Nord and Bert Couldn't Make Head or Tail of It is one of those names that sticks in the cult of gaming lore. But it is not just for the obscureness of the name. This really is one of the true classics of the text only genre games. The game has all of the devious puzzles that you would come to expect from the classics of the text game genre. Of course it also contains a lot of the flaws that are also found in these types of games. Any one who has found themselves looking desperately for that missing verb or syntax will instantly recognise Nord and Bert's charm.
However, even taking into account these rudimentary issues, Nord and Bert still manages to reach a much higher level than most other games of the genre by entering in to it a unusually high number of jokes, puns and running gags that is not seen in all but the highest level of adventure games.
Not only this but Nord and Burt manages to give an obscure, nay almost surreal, feel to a text adventure. Yes, they even manage to handle using a single "room" as the entry point into all of the stories and oh so wacky and eventful tales seem unique. Even those stories, tales and on-off gags are elevated by the simplicity of the entry into the story.
You find yourself in a new text adventure almost every time you sit down at the screen and although some of them are fiendish, brutal and nasty, even the most extended one can be worked through using a logic you thought almost never existed. Just hope you have that correct syntax or understanding as without the help you will find yourself pulling your hair out. Yes it is not only Nord and Bert who won't be able to make head nor tail of some of them.
Until.
Revelation.
Eureka.
Yes, that moment makes up for any of this games flaws. No other games so quickly puts you into that moment of dunbfoundness an exaltation as you figure it out what the hell is going on. And when you do. Well it is truly a moment of pure satisfaction. And by dint of rapid fire puzzles no game gives you more of those feelings than Nord and Bert.
Tricky. Yes. Frustrating. Occassionally. Fun. Always.
Written by:
~Loblox
