Corruption (1988 video game)

Corruption is an interactive fiction game by Magnetic Scrolls released in 1988. In this game, a successful stockbroker suddenly finds himself embroiled in a world of crime and danger.
Gameplay.
The game is a standard text adventure with static graphics in all versions except for the Spectrum +3. It focuses primarily on character interaction instead of object interaction. The Amiga version has a "speech mode", though "Computer Gaming World" noted it only as a novelty.
Development.
The working title of the game was "Upon Westminster Bridge".
Reception.
The game was voted Best 8-bit Adventure Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards.
"ACE"s reviewer The Pilgrim called it "a game that combines powerful programming, wry humour, and a compelling plot all at once. No doubt about it, "Corruption" is [Magnetic Scrolls'] best yet." In "Computer & Video Games", Keith Campbell wrote that "the game has very much the same feel as the Infocom mysteries, like "Suspect", although I found this plot to be far more interesting." He remarked that "Corruption" will provide "hours of enjoyable frustration", and he praised its graphics, noting that "an adventure set in offices in the city, doesn't sound particularly exciting graphically, yet Magnetic Scrolls have made it so."
"Sinclair User"s Sarah Sharkey summarized, "[T]his game is good. The text is well written, the characters are very realistic and the storyline is believable." She highlighted the game's "super interaction with characters" and "absorbing and realistic game world". Mike Gerrard of "Your Sinclair" wrote, "All in all, I enjoyed "Corruption" far more than I thought I would... but not quite as much as the previous Magnetic Scrolls games."
"Computer Gaming World" in 1989 praised the game's menu features, such as the ability to reveal exits. Charles Ardai in 1992 wrote in the magazine that "Corruption" was "the one clear winner" in the "Magnetic Scrolls Collection". While criticizing the short length of gameplay, he stated that "a game this powerful deserves the widest possible audience".