Corruption is an interactive fiction game by Magnetic Scrolls released in 1988. In this game, a successful stockbroker suddenly finds himself embroiled in a world of crime and danger.
| Corruption | |
|---|---|
 European cover art | |
| Developer(s) | Magnetic Scrolls |
| Publisher(s) | Rainbird Software |
| Platform(s) | Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Apple II, Archimedes, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, Mac, ZX Spectrum.[1] |
| Release | 1988 |
| Genre(s) | Interactive fiction |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Gameplay
editThe game is a text adventure with static graphics in all versions except for the Spectrum +3. It focuses primarily on character interaction instead of object interaction. The Amiga version has a "speech mode", though Computer Gaming World noted it only as a novelty.[2]
Development
editThe working title of the game was "Upon Westminster Bridge".[3]
Reception
edit| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Computer and Video Games | 9 out of 10[4] |
| Your Sinclair | 7 out of 10[5] |
| ACE | 920/1000[6] |
| Sinclair User | 90%[5] |
The game was voted Best 8-bit Adventure Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards.[7]
ACE's reviewer The Pilgrim called it "a game that combines powerful programming, wry humour, and a compelling plot all at once. No doubt about it, Corruption is Magnetic Scrolls' best yet."[6] In Computer and Video Games, Keith Campbell wrote that "the game has very much the same feel as the Infocom mysteries, like Suspect, although I found this plot to be far more interesting." He remarked that Corruption will provide "hours of enjoyable frustration", and he praised its graphics, noting that "an adventure set in offices in the city, doesn't sound particularly exciting graphically, yet Magnetic Scrolls have made it so."[4]
Sinclair User's Sarah Sharkey summarized, "[T]his game is good. The text is well written, the characters are very realistic and the storyline is believable." She highlighted the game's "super interaction with characters" and "absorbing and realistic game world".[5] Mike Gerrard of Your Sinclair wrote, "All in all, I enjoyed Corruption far more than I thought I would... but not quite as much as the previous Magnetic Scrolls games."[8]
Computer Gaming World in 1989 praised the game's menu features, such as the ability to reveal exits.[2] Charles Ardai in 1992 wrote in the magazine that Corruption was "the one clear winner" in the Magnetic Scrolls Collection. While criticizing the short length of gameplay, he stated that "a game this powerful deserves the widest possible audience".[9]
References
edit- ^ Meier, Stefan. "Magnetic Scrolls Fact Sheet". Retrieved 17 June 2015.
- ^ a b Eva, Frank (Feb 1989), "On The Eve of "Corruption"", Computer Gaming World, p. 18
- ^ Corruption at MobyGames
- ^ a b Campbell, Keith (July 1988). "Corruption". Computer and Video Games (81): 92, 93.
- ^ a b c Sharkey, Sarah (October 1988). "Corruption". Sinclair User (79): 48.
- ^ a b The Pilgrim (August 1988). "Corruption: Rainbird/Magnetic Scrolls' inside deal". ACE (11): 73, 74.
- ^ "Golden Joystick Awards 1989". Computer and Video Games (92). Future Publishing: 62–63. June 1989.
- ^ Gerrard, Mike (November 1988). "Corruption". Your Sinclair (35): 104.
- ^ Ardai, Charles (November 1992). "Virgin Software's Magnetic Scrolls Collection". Computer Gaming World. No. 56. p. 64. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
External links
edit- Corruption at SpectrumComputing.co.uk
- Corruption at Lemon 64
- Corruption at Lemon Amiga
- Corruption at MobyGames
- Corruption in the Interactive Fiction Database