Countdown to Doom is a text adventure game written by Peter Killworth for the BBC Micro and published by Acornsoft in 1982. It is set on the planet Doomawangara, which is coyly shortened to “Doom”. An Acorn Electron version was released in 1984 but only as a ROM cartridge for the Plus 1 expansion. This was the only game released exclusively as a ROM cart for the Electron. There are two sequels, both published by Topologika: Return to Doom and Last Days of Doom.
Topologika rereleased Countdown to Doom in 1987, expanding the scope of the game by about 50%. It was published for the BBC Micro, Acorn Electron, ZX Spectrum, IBM PC compatibles, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Atari ST, and RM Nimbus. A RISC OS version was published in a compilation with Return to Doom and Philosopher’s Quest.
Plot
The player’s spaceship crash-lands on Doom’s inhospitable surface and they emerge from the wreckage to realise that, unless they can locate the necessary spare parts, their ship will corrode away in a mere 400 time units.
External links
- Countdown to Doom in the Interactive Fiction Database
- Countdown to Doom at Spectrum Computing
Gamer24h Editor's Take
Having closely reviewed Countdown to Doom, the Gamer24h editorial team considers it one of the most noteworthy titles of recent times. The visionary approach of developer Peter Killworth, combined with the expertise of publisher Acornsoft, Topologika, has resulted in an exceptionally refined product. Its innovative take on the Interactive fiction genre offers a breath of fresh air for fans of the category. In short, an outstanding and immersive gaming experience awaits genre fans — we highly recommend giving it a shot!