Dum-Dum

I've always had a soft spot for OS simulators and similar games with an OS-themed UI, and Dum-Dum is a particularly good one. There's a lot to do in the OS itself, but in order to really dive in and unlock more things to do, you need to play through the storyline. The story itself is pretty simple; there's something going on at the Hogo Company headquarters, the employees are locked in and can't escape, and the OS may be used to take over the world. The CEO is too smart and keeps outsmarting the employees, and they need a dummy that can help them. That's where you come in. The best part is that the developers continually add more and more content to the game, from new programs to new levels in the hidden "Hogowiz Keep" game to even entire new storylines. I would recommend picking this up, not only for the content that's on display, but to see where the game goes from here.

A fantastic game with an amusing story. You are just the average user of the recently released Hogo OS 1985 edition! Or...are you average? Are you incredibly smart....or incredibly dumb? Either way, the tale tells the story of your encounter with Hogo OS. The game is part simulation with the Hogo OS being fairly functional : you can browse the HogoNet and visit some websites, including a bulletin board. You can take notes and even write very basic programs! There's also a lot of games to play, many familiar from the days of early home computers, but with that Hogo flavor to them. But there's much more to this than just fiddling around with the OS. Be sure to explore, and make note of the latest update to the Hogo OS 1985 edition! ------ I felt the length of the game was quite nice. It didn't feel like it was padded out too much, as the story kept rolling forward. There were some cute occurances, some annoying ones, but overall I enjoyed the story. A few 'puzzles' I had issues with, as the logic behind advancing them wasn't 100% solid in my mind. But there's a hint function in the Hogo OS 1985 Bios (which you access just like any other BIOS!) if you get really stuck. Occasionally a puzzle type is 'repeated' multiple times, and these sometimes felt a bit long since you do them all in a row. Overall, I felt the game was well worth it and a great experience.

Had a lot of fun with this... you don't need to be into the retro aesthetic to enjoy it. There's plenty of hints and tips in the text books to keep things moving, and having a whole host of 80s-style games there "just because" is a nice touch, and gives value long after the story is complete.

[i] My Experience [/i] I grabbed Dum-Dum after seeing a Reddit user praise it extensively and compare it favorably to other hacking simulation games like Hacknet, Mainlining, Greyhat, etc. Unfortunately, I just lost interest in the game after a while. At first I was amused, poking around with icons, colors, fonts, and looking at the ancient-looking websites I could locate. I also played all the games I could find, including a secret one about leading a cat to a portal or something, but I didn't find these very enjoyable. I tried the utilities like the animator, composer, turtle moving programmer, etc. I completed the first story beat as well, though I never [spoiler] continued the conversation with the HOGO employee. [/spoiler] Perhaps the intrigue or the Windows 3.1 vibes here will grab you, but I just wanted to move on to something a bit more engaging and straight-forward.

I got it because I thought regardless of the story it would be fun playing with the little applications. When I actually got into the story, everything I learned playing around with the other applications helped me find solutions, I didn't need any previous knowledge on how the puzzles and stuff worked to help me, everything I needed to progress was hinted at and accessible within the application. There is even an in-game hints section that you can access as a last resort. It almost feels like a really complex alternate universe game for windows 3.1 that uses the main operating system as its gimmick. The story isn't exactly "epic", it's more supposed to be corny and unpredictable, so don't expect it to move you to tears. It reminds me a lot of system shock, the way you get a couple of hints through a recorded message and use that cryptic information to progress in the game. Sure, some of the characters are annoying and talk WAY too much, and the puzzles can be kind of simple, but it makes it fit well with the aesthetic it's going for. If you love retro computers, even if you've never used one, this will definitely be a lot of fun to you, and even if you don't, well, you probably wouldn't be reading this review if you didn't, so go try it.

I enjoyed all the goofy stuff here - the games and little apps are fun and nostalgic. Some of the surrounding story stuff feels a bit lazy though; I know it's called DUM-DUM, but could have used some more cleverness in the progression. I had some laughs, but probably not a great choice if you're prioritizing great "hours per dollar" value.

[h1]Yes[/h1]I recommend it. Had a few good laughs and enjoyed playing. It's one of those niche games that I'm glad was made and glad I got to play.

Yeah, this is pretty cool! A Surprisingly big chunk of game, loads of mini-games and such to play with along the way, and just a lot of "stuff" to play with. I feel like I haven't quite found all the hidden stuff yet, definitely feels like there are plot threads I haven't pulled through to the end. It's neat!

Turns out I'm stupid enough to play this one. I hope you are too :)

This is going to be my first ever review on here, so I'll try to keep things simple. Dum-Dum succeeds in being both an OS Simulator, and a full fledged adventure game in its own right. You take on the role of an everyday person who unknowingly uncovers a sinister plot lurking beneath the Hogo Company. Turns out, there's more than just computer manufacturing going on, and YOU are the only one who can help the employees. In between various story scenes and puzzles, you are free to play around on the in-game desktop however you like! It really does feel authentic. Plenty of games and applications including Solitaire, an animation tool, 3-D mazes... there's even E-books! At the time of this review, the developer is currently working on adding more content to the game via free update patches. If you're into computer history, or Sci-fi, give Dum-Dum a go!