THE WILLOW PATTERN ADVENTURE Commodore 64 game

I never thought I'd see the day - Willow Pattern, the game centered around a plate. Here's the story so far: Our hero, Chang, embarks on a perilous journey through a mesmerizing yet treacherous oriental maze within the Mandarin's palace to rescue the beautiful Princess Koong-Shee. The maze itself is a sight to behold, adorned with pagodas, palaces, and sword-wielding samurai, all depicted superbly.

Before diving into the action, let's shed some light on why Chang is determined to rescue Koong-Shee and why she's held captive in the palace. Perhaps she's the unfortunate soul tasked with painting patterns on those dreadful plates, in which case her imprisonment might be deserved.

In reality, the princess is being coerced into a marriage with the nefarious merchant Ta Jin, who probably sports one of those stereotypical long, droopy moustaches associated with evil Chinese merchants. As far as Koong-Shee is concerned, it's a matter of "no Ta Jin," as she's in love with Chang, motivating his quest to rescue her.

Think of it as a platform-style game without platforms. You traverse the palace's multiple screens, collecting useful items along the way. The most valuable item is your sword, essential for dispatching samurai guards. It might not be the nicest thing to do, but it's necessary to access different parts of the maze. Crossing rivers is an adventure too. You must hop from one stepping stone to another while evading giant creatures on the bridge, eager to swipe at you with their enormous paws.

I haven't located the princess yet, so I can't confirm if all this running around is worthwhile. I hear that once you find her and carry her off, her father pursues you out of the palace, which is understandable from his perspective.

This game is hard to fault, boasting impressive graphics, authentic oriental sound, and enjoyable gameplay. However, it lacks points in the department of gender equality. I still have reservations about Firebird.