Genre: Adventure, Interactive Fiction
Publisher: Mastertronic
Year: 1988
System: Amstrad CPC
Venom is a cursor-driven text adventure game released by Mastertronic in 1988. The story unfolds on the mystical land of Armosin, where you play as Rikka, a warrior on a mission to defeat the evil Traklan who threatens peace. Instead of typing commands, the game uses a menu of verbs—such as GO, EXAMINE, or GIVE—that you select alongside inventory items or objects in the environment. The atmospheric opening screen sets the tone for exploration, with static images enhancing the narrative. Players navigate through richly described locations, solve puzzles by combining verbs and objects, and interact with limited NPCs to advance the quest. Though graphics are minimal and navigation cursor can feel slow, Venom offers surprisingly deep puzzle complexity. Its innovative interface and cohesive storytelling made it a standout among budget adventure titles on the CPC.
