The Eye of Borrack
- October 17, 2019
- jimjamsgames
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"The Eye of Borrack" is a nostalgic text-based adventure game that harks back to the classic titles of the '80s and '90s. Players control the action through typed English sentences, solving puzzles and uncovering mysteries in a rich and humorous storyline. A must-play for retro gaming enthusiasts.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The Eye of Borrack successfully captures the nostalgic feel of classic text adventures while incorporating modern graphical elements, making it appealing to both old-school fans and newcomers.
- The game features challenging puzzles, a strong parser, and a humorous narrative that keeps players engaged and entertained throughout the experience.
- With a vast world to explore and a significant amount of content, players can expect a lengthy and rewarding gameplay experience that encourages creativity and problem-solving.
- Players may struggle with the game's command system, as it often requires specific terminology and can lead to frustration when trying to figure out the correct actions.
- Inventory management can be cumbersome, with limitations on item carrying capacity that may disrupt the flow of gameplay and require frequent backtracking.
- The game lacks sufficient clues for newcomers to the genre, making it potentially challenging for those unfamiliar with classic text adventure mechanics.
- graphics8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics in this text-driven adventure game are well-received, featuring a blend of modern cell-shaded artwork and nostalgic elements that enhance the experience without overshadowing the text. While the game can be enjoyed in a text-only format, the inclusion of around 80 images adds a contemporary feel, appealing to both hardcore fans of the genre and newcomers alike. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point, with potential for further development in future titles.
“While the game is perfect for hardcore text adventurers, it also has some very nice graphics (cell-shaded, if I am not mistaken?) - around 80 images.”
“As some others mentioned earlier, the game is really a little 'gem', and strongly recommended for everybody into old-styled graphical text adventure games.”
“The eye of Borrack is a standard 'Zork-like' text adventure, but with the addition of some graphical elements, it takes on a more modern feel.”
“Growing up on the text adventure games of Magnetic Scrolls and Level 9 in the late 1980s, I never really understood why modern interactive fiction games neglect graphics - as if having images in a text adventure game would be some kind of a 'sacrilegious' thing.”
“I hope there will be more similar products like that in the near future, as I feel there is still a lot of potential in these types of games - especially in the graphic representation.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is enhanced by its engaging writing, ambient audio elements like bird noises and wind, and a nostalgic feel reminiscent of a bygone era. While the visuals and humor contribute positively, the audio settings are only accessible through commands, which may be inconvenient for some players. Overall, the combination of these elements creates a rich and immersive experience.
“The writing is fine and funny enough, and I loved that there's audio, bird noises, wind, etc., and the occasional music, which adds a lot to the atmosphere.”
“The writing is fine, funny enough, shame about the quite frequent typos (much fewer since release though). The pictures serve their purpose, and I loved that there's audio, bird noises, wind, etc., and the occasional music, which adds a lot to the atmosphere. However, you might want to know that audio settings are only available via commands, such as sound off, music 50, etc.”
“It's an excellent attempt at recreating the feel and atmosphere of a bygone era; it has puzzles, fantastic descriptions, and a nice pinch of humor.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with creative writing and amusing elements that enhance the experience. While there are some typos, the overall atmosphere is enriched by audio effects and music, although audio settings are only accessible through commands. The combination of humor and engaging puzzles keeps players entertained.
“It's humorous, creative, and has enough puzzles to keep you thinking.”
“The writing is fine, funny enough, shame about the quite frequent typos (much fewer since release though).”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music and audio elements, including ambient sounds like bird noises and wind, significantly enhance the game's atmosphere. However, users note that audio settings can only be adjusted through command inputs, which may be inconvenient for some players.
“The audio, including bird noises, wind, and occasional music, adds a lot to the atmosphere of the game.”
“The audio settings are only available via commands, such as sound off, music 50, etc.”
“The occasional music adds a lot to the atmosphere, but the audio settings are quite limited.”
- story1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The story is shrouded in mystery, emphasizing exploration in a fantastical yet technologically infused world filled with robots and hidden treasures. Players are encouraged to uncover the narrative themselves, making the journey of discovery a central element of the game.
“The story is incredibly immersive, blending elements of fantasy and technology in a way that keeps you guessing.”
“I was captivated by the narrative twists and the rich lore that unfolds as you explore the world.”
“The game's plot is a unique journey filled with intriguing characters and unexpected developments.”
“I can't tell you much about the story, and wouldn't want to anyway, as that's what the whole game's about. All I know is that it's a weird place; it seems fantasy-like at first, but there are robots and such as well, and a bunch of treasured items to find and deposit to win.”
“The narrative feels disjointed and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters or the world.”
“I found the plot to be predictable and uninspired, with no real twists or engaging elements to keep me invested.”
