Item - Last Stand at Kirrinbahr

I found this to be an extremely satisfying mini-adventure. The book opens with a minimalist but satisfying setup that conveys urgency of mission without wasting a lot of time on unnecessary backstory. This is followed by the meat of the adventure which focuses on the exploration of an old castle, and it all comes to a gratifying conclusion complete with plot twists and desperate battles. In a way it feels like a cross between Lone Wolf and Scorpion Swamp -- the basic setup and sense of urgency feels much like early Lone Wolf, while the mapping system and non-linear exploration works much like Scorpion Swamp. I enjoy both a clear sense of mission and a well-defined mapping system, so I felt right at home here.

There is some room for criticism -- the overall challenge level is fairly low, and the actual creature and NPC encounters during the central exploration portion of the book are a bit repetitive and minimalist -- but if you're not looking to spend more than a few hours playing and you don't expect a groundbreakingly original setting, this is an entertaining diversion. Definitely one of the better amateur gamebooks available in print, and better than a number of professional efforts.

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