tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215693550440664594.post3028447013015475366..comments2024-03-25T13:49:18.217+13:00Comments on Fighting Dantasy: #24 - Creature of HavocDanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10420300163867766297noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215693550440664594.post-86232989510373576002023-01-17T17:12:31.440+13:002023-01-17T17:12:31.440+13:00A lot of people think that Steve Jackson's &qu...A lot of people think that Steve Jackson's "Creature of Havoc" is the best Fighting Fantasy book ever created. Going by technical merit, that's probably so. But in life, whoever is playing the game determines the "best." So while I applaud this incredibly difficult and engaging book, it's not the best to me. (among those would be WoFM, CoT, ToD, RP and BNC)<br /><br />Sorry that your playthrough was so down, Dan. I suggest you try it again. Once you get by the incredibly long, tedious, boring, and ultimately useless prologue, the game gets rolling. (I still want to knock the snot out of Quimmel Bone in a future gamebook, though)Cashiom McAllisternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215693550440664594.post-1545264357220409462021-05-06T15:29:44.183+12:002021-05-06T15:29:44.183+12:00From James over a year ago: "suggests that Co...From James over a year ago: "suggests that CoH is very clever but not much fun"<br /><br />I agree with that COMPLETELY, having just completed it tonight.<br /><br />It is coherent and clever, and masterfully executed. But it's also so difficult and so long, that I had to resort to reading others' walkthroughs. I'm torn, but I think in the end: I respect CoH, but I do not enjoy CoH.FightingFantasyFanhttps://www.fightingfantasyfan.info/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215693550440664594.post-60649468561959250812020-02-28T02:10:13.723+13:002020-02-28T02:10:13.723+13:00It's really interesting to see the contrast be...It's really interesting to see the contrast between your basically negative "actual play" review and the more "analytical" reviews which laud this book. It all suggests that CoH is very clever but not much fun.Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05903993127360160864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215693550440664594.post-24888647982470126782012-10-06T13:11:52.598+13:002012-10-06T13:11:52.598+13:00probably THE best FF gamebook ever (though I only ...probably THE best FF gamebook ever (though I only played them up to 34). different, original, coherent, great.strom-znoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215693550440664594.post-64350130705561140502012-04-07T06:54:12.256+12:002012-04-07T06:54:12.256+12:00By the time you get to the orb*, you must be able ...By the time you get to the orb*, you <i>must</i> be able to understand what it's saying. Or every choice you make after that point will be "how do you want to die?"<br /><br />*Actually, even before you get to the orb, but I don't know if you ever met--*claps hand over mouth and remaining words come out as incomprehensible mumbles*Berolinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215693550440664594.post-31673420020831584802012-03-21T00:13:48.919+13:002012-03-21T00:13:48.919+13:00Mine has an error in the numbering as well- there&...Mine has an error in the numbering as well- there's one item which you're supposed to be able to use whenever a paragraph begins with a certain phrase, but to win you have to use it on a paragraph that doesn't begin with that phrase!<br /><br />It's a fun gamebook, though, and the plot is excellent. Even so, it's very heavy on the "do you want to go north, south or west" decisions, and many times the wrong decision can lead to death!Jamesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215693550440664594.post-66520197514743707242012-02-28T06:42:23.959+13:002012-02-28T06:42:23.959+13:00I have a bone to pick with this one. The first edi...I have a bone to pick with this one. The first edition I bought contained an error in the numbering which mean that it was impossible to ever leave the dungeon. Suffice to say it didn't know this at the time and got pissed off with it and left it alone. <br /><br />Now, years later, I know about the mistake and ... still can't get out of the first dungeon.foadironhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08359889221156012366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215693550440664594.post-22327444131125663772011-11-13T00:01:17.877+13:002011-11-13T00:01:17.877+13:00You have missed the whole point of this book. It i...You have missed the whole point of this book. It is often defined as Steve Jackson's best work. You didn't even get out of the dungeson!! It is a work of art - best FF book by a country mile. Read it again......<br /><br />Follow this link:<br /> http://plover.net/~bonds/creatureofhavoc.html <br /><br /><br />All shall be revealed........DrBluesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215693550440664594.post-28960036642309563382011-11-09T20:19:04.542+13:002011-11-09T20:19:04.542+13:00This is very much a book manufactured for 'rep...This is very much a book manufactured for 'replayability'. Its a bit 'meta' as well, since the only real way to have any realistic chance of triumphing is to use the knowledge from unsuccessful attempts.<br /><br />I didn't mind some 'meat on the bones' in terms of the extended introduction, and found it interesting 'world-building'.<br /><br />But yes, as a 'one time play' I can appreciate how this book would be frustrating.Aussiesmurfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08503529901076228210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215693550440664594.post-5039422995419701922008-11-21T02:22:00.000+13:002008-11-21T02:22:00.000+13:00True, gamebook fanatic. You're working me hard ton...True, gamebook fanatic. You're working me hard tonight, with all your comments :) Starship Traveller was one of my faves as a kid, so I was quite disappointed to fail it, yet again...dan xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14906622094820364234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215693550440664594.post-69798170797290825912008-11-21T02:16:00.000+13:002008-11-21T02:16:00.000+13:00I think most of Steve Jackson's books are not real...I think most of Steve Jackson's books are not really meant to be played in a 1-time sitting. Generally, the more you play, the more information you unravel, and the more interesting it gets. :)<BR/><BR/>Creature of Havic is one of the very extreme examples. The random die-rolling at the beginning can be frustration, but once you get past that initial stage it gets more fun. Although fiendishly difficult, of course.<BR/><BR/>But this is why I think Steve Jackson is a good gamebook writer. he devises his books in such a way that the intrigue and suspence keeps me going, even after repeated failures. Another book where I had such experience was House of Hell.<BR/><BR/>I think the only Steve Jackson book in which I was thoroughly bored by my repeated failures and gave up was Starship Traveller. And completing his books always feels like a reward (not a relief) to me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215693550440664594.post-62888355741583617282008-09-27T05:50:00.000+12:002008-09-27T05:50:00.000+12:00I guess you probably won't give the book another g...I guess you probably won't give the book another go, but what you played sounds remarkably like the very start.<BR/><BR/>The random choice stuff is annoying, but your creature is coming across vapours that gift reason, then language - the gibberish text gets explained so you can discypher it<BR/><BR/>Once you do, you can escape the dungeon you are in - and then, basically, the real adventure can begin!<BR/><BR/>It's an interesting start, but in a way only retroactively once you actually knwo the character you play. Then it is cool to feel helpless as that creature.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215693550440664594.post-50335020689448490852008-08-04T09:44:00.000+12:002008-08-04T09:44:00.000+12:00Gidday... You're in Hamilton aren't you Dan?I'm al...Gidday... <BR/><BR/>You're in Hamilton aren't you Dan?<BR/><BR/>I'm also NZ based (Paraparaumu)... if you want a couple of the books you're missing drop us a line at stormbringerrpg@gmail.com<BR/><BR/>MarcusMarcus Bone https://www.blogger.com/profile/05929299315631494597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215693550440664594.post-22199916281499850102008-08-03T06:12:00.000+12:002008-08-03T06:12:00.000+12:00Awesome, I'm 0.10c closer to buying another book m...Awesome, I'm 0.10c closer to buying another book missing from my collection.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10420300163867766297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7215693550440664594.post-65019170098720572502008-08-03T03:12:00.000+12:002008-08-03T03:12:00.000+12:00I clicked literally all your ads.I clicked literally all your ads.Black River Drivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07842739594441661757noreply@blogger.com