Imogen (video game)
| Imogen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Micro Power |
| Publisher(s) | Micro Power Superior Software |
| Designer(s) | Michael St Aubyn |
| Platform(s) | BBC Micro, Acorn Electron |
| Release date(s) | 1986 (BBC Micro) 1988 (Acorn Electron) |
| Genre(s) | Puzzle / platform game |
| Distribution | Floppy disk, Cassette |
Imogen is a computer game released in 1986, originally only for the BBC Micro. It was written by Michael St Aubyn and published by Micro Power. It was reissued as the lead game of Superior Software / Acornsoft's Play It Again Sam 5 compilation in 1988 when it was also converted for the Acorn Electron. It is a platform game featuring puzzles.
Gameplay
The player takes the role of a wizard named Imogen who, according to the backstory,[1] lost his mind and forgot his identity as a result of transforming himself into a dragon to save his town from another dragon. He is placed into a dungeon within a mountain and in order to escape he must utilize magic and puzzle-solving abilities he was previously aware of as his former self. The upshot is that he will only be free once he is back to his old, sane self and no longer a danger to the townsfolk.
The game features sixteen levels which are played in a random order. To complete a level, Imogen needs to obtain a crystal which will warp him to the next level or, after all sixteen have been completed, to the outside world, thus completing the game. The crystals are always placed somewhere inaccessible at the outset of the level, and obtaining the crystals requires some lateral thinking on behalf of the player.
Imogen himself is able to transform into three different forms, each with an ability unavailable to the other two;
- His natural form as a human wizard, which can use various objects he picks up along the way (which are as varied as a revolver, watering can and tulip bulb.)
- A cat, which can leap long distances
- A monkey, which can climb ropes
- A bird, which can fly (available only in one particular level)
Each level requires transforming back and forth between the forms to complete it. While it is impossible for the player to actually die during the game, the number of transformations is limited to 150, and using them all before the game is complete renders it unwinnable.
Remake
In 2003 Ovine by Design created a freeware remake for PC which is highly faithful to the original.
External links
Notes
- ↑ for a detailed description of the backstory, see http://imogen.ovine.net/index.php