History VideoGame / MadMaze

* HaveANiceDeath: For those obsessive-compulsive enough, it becomes a SelfImposedChallenge to find every possible way you can die.

* ThePasswordIsAlwaysSwordfish: You can open the magically locked door in the tower of Castle Perilous just by saying "Open Sesame".

** He usually does manage to give good advice most of the time he gives advice. It's just that most of the time, he doesn't offer a suggestion and he can NeverLiveItDown the one time he gives bad advice on [[spoiler:which fruits to pick.]] If you consult Iggy in the final round of your final battle with [[TheDragon the Archpriest]] he will inadvertently give you the clue to winning.

* PettingZooPeople: The third level is home to various sapient races, including dinosaurs, jungle cats, and giant bugs.

[[http://www.vintagecomputing.com/madmaze/ The game can be found here]], but it requires Internet Explorer to play.

[[http://d1144651.mydomainwebhost.com/MadMaze2/ The game can be found here]], but it requires Internet Explorer to play.

* LostForever: Technically averted. The game does not keep track of your inventory or information you come across as you move from Place Of Power to Place Of Power. To use an item, you have to prove you own it by describing some of its features. This means that you can get through any situation simply by saving beforehand and brute-forcing the solution if necessary. \\
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That said, if you are opposed to guessing answers or using {{walkthrough}}s, it is incredibly easy to permanently lose access to important information. [=PoPs=] can be repeated indefinitely (as explained in the ShallIRepeatThat entry), but once you pass through them to the maze beyond, the exit is immediately walled off behind you. With some exceptions, you won't be able to reach that [=PoP=] (or preceding [=PoPs=]) ever again. \\
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Thankfully, the third level, which is harder in many respects to the first two levels, is lenient in this regard, as most [=PoPs=] can be revisited.

** The second level considerably trickier, as it's easy to miss important passwords or information. If you're not consulting a {{walkthrough}}, and you miss anything, [[LostForever you're out of luck]]. The mazes are also nearly twice the size of the first level's.

* PointOfNoReturn: The third level, which stops dividing the maze into discrete [[GameLevel sections]], has two of the Cruel variety.

* PopQuiz

[=MadMaze=] was an online video game playable through the now-defunct Prodigy service. It was designed by Eric Goldberg and developed by Creator/GregCostikyan in 1989, and was the first online game to draw over a million players. The game disappeared in 1999 with the death of the Prodigy service, but has since been rehosted by fans of the game, with permission from the service and the game's creator.

The MadMaze is divided into three "levels" that themselves are divided into "sections".[[note]]It would be more appropriate to call them "worlds" and "levels", respectively, but for the sake of consistency, we'll use the terms provided in-game.[[/note]] The gameplay is comprised of two elements - [[TheMaze exploration]], and interactive scenarios (A.K.A. Places of Power).

* AndroclesLion: Subverted with [[spoiler:The Lyon, of course.]] If you help him with [[spoiler:the thorn in his paw]] when he asks, he'll attack you anyway.

* DealWithTheDevil: This turns out to be the real reason [[spoiler:your village elder sent you on this quest in the first place.]]

* DistressedDamsel: Persephone.

* ElementalPowers: For the third level, you gain the power to control the nine elements - [[PlayingWithFire fire]], [[GreenThumb ea]][[DishingOutDirt rth]], [[BlowYouAway air]], [[MakingASplash water]], [[ShockAndAwe lightning]], [[AnIcePerson cold]], [[SoulPower spirit]], [[PsychicPowers mind]], and [[TimeStandsStill time]].

* FaceHeelTurn: The fate that awaits [[spoiler:you in the [[MultipleEndings bad ending.]]]]

* FakeUltimateHero: Once you actually find [[spoiler:Moraziel, he turns out to be next to no help whatsoever.]]

** He usually does manage to give good advice most of the time he gives advice. It's just that most of the time, he doesn't offer a suggestion and he can NeverLiveItDown the one time he gives bad advice on [[spoiler:which fruits to pick.]] If you consult Iggy in the final round of your final battle with [[TheDragon the Archpriest]] he will inadvertantly give you the clue to winning.

* MultipleEndings: In the final Place of Power, there are two options that both explicitly end with "The End". In the good ending, you defeat [[TheDragon the Archpriest]] and you and your 2 companions are rewarded by [[BigGood The Lady.]] In the bad ending, you live but [[spoiler:are forced to [[FaceHeelTurn become the Mad One's minion]], spending the rest of your life committing atrocities, with the knowledge that your home village is spared being your only consolation.]]

** The second level considerably trickier, as it's easy to miss important passwords or information. If you're not consulting a {{walkthrough}}, and you miss anything, [[LostForever you're out of luck.]] The mazes are also nearly twice the size of the first level's.

--> [[CrowningMomentOfFunny Guess how many people survive volcanic eruptions when standing on the rim of the volcano. Can you say, "reduced to component molecules?" I knew you could.]]

*** Happens one more time at the start of the final [=PoP=], in the Seat of Madness where you're given the choice to either "Use Talisman" or "Wait". If you choose Wait you'll get a subtle hint that waiting isn't such a good idea, then another option of "Use Talisman" or "Wait". If you Wait again you'll get a [[{{Understatement}} less subtle]] hint that waiting's the wrong decision, followed by the chocie, "Use Talisman" or "Die".

** In the Seat of Madness, if you enter the Yellow area, you'll start feeling sick and be given a set of options, including [[SchmuckBait Onward!]] If you [[TooDumbToLive choose Onward!]] you'll get sicker and get the same set of options, only this time they all have the same result: [[YetAnotherStupidDeath you die of plague.]]
** In the final [=PoP=], if you give the message to the Archpriest, your only options are to either get instantly killed by him or suffer the [[MultipleEndings bad ending.]]

* MultipleEndings: In the final Place of Power, there are two options that both explicitly end with "The End". In the good ending, you defeat [[TheDragon the Archpriest]] and you and your 2 companions are awareded by [[BigGood The Lady.]] In the bad ending, you live but [[spoiler:are forced to [[FaceHeelTurn become the Mad One's minion]], spending the rest of your life committing atrocities, with the knowledge that your home village is spared being your only consolation.]]

The MadMaze is divided into three "levels" that themselves are divided into "sections".[[hottip:*:It would be more appropriate to call them "worlds" and "levels", respectively, but for the sake of consistency, we'll use the terms provided in-game.]] The gameplay is comprised of two elements - [[TheMaze exploration]], and interactive scenarios (A.K.A. Places of Power).

*** Happens one more time at the start of the final [=PoP=], in the Seat of Madness where you're given the choice to either "Use Talisman" or "Wait". If you choose Wait you'll get a subtle hint that waiting isn't such a good idea, then another option of "Use Talisman" or "Wait". If you Wait again you'll get a [[{{Understaement}} less subtle]] hint that waiting's the wrong decision, followed by the chocie, "Use Talisman" or "Die".

* GameBreakingBug: In the library, you're told you need a library card before you can learn any information on Moraziel (and the information the library has on Moraziel will turn out to be essential for your survival) and that you can get one from an ObstructiveBureaucrat in another [=PoP=]. But once you meet the bureaucrat, there's nothing you can do or say to get the correct library card. The librarian will quiz you on both the first ''and'' last name that's supposed to be on your card. It's only by trial and error cheating that you can learn that the name on your card is supposed to be [[spoiler:Elias Throckmorton]] and get the information on Moraziel you need.

[=MadMaze=] was an online video game playable through the now-defunct Prodigy service. It was designed by Eric Goldberg and developed by Greg Costikyan in 1989, and was the first online game to draw over a million players. The game disappeared in 1999 with the death of the Prodigy service, but has since been rehosted by fans of the game, with permission from the service and the game's creator.

* DidNotDoTheResearch: One clue we're given is to "Pull the primes". This refers to a structure of 9 rods. pull the right rods, and it opens a secred door. Pull the wrong ones, the structure collapses on you and you die. You're supposed to pull the rods with a prime number to succeed. Goldberg evidently forgot that 2 is a prime number. Pull on the 2 rod, you die. [[spoiler: The rods you're supposed to pull are 3, 5, and 7.]]

** Encountering the Vizier Aboud in Osmet Kahn's palace is a partial example. You'll be given the option to fight or surrender. But if you surrender, you'll find your sword Valterre won't let you surrender, and you'll be forced to fight Aboud, whom you simply can't beat. Most of the time, however, Aboud will just banish you to the start of the [=PoP=]. But if you meet Aboud after fighting Hassan (and not just a sparring match, but an earnest "actively-trying-to-kill-each-other" fight), then this played fully straight. If Hassan's still alive, Aboud helps him kill you. If you managed to kill Hassan and run into Aboud, he'll simply kill you himself.

* ReptilesAreAbhorrent: Yet, surprisingly, they have a better track record for honesty than mammals (humans included).

** Forget to avert your gaze before interacting with the Dream Serpent.

* GameBreakingBug: In the library, you're told you need a library card to access the map room (which contains essential information for your survival) and that you can get one from an ObstructiveBureaucrat in another [=PoP=]. But once you meet the bureaucrat, there's nothing you can do or say to get the correct library card. The librarian will quiz you on both the first ''and'' last name that's supposed to be on your card. It's only by trial and error cheating that you can learn that the name on your card is supposed to be [[spoiler:Elias Throckmorton]] and gain access to the map room.

* MultipleEndings: In the final Place of Power, there are two options that both explicitly end with "The End". In the good ending, you defeat [[TheDragon the Archpriest]] and you and your 2 companions are awareded by [[BigGood The Lady.]] In the bad ending, you live but [[spoiler:are forced to [[FaceHeelTurn become the Mad One's minion, spending the rest of your life committing atrocities, with the knowledge that your home village is spared being your only consolation.]]

* DirtyCoward: [spoiler:Moraziel.]]

%% I've forgotten if you actually encounter Moraziel, but he is mentioned in the introduction as the main opposition to the Mad One's ascension to power.

* SecretIngredient: Before {{Portal}} introduced us to rhubarb cake with extra rhubarb, [=MadMaze=] gave us chocolate cake with grated radish.