THE DARKEST ROAD                        
                                                                
    Written by Clive Wilson. Available from Zenobi Software,    
      26 Spotland Tops, Cutgate, Rochdale, Lancs, OL12 7NX      
                                                                
                     Reviewed by David Haire                    
                                                                
As the great 'sadness' spread over the land, the whispers around
the camp-fires were of an evil one know as the 'BLACK WANDERER',
said to dwell far to the north in a fortress known as 'The      
Pinnacle'. From within the fortress , the 'BLACK WANDERER'      
covered the land in the creeping 'darkness' that threatened to  
envelop all who occupied it.                                    
                                                                
You are the only one who can stop the 'BLACK WANDERER', for you 
alone possess the power of the 'SILENT SONG'. You must take the 
'Darkest Road' and seek out the 'BLACK WANDERER'. Then you must 
use the magic of the 'SILENT SONG' to send him back to the      
festering pit that spewed him forth....                         
                                                                
Thus begins the adventure. You start outside your home, a farm- 
house that is in need of a fresh lick of paint. It would be wise
to hunt around the house and surrounding areas, for there are   
vital objects to be found. Indeed, the EXAMINE command, here    
shortened to X, must be used to discover the majority of the    
objects in this adventure. Very few are lying around waiting to 
be picked up.                                                   
                                                                
There are also several characters that will either aid or hinder
you, although none should pose too much of a problem. You soon  
learn the virtues of being both quiet and good, although these  
traits will need to change later on, when you have to provide a 
drink for a demon. This is the source of the only real bug I    
have found in the game. You will need to GIVE GOBLET TO DEMON in
order to pass. GIVE GOBLET on its own does not have the required
effect.                                                         
                                                                
There are a few 'sudden death' locations in the game, but these 
are hinted at in neighbouring locations, and so are easily      
avoided. The major problems you will face are caused by those   
locations without any visible exits. I will confess to being    
stuck in the third of these.                                    
                                                                
The majority of puzzles in the game are not too difficult (in   
other words, I managed to work them out!), and it shouldn't take
too much thinking to work them out. The locations are well      
described, with concise, atmospheric text. My only real         
complaint is the complete lack of any help in the game (you have
to send an SAE to Zenobi for a hint sheet). All in all, a very  
good game, recommended to anyone and everyone.