Dallas Quest

Name: Dallas Quest
Programmer(s): James Garon & Jim Ratcliff
Publisher: Datasoft
Year: 1984

Description:

Dallas Quest was released in 1984 by Datasoft as a text and graphics adventure game for the Apple II computer. The game was based on the popular TV show "Dallas" and featured characters from the series including J.R. Ewing, Sue Ellen, and other familiar faces from Southfork Ranch.

Players take on the role of a private investigator hired by Sue Ellen to find a secret map that leads to valuable oil fields in South America. The map was hidden by J.R.'s rival Cliff Barnes. Throughout the adventure, players must explore locations from the TV series while solving puzzles and collecting items needed to progress.

The game uses a two-window display system common in adventure games of that era. The top portion shows color graphics of the current location, while the bottom contains text descriptions and allows players to type commands. Players navigate by entering simple two-word commands like "GO NORTH" or "TAKE MAP" to interact with the environment and characters.

Locations include familiar settings from the show such as Southfork Ranch, downtown Dallas, and eventually South America. Players must carefully manage their inventory of collected items and use them in the correct situations to solve puzzles. The game features several challenging logic puzzles that must be completed to advance the story.

Despite the technical limitations of the Apple II, Dallas Quest managed to capture the essence of the TV show through its character interactions and plot twists. The graphics, while basic by today's standards, were considered good for their time and helped bring the world of Dallas to life for players.

The game received mixed reviews upon release. While fans of the show appreciated the authentic storyline and character portrayals, some critics found the puzzles overly difficult and the parser system frustrating at times. Still, Dallas Quest represents an interesting piece of both gaming and television history, showing how popular media properties were adapted into interactive entertainment during the early days of home computing.

The game was later ported to other platforms including the Commodore 64. Its blend of television tie-in and adventure gaming elements made it a unique entry in the Apple II gaming library of the 1980s.