Cave of the Word Wizard
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| Cave of the Word Wizard | |
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| Developer(s) | Patrick Quinn |
| Publisher(s) | Timeworks |
| Release date(s) | 1983 |
| Genre(s) | |
| Mode(s) | |
| Platform(s) | C64 |
| Input | Joystick, Keyboard |
Cave of the Word Wizard is a 1983 educational children's game released for the Commodore 64 by Timeworks.
This is a nice educational game teaching spelling. The tuition is through spoken commands and dictated words for the player to spell. The player spells the words by typing on the keyboard and they are simultaneously displayed on the screen. The spoken commands and words are delivered in very good American English, through the computer audio output. Ten lists of words are provided for spelling, in graduated difficulty. You can also make custom lists. A list is selected at the start of each game.
It features a multilevel cave which the player's joystick guided character (selection of boy or girl) explores with the objective of finding a number of crystals in order to exit the dungeon. The character uses a flashlight to illuminate his/her way around the dungeon to find the crystals, which are attached to the dungeon wall in random locations.
The cave features a number of obstacles: crevasses to fall or jump down a level, rocks to trip over, puddles to slip and fall in, and scorpions and snakes to sting you. Your character can jump over these using a joystick button. If you fall or get stung, you have to use one of the 5 bandaids you started with. There are ladders to go up and down levels safely.
At intervals, the "Word Wizard" appears and commands you to spell a word. If you type the word correctly, you get rewarded with a new bandaid, and a congratulatory, "well done!" or similar encouragement. If you wait too long or spell it wrongly, you get admonished, "You need work on that one!" or "It's getting darker!" (and your flashlight loses energy).
The speech is very good and even the more complex words are understandable. It can get quite exciting at higher levels when the snakes come faster and the Wizard will appear at inconvenient random moments insisting that you spell words.
It can get a bit daunting for very young or inexperienced children who do not like failure, since it is possible to fail by using all your bandaids or by losing all your flashlight energy, and it requires a bit of coordination. Fortunately there is a sound effect preceding the arrival of snakes and scorpions so you can get ready, but if the Wizard appears, you are in trouble again.
I found it quite enjoyable and challenging, the only downside is that the ending could have provided a bigger reward as well as allowing you to exit the cave.
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