout on the map (near the dragon's lair). Knock on door. In the Park, use the frog on sleeping Rince-wind's mouth. Use the net to catch the butterfly. Go to the corner of the street where the monk stands and use the butterfly on the lamp to make it rain in the future. Travel through 1-space to the Broken Drum Inn and look at the counterwise wine on the shelf. Talk to the barman. Get glass (not tankard) and matches off the bar. Go to the alley beside the Fish Shop and get the robe. Return through 1-space to the hideout. Operate the drainpipe beside the door, then hide behind fence. When thief arrives, use glass on drainpipe. Use robe to enter Hideout.

Go back through 1-space to Broken Drum and talk to scared guy. Go to the Inn, enter bedroom and get sheet. Go through 1-space to Inn and use sheet. Operate the scared guy. Go to Troll's shop in the Street and take pot. Go through 1-space to Broken Drum and speak to scared guy to find out about hammer. Return via 1-space to Inn and use sheet. Operate scared guy to get gate pass. Go to City Gates and operate pass on guard. Go to the mountains to collect egg and feather. Go to the witch's house in the dark wood and use the pot on the cauldron to get custard. Go to the Edge of the World (on the horizon). Operate the coconut tree. Use the net to get nut. Go to the Barn. Get screwdriver from the wall and use it on the coconut. Talk to Street Urchin about secret handshakes. Go to Psychiatrist to get two inkblots. Go to the Palace and use an inkblot on guard. Talk with peasant in the queue. Go to the University Kitchen and get cornflour. Go through 1-space and read the graffiti on the inside of the toilet door next to the fish shop. Enter the Shades and talk with Big Sally at the House. Give flour, egg and coconut milk to Sally and you will receive new bloomers. Return through 1-space and give new bloomers to Urchin in exchange for a bra and the secret handshake. Go to the Shades and use the handshake on the mason to get the trowel.

Donuts, prunes and custard

Get a donut from Dibbler in the Square. Go to the Dunnyking Machine behind Dibbler and give the donut to the dunnyman. Go to the Psychiatrist and talk with girl to get note. Go to the hairdresser and give him the note. Use the apparatus to get the tooth.

Go to the Shades, find the Hovel. Use the bra with the ladder, then use the ladder with the hovel. Pretend to go for the key, then use the feather on the thief. Get the key. Exit hovel and get the ladder. Go through 1-space to the Broken Drum. Look at the picture behind the "little guy". Operate his glass. Go outside and use the ladder on the shingle over the door. Get the drumstick. Go to the University Dining Room and use the drumstick on the gong. Go to the lily pond and get the bag of prunes. Go to the Fishmonger's and use the string on the octopus. Use the pot of custard on the toilet, then operate the octopus on the toilet. Use the prunes on the caviar in the fishmongers. Get belt from under toilet door.

Go to the rear of the University and get garbage can. Go to the Palace and use inkblot on guard. Use garbage can on Fool. Enter bathroom and use bubble bath on the bath. Get the cap. Go to Toy shop and get doll. Go to City Gates and open the crate. Get the firecrackers and keg. Put doll in Rincewind's inventory. Go to the roof above the alley and use the doll on the Alchemist's chimney. Enter Alchemist's house and use the keg on the fireplace. Use the string on the keg. Leave house and use the matches on the fuse in the hole. Go to the Barn and give all six gold items to the dragon. Go to the Square and speak with Nanny. After you have got the carpet, look at Custard book. Talk to Nanny and when she tries to kiss you, get the book. Go through 1-space and get the Dragon Book from the shelf. (It's just to the right of the 1-space exit.) Use the Custard Book on the Dragon Book to change folders. Operate the new Dragon Book back onto the empty shelf for the thief to find.

Worms, leaches and rats

Go to the Hideout and use the knocker to get a custard tart. Go to the Alchemist and talk with him until he leaves. Take the camera. Go to the Livery Stable then look at the bumper bar. Look at the bumper sticker to get the Dragon Sanctuary address. Go to the Dragon Sanctuary on the main map and use the door knocker. Go to the rear of the house and talk with the lady. Go to the front door and again use the knocker. Go to rear of house and take the rosette, leash and the nail that the leash hung on. Go to the Broken Drum. Look at the drinks on the shelf to see cactys juice. Talk to barman to get drink. Get the glass to obtain the worm. Go to Dibbler to get paper bag. Operate the bag to get leaches. Go to Palace and use leaches on the guard. Enter the Dungeon at Palace rear and find the mouse hole. Use the worm on the hole. Operate on the rat to reveal an imp. Use the imp on the camera. Go to the Witch's Cottage. Look at the potions behind her then talk to her using the potion icon. When she waits for a kiss, use the custard tart on Rincewind. Take the potion. Operate on the wool to find the sheep. Use the rosette on the sheep, then use the camera on the sheep. Get the mallet beside the hatch. Go to the Drum and use the nail on the beam beside the bar. Use the sheep's photo on the octopus picture. Use the new picture on the nail. Talk to the braggart. Use the potion on the braggart's drink. Go to the Gorge (outside the city gates). Use the carpet on the bridge. Enter the Temple. Use the leash on the luggage. Take the bandanna from the hatstand and use it on Rincewind. Use the pouch on the sand (to right of altar). Use the pouch on the eye.

Dog and bone

Go to the Woods (directly outside city gates - NOT the Dark Woods). Use the crank on the Wishing Well. Use the pot on the bucket. Go to the Inn and use the pot on the soap in the bathroom. Go to the Palace and use the paper bag on the guard. Get the brush from the bath and use it on the pot of water. Go to the Livery Stable. Use the brush on the bumper bar. Look at the bumper to see the number (Sore Ass). Enter the Shades and use the ladder to enter the Hovel. Open the bag and get the knife. Put the knife in Rincewind's inventory. Leave Hovel, pick up ladder, and go to the roof above the Alley. Use the knife to cut the ladder free. Talk to the assassin and, providing you read the bumper bar, you will respond with the "Sore Ass" answer. Go to the Hairdressers and get the scissors. Go to the Square and use the scissors on the donkey's tail to get the moustache. Try to get an egg from the stall then pick up the snake. Go to the Palace Dungeon and get a bone from the skeleton on the far right. Go to the Toy Shop and use the bone on the glue pot. Go to the Inn and use the bone on the dog. Look at the sailor's tattoos then talk to him. Get a Drink from the barman. Look at the tattoos again then talk to the sailor 'til he gives you his Whistle.

Go to the closet at the University and use the matches on the shape. Get the packet. Use the fertiliser and the starch on the snake, then use the result on Windle Poons' staff. Go to the Arch Chancellor's office and get the hat. Use the broom handle on the net. Go to the Edge of the World and use the whistle on Rincewind. Operate the firecrackers to get one. Use the firecracker on the matches, then use it on the parrot. Use the net to get the parrot. Return to the sailor and operate the parrot on him. Return to the Edge of the World and look at the hat to see the rabbit. Get the lamp. Use the hat on the fork. Use the chain of handkerchiefs to climb down to the glinting object. Get the whistle. Return to the sailor and give him the whistle. Go to the hairdresser shop and get the little book. Go to the room behind Dibbler and talk with everyone. Leave and return. (Repeat this until the Troll moves.) Talk to the girl until she mentions autographs. Use the book on the girl. Go to the Wishing Well and use the book on the hairdresser. Go to the hairdresser shop and talk with him. Go and speak to the Street Urchin. Go to the Dunnyking machine and use the knife on the rubber belt. Put the belt in Rincewind's inventory and then climb the tower via the rOofs. Use the band on the flagpole tip.

Go to the library and find a magic book near where the sleazy guy stood. Go to the kitchen and get the spatula. Go to the Shades and use the spatula on the wall mural. Go to the wishing well and use the screwdriver on the crank. Use the crank on the racks in the Dungeon to get sword. Talk to Carrot at the City Gates, then go through and enter the Mine. Talk with the dwarves and operate the sword on the Smithy.

Go to the Drum and talk with the Barman. Go to the Inn and open the door. Look at the door to find the Bogeyman. Talk to the Bogeyman. Use the screwdriver on the Bogeyman. Talk again with Bogeyman until he leaves. Go to the Drum and enter the cellar via the trapdoor. Look at the barrels until you find Elderberry. Use the tankard on the Elderberry barrel, then return to the Smithy in the mines. Now operate the tankard on the Smithy and then operate the sword on him.

Final Act

Go to the Square and get the key from Lady Rainkin. Go to her estate and open the dragon's cage with the key. Walk quickly through the cage and pick up Mambo. Return to the Square and stand before the dragon. Look at Mambo. Use a lit firecracker on Mambo. Operate the large dragon, and Mambo will miss his shot. Leave the Square then return and stand before the large dragon. Use the custard tart on the dragon. The dragon then flies off into the sunset.

Apparently, dear Mr Pratchett has now sold more than four million of his Discworld novels the world over and is widely regarded as one of the funniest English authors ever. Bearing in mind that the vast majority of his work is purely fantasy with all kinds of wizards, warriors, talking vegetables and weird hyper-intelligent animals, you'd have thought that someone would have tried to produce a game already. The Discworld stuff all began way back in 1987, but it's only now that Mr P has given his approval for an "interactive" adventure project.

Enter Teeny Weeny Games, a small but highly-regarded UK developer based in deepest, darkest Croydon. With the assistance of Terry, the team have been beavering away at a point-and-click adventure for the last year or so. Intended to be a CD-only project, the game will not only feature all of the most memorable characters and locations from the books, but will also feature the voice talents of a number of famous actors. Heading up the cast will be none other than Eric Idle, Monty Python star and one of the lead characters in Steven Spielberg's forthcoming Casper the Friendly Ghost. Alongside him we have Tony "Baldrick" Robinson and Jon "Dr Who" Pertwee. At one point it was even reported that Barbara Windsor might be playing a role in the production, but this has yet to be confirmed.

What's it like then?

The basic idea behind the whole thing is that rather than following the plot on any single book, you simply play the role of Rincewind (the inept wizard who pops up in most of the Discworld books, for those of you who know nothing of the series) in a totally new scenario which makes use of the rich environment that Terry Pratchett has developed for his work. As the story unfolds you'll interact with many of the more famous characters from the books, including Twoflower (the terminal tourist and one time inn-sewer-ants salesman), Death, the Luggage, the Librarian (an Orangutan that used to be a wizard) and numerous others. Fans of the books will no doubt spend many hours of game time simply searching for their favourite characters. Rest assured though, if characters such as Evil-Smelling Bugger or even You Bastard (the world's greatest living mathematician) don't appear this time around, they may pop up in future projects from Teeny Weeny. This isn't the only Discworld game on the go you see... oh no. Now that Psygnosis has its hand on the licence, it seems intent to get as much as possible from it. but more of this in a few months when further details are announced.

It's original too

What sets this apart from many other games of the genre, apart from the depth and humour of the characters and scenarios, is the fact that the team has developed a totally original player interface, Whilst many of the latest adventure games are having a jolly good stab at ripping off LucasArts' scumm system, the Teeny boys and girls have opted to produce a Windows-based system which lets you set up the game in exactly the way you want.

Basic interaction involves simply clicking on areas of the screen, but object usage and so forth makes use of a series of resizable windows which can be moved around and plonked pretty much wherever you want. Once you have spent a bit of time with the system it makes you wonder why no-one has done it before!

Looking smart

Graphically the game looks fabulous. The version we were shown was far from finished. but the hand-painted backdrops and cartoon-like characters seemed to suit the whole concept surprisingly well.

As with anything visual that takes its inspiration from a work of fiction, there's always the risk that the result will be a far cry from everyone's perception of what the characters actually look like. Remember the film of Lord of the Rings? They may have got Gandalf right, but the Hobbit's feet were far too big for my liking. Anyway, I digress. If you check out the screen shots I'm sure you'll agree that it looks absolutely spot on.

So, just as long as everything goes according to plan, Psygnosis is hoping to have the game out in time for Christmas - just in time to stick on your Dear Santa... letter - on cd and floppy (the disk version will be a chopped down version with no speech) and we should be able to bring you a full review along with interviews and bags of info in the December issue of the mag.

In the past few months, Psygnosis has bombarded the PlayStation market with many previously unseen titles. Continuing this tradition in the point-and-click category is Discworld. based on Terry Pratchett's worldwide best sellers featuring wizards and heroic failures.

Discworld is a humor-filled adventure game that is designed to challenge you as much as entertain you. Every object and encounter within the game are there to help you complete the quest or more importantly, provoke laughter. Even the way you talk to others is meant to exploit the included humor text more than to jump to the chase and get the answer you were seeking.

The plot forces you into the shoes of Rincewind, who has been summoned by the archchancellor of the Unseen University. The chancellor sends you on a legendary quest to bring an end to the mysterious dragon that has caused a reign of terror among the citizens. Using all of your puzzle-solving ability (and your natural skill to insult others), gather the items that will help eliminate the fire-breathing beast. Talking with the citizens, collect the required information and tools that are needed to complete this giant task.

Discworld's graphics and sound are extraordinary, with everything being easy to control. No fast or precise "hit the button now" actions are required by the player. This lets you just sit back and enjoy everything this title has to offer.

Discworld is not the type of game that can be finished in less than a few hours. A long and hilarious plot filled with many quests and riddles awaits unsuspecting players.

If some straight monster battling and weapon gathering is what you're looking for, then skip Discworld. This find-and-seek text adventure is straight comedy with a dose of fantasy thrown in.

World of Laughter

Using the vocal talents of Monty Python's Eric Idle, the whole game has a very British, very Python-esque feel to it. More talking than action, this game will leave your sides aching from laughter, even if it leaves your RPG appetite yearning.

Ported over from the popular PC title, this point-and-click adventure pits the hero, Brince-wind (also repeatedly referred to as Breakwind), against the Magicians' Guild and a whole cast of nefarious characters, including a psychologically disturbed troll and three aging co-medians/wizards. There's even a running donkey-cart joke that is part of the plot.

But besides the humor, there's nothing else to recommend here for RPG enthusiasts. There are no weapons, skill levels, or magic spells.

Basically, you must reconstruct a device to detect dragons, then go off on separate hilarious journeys to find the pieces. But you find that your lust for gold has surpassed your thirst for knowledge, and the game takes some very odd twists.

Wizard of Aha's

The graphics are humorously illustrated with lots of cartoony explosions, wry facial expressions, and even some bright Disney-like backgrounds. But the game never shows off intricate or awe-inspiring graphics for the spells like most standard 16-bit games do (Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy III are perfect examples).

The sounds are the games forte. Excellent, clear, and extensive dialogue reigns supreme throughout the game, and you are given (thankfully) the option to stop people in mid-speech. Funny sound effects, like squishy worms or fireworks explosions, are also clear as a bell. But the tame music never surpasses the dialogue and remains pretty limp.

The control is standard point-and-click. The game is compatible with the PlayStation Mouse, but you won't need it - the joypad works just as well. If you can keep your inventory in check, you'll have no problem playing Discworld.

Slipped Disc

Plenty of laughs but little challenge make Discworld somewhat of a novelty for serious RPG players. But serious RPGers are definitely not what Discworld is looking for. For a change of pace, give this Disc a spin.