Screening Room: Strategy
Planetfall
WARNING! This article contains spoilers. Avert your eyes!
Infocom, Inc.
AP, AT, C 64, IBM PC/PCjr, TI,
TRS-80 I/III (all disk).
Product Info: (617) 492-1031
TYPE: Text adventure
IN BRIEF: You're a lowly member
of the prestigious Stellar Patrol,
but life isn't as glamorous as
you'd expected. As the game begins,
you find yourself scrubbing
floors under the scrutiny of a
sadistic ensign. After an odd series
of events, you wind up on a deserted
planet. But why is the
planet deserted? And what do
you do while you're there? For
clues, read on. ...

đ The brig isn't the best place to be during an explosion, but the escape pod is.
đ The WAIT (or "Z") command is very helpful. Don't neglect it.
đ Once you get to the ruins, one of your first priorities will be to find the Kitchen Access card. Without it, you'll die when the food from your survival kit runs out.
đ You can't get to the game's "best" ending unless you fix the Communications Systems. Make this one of the first stops on your list.
đ Don't try to carry every thing you find; many items are designed to distract you. There's a limit to how much you can carry, so take only what seems important. You can always go back for anything you missed.
đ In the ruins, you'll encounter the "Dial Room." You'll see a lock there. Don't waste time trying to guess the combination. It will be revealed in due time.
đ Spend some time in the library. You can find out a lot about your mission simply by studying the reference material.
đ Keep Floyd, the robot, with you. He can bring you something that no one else can. Two somethings, in fact.
đ How do you get the card from the bio lab? Maybe some one can bring it to you.

This article appeared in
K-Power
Sep-Oct 1984
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