when one KNOWS the machine". Roy Wagner reviewed the game for Computer Gaming World, and stated that "Both humor and challenge are present here, two of the key elements of any good adventure (along with an excellent parser and outstanding presentation)." In the January–February 1987 edition of Info, Benn Dunnington gave the Amiga version four-plus stars out of five, praising the "excellent graphics" and text parser. Dunnington concluded, "The Pawn's story is good, the characters are interesting, and the play is entertaining". In the July 1987 edition of Commodore Magazine, Shay Adams thought the game's sophisticated parser "handily parses circles arounjd every American counterpart except Infocom's - and it's not far behind that one." Adams was highly impressed by the game plot as well, saying, "The Pawn also delivers well-honed prose, vivid graphics, innovative visual effects, and dozens of puzzles - some diabolically difficult, others deceptively simple - in an imaginative story." He concluded with a strong recommendation: "Technically and creatively, this is England's all-time best adventure game. For advanced players, The Pawn is a must whether you prefer text or graphic adventures." Two reviews of the game appeared in Dragon: In the October 1986 edition, Hartley and Pattie Lesser stated that the Atari ST version's "'painted' scenes will leave you in awe". They also praised the "sophisticated language parser" and thought "the intriguing plot" would be "extremely appealing to all gamers." In the June 1988 edition, Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser reviewed the IBM PC and PC compatible version, commenting that since their previous review The Pawn "is steadily pushing toward the status of becoming a classic adventure." The Lessers thought highly of the game, saying, "The Pawn is not only great for experienced adventurers, but because of the interactivity of the scenario’s characters, it also enables novice gamers to learn as they progress through the land of Kerovnia. This is certainly one offering that any computer-game library should contain." They gave the game an above average rating of 4 out of 5 stars if played on an IBM PC or compatible equipped with an Enhanced Graphics Adapter EGA board, but only 2½ stars for systems without an EGA board. Awards In 1988, readers of Crash voted The Pawn "Best Adventure Game of the Year". It was also "Best Adventure Game of the Year" at the 1987 Golden Joystick Awards. References External links 1980s interactive fiction 1985 video games