Demian's Gamebook Web Page

Item - World War II Code Breaker

Please log in to manage your collection or post a review.

(First printing)
(Second printing)
(Second printing)
(Second printing)
(Second printing)

Combined Summary

Series: Time Machine — no. 25
Platform: Microsoft Reader (Microsoft Reader edition)
Translated Into: Las claves secretas (Spanish)
Author: Lerangis, Peter
Illustrators: Fastner, Steve (cover)
Nino, Alex (interior)
Dates: September, 1989 (First printing)
2001 (Microsoft Reader edition)
ISBN: 0553281577 / 9780553281576 (First printing, Second printing)
Length: 159 pages (plus data bank and data file)
Number of Endings: 1
User Summary: You must investigate the role of code-breaking in both theaters of World War II and bring back a copy of a cracked code from each.
Demian's Thoughts:

This is the second World War II adventure in the series, but it is very different from its predecessor. While the earlier WWII story concentrated on a few people in a small area, this one details the entire war! The book is the longest volume in the series, though it's still rather short when you consider the size of the conflict it describes. Nonetheless, it successfully covers a lot of territory and portrays the war in an interesting fashion without overly glorifying it. The only complaint that could really be raised about the storyline is that the reader often takes an active role in events -- perhaps not entirely in line with the laws of time set forth by the series. This flaw aside, though, the book is a success. Game design is also good, with the mission being divided into two parts which can be tackled in a non-linear manner. Probably the strangest thing about the book is its manner of illustration; half of the pictures are hand-drawn while the other half are historical photos. It might have looked better if it had been more consistent. In any case, the book is a respectable end to the series, though it still seems a shame that the series had to end at all; there's a lot more history that could have been made into great gamebooks!

More reviews by Demian

Special Thanks:Thanks to Ryan Lynch for the second printing cover images.
Users Who Own This Item: Alatar001, Andys80s, Ardennes, auximenes, domj29, Eamonn McCusker, egokun, Erikwinslow, exaquint (1st), Ffghtermedic, firefoxpdm, Greeneuva, Grifter, Gurvo, Himynameistony, Hrk, jdreller, katzcollection, kinderstef, mir1812, mlvoss, nelsondesign, Pseudo_Intellectual, Radical347, RonaldFrobnitz, Sheridan77, spragmatic, Von Scotty, waktool (US 2nd printing ($2.95)), Yalius
Users Who Want This Item: bonhomme, bookwormjeff, CSquared, Cyan, dblizzard72, Dronak, exaquint (2nd), Faberwest, HAMBORSKI (i want this book), horrorbusiness, Mr ?, NEMO, Nomad, Oberonbombadil, Ryuran333, SherlockHolmes, stock, ThisIslandEarth, Waluigi Freak 99
Users with Extra Copies: exaquint - 1st

Known Editions

First printing
Second printing
Microsoft Reader edition

Please log in to manage your collection or post a review.