Prisoner 2
| Industry | Video games |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1979 |
| Products | The Prisoner, Prisoner 2 |
Prisoner 2 is a video game released in 1982 by Edu-Ware. Serving as an updated version of the 1980 original The Prisoner, this edition features improved graphics and refined gameplay mechanics.
Gameplay
Building upon its predecessor, Prisoner 2 introduced color visuals and higher resolution graphics, transitioning from a bird’s-eye view to a first-person perspective. Available on Apple II, Atari 8-bit, and MS-DOS systems, the game preserved its foundational mechanics while incorporating several design modifications inspired by other well-known titles:
- The Island is now surrounded by a fence that players can attempt to leap over.
- Rover’s appearance was altered from a white sphere to a character resembling Pac-Man.
- The Hospital includes the Milgram Experiment as a recurring special event.
- The Free Information feature was relocated to the Town Hall, which also hosts the Run the Island event.
- The Recreation Hall contains expanded obstacle courses.
- The Switchyard, a multi-room area housing the Great Chair, consists mainly of identical rooms marked with letters spelling "Rubik's Cube". Unique rooms include the chamber with the Great Chair, a music control room, and an exit.
- The Library presents quests inspired by literature, offering items such as the Wicked Witch of the West’s broomstick or Injun Joe’s treasure from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, provided players choose not to destroy books.
- What was formerly the Milgram Experiment building is now called Grail Hall. It holds items for Library-related quests and features maze-like chambers referencing classic adventure games like those by Scott Adams, Colossal Cave Adventure (noted by "PLUGH" graffiti), Wizard and the Princess, and Mystery House. In the Mystery House segment, players encounter accusations linked to Ken Williams of Sierra On-Line, adding narrative complexity until cleared in the Church.
Reception
Jeff Rovin, writing for Videogaming Illustrated, described it as "a great piece of computergaming from both a design point of view and as a challenge," though he remarked on its limited originality.
C.J. Thorns of ANALOG Computing praised Prisoner II as an excellent package that delivers weeks of engaging gameplay by blending adventure elements with challenging arcade-style sequences.
Jeff Hurlburt from SoftSide commended it as an intricate and thoughtfully designed adventure that offers many hours of enjoyment through creative and often humorous scenarios.
The magazine Softalk emphasized the worthwhile investment of time required to unravel the game’s mysteries, encouraging players to delve deeply into its content.
Paula Polley reported in Atari Connection that Eduware staff claimed the CIA utilized Prisoner 2 for interviewing candidates and training agents in counterterrorism techniques; additionally, it was noted for its use in treating paranoia within psychiatric settings.
In the 1982 annual reader poll conducted by Softalk, Prisoner 2 earned the position of fourth most favored fantasy game.
Reviews
- Micro 7 - March 1984
- Computer Games - November 1983
- Jeux & Stratégie #22 (August 1983)
External links
- Accessible version of The Prisoner 2 hosted on the Internet Archive
- Design document scans for The Prisoner 2
- Evaluation featured in Compute! Guide to Adventure Games