From the quills of Mark Lain comes this delightful quadrilogy of not just one but FOUR playable adventure stories. A must for all gamebook readers!
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@FightingFantasy – Gates Of Death. The second brand new Fighting Fantasy adventure game book released after Port Of Peril in 2017s Scholastic relaunch of the series. So how was it for me?
Me after finishing Gates Of Death by Charlie Higson
After an excruciating wait from Fighting Fantasy Fest 2 up until today I finally managed to tread through the latest adventure set in Allansia. Charlie Higson of The Fast Show fame had been a fan of Fighting Fantasy for years, and has graced us with Gates Of Death, his debut epic for the series. He was invited by FF co-series creator Ian Livingstone to guest write, and has made history as the first guest writer to have his own name on the front cover of an FF book. The celebrity essence may lend the series some pulling power.
Now, you may already know that I cannot stand the internal art scholastic has chosen for these books.
Little better than cheap grayscale slap dash comic styles, and this book is no exception. It’s a shame because the beautiful realistic illustrations in the classic series is what attracted me to FF in the first place. Thankfully, Higson’s writing hits the nail on the head and saves the book with fast paced scenarios and cleverly interwoven snares for readers to get netted up in. Multi FF author Jonathan Green is said to have coached Higson and this is apparent as Gates Of Death contains a couple of similar elements to Greens work Night Of The Necromancer, although this may be coincidence.
One thing I noticed is the fighting aspect is really kept to a minimum. You could always use an alternative to get yourself out of a rut with opponents. I think I completed the adventure with only four actual melee combats. There is plenty of magic to be found and used in this adventure, three pairs of magic shoes for example. I guess he likes giving you plenty of chances to win as you only need one pair!
FF is now meant to be aimed at a younger demographic than before, although this book introduces the words ‘bum’ and ‘farting’ into the FF vocab. Not to mention a mutant with two faces on it’s bottom actually illustrated! While it’s clearly meant to bring humour it seems to cheapen the feel of the serious quest.
Overall this is a grand adventure, much better than the ho hum badly named Port Of Peril (which barely has anything to do with the Port in question, you’re there longer in this book) …and a wonderful debut for Higson to the series. He could easily do some more. 7.5/10
Me and Charlie Higson at FFF2 – 2017
So Scholastic have set the next six #FightingFantasy books into motion. Another five revivals and a brand new title, The Gates Of Death, should be joining us around April. Whilst not many of the die hard fans appreciated the cover art of the first six releases last year, at least they was all done by the same artist and looked generic. Unfortunately we are now met with a change in design. It’s not good.
Though one may argue the artwork is slightly more in line with the classic series (I said slightly) , it has been confined to a tiny circle in the middle of the page with about 80% the rest just a single colour broken by white lines. I’m pretty certain this is a money saving device. When you consider the full cover of art we had in the 80s – 00s this isn’t progress nor very eye catching. With the last six covers Scholastic gave the excuse they was using this type of art to appeal to an era of video gaming children. So why the change? I guess they’re admitting they was wrong and the fans we’re right and now going down the cheapest route tasting sour grapes.
The Gates Of Death will be the first ‘presented’ written FF adventure since Jonathan Green’s wonderful Howl Of The Werewolf, and from the look of it Charlie Higson (of The Fast Show fame) will be the first non series creator to have his name boldly displayed on the front cover. Prestigious that may be, but is this a marketing twist to attract his own fans to buy this new quest? Either way, I am grateful for another new story and hope it goes down well with fans expectations and spurs Scholastic to employ other guest writers too such as the aforementioned Jonathan Green, Dave Morris, Jamie Thomson etc etc
Jam meets Charlie Higson at FFF2
Author Jonathan Green shoots for a hatrick in his third exciting ACE gamebook adventure, Neverland – Here Be Monsters. After the success of funding Alice’s Nightmare In Wonderland and The Wicked Wizard Of Oz, this newly launched Kickstarter project is already 40% funded in just 10 hours.
The book, part story part game, will see you play a survivor of the doomed Titanic ocean liner. When you come to, you find yourself washed up on the shores of a strange island packed with rampaging monsters a swashbuckling pirates. But what’s this…? Peter Pan?
Once again Jonathan weaves a popular child classic into a steampunk-style yarn, beautifully illustrated once again by the inks of popular artist Kev Crossley.
Why not check out this fantastic third book at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1412864360/neverland-here-be-monsters and see those amazing rewards on offer, including being an official playtester!
Jam out!
Had a lovely day today. Walked Magic up to the shipyard and plotted some gps gaming areas, did a bit of work at the community garden and this evening took baby Cassia to her first swimming lesson with Vic. She enjoyed most of it until her gums started hurting. Poor baby, teething must be so painful.
Also managed to get rid of my copy Trolltooth Wars Graphic Novel. Well, the creators never replied so clearly they thought it wasn’t worth their asking price either. Sold it at a much worthier price as well. Oddly enough, the same price they think a small bit of card’s worth! Good riddance to it and their filthy not-so-flawless-as-they-think customer relations skills.
My good friend Dave Sharrock has released his first gamebook in recent times which will get its own review here when I next get a window. Jam out!
Lots of lovely hits to my blog recently. I see there are many playing Lair Of The Lunatic which is wonderful and I hope you’re enjoying it. Not much to report here other than I now own a copy of Doctor Who And The Fescan Threat. Certainly the largest single gamebook I have ever laid hands on at 2001 references and its as big as an Argos catalogue. Seek and acquire.
So nothing else to report. In the meantime here’s my latest FF meme. Corny as cereal flakes.
It’s September 2017. For the second time, brave adventurers and traders from all over the world were summoned to Ealing, London to take part a new Fighting Fantasy Fest organised by FF author Jonathan Green. The promise this time was ‘bigger and better than before’. And was it? In a word, yes! The Demonic Three aka Steven Leicester, Mark Lain and myself met up in Chinatown the night before for a catch up, meal and to take part in an Escape Room game by Hinthunt which we had organised many months before.
The Demonic Three assemble.
The following morning with our heads still buzzing from the night before, we catch the tube train to Ealing and coincidentally rendezvous with FF illustrator Malcolm Barter whereby we journey together the rest of the way to The University Of West London where the event takes place.
Jam and Mark with MalcyB
Jonathan Green is at the first display, signing away madly at You Are The Hero Part 2 copies that had only arrived hours before and he hurriedly dished them out to backers as they turned up. After he hands my copy and asks how fatherhood is treating me in reference to my baby, Cassia, a familiar face approaches. The former comissioner of Fighting Fantasy books charming Geraldine Cooke approaches and we greet each other going into conversation about how wonderfully strong the series has remained in the hearts of fans, old and new alike. She particularly liked my t-shirt emblazoned with red dice. Casually strolling towards us the co creator of Fighting Fantasy, Ian Livingstone joins in our chat clearly equally pleased Geraldine had shown up. I seized the opportunity to grab this picture.
Jam, Ian Livingstone & Geraldine Cooke at FFF2
As the next hour or so continued I would visit the traders tables of Jamie Fry, James Schannep and Fox Yason Productions LTD, the latter of whom have produced an audio adventure set in Firetop Mountain. CLICK HERE for info. Nomad Games was also there promoting their new app Fighting Fantasy Legends.
Jam at Nomad Games stall
Also browsing was my hero Mr Liren Lin who had flown in all the way from the other side of the globe, and he took our photo after a nice catch up.
Old friends, Liren Lin and Jam
Slowly more and more friends from the Facebook FF group gathered as the morning went by.
Jam, Victor Cheng, Paul Scanlan and Colin Oaten
James (The Archmage) Aukett, Jam and Rob Learner
And of course, more Fighting Fantasy production heroes! Steve Jackson, who’s Sorcery epic was what hooked me into Fighting Fantasy back in the 80s
Co FF creator Steve Jackson and Jam
Illustrator, Tony Hough and Jam
Jam with fellow fan Paul Berry and illustrator Alan Langford
FF cartographer Leo Hartas, with illustrators Malcolm Barter and Pete Knifton
Writers Jonathan Green and Marc Gascoigne
Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson
Jam and author/ actor Charlie Higson
Scholastic promoting the new Fighting Fantasy range under their label
One of the biggest privileges this day was to have the illustrator Iain McCaig. He was one of the earlier artists of the series and of the recent limited edition Port Of Peril covers. Since Fighting Fantasy he has gone on to become an artist for Hollywood, and is widely famous for designing how Darth Maul and other characters would look in the Star Wars franchise. Here he is in a photo by Liren, I hope you don’t mind Liren but your photo was better than mine lol.
Liren Lin with Steve Jackson, Iain McCaig and Ian Livingstone
Of course the proceedings are not just about meeting stars but also interacting. So the Demonic Three and two extra all gathered round for some Advanced Fighting Fantasy fun held by Arion games.
AFF session with Arion Games
Graham Bottley of Arion Games
All too soon it was time to leave. But once again Fighting Fantasy Fest was a triumph for all fans of the series. The Demonic Three set off for their afterfest meal in Uxbridge. A fitting end to a magnificent day. Many thanks to everyone who signed my Yath2, and to all those who couldn’t make it this time I hope you will next time.
