Game reviews

It is the 1920s; you are a co-ed named Laura Bow in your early 20s at the prestigious Tulane University in New Orleans. One day your friend, Lillian Prune, invites you for a weekend at her uncle's plantation which you graciously accept. Little do you know the adventure that you are about to embark on.

The Colonel’s Bequest was released by Sierra On-Line in 1989 from designer Roberta Williams (King’s Quest). The game utilized 16-color SCI graphics and a typing interface. The different chapters in the game were called acts as Williams set The Colonel’s Bequest as an interactive play. Triggered by events, time moves forward allowing the player to experience new occurrences.

The Misty Acre plantation is situated on an isolated island surround by swampland. The colonel lives alone except for his three servants (his cook Celie, maid Fifi, and butler Jeeves) and his pets (his faithful dog Beauregard and horse Blaze). There is no way off the plantation other than by boat. Although Laura is limited to only the plantation grounds, there are a lot of places to explore, which include a stable, gazebo, and chapel among other places, not to mention secret passages!

The first act begins after you learn at dinner that Lillian's uncle, Colonel Henri Dijon has decided to call the family together (minus you, Laura) to explicate the terms of his will. The colonel, being a bachelor and having no heir, decides to divide his estate and wealth among seven people (your friend Lillian, her mother Ethel, his sister-in-law Gertie, niece Gloria, nephew Rudy, doctor Wilbur Feels, and lawyer Clarence Sparrow). Shortly after you begin the game, you will discover your first body and realize that there is a killer on the loose.

Using her investigative skills as taught to her by her father, John Bow (a retired detective of the New Orleans Police department), Laura gains knowledge by questioning suspects and being aware of her surroundings (such as noting where items are moved and closely examining evidence). As the game plays on, Laura realizes who she can trust to who she can't trust: can she trust anyone?!

Everyone on the plantation seems to have a secret, as you soon discover! The colonel won't talk to you and mostly brushes you off. The doctor and the lawyer seem to be scheming. Ethel is just a lousy drunk… even Lillian is acting a bit peculiar. Are they all just after the colonel's money?!

The time sequence varies throughout the game. Sometimes it may feel like there is a lot of time passing before you see the clock advance. Other times, the clock may move so fast that it makes you wonder if maybe you missed something. Regardless, you must make the time to question suspects and find clues to find out what is going on here.

There are essentially two endings in The Colonel’s Bequest where you have to make a choice. Of course, there is a right and a wrong choice and if you have been taking note, you won't have to restore your game. You also learn at the end, by looking at Laura’s notebook, what you have missed during the game, along with some helpful hints on getting a completed section.

Overall, The Colonel’s Bequest is an excellent game with interesting well-developed characters which really give this a bit of an edge, making this a must-play game if you love the whodunit mystery genre.

If you love The Colonel’s Bequest, you will very much enjoy the Gabriel Knight 1: Sins of the Father for its southern charm (as the key character Gabriel is a native of New Orleans), ability to question suspects, and solving a case.

NOTE: Laura Bow is a parodic reference to Clara Bow, the 1920s actress famous for being the “It” girl. Colonel Dijon is a parodic reference to Colonel Mustard (from the game Cluedo or Clue). Gloria Swansong is a reference to silent screen film star Gloria Swanson. Jeeves, the butler, is a parodic reference to P.G. Wodehouse’s famous fictional butler, Jeeves. Rudolph Dijon is modelled on Rudolph Valentino, famous as the first male sex symbol for his role in The Sheik. Dr Wilbur C. Feels is a parodic reference to comedian and actor W.C. Fields. Clarence Sparrow is a parodic reference to American lawyer Clarence Darrow, famous for his participation in the Scopes trial and other high-profile cases.