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/ Genres / Adventure / Callahan's Crosstime Saloon

Callahan's Crosstime Saloon

DOS - 1997

A wonderful adventure on all counts and one of the most humorous games I've ever played, Callahan's Crosstime Saloon, like Spider Robinson's gentle sci-fi novels it was based on, is chock full of devilish puns, humor, and charm.

SPOILERS ALERT ON In the gameworld, the premise is that Earth is actually an art exhibit whose sole purpose is for the entertainment of the "Gods" (whoever they may be). One of the Gods, Gingranich (!), believes that there is nothing on Earth at all worthy enough to justify its continued existence; he wants to cut Earth's funding. Fortunately for Earth, the Gingranich team Curator is in need of a beer. He stops into Callahan's where, through the course of five mini-stories, he learns what the regulars knew all along – that life is about sharing with others that which, when contained, means a whole lot less. It is after this point that a sixth story emerges, and you will need all the friends (and important items) you have met in the earlier five vignettes to prove that the Earth has value after all. SPOILERS ALERT OFF

As scruffy 60's musician Jake Stonebender, you will journey to 5 scenarios across time and space to help friends that include a squid-like alien, a vampire, and a talking dog, and ultimately save the universe. With nonstop puns and good puzzles, this is definitely Josh Mandel's (of Freddy Pharkas fame) best game to date.

With non-linear gameplay (to the extent that the 5 episodes are self-contained and can be solved in any order), nonstop puns, inventive puzzles, and very well-written plot, Callahan's Crosstime Saloon is simply a must-have for every adventure game fan, and a sheer delight for fans of wordplay and other linguistic pastimes. Two thumbs up, way up!

Review By HOTUD

Comments and reviews

moto 24 Jan. 2023

For Linux, download the ISO Version and unzip. Use "iat" to convert the NRG file to an ISO file. In dosbox imgmount the ISO and run install.bat. Go to the directory you installed the game and: \CCS\CCS.EXE starts the program. The patch works also.

4
Waldo Peppercorn 22 Sep. 2021

Spider Robenson is a pure Sci-Fi genius. If you have never read or experienced his imagination and or publications do so.

2
Raaj 08 Dec. 2019

Just how exactly do you run this game, after downloading the RIP version? What are you meant to type into DOS BOX? So as to get the game running?

0
Songlord 08 Sep. 2018
Top comment

Have you read the Robinson novels? If not, go now to your favorite used book store or public library and treat yourself to the words of the Master. You'll thank me later. Then try this game and experience the magic that Spider speaks of in the handbook "Backward". Can you become addicted to a 20 year old game about a 50 year old book series? Only madmen and lucky geniuses know for sure, but in my case, the answer is a resounding YES!

10

No comment nor review for this game at the moment.

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Downloads

DOS version
RIP Version
United Kingdom English
86 MB
ISO Version
United Kingdom English
574 MB
Alt manual
United Kingdom English
3 MB

Extras

Manual Manual 1
Extra file
DOS 10 MB English English
Patch Patch 1
Patch 1.01
DOS 693 KB English English
Misc Misc 1
Hintbook
DOS 8 MB English English

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