Appointment with FEAR (Standalone)

Tags: Adventure - Choose Your Own Additional Tags: Delete Local Content & Remove from Library TLDR: Clunky UI, mediocre to fair narrative, strict scripting, stiff mechanics, weaksauce universe and setting and scattered progression in the form of hidden easter eggs inside dialogue branches. Its nice. You get a multiple layers of repeatable activities in which you gather clues. Once in a while you can attempt a solve, by following a clue, in the hope of stepping up to a mission to stop the big boss. Game keeps track of stats for you. There is a comic book delivery to everything. On the other hand, the writing was pretty canned, the choices were often fairly limited, either because of lack of options, or because it all depends on a diceroll/statcheck or because options are divided by character class, meaning for example if you picked the gadget guy, you will pick the gadget option in all likelyhood. The user interface is clunky all around, you cannot attempt a solve whenever you want and must wait for a prompt to show up. Following where you are in the dialogue trees, and seeing your clues as they relate to each other is all done mentally which is a bother because the game is not interesting enough to warrant you doing that. The combat is all turn based rock paper scissor RNG nonsense. None of the characters including the protagonist felt like they had any real motivations or personalities. Everyone is just a caricature of something we've seen done better in a proper superhero narrative elsewhere. Removed for declutter.

可互动的超级英雄漫画。这类游戏如果做好了，将会像电影《蜘蛛侠平行宇宙》一样成功。可惜这个游戏不论是剧情方面还是视觉效果方面做的都不行（其实根本就没什么视觉效果）,无聊到想睡觉，还不如直接去看漫画。

[h1]The one where YOU are a Superhero[/h1] On the whole, I'm a newcomer to gamebooks. Odds are by the time I became acquainted with popular culture, the golden age of gamebooks had passed. I got properly acquainted with them first via the mobile version of [i][b]Fighting Fantasy Classics.[/b][/i] And this just so happens to be the first of said gamebooks I ever completed. The setting is possibly the most shameless parody of Silver Age superhero comics ever imagined. The player takes on the role of a superhero who learns about a meeting of a group of supervillains who predictably want to take over the world. The meeting will take place after a couple of days and it's up to the resident superhero to discover the location of the meeting and stop the villains before it's too late. [h2]Two versions[/h2] I'm not certain, but [i]Appointment with FEAR[/i] might be the only Fighting Fantasy gamebook that has two clearly distinct versions. Here's a rough comparison: [b]The Classic version[/b] (DLC for [i]Fighting Fantasy Classics[/i] -collection) - The stats of the player character are randomly determined by dice rolls. - The combat outcomes are likewise determined by dice rolls. - Luck is part of the gameplay and necessary for checks in certain scenes and/or can be used to help during a fight. - Using either Psi Powers or Energy Blast will cost some stamina and can lead to Game Over, if used recklessly. - The appearance is that of a classic gamebook [b]The Standalone version[/b] (This one) - The stats of the player character are determined by the chosen superpower. - In combat, the player can choose between light, medium and heavy attacks. Heavier attacks deal more damage, but are less likely to hit. The chance is determined by the skill value. Meanwhile the enemies will always deal the usual two stamina points of damage whenever they score a hit. - Luck points serve no gameplay purpose, they're only spent for unlocking rarer FEAR cards, which are nothing more than extra collectibles. - Psi powers or Energy Blast don't cost stamina to use. (That being said, Psi powers are still possibly the hardest superpower for the game due to giving the lowest stats). - Instead of a traditional gamebook, the appearance is effectively that of an interactive comic book that shows dialogues (and stereotypical cheesy banter between the superhero and the various villains). - Related to the above, this is even more comedic than the original gamebook. With randomized superhero names, all of which are laughable, some possible choices that are complete jokes, and even many of the achievements of the game are for making some of the worst possible choices. [h3]Core gameplay[/h3] Regardless of all of the above, the core play of the gamebook remains the same. Whichever of the four available superpowers is selected at the start will determine the location of the supervillain meeting and which villains need to be defeated to gather the clues to find the hideout and win. (And in usual gamebook fashion, a specific item is required to defeat the final boss.) The key is that different superpowers enable different approaches to various situations and for fighting different villains. The catch? Some of the villains you can defeat with almost any superpower, but the player will receive clues only by defeating the correct villains with a specific superpower. In addition, trying to pick a fight with some of the villains with a wrong superpower will result in an instant game over. Unlike most of the gamebooks, there is no inventory or items, the possible choices are determined by the chosen superpower and the collected clues. In addition, some of the villains that can be fought will either yield no clues, or they will lead on the trail of those villains who are not involved with the main scheme in any way. Distractions. As such, there are four unique routes in total. And safe to say you will fail a fair number of times before finding the correct one(s). [h3]Verdict[/h3] [i]Appointment with FEAR[/i] is without doubt the most comedic out of all of the [i]Fighting Fantasy[/i] gamebooks. And the standalone version is arguably the silliest gamebook of all. Even so, I imagine it will be an enjoyable for a gamebook fan exactly due to being something other than the usual fantasy or horror settings. As I mentioned earlier, this might be the only gamebook that has two distinct versions. The other standalone gamebooks seem to be mostly just giving the book its specific, themed look with a specific music, whereas here there are certain differences. Personally, I would recommend you to give a try both for this and the version as part of the [i]Fighting Fantasy[/i] collection. That way you will know for certain which version is your favorite.

[b]The good adaptation, a niche product[/b] I don't get the amount of 'mixed' reviews. Yeah, guys, welcome to the world of old unforgiving classic. As adaptation of the gamebook, this project is flawless. 1)It doesn't defiliate original game with 'unnecessary' content. All additions are cosmetic, not fundamental; 2)It gives this story the appropriate, goold ol' comic style; 3)It spares you from throwing dices and 'grinding' right characteristics. If anything, it makes the original gamebook experience so much better. Many faults are faults of the source work. Yes, conceptually the book itself is a bit wacky. But if you think 'this is unfair', i guess you have never read gamebook. Artifical difficulty is the part of the journey, sadly. But to remove it completely is to remake original so much it wouldn't be even considered 'the digital remaster'. And experience of passing years showed us what happens when people remaster original works by 'adding innovation' to the old concept. If you are familiar with original gamebook and want to have a good time, buy it, especially if there is a discount(even though price itself isn't so high). If you are not familiar with gamebooks or feel no vibe of such work, just pass by. [b]To the core, more 'book' then 'game' problem[/b] This is not a perfect book. If anything, it's very messy. The problem is the product of adaptation, not the quality of it. Some things just don't make sense. Many occasions are randome, specific action-tied. You won't get some plot brenches if you follow different routine. This is not a detective since you don't have to solve anything: you are either get right combination by chance, either you don't. This is not a great book. This is atmospheric, funny, but ultimately 'weak' journey since you aren't a hero or detective, you just may happen to be right. Example. [spoiler]Energy blast route, day 1. You can either save boy from the shark(wich will hijack your 2 point heroes), either help at Airport and gain 4 points. Choice is clear, isn't it? So I though until i found out you can't visit Cowfield Dairy if you help at airport, not with the shark(clue will be different). Why, in the name of Titan-city? How does it work? How is it even comprehsible? What, did Shark somehow created this monster or what? Why can't I just chooce one of the two dangers since they must happen both since they are separate events, not outputs of one specific action?[/spoiler] That's one of a few cases, not the only one. [b]What could be done better for the digital version.[/b] Skip, and I am being serious. Add the ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ SKIP option. VN did it long time ago for better replayability. I am tired of clicking faster then the light speed like I have gone nuts. [b]I still recommend it[/b] But I would still stick with my recommendation not because the product is perfect, but because it's very unique. Sure, I would be more excited to see 'game realise' of 'Moonrunner', 'Seas of Blood' or 'Creture of Havoc': they are better executed, written and overall have more unique approach. However even so this is a good remaster of the classic gamebook for a little price and I am always up to it.

no review, just rating

Весело, конечно, стиль старых комиксов и джеймсбондовских приключений, но крайне нелогичное повествование и прохождение в целом. Мир можно спасти, если допить чашку кофе, а не смотреть, что там срочного по работе прислали. Иногда есть выбор из вариантов А, Б, В, где можно либо сначала исследовать А и Б, а потом без проблем выбрать В, а есть выбор, где нужно сделать только один выбор и из контекста не понятно, что на самом деле сделает герой. В общем, логика плохих квестов с нелогичными головоломками. Но пару часов с интересом поразбирался, просто разочаровался в конце.

Super game. Nice and cheese. Thanks for reading.

basically saved the world on accident my second time through. nothing interesting happened in any other playthrough. maybe fun if you get it for free but lacking in content and meaningful options, not worth buying.

Bad CYOA. No overall story or narration only goal you have to meet in 3 days and then you jump from event to event hoping you picked right one, or look guide online. Also not being able to choose your own superhero name is idiotic. Only thing I can barely praise is artstyle.

I'll say that this game and its setup have potential, but I just kind of found it to be too goofy. It's got a good feel though. 7/10