Discworld II - Probably missing ... !?

Discworld II - Probably missing ... !? (Original title: Discworld II: Missing Presumed ...!? ; US title: Discworld II: Mortality Bytes! ) Is the second graphical point-and-click adventure after Discworld , which is based on Terry Pratchett's Discworld . The game was developed by Perfect Entertainment for MS-DOS in 1996 and ported to the PlayStation and Sega Saturn consoles in 1997 .

In Discworld II, the player controls the magician Rincewind , who is given the task of bringing Godfather Death out of his spontaneous retirement to continue his duties. The plot is based on various Discworld novels , especially Alles Sense , Voll im Bild, and Lords and Ladies .

action

The librarian from the Invisible University of Ankh-Morpork does not die, for some unknown reason, from a bomb explosion caused by a horse cart. It also happens elsewhere in the city that those doomed to die do not want to die and, as the undead, make the city unsafe because their souls can no longer be picked up. Godfather death is to be summoned and convinced to return to his work. For the corresponding ritual, Rincewind has to get various ingredients. However, the induced death seems so amused that it does not even think of returning. Rincewind is supposed to find out where death has gone and bring him back.

Meanwhile, he treats himself to holidays in the country of XXXX. Rincewind travels there and speaks to Tod, who agrees to come back - but on the condition that he be more famous. For a film to be produced for Godmother in Holywood, Rincewind has to get various things. The success of the film goes to Godfather's head and he is worshiped like an idol. He refuses to return to his old job, so Rincewind has to take over the job.

Rincewind meets his butler Albert in the house of Gevatter Tod, whom he first has to convince that he can play his role properly. After this has been successful, Albert gives Rincewind his first assignment - and it is precisely to fetch the soul of Gevatter Tod. Because he has meanwhile made fun of the patriarch and the patriarch has an assassin attack on death at a pop festival. Rincewind has to act quickly to save the slowly passing death, otherwise he would have to permanently take over its role. He learns of a fountain of youth whose water he gives death to drink. Then death takes revenge on the assassin.

At the end of the game, Grim Reaper has returned and Rincewind is the hero of the hour. He shows a film of history, but the film tears. In order to repair it, Rincewind cuts scenes of the elf queen into the film, which appears from the screen and in a parody of King Kong snatches the librarian (a monkey) and climbs the tower of the invisible university with him. Rincewind eventually bombards the Queen with water that makes her ugly, and the city is saved.

Game principle and technology

Discworld II is a point-and-click adventure game . From Sprites composite characters act before hand-drawn, some animated scenes. The player can use the mouse to move his character through the locations and use the mouse buttons to initiate actions that allow the character to interact with his environment. Rincewind can find objects and apply them to the environment or other objects and communicate with NPCs . As the story progresses, more locations will be unlocked.

Production notes

In terms of content, Discworld II is based on the Pratchett novel Alles Sense from 1991. Protagonist Rincewind is voiced by Eric Idle in the original English version of the game ; the narrator in the German version is Arne Elsholtz . The translation from English to German was done by Andreas Brandhorst , the translator of the Discworld books.

A sequel to the game called Discworld Noir has been released.

reception

The PC Player noted advances in graphics compared to the previous game, so Discworld II offers a "real cartoon look with sophisticated animations". Reviewer Jörg Langer also praised the operating concept and the humor of the game. He criticized the excessive dialogues and the design of some puzzles. The PowerPlay listed "sloped types" "and" madness [...] ruled "puzzles and story The magazine praised humor and localization of the game, but criticized stale technology and long dialogues The trade magazine Adventure Gamers ordered.. Discworld II - Probably Missing 2011 on his list of Top 100 All-Time Adventure Games at number 73.

Web links

Discworld II: Missing Presumed ...!? at MobyGames (English)

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b Jörg Langer: Discworld 2 . In: PC Player . January 1997, p. 74.
↑ ^a ^b PowerPlay 1/1997: Discworld 2. Accessed April 18, 2017 .
↑ AdventureGamers.com: Top 100 All-Time Adventure Games. Retrieved April 13, 2016 .

[PCP-1] Jörg Langer: Discworld 2 . In: PC Player . January 1997, p. 74.

[PP-2] PowerPlay 1/1997: Discworld 2. Accessed April 18, 2017 .

[3] AdventureGamers.com: Top 100 All-Time Adventure Games. Retrieved April 13, 2016 .