IFComp09 reviews: The Duel in the Snow
A grim period piece set in 19th Century Russia. The PC, the objects in his house, and the atmosphere all are frought with history. Unfortunately for me, I don't really have a lot of experience with this period, so I can't speak to its accuracy. It certainly felt appropriate.
The story itself, such as it is, is pretty depressing; as far as I can tell, the duel is unwinnable, and the "best" ending you can get gives you a score of 1 out of a possible 1, giving you the rank of not dead.
I say "best" in scare quotes because it's fairly clear that said ending can't be the true ending (the AMUSING challenges us to find "what really happened") though even then it's not too horrendously out of place.
As usual, I don't have a lot to say about games that are quietly well-written and solid all the way through. This is quietly well-written and solid all the way through.