The Elysium Enigma

Science Fiction Outer space IF Comp 2006 3rd of 43 XYZZY Awards 2006 Best Game and Best Individual NPC XYZZY Awards 2006 Finalist - Best Story and Best Puzzles

The Elysium Enigma
Author(s)	Eric Eve
Publisher(s)	n/a
Release date(s)	30-Sep-2006
Authoring system	TADS 3
Platform(s)	TADS 3
Language(s)	English
License(s)	Freeware
Multimedia
Color effects	none
Graphics	none
Sound/Music	none
Ratings
Cruelty scale	Polite

Notable Features

• It's possible to win the game with only 13 points (out of 30), or even 12 on a second or subsequent playthrough, but you will miss much of the plot and puzzles. The game was presumably designed this way to be longer than the average IF Comp game, but still be winnable within two hours.
• NPCs are important in the game, especially the conversation, which uses the ASK/TELL method and a TOPICS command that lists which topics are currently available.

Versions

Competition version (Version 1.3 (2006-09-09))

• The Elysium Enigma (Eric Eve; 30-Sep-2006; TADS 3).
  • Beta-testing by Greg Boettcher, Astrid Beulink, Michael Everson, Katzy, Chris Mullans, Michel Nizette, Andreas Sewe, and Marc Simpson.
  • IFID: 81702977-39AB-348D-B914-E4422DDDFD83
    IFID links: IFDB, IFDB cover
  • IF Comp 2006: 3rd place of 43 games.
  • Download Elysium.t3 from the IF Archive.

Post-Comp release (Version 2.01)

• The Elysium Enigma (Eric Eve; c. Nov-2006; TADS 3).
  • See RGIF thread for details about this version.
  • IFID: 81702977-39AB-348D-B914-E4422DDDFD83
    IFID links: IFDB, IFDB cover
  • XYZZY Awards 2006: Winner of Best Game and Best Individual NPC (Leela). Also finalist for Best Story and Best Puzzles.
  • Download Elysium.zip from the IF Archive.

Links

• The Elysium Enigma (archived) - at Baf's Guide.
• The Elysium Enigma - at IFDB.

Reviews

• The Elysium Enigma - at IFReviews.org.
• Review by Stephen Bond.
• Review by Matthew Carey.
• Review by J. D. Clemens.
• Review by Riff Conner (Rifflesby).
• Review by crowheart.
• Review by Jason Devlin.
• Review by David Fletcher.
• Review by Federico Gobbo.
• Review by James Hall (Yuki).
• Review by A. P. Hill.
• Review by Joshua Houk.
• Review by Christopher Huang (Miseri).
• Review by Robin Johnson.
• Review by Admiral Jota.
• Review and review package / rant by Valentine Kopteltsev.
• Review and The Elysium Enigma - at SPAG, by Jimmy Maher.
• Review by Michael Martin.
• Exploring the 'Best Games': The Elysium Enigma, by Eric Eve - by Mathbrush.
• IF Comp 2006: General observations by Maureen.
• Review by Rob Menke.
• Review by James Mitchelhill.
• Review by Justin Morgan.
• Review by Niz.
• Review by Andre Phillips.
• Review by quickfur.
• Review by Reiko.
• Review by Dan Shiovitz.
• Review: 1 and 2 by Emily Short.
• Review by Mike Snyder.
• Review by Mark J. Tilford (ralphmerridew).
• Review by Jerome C West.
• Review by David Whyld.
• Review by Anonymous (by request).

Spoilers

• Walkthrough - by the author.
• SPAG #48 - Contains a SPAG Specifics analysis by Valentine Kopteltsev.
• ClubFloyd transcript.