Item - Space Age Terrors!

This book follows the series' trend of featuring random, unexplained and unrelated horrific events occurring without explanation or internal consistency. It didn't make for a satisfying read before, and it once again doesn't make for a satisfying read here. This book is made worse by the fact that its scenario is even goofier and more outlandish than those in the last two adventures. It's also brought down (though at the same time made somewhat unique) by its choices. Many choices ask you what you feel or what you think will happen, but most of the time the choice you pick has little or no bearing on what actually happens. It makes the book feel even more random and senseless than it otherwise would have, but it's a design strategy that might be quite interesting if used by a more skilled author.

More reviews by Demian

(review based on the Spanish translation)

This book (which as the summary says, is set inside an aerospace museum) is not as interesting as the first two titles in the series, maybe because the encounters and situations show less creativity. I found a couple of them to be tension-inducing enough, and the inclusion of a trip into space is a nice touch, but these features do not manage to raise the book above 'average' level. It's mostly a forgettable book as far as I'm concerned.

More reviews by Guillermo

I must disagree with the previous reviewers: I actually liked this book. Its writing doesn't come across quite as juvenile as in many other gamebooks. The author actually mentions the Vietnam War in one place. Of course, that's not to say it's a masterpiece - but it is a cut above your average Give Yourself Goosebumps.

Now, the most interesting feature here is that instead of directing the character's actions or the outcome of the plot, the reader is often asked what he thinks about what is going on (i.e. "Do you believe you have put yourself in danger?"). This makes reading the book a passive rather than active endeavor. In all, it's really just a nifty variation on the usual formula - nothing earth-shattering by any means.

More reviews by Stockton