Family Computing, v2(6)

~1 minute read

Jun 1984

WHAT'S IN STORE: SOFTWARE REVIEWS

Suspended

James Delson

HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS: Apple II/II plus/lIe, 48K (disk). Also for Atari. Commodore, and IBM.
MANUFACTURER: Infocom
PRICE: S49.95

Suspended is more than just another text-only adventure. It's a complex jigsaw puzzle of riddles and clues, a time and motion test to see if you can accomplish certain tasks within a time limit. Above all, it's different. You're a brainy individual who has been cryogenically frozen. Your gray matter lives and functions while the rest of you is in a state of suspended animation. You must operate a series of computers — six highly specialized robots — that sustain human life on the planet by manipulating weather and ensuring the smooth functioning of a central computer complex.

Sound like science fiction? It is. and while you're playing you may feel as if you're about to overload your own circuits. You have to keep track of your robots, moving them around a complex of chambers, acid-dripping corridors, and other nooks and crannies of a giant scientific center. Instructed properly, your helpers can save civilization and restore the planet to normalcy.

It's a task that takes a lot of practice by players over 12 years old. Don't be surprised if you fail miserably the first few times you try it. You'll probably have to explore through trial and error. Even if you do blow it, you'll still have fun — thanks to the good sense of humor, as well as a map and playing pieces provided by Infocom inside the colorful package.

This article appeared in
Family Computing
Jun 1984

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