Item - The Gates of Death

The Gates of Death has a mixed reputation, but I consider it one of the better Scholastic FF books. There are minimal continuity issues compared to other books and it has a familiar yet original tone.

I'll avoid going into detail about the Bum-Faced Monster to avoid spoiling the encounter fully, but it felt appropriately weird for a weird gamebook. The author, Charlie Higson, is a fan who got the chance to write his own book, but is also an experienced comedian, allowing a great combination. The best thing is that his many puns and jokes don't interfere with the narrative.

The rules for different types of weapons adds additional detail, but sadly creates a few spoilers. If you can read up-front about weapons from assassins, woodcutters, and temple guards, you can be sure that you will meet such people.

There's a narrative loop too. Opportunists can take the chance to gain the same bonuses over and over again, but it implies that there wasn't proper playtesting.

This book fits. It has a proper quest. It has many ways to start. It has many ways to finish successfully. It's funnier than other books.

More reviews by R-Alex-J

I must’ve liked this book, because I finished it in a matter of 3 days. It’s a pretty fun adventure without the most complicated plot, but enough to sustain a fantasy romp through a demon horde. The final act has some element of epicness the way everything came together, with the hero overcoming almost impossible odds. On the other hand, I completed the game in the very first try, and from a gaming and consistency standpoint, there certainly are flaws.

For one, there is the occasional typo or grammar error which slipped through the cracks. There are some plot inconsistencies, where branching paths converge in a way that creates plot holes. There isn’t enough information given to seamlessly navigate through repeated sections and rewinds (or the same encounter in different sections), and the reader kind of has to adjudicate for himself what is valid or invalid. Usually you can sort of piece it together, though.

The book is also significantly easier than the early titles like Warlock or Rebel Planet. The aforementioned repeat encounters become more apparent because the game is quite forgiving with second chances, and instant deaths are usually reserved for cases of extreme stupidity. This is probably somewhat of an improvement over early titles, which were designed “Nintendo Hard” in order to increase replayability (I’m guessing). If you follow basic common sense and morality—be thorough and generous, not greedy or impatient—you can get through the game without all too much extra bloodshed.

On the other hand, the number of enemies, as limited as it is, and most being demons which can be bypassed, leaves a bit to be desired. I really could’ve used some more unique enemies, puzzles, or other challenges. I do like the “bad ending” bit, though (after beating the final boss)… in fact, I like it better than the true good ending.

More reviews by Sitbear