Item - Return to Firetop Mountain

The Warlock of Firetop Mountain was one of my favourite gamebooks - so much to explore, fairly easy but a plot twist to make it fully replayable. So why should this be any different?

Return to Firetop Mountain starts very strongly with a fast-paced march to the mountain, meeting a wizard along the way (and a horribly strong doppelganger!) The writing is better than the original; however, in typical Livingstone style, the book is very piecemeal... "do you want to enter the door or continue up the passageway" appearing over and over again, rather than Jackson's more exciting "Maze of Zagor" approach - in fact, the Maze of Zagor has disappeared from here altogether!

The first time I read Return, I thought it was pretty amazing. The dark atmosphere is prominent and the book was exciting as I met new enemies. Great illustrations too, by Martin McKenna. However, the book doesn't really have much replay value, and it's a little linear. I kept replaying the book and scouring the dungeon to find an iron key, just to find that it was somewhere very near start of the adventure... annoying to come so far and miss that!

However, eventually I did find it and all the dragon's teeth, and I finally reached Zagor. But since he is SKILL 11 and you will be very weak by the time you meet him, you don't really have much chance... I confess I cheated.

Overall, it's above standard Fighting Fantasy, but don't try it if you give in easily to frustration!

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