Though Arthur C. Clarke is best known as the author of “Childhood’s End”, it is with “Rendezvous with Rama” and “2001: A Space Odyssey” that he really achieved worldwide recognition. “2001: A Space Odyssey” became a trend setting movie and “Rendezvous with Rama” a successful computer game. In fact, the computer game is based on two volumes - “Rendezvous with Rama”, and its sequel “Rama II”.
RAMA is a gigantic spaceship, cylindrical in design, that has entered into our solar system. But why is RAMA here? Who built the spaceship? And where did it come from? As a member of the expedition sent to find out the truth, the player has to explore RAMA and uncover its secrets. The basic premise – that of first contact with an extraterrestrial intelligence – is a fascinating one and it has been intelligently handled by Arthur C. Clarke. After all, who could have better credentials than him as a scientist, and as a writer, to probe into the mysteries of the Universe.
This is not a mindless game (like Doom or Unreal) where one has to shoot one’s way past hostile aliens to advance to the next level. This game requires an application of mind to solve various puzzles, and decipher various clues. The player comes equipped with a computer for data storage / communication, and may receive video mail from other crew members. Interestingly, the crew members are played by professional actors, and this adds a realistic touch to the unfolding drama.
The designers of the game have included a brief tutorial (or walkthrough) to help the player through the early stages. Termed “The First Ten Steps”, this is a thoughtful addition to the manual, as the initial game play is usually the most troublesome as well. If you are someone new to the world of computer games, this will prove to be an invaluable guide, and you would be well advised to familiarize yourself with it.
The designers of the game have also added a nice personal touch by including an interview with Arthur C. Clarke, where he talks about himself and introduces us to the world of RAMA. To the many fans of his (alas, he is no more), this will be a nice memento to the man and what he stood for. If a criticism is to be leveled – as it must – it is that the game was originally designed for Windows 95, and updates / patches are no longer available from the SIERRA website. This is a shame, really, because this is a game to be treasured and to be played at leisure.
More reviews about the en.wikipedia.org/wiki/rama