The Lurking Horror

My third most favorite Infocom game (after Trinity and A Mind Forever Voyaging), The Lurking Horror is, without a doubt, one of the best horror computer games ever made. It is nothing short of extraordinary that a genre that is commonly associated with spooky music, frightening visuals, and suspenseful pacing can be so effectively portrayed in a text adventure-- a genre with nothing but words to convey those horrific elements (actually, The Lurking Horror was the first Infocom game to include sound effects, and they are appropriately spooky).

So what makes the game worthy of induction into our Hall of Belated Fame? The first few minutes of the game are innocuous and quite mundane, and bear no resemblance to what lies ahead. You are a student at G.U.E. Tech, a university in the Zork universe (Dave Lebling remarked that it was modeled after M.I.T., where he was a student. M.I.T. graduates will definitely recognize vast underground passages that connect various parts of campus). On this fateful night, while stuck in a computer lab trying to finish a twenty-page paper, you feel a strange urge to explore the campus basements -- the sites of many horrific rumors. You soon find yourself wandering away from your computer, and into the dark regions of G.U.E. Tech where hideous sights worthy of H. P. Lovecraft await...

The Lurking Horror is memorable for many things, chief among which is the near-perfect blend of storytelling and puzzle. If anyone ever doubts that Lebling's fame as the author of Zork series is undeserved, The Lurking Horror will silent all critics. The writing throughout the game is excellent, and the plot and pacing provide the right amount of suspense and intrigue to keep you glued to the computer screen.

There are many memorable characters and puzzles-- even today, IF fans often reminisce about the elusive hacker and his key, which is one of the cleverest puzzles in the game. A few puzzles can perhaps be considered "unfair" due to obscure clues, but they are overall very logical and will provide a good challenge for both beginners and veterans alike.

As the box cover accurately claims, "[The Lurking Horror] recalls the ghastly visions of H.P. Lovecraft and Stephen King, as author Dave Lebling turns an everyday world into a frightening web of uncertainty. The numerous puzzles will challenge both first-time and experienced players, and Lebling's chilling descriptions will leave you with images you'll never forget."

If you like horror games or just IF in general, The Lurking Horror is simply a must-have.

Review By HOTUD