I really should have posted this sooner...
For those who don't know, PCZone is (arguably) one of the UK's top PC games magazines, certainly it's the longest running (over 10 years, 179 issues so far).
Their review of JtRH appeared back in issue 157 which was the August 2005 issue (appeared on shelves end of June).
This features a review of JtRH plus a demo, and it was this that introduced me to the game.
Sadly, I'm not allowed to post a scan of the review (I contacted the magazine to check) but I am allowed to post a transcript of the review, which follows here:
"
If you've spent any time at all wandering the alleys and byways of the shareware games scene, you'll no doubt have come across the peculiar phenomenon that is
Deadly Rooms Of Death (or
DROD). A clever blend of 2D dungeon adventure and fiendish puzzle game, said
DROD has attained near legendary status in geek circles thanks to its offbeat humour and notoriously addictive gameplay. Now,
DROD is back, with an even more addictive, graphically enhanced sequel called
Journey To Rooted Hold. Picking up very much where the first game left off,
JTRH presents you with a vast series of interconnected rooms, each of which must be cleared of monsters to solve it. The game mechanic is essentially turn-based - moving one square or rotating you sword through 45-degrees counts as one turn, during which time all the monsters in the level can also move. It's an unusual concept, mixing the need to out-manoeuvre hordes of creatures with some truly devious switch puzzles, but it definately works. As amateurish as it may look, this is one game that knows how to keep you coming back for more.
PCZone Verdict: 71%, Indie Zone Game of the Month"
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Without struggle, there is no progress, so get up, get out, and go make the rest of your life the best of your life; you deserve to live the life that YOU want to live...
Progress - Gavin G
