Beneath Apple Manor is a roguelike game written by Don Worth for the Apple II and published by The Software Factory in 1978. Higher resolution “Special Editions” were released in 1982 and 1983, through Quality Software, for the Apple II and Atari 8-bit computers. It was one of the first video games to use procedural generation.
Gameplay
Today Beneath Apple Manor is usually placed in the “roguelike” genre. It predates Rogue (created in 1980) by two years.
The creator claims that neither he nor the creators of Rogue were aware of the other game.
The goal is to obtain a Golden Apple on the bottom floor of the dungeon. There are 10 rooms per level in the low-res version, and 5 in the high-res version. The high-res versions may be played in low-res/text mode, thereby gaining the larger levels. It is notable for being the first commercial role playing game developed and released for a home computer as opposed to a mainframe computer.
Reception
Alan Isabelle reviewed Beneath Apple Manor in The Space Gamer No. 35, commenting that “all in all, strengths by far outnumber weaknesses. The game is highly recommended”.
Softline in 1983 said of Beneath Apple Manor—Special Edition that “now it’s back, and it’s better”, including improved graphics, varying difficulty levels, and the ability to save progress. The magazine concluded that “BAM is not a game that you will tire of easily … [it] is for any adventurer, beginner to expert”. Computer Gaming World‘s Scorpia stated in 1991 and 1993 that Beneath Apple Manor was “terribly slow even by the standards of the day, but it was fun nonetheless” and “not bad for a game” designed for a 16K Apple II.
References
- Kim R Schuette. Book of Adventure Games. p. 22.
External links
- Beneath Apple Manor can be played for free in the browser at the Internet Archive
Gamer24h Editor's Take
Beneath Apple Manor has made quite a name for itself in the gaming world, captivating us with its distinctive atmosphere and compelling gameplay dynamics. Thanks to Don Worth's meticulous craftsmanship and The Software Factory, Quality Software's strong presentation, the high production quality is evident in every moment of the game. Masterfully blending Retro mechanics with modern standards, the game's fluid gameplay makes hours fly by unnoticed. In short, an outstanding and immersive gaming experience awaits genre fans — we highly recommend giving it a shot!