Gamebooks (Choose Your Own Adventure Style)

[Herman Gigglethorpe]

It's less suited for your Let's Play format here, but did you ever play the Fabled Lands series? I played that a lot as a kid, and in retrospect, it's really impressive: they tried to make a series of open-world gamebooks, the absolute madmen! Every book represents a different part of a fantasy world. You pick one to start with and can then move around between them.

I don't know how much of it actually holds up. One thing I remember is that it had relatively many stats, but since combat is what's most likely to kill you, classes with low combat skill are at a serious disadvantage. But they made a 2nd edition of the original six books (I still remember going to book stores to ask if the last two were released in German yet - never happened as far as I know) and a seventh one by a different author so apparently there are enough people who still like it.

Never played Fabled Lands, but I've seen them mentioned on other sites.  Some day, I may try one of the tabletop RPG style gamebooks to see what they're like.  You know I'm going to make a non-combat character if I do Fabled Lands to see how long I can survive!  


My real introduction to CYOA style gamebooks came from book podcasts.  It was funny to hear the players' disbelieving reactions when they saw stuff like the evil vegetarian restaurant in Rock and Roll Mystery, or the decision to infiltrate a planet full of traditional movie vampires. . ."under cover of night" in Space Vampire.

[Herman Gigglethorpe]

La Isla de los Dodos Alternate Endings Part 6


Let's ignore the book's misleading advice and walk on the wooden planks in CHOICE #8!


After walking for a while, we arrive at what seem to be stables.  A zebra's head sticks out.  It brays (lanza un rebuzno) at us, and other zebras appear. 


"Shame we don't have a lump of sugar!', says Sheila."


'What a strange zebra,' Arthur says, 'It doesn't have stripes'.


This "zebra" only has black and white stripes on its head.  The rest of its body is brown, except for its white feet.


My zoology skills come in handy, and my character recognizes it as the extinct quagga.  But there's no time to waste while we're looking for Gordon, so we move on.  We reach a gray steel door.  Someone on a megaphone says "COME IN.  I WAS EXPECTING YOU".


The door opens by itself, and yellow lights on the ceiling? turn on as a guide.  Harp music plays inside.


We enter a wide room that's empty except for 2 large electronic consoles that form a semicircle around a leather chair (butaca de piel).  The chair swivels around, and a bald man with a large round head gives us a mean look through his glasses.


"I've expected Professor Kirby's friends would come to snoop on me.  It's a shame, but what are we going to do?  Thanks for returning the dodo to me.  You must know it belongs to me".


Dude shudders and tries to hide behind Sheila.  I shout at him asking where Gordon is and what he's done to him.


He says "Gordon Kirby now works for me, the same way you all will until you are no longer useful to me".


I press a few keys on the consoles, and we see Gordon is tied up in front of a microscope.  When I demand to be able to leave with Gordon, the mad scientist says "I'm growing weary of your tone, boy.  You all will see the professor when I say so.  Now you all will go to your rooms without complaining, and wait for my instructions.  I'm warning you:  don't try to escape or you'll be sorry".


CHOICE #9 is to either obey the mad scientist, or try to escape with a slim chance of success.  For this ending, I'll pick the latter, which will probably result in death by dodo pecking.


We pretend to obey the mad scientist.  The lights lead us to our bedrooms.  There are many other doors on both sides of the hallway for some unknown reason.  We see the entrance and make a break for it.


The voice over the megaphone says:  "DO NOT DO ANYTHING RASH!"


I reach the door, but it doesn't open.  I force the handle without any success.  I try to open other nearby doors, while my friends can only watch helplessly.


"Finally, one of the doors opens and you enter another room.  It's a habitat for animals.  Stone walls house many cavities? (cavidades).  Medium-sized dogs start to appear.  They have curious stripes on their backs, like tigers. 

When they approach you, you recognize the species.  They're not dogs, they're thylacines!  The most dangerous extinct carnivores of Australia.  They're allive and they are going to eat you.  END".


Ty the Tasmanian Tiger and his friends come to eat me.  As much as I criticize this book, I appreciate the use of extinct animals that aren't dinosaurs.


Results So Far


0 Good Endings

3 Deaths

2 Bad Non-Death Endings

2 Neutral/Inconclusive Endings

[Herman Gigglethorpe]

La Isla de los Dodos Alternate Endings Part 7


In CHOICE #9, I'll obey the mad scientist's instructions and find out what's going on.


Our cell phones don't work, probably due to a jammer.  After a restless night, the megaphone says:  "GO TO THE LABORATORY!"


The yellow lights guide us to the laboratory where Professor Kirby is working.  Sheila and Arthur shout "Uncle Gordon!'.  The professor hugs everyone.  He's gaunt after the bad treatment the mad scientist gave him.


Gordon reveals the truth.  The mad scientist is Dr. Pook, and he's been reviving as many extinct animals as possible with his wealth and technology.  Gordon says Dr. Pook was noble at first, but later became a misanthrope who only thought "primitive man" was good.  When I ask Gordon how to escape, the megaphone interrupts us.


"YOU HAVE ALREADY TALKED TOO MUCH, GORDON!  GO BACK TO WORK.  AND YOU, THE BUSYBODY, YOU WILL HELP HIM.  THE REST WILL WORK IN THE STABLES IMMEDIATELY!"


My job is to help the professor replicate DNA chains of various animals via physical samples that Dr. Pook obtained by methods we probably shouldn't ask about.  One day, Gordon gives me a wrinkled piece of paper, and I try to read it in a stealthy fashion:


"TONIGHT AT 23:00, I WILL DISCONNECT THE CENTRAL COMPUTER.  WE WILL HAVE 5 MINUTES TO REACH THE BOAT.  BE CAREFUL!  THERE ARE UNKNOWN ANIMALS RUNNING LOOSE ON THE WHOLE ISLAND".


I'm nervous for the whole day.  At 23:00, an alarm begins to sound.  Gordon did it!  He disconnected the security systems.  "Without forgetting Dude", we run towards the heavy entrance door.  Once outside, we run on the wooden road towards the boat.  Only one minute remains before Dr. Pook can counterattack.


We hear strange snorting or panting (resoplido) noises throughout the journey.  I'm sure something strange is following me.  Should I try to scare it before it attacks us from behind?


CHOICE #10 is to confront the "mysterious being" (Page 30), or continue running (Page 29).  We all know what 1 page paths mean in this book!


Picking the latter causes the megaphone to say:  IT IS USELESS TO TRY TO ESCAPE!  BE REASONABLE!  DO NOT MAKE ME DESTROY YOU ALL!"


A great vibration goes across the island.  It feels like the earth is moving.  We reach the beach and find that the sea is 10 meters below us.  The island is rising via the largest axes (ejes) that have ever been built. 


I shout "Jump into the water!  You can still do it!"


"One by one, your friends jump into the water.  The first are Sheila and the professor, the worst swimmers.  After that come Arthur with Dude in his hands, and the last, the agile Ramzi, is forced to jump from an altitude of 20 meters.  You are the last, and you panic when you see the distance that separates you from the water.  It's impossible for you to jump!


'YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS!  THAT I ASSURE YOU!'


You have lost your opportunity to escape, but at least your friends are safe.  Soon, they raise the alarm.  From now on, you're in the hands of Dr. Pook.  What revenge will he have prepared for you?  END."


So everyone else escapes except for me.  Since it's never confirmed that I die, Dr. Pook will probably turn me into a werequagga or something.  Chalk up another one for the Bad Non-Death Endings column.


Results So Far


0 Good Endings

3 Deaths

3 Bad Non-Death Endings

2 Neutral/Inconclusive Endings

[Herman Gigglethorpe]

La Isla de los Dodos Alternate Endings Part 8


Confronting the "mysterious being" in CHOICE #10 leads to the best ending in the book, and probably the only one where you complete your mission.


I stop, about to face a lion, tiger, or whatever other animal it might be.  A siren sounds, and suddenly about 10 "small, dark figures appear".  My character thinks they're children at first, but they're actually "diminutive people".  Dr. Pook has also resurrected Homo Floriensis, according to Gordon, who says "It's an abomination!".  But my character just thinks of them as little people, and isn't hostile to them like Gordon is.


Dr. Pook is riding on a "gigantic deer", and he shouts "Stop, or you'll be sorry!"  Ramzi replies "Noo!  We will never be your prisoners again!"  Sheila and Arthur have similar feelings.


"The face of Dr. Pook passes from a surprised expression to a wrathful one.  He raises a taser (aguijón eléctrico) to hurt all of you, but in an instant the small men throw themselves against the giant deer, riling it up (encabritándolo) and making it throw off Dr. Pook.


'Hurry up!  Let's run away!', you shout.


You all reach the boat and your freedom.  A coalition of democratic governments takes possession of the island afterwards, to protect and take care of its creatures, including the small men of Flores.  Dr. Pook is never heard of again. 


Years later, your extraordinary adventures are brought to the big screen.  And Brad Pitt insists on playing you.  END"


Isn't Brad Pitt a little old for the role of the player character in this book?  Oh well, the audience and box office won't care!


Since this is absolute victory, the endings will only go downhill from here.  But they will amuse Realms Beyond readers at least!



Results So Far


1 Good Endings

3 Deaths

3 Bad Non-Death Endings

2 Neutral/Inconclusive Endings

[Herman Gigglethorpe]

La Isla de los Dodos Alternate Endings Part 9


This time, our veterinarian player character will hand Ramzi over to the Vingt-Cinc authorities in CHOICE #7.


Ramzi spends his time playing with Dude on the way, and seems to have a gift for animals.  "You regret that his life had not provided him more opportunities".


Arthur shouts "Boat!  Boat at port (babor)!  A dilapidated boat silhouette moves toward us at full speed, releasing a frightening quantity of smoke from its chimney.  Ramzi thinks Captain Karnak of the Fehurihi is coming for revenge.


But my state-of-the-art diesel engine is far superior to Captain Karnak's damaged vessel. 


"On a white sand beach, the professor is waiting for you all, surrounded by his friends, the dodos.  Tears of joy roll down your cheeks, including Ramzi's.


'My boat sank after crashing into a reef.  I didn't think anyone would come to rescue me.  The dodos accepted me and took care of me.  If it hadn't been for them, I would be dead now.'


You don't want to separate from Dude, but you all understand that it should go back to its own kind.  Every day that you pass on the island, it distances itself a little more from you all, but you are happy for him.


Now, the island is officially your property.  The professor, Arthur, Sheila, and you create the Foundation for the Preservation of Dodos and you all only permit visitation for people who want to study them without ulterior motives.  Thanks to your help, Ramzi becomes a great veterinarian.  Many nature reserves in the Indian Ocean will carry his name some day.  END".


Whatever happened to Dr. Pook in this ending?  Is the dodo island separate from the mad scientists artificial island?  Either way, this is probably the greatest victory you can find in La Isla de los Dodos apart from the ending in the previous post.



Results So Far


2 Good Endings

3 Deaths

3 Bad Non-Death Endings

2 Neutral/Inconclusive Endings

[Herman Gigglethorpe]

La Isla de los Dodos Alternate Endings Part 10


According to my Word document, all routes from CHOICE #5 onward have been exhausted.  So it's time to go to the Seychelles instead of the unknown island in CHOICE #4!


We go to the port to rent a boat.  We get the Stella, a Bénéteau Ocenais that's 12 meters long, and in quite good shape.  Dude helps us bring the provisions to the boat, because the dodo is the smartest character in this book.


Sheila and Arthur learn how to tie nautical knots while I pilot the ship.  Soon, we see the mountain Sainte Laure, which is 800 meters tall.  We go around it looking for a safe port, but a hostile ship thwarts those plans.  (Could it be the Fehurihi?)


Sheila shouts "Good heavens!  Pirates!" 


("Good heavens" isn't a euphemistic translation, by the way.  She actually says ¡Cielo santo! in the text.)


CHOICE #11 is to either look for a weapon (Page 35), or surrender to the pirates (Page 36).  You know what they say about 1 page paths. . .


"Seized by panic and unable to think, you point the flare gun (pistola de bengalas) at the unkown people at the moment they board your boat.  Shouts, tumult, a type of explosion.  The last thing you feel is your face hitting the hull when the pirates bring you down.  END."


Add another one to the Death Count.  Gamebooks should disguise their bad endings a little better than simply putting them on the page between the CHOICE and the successful route.



Results So Far


2 Good Endings

4 Deaths

3 Bad Non-Death Endings

2 Neutral/Inconclusive Endings

[Herman Gigglethorpe]

La Isla de los Dodos Alternate Endings Part 11


In CHOICE #11, we'll surrender to the Seychelles pirates.  Maybe they won't kill us like last time. . .


My character gives up because the pirates clearly outnumber our crew.  We hide Dude in the cabin.  Various "dirty" and "fierce" men armed with long knives board our ship, shouting in "Seychellois" (Seychellois Creole?).


They make us sit in the hull while they look around "like cockroaches in search of loot (botín)".


Shelia whispers "They can take whatever they want, but may they not hurt the poor dodo!"


A toothless pirate leaves the cabin holding an "indignant" Dude, who pecks him in the arm.  The pirate lets the dodo go, and it jumps into the sea.  The pirates shout in frustration as the dodo swims to an island.


The pirates aren't satisfied with what they find, and soon hear a megaphone from another ship:


"THE HMS DAUNTLESS IS HERE.  SURRENDER PEACEFULLY.  WE ARE GOING TO BOARD YOUR SHIP."


Thanks to the threat of the British military, some pirates jump in the sea and try to swim for it.  Others kneel and raise their hands. 


When I talk to the captain about the mission to rescue Gordon, he says these waters aren't safe, and it's dangerous to inspect an island without knowing about its wildlife.  He recommends looking for a guide.


CHOICE #12 is to either explore the island and risk pirates and dangerous animals, or hire a guide.


Picking the former leads to a short page. . .that isn't a death.


We decide to look for Dude the dodo without wasting any time looking for a guide.  But night falls, and CHOICE #13 is to either accept Sheila's request to sleep on the beach, or say it's safer to stay on the boat until tomorrow.


Staying on the beach isn't a death either!  Instead, we get CHOICE #14.  Should we stay in the tent when we hear a strange noise outside, or "arm yourself with valor" and explore?  My character will chicken out in this episode.


"You're tired, and besides, it's almost certain the dodo didn't make that sound.  It might be some frog.  You are a bit afraid to enter the forest alone at night.  And if you fell (te cayeras)?  Stupid dodo!  Why didn't it stay on the beach?


You return to your tent and slowly fall asleep.  You almost don't feel it when a beaked sea snake (serpiente marina picuda) bites you.  Its venom burns you alive inside for the few minutes you have left to live.  END."


A POIsonous snake!  If Cedric the Owl were in this book instead of King's Quest 5, he might have been good for something.


Results So Far


2 Good Endings

5 Deaths

3 Bad Non-Death Endings

2 Neutral/Inconclusive Endings

[Herman Gigglethorpe]

La Isla de los Dodos Alternate Endings Part 12


Wonder what the "arm yourself with valor" option in CHOICE #14 does?  Tune into this episode and find out!


"You leave your sleeping frineds behind and inter the dark jungle cautiously, by lantern light.  The strange noise is heard occasionally, and not very far away.  You trip on roots and vines and tree branches hit you in the face.  Finally, you arrive in a clearing.  What a surprise when you see your dodo on some branches sitting on an egg!


All this time you said your bird was male, when in reality, it is female.


You return to your friends to share the good news.  Although you haven't seen any other dodo, at least now there's a chance to save the species.  END."


No word from the professor, but the dodo is doing well and may continue the species, so I'll count this as a Good Ending.




Results So Far


3 Good Endings

5 Deaths

3 Bad Non-Death Endings

2 Neutral/Inconclusive Endings

[Herman Gigglethorpe]

La Isla de los Dodos Alternate Endings Part 13


In CHOICE #13, we'll be more cautious and spend the night on the ship.


I say we'll look for the dodo in the morning.  Sheila complains and says "Older people always boss us around".


I tell stories about animals to Sheila and Arthur to cheer them up, but they aren't paying attention.  At midnight, waves and the noise of rain make Sheila and Arthur queasy.  But it would be too dangerous for them to go up on the deck.  I go to check on the sails, when suddenly, an enormous wave is about to crash into me.


CHOICE #15 is another "If you want to see a bad ending, here's a freebie" scenario.  It literally asks me if I "have put on the life preserver".  Some of the CHOICES in this book are weird!


Not retroactively having a life preserver gives us this page:


"A wall of water launches you off the boat, and you fall into the sea unconscious.  Your imprudence cost you your life.  Unfortunately (por desgracia), you aren't as good a sailor as you thought.  END".


It wouldn't be a retro adventure game without a drowning death.



Results So Far


3 Good Endings

6 Deaths

3 Bad Non-Death Endings

2 Neutral/Inconclusive Endings

[Herman Gigglethorpe]

La Isla de los Dodos Alternate Endings Part 14


With the magic of retroactive life preservers, let's survive CHOICE #15!


A 5 meter wave sends me into the water.  I'm unconscious, but survive thanks to the life preserver.  I wake up after only a few seconds because of salt water entering my mouth. 


200 meters away, I see my boat's lights and know Sheila and Arthur are fine.  But a breaker threatens to send us into rocks or coral.  This could be death for Arthur and Sheila too, because they don't know how to steer the ship.  My character overcomes nausea and burning lungs and muscles to swim in the direction of the Stella. 


Half a kilometer away, I see a beach.  It might be easier to swim there than to the Stella.  Guess what CHOICE #16 is?


For this ending, I'll go to the beach.  At least we get a hint it's a bad idea because Arthur and Sheila are being left behind.


"Fighting against the waves, you swim in the direction of the beach for minutes that seem like hours.  You are now close.


Soon, a great wave lifts you and sinks you with enormous force towards the sandy ground.  You feel a terrible muscle pain.  Something has made a deep cut.  You can't breathe or move.  "Shock" has paralyzed you.  Soon the loss of blood will do you in if you don't suffocate first.


In the morning, Arthur and Sheila find your body on the beach.  They are marooned.  END."


Not only do I die due to rock/reef injuries, Arthur and Sheila are now castaways.  Maybe they'll learn the many uses of the coconut?



Results So Far


3 Good Endings

7 Deaths

3 Bad Non-Death Endings

2 Neutral/Inconclusive Endings