The Institute is a graphic adventure game published in 1983 by Screenplay for the TRS-80, Apple II, Commodore 64, and Atari 8-bit computers.
Gameplay
The user navigates their character through a graph of rooms by entering commands with the keyboard: “N”, “W”, “S”, and “E” are used to move respectively north, west, south, and east; simple text commands to interact and investigate objects within the rooms such as “open door” are also used.
The game’s protagonist is a mental patient trying to escape from the institute (hence the title). A good deal of the game takes place in drug-induced hallucinations, though in some versions the drug is a “strange powder” that sends you into “dreams”.
External links
- Ye Olde Infocomme Shoppe
- Review from Antic Vol. 3 No. 7
Gamer24h Editor's Take
The Institute caught our attention with its unique design and has shaped up to be a must-play masterpiece candidate thanks to the depth of its experience. The visionary approach of developer Jyym Pearson, Robyn Pearson, combined with the expertise of publisher Screenplay, has resulted in an exceptionally refined product. Its innovative take on the Interactive fiction (original), Graphic adventure genre offers a breath of fresh air for fans of the category. If you're looking for an absorbing world and satisfying mechanics that pull you right in, this game might be exactly what you've been searching for.