Jericho Road

Sinclair User

Gilbert Factor 7/10

Memory: 48K Price: £5.75 Jericho Road is that rare thing among programs, an adventure with a moral purpose. You have been transported back to biblical times and must make a journey to Jericho. On the way you encounter characters from the Bible and participate in stories such as the parable of the Good Samaritan. Written by a minister - the cassette insert does not indicate from which denomination, so perhaps we can regard this as an ecumenical adventure - the program seems to have a feel for the times. You can even pray for guidance, which makes a change from the usual adventurer's despairing cry for help and at least some of the hints are in the form of biblical references, sending you flipping through the pages of the good book. Unfortunately the vocabulary is a little limited and the computer was erratic about accepting standard abbreviations such as W for west. To compensate, there are a few simple graphics to enliven the text from time to time. There are two versions, one for novices and one for more advanced players. If you do not know much about the Bible you had better try the simple version first, or you will probably spend more time languishing in a Roman jail than proceeding with your pilgrimage. Jericho Road is a gentle, original and enjoyable adventure. How far it will appeal to customers used to more bloodthirsty fare is another matter but it may prove a more digestible alternative to the weekly school divinity period. It is available from Shards Software.

Read it at Sinclair User Magazine Online

C&VG (Computer & Video Games)

John Molloy

Described as an educational adventure, Jericho Road was written by a church minister. It is set in biblical times, in the middle of the first century AD, in and around Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Jericho. The game has two levels of play - junior and full. I tried the junior version first, in which the aim is to get to Jericho. Wandering around in the hot sun nearly sent me to sleep, as there seemed nothing to do, the only light relief being when I got stripped, beaten and robbed. Along came a priest (trot trot trot), a lawyer (trip trip trip), and of course - you've guessed it! Child's play, and I learnt little. But then, of course, this WAS the junior version, and I'm sure children will enjoy the sound effects as these various visitors arrive and depart. Not expecting much better, I tried the full game option - easy enough as it's all there in memory, and doesn't require a separate load. This version was in the same setting, but I was immediately impressed about how cleverly the full plot had been abridged in the version I had just finished. For the mission was quite different this time, and not nearly so easy. Thus I was forced to type HELP on a number of occasions and, when there was help on offer, it came in the form of referring me to a chapter and verse in the Bible. This, I found, added a completely new dimension to the game, and suddenly made Bible reading quite interesting. Reading the text gave information vital to the game, both in terms of knowing what actions to take, and getting the answers right when asked questions. The plot being inextricably tied up with the biblical narration relating to the scenario proved to be a winning formula as far as I was concerned. One thing to watch, though, is your typing, should you get frustrated. This game doesn't understand bad language! Jericho Road is from Shards Software for 48k Spectrum, priced £5.75.

Personal Computer News

Mike Gerrard

HIT THE ROAD, JOSHUA Go back to biblical times with Mike Gerrard for the first adventure in our special feature section. The adventure is possibly the most creative form of program available on a home micro; arcade games come and go but adventures maintain their popularity. Over the next few months PCN will publish an occasional column on what's new, interesting and puzzling on the adventure scene. We start with Jericho Road from Shards. This is possibly the first adventure from a Baptist Minister (with the appropriate name of Peter Goodlad.) Many adventures have you praying for guidance, but this must be the first where, when you type Help you are told 'See Mark Chapter II, Verse 15.' The adventure is based on the New Testament. A time capsule transports you to the first century AD, where your task is to make your way from Jerusalem to Jericho, locate a sign, discover its four meanings and bring it back to Jerusalem. The problems may not be on the Scott Adams difficulty level, but the program is enjoyable and interesting because of its historical accuracy. Steve Maltz of Shards ([redacted]) saw the author on TV last April, when he was interviewed about the Spectrum games he was writing. One of these was an early version of Jericho Road. Steve Maltz said 'we spent three months testing and debugging before releasing it. Mr Goodlad is doing a sequel but he's moving north to Galilee. You can't guarantee it'll be accurate - Jericho Road has been seen by fellow ministers, so if there'd been a single fact wrong he'd never hear the end of it.' Mr Goodlad explained that the new program will probably be set 20 years earlier. 'Doing that enables the player to witness some of the events from the Gospels, it's very challenging - it has to be accurate without allowing the player to drastically alter the outcome.' The Jericho Road program accepts two-word commands and directions by their initial letters. Help sends you sent, scuttling for a Bible, though one unfortunate omission is a save routine - perhaps it should be called a Lazarus routine. However, with the information from solving earlier riddles there's no need to cover everything again, though it can be a nuisance when you lose your life beyond Jericho, and have to start back in Jerusalem. Once you have begun to sketch out a map, you're told this will be a reasonably accurate plan of the ancient city of Jerusalem. Apparently, one of the exits was known as the Dung Gate - a good indication that you need to proceed with caution. Stand at the Dung Gate and look, and behold, a smelly, burning rubbish tip. You should always check out exits other than the visible ones. The Reverend Goodlad does prove rather devious in places for a man of the cloth. Can you trust no-one these days? Another problem is changing your denarii (Roman coins) into the shekels (Jewish) you need in the market. Heathens will probably need help. One of several amusing features is the opportunity to haggle in the market. If you don't like the first price you're given, don't accept it... it may well come down. At another point you're asked for someone's name, which is one I'm sure most people won't know without looking it up in the Bible. When you've explored Jerusalem and set out for Jericho, you pass through or near famous Biblical places: the Kidron Valley by the Garden of Gethsemane, the Mount of Olives, Bethlehem and the Dead Sea. It's important to befriend people and find somewhere to eat and shelter in the wilderness - you know what lions think of Christians. At one point you witness the re-enactment of a well-known parable, complete with sound effects. Jericho Road is text-only, though a few milestones are depicted, and to be honest it's not an adventure which will keep seasoned players puzzling for more than a few sessions. However, it is entertaining with appeal for anyone interested in biblical history.