Gnome Ranger is a text adventure game designed by Peter Austin[1] and released by Level 9 in 1987.[2] The Atari 8-bit family and Apple II ports are text-only. The disk version for other systems includes still graphic images to accompany the text. A sequel was published in 1988: Ingrid's Back.[2]
The gnome Ingrid Bottomlow has displeased her family by her un-gnomelike behaviour, such as going off to university and getting an education. She has been teleported from her village by a faulty scroll, and must find her way back…
GameplayEdit
The game's parser allows the player to perform complex tasks (Atari ST screenshot).
The game is a text adventure with limited graphics on some systems. It comes with a short novella by Peter McBride ("The Gnettlefield Journal") explaining Ingrid's predicament and setting the background to the story. Gameplay is similar to the earlier Level 9 adventure Knight Orc, which uses the same game engine (KAOS). The player must explore the settings while collecting useful items and interacting with various non-player characters to solve puzzles and problems.
The game takes place in three areas, each characterized by the non-player characters Ingrid will meet. The first contains characters of an animal nature, the second of a vegetable nature, and the third of a mineral nature.
ReceptionEdit
Gnome Ranger received mostly positive reviews. Atari ST User magazine reviewer rated it 9/10 points overall, concluding: "I am convinced it is Level 9's best ever. It is funny, well-plotted, teasing, very friendly, but powerful, literate and big".[3] Similarly, the review for ACE magazine also ended on a positive note: "Gnome Ranger has improved on Knight Orc in the puzzle stakes (more logical and enjoyable), the atmosphere (more enjoyable and less confusing), the plot (more comprehensible), and the characters (more interesting). You can't ask for much more than that".[4]
ReferencesEdit
^ abHague, James. "The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers".
^"Gnome on the range". Atari ST User: 18. December 1987.
^"Gnome Ranger". Advanced Computer Entertainment: 93. December 1987.
External linksEdit
Gnome Ranger in the Interactive Fiction Database
Gnome Ranger at Spectrum Computing
Gnome Ranger at Lemon 64
Gnome Ranger at Lemon Amiga
Gnome Ranger (Atari 8-bit) at Atari Mania
Gnome Ranger (Atari ST) at Atari Mania
August 27, 2023
gnome, ranger, text, adventure, game, designed, peter, austin, released, level, 1987, atari, family, apple, ports, text, only, disk, version, other, systems, includes, still, graphic, images, accompany, text, sequel, published, 1988, ingrid, back, developer, l. Gnome Ranger is a text adventure game designed by Peter Austin 1 and released by Level 9 in 1987 2 The Atari 8 bit family and Apple II ports are text only The disk version for other systems includes still graphic images to accompany the text A sequel was published in 1988 Ingrid s Back 2 Gnome RangerDeveloper s Level 9 ComputingPublisher s Level 9Designer s Peter Austin 1 Programmer s Mike AustinArtist s Godfrey DowsonEngineKAOSPlatform s Amiga Amstrad CPC Amstrad PCW Macintosh Atari 8 bit Atari ST BBC Micro MSX Commodore 64 MS DOS ZX SpectrumRelease1987Genre s Interactive fictionMode s Single player Contents 1 Plot 2 Gameplay 3 Reception 4 References 5 External linksPlot EditThe gnome Ingrid Bottomlow has displeased her family by her un gnomelike behaviour such as going off to university and getting an education She has been teleported from her village by a faulty scroll and must find her way back Gameplay Edit The game s parser allows the player to perform complex tasks Atari ST screenshot The game is a text adventure with limited graphics on some systems It comes with a short novella by Peter McBride The Gnettlefield Journal explaining Ingrid s predicament and setting the background to the story Gameplay is similar to the earlier Level 9 adventure Knight Orc which uses the same game engine KAOS The player must explore the settings while collecting useful items and interacting with various non player characters to solve puzzles and problems The game takes place in three areas each characterized by the non player characters Ingrid will meet The first contains characters of an animal nature the second of a vegetable nature and the third of a mineral nature Reception EditGnome Ranger received mostly positive reviews Atari ST User magazine reviewer rated it 9 10 points overall concluding I am convinced it is Level 9 s best ever It is funny well plotted teasing very friendly but powerful literate and big 3 Similarly the review for ACE magazine also ended on a positive note Gnome Ranger has improved on Knight Orc in the puzzle stakes more logical and enjoyable the atmosphere more enjoyable and less confusing the plot more comprehensible and the characters more interesting You can t ask for much more than that 4 References Edit a b Hague James The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers a b Gnome Ranger mobygames com Retrieved 2009 08 27 Gnome on the range Atari ST User 18 December 1987 Gnome Ranger Advanced Computer Entertainment 93 December 1987 External links EditGnome Ranger in the Interactive Fiction Database Gnome Ranger at Spectrum Computing Gnome Ranger at Lemon 64 Gnome Ranger at Lemon Amiga Gnome Ranger Atari 8 bit at Atari Mania Gnome Ranger Atari ST at Atari Mania Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gnome Ranger amp oldid 1163070180, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
