| Truffle Days | |
| by Scott Evans | |
| Simmic’s Review | |
Truffle Days is by Scott Evans, and although it has its problems, is certainly worth playing. This review contains spoilers, if you have not played the scenario, you read on at the risk of your own enjoyment.
The first time I played this scenario, I enjoyed it thoroughly up until the point where you had to wait several days (in my case) to continue the game. Having no clue that I DID have to wait several days (game time), I quit out.
When I came to play it again much later, I managed to get past that point, with, admittedly, much difficulty. Having done that, I enjoyed it thoroughly for most of the rest of the game.
Like I said, though, it has its problems. It has three very good mental challenges. The problem with these is, they’re all thrown in at the same time. I like a mental challenge now and again, they’re quite good when properly balanced, but THREE IN A ROW... ouch. And tough too. As mentioned above, the time delay needed to win the game has probably put a few people off, this is a problem too. Frankly, the only other problem I found was one extremely difficult fight, and right after the mental challenges too! I quit the game and went straight to bed as soon as Khalizan summoned his first Fire Golem.
Thus taking me past the bad points and on to the numerous good points. Personally, this is the funniest scenario I have ever played. Then, I never finished Farmhands Save the Day!!, so I can’t say it is the funniest scenario around. However, I did laugh several times at the levers in Yaris’ Hideout and the Earth Wyrm was pretty darn funny too, but briefly. The “Magic Fingers” was also a source of amusement for about three seconds, as was the “bad case of helmet hair”.
The custom dialogue faces were brilliant, they added a wonderful touch of atmosphere to the scenario. I am personally surprised that these haven’t appeared in more scenarios, seeing as it said in the text file that you could use them. I particularly liked Khalizan’s and Yaris’ dialogue pics, but the others were almost as good. Other custom graphics are simply copied and pasted over the desired terrain — nothing impressive there.
The plot seems to pick up where Za-Khazi left off — the Slith wars. I think that this is entirely excusable, considering how you are put into the plot in the first place. The designer could have delayed the first trouble a bit longer, but too bad. The specials in the marketplace were a nice touch, and rewarding to the player if they really talked to some people.
The scenario has a minor fault in its realism — I really can’t see how Amelia would still be standing with all those Giants/Fire Lizards/Salamanders/Hydras/Giant Slugs etc. wandering around so often! The wandering encounters really got on my nerves, and although it was funny the first time I encountered the giants, things such as this really should be taken into consideration. Although it’s excusable that stupid creatures like slugs and lizards might wander around with only the occasional raid, giants are at least smart enough and destructive enough to destroy Amelia.
The atmosphere at points (the beginning and reading Yaris’ diary) was very nice and well done. The subtitle on Spiderweb’s table was wonderful, too. The scenario was well named as well.
I’ll give it a 9.5.
— Simmic