Necklace of Skulls

Virtual Reality #4

by Dave Morris, Jon Hodgson (Illustrator), Russ Nicholson (Illustrator)

Put yourself at the heart of the story… The sole survivor of an expedition brings news of disaster. Your twin brother is lost in the trackless western sierra where none can survive. Resolving to find out his fate, you leave the safety of your home far behind. Your quest will take you to lost jungle cities, across mountains and seas, and even into the uncanny depths of the underworld. You will plunge into the eerie world of Mayan myth. You must confront vengeful ghosts and bloodthirsty gods, bargain for your life against terrifying demons, find allies and enemies among both the living and the dead. Then, if you are brave enough to face the dangers of the spirit-haunted western desert, you must still confront the wizard called Necklace of Skulls in a deadly contest whose stakes are nothing less than your own soul. * * * Critical IF books are interactive adventures with a difference. You can be a mutant with the power to warp reality. A buccaneer whose sword and pistol are a match for any foe. A daring rogue leaping between rooftops. A wizard who can command the elements. Be anyone you can imagine. Choose from almost five hundred different character types, each with their own unique skills. Strong stories, vivid settings and compelling characters make Critical IF the game-changers of the interactive fiction genre.

Genres: Gamebooks, Fantasy, Fiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published September 13, 1993

Reviews

[Arminion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Necklace of Skulls is one of my favorite Virtual Reality books. The setting is very unique and interesting (Mayan/Aztec) and the amount of options, places and items to see and experience is amazing. I can't tell you how many times I have played this book. The only reason why I didn't give it 5 stars is because the ending is super tough, almost impossible. You have to cross the desert, kill a giant hydra, survive 5 houses of horror, play some kind of volleyball match and finally face the main boss, all this without much places to rest and heal. Despite this, I recommend it!

[Who · Rating 5 out of 5]

Challenging in ways other gamebooks in the series have not been. Inspired use of branching paths (I count at least 4 that diverge and converge throughout the book), and as usual an interesting setting. My one quibble is there is a way to obtain immortality in the book, which feels a lot like cheating

[Andy Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Necklace of Skulls is an entertaining and atmospheric gamebook, unusually set in the Americas, Mayan era rather than an alternative fantasy world. There isn’t any filler, the setting is well realised and the puzzles are fair. As with other Critical IF (formerly Virtual Reality) books, I also like the fact there weren't any difficult rules to understand (or disregard).

Like a lot of the author’s gamebooks, while I enjoyed them all back in the day, it’s only having read them latterly that I fully appreciate the depth of the story and quality of the prose. The more I consider it, the higher the series ranks in my list of favourites gamebooks given there isn’t a weak link and because of the originality of each entry. Heart of Ice, in particular, is a classic of the genre.

[Ангѣлъ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Яката корица, тъпата история. Англоезичните книги-игри от едно време спрямо нашите бяха като трабант спрямо лимузина. Нищо общо :)