Review: Gamebook Adventures 8: Curse of the Assassin (iPad)

Review by Owen S. 

Interactive choose-your-own-adventure books managed to capture the attention of many youngsters and adults alike back in the 80s. The advent of videogames more or less killed the artform, but with the iPad and its app-friendly design, gamebooks are back.

As interactive novels, gamebooks allow the reader to play the role of major character in a storyline, a bit like a single-player pen-and-paper RPG. Every 2-5 pages a decision is thrust upon them. From minor decisions about which path to take, or where to sleep that night, to major decisions such which of your friends of family to save first from a bloodthirsty sect intent on your suffering, the reader has a very real influence over the fate of the storyline. What's fascinating about these is that its entirely possible to get very bad endings, and part of the fun of these books is figuring out how to get to the 'right' ending.

(Read our interview with the game developer here)