Caverns of the Snow Witch
- August 3, 2015
- Tin Man Games
Get on SteamIn "Caverns of the Snow Witch," you must stop the Snow Witch's plan to induce a new ice age, after a dying trapper passes on this important mission to you. This digital gamebook, based on the classic Fighting Fantasy series, allows you to customize the difficulty level and includes original artwork. Navigate the Crystal Caves, keep track of your exploration with the map feature, and utilize unlimited bookmarks to revisit challenging sections.
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Reviews
- The game successfully captures the nostalgic feel of the original Fighting Fantasy books, with both new and classic artwork enhancing the experience.
- Gameplay is engaging with a mix of challenging combat and decision-making, and the inclusion of a 'bookmark' feature allows players to save their progress easily.
- The atmospheric presentation, including sound effects and music, adds depth to the adventure, making it enjoyable for both fans of the genre and newcomers.
- The game can be extremely unforgiving, with random elements leading to frustrating deaths and a reliance on luck rather than skill.
- Some players may find the linearity and lack of hints in the story progression limiting, leading to repetitive trial-and-error gameplay.
- Technical issues, such as bugs affecting the dice rolling mechanic and compatibility problems on certain platforms, detract from the overall experience.
- story14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The story is an engaging fantasy adventure that combines elements from two shorter narratives, featuring challenging combat and luck-based mechanics. While some parts may feel added or silly, the overall experience is exciting, with a "free read" mode allowing players to explore various paths without the risk of game over. The inclusion of a 'bookmark' feature enhances the gameplay by enabling mid-story saves.
“Story-wise, it's an exciting fantasy adventure filled with all the puzzles and perils you might expect from the genre.”
“As tricky as this gamebook is, a 'free read' mode lets you explore the story backward and forward, trying out every path without worrying about a game over.”
“This story is actually quite hard, with many difficult combats and many luck checks which can kill you or leave you luckless.”
“It's also based on a short story, and the last part feels added to it; some parts seem silly, but it's not too horrible.”
“I believe it was originally two shorter adventures combined into one longer story.”
- music8 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as subtle yet effective, enhancing the eerie atmosphere of Ian Livingstone's fantasy world. Players appreciate the options for background music and sound effects, which complement the updated visuals and achievements, creating an engaging experience. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's immersive qualities.
“Ian Livingstone's eerie fantasy world is evoked with sparse, straightforward prose, and Tin Man Games have brought it to life quite well, with new artwork and some subtle but effective music.”
“There are options for background music and sound effects, as well as a great series of 30 achievements ranging from difficult to amusing.”
“Only available in English, it's a transcription of the paper version with superb illustrations, correct music, font choices for the text, full of achievements to unlock and trading cards for badges.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game successfully blend original black-and-white artwork with new color reworkings, enhancing the nostalgic experience while bringing Ian Livingstone's eerie fantasy world to life. The updated visuals, combined with subtle music, create an engaging atmosphere that complements the straightforward prose. Overall, the game maintains its classic aesthetic while offering a fresh visual experience.
“The game is exactly as it was (all those years ago!) and not only are the original black and white artworks here, but new color reworkings as well.”
“Ian Livingstone's eerie fantasy world is evoked with sparse, straightforward prose, and Tin Man Games have brought it to life quite well, with new artwork and some subtle but effective music.”
“It is what it is, a book on computer with nice music and updated visuals.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally functional and may appeal to purists, but some players express disappointment, suggesting it falls short of expectations.
“From a general gameplay standpoint, it functions as it should.”
“Purists will probably like this title, but in terms of gameplay, I have to give it a thumbs down.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability, particularly through its challenging adventurer and hardcore hero modes, which can be frustratingly difficult even for experienced players. However, some users note that the interactive e-book format may limit replay value for those seeking varied gameplay experiences.
“The standard adventurer mode is tough, even with high initial scores, and the hardcore hero mode is brutally difficult (i.e., near impossible) even with the highest possible starting scores, so there is plenty of (frustrating) replay value in this one.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highlighted as immersive and engaging, effectively capturing the essence of early fighting fantasy gamebooks. Reviewers appreciate the on-screen production's ability to create a compelling and nostalgic environment.
“An atmospheric on-screen production of one of the early fighting fantasy gamebooks.”
