Play Confusing Quest 2½ | Commodore 64 Online Game (1996)

'Confusing Quest 2' is a text adventure game written by Peter Staaks and published by Eagleware International for the Commodore 64. The game is a sequel to the original 'Confusing Quest,' continuing the tradition of challenging players with intricate puzzles and a nonlinear narrative. Players navigate through a series of interconnected locations, solving riddles and collecting items to progress. The game relies heavily on text input, requiring players to type commands to interact with the environment, making it a classic example of the text adventure genre popular in the 1980s.

The plot of 'Confusing Quest 2' is intentionally vague, with the player tasked with exploring a mysterious world filled with cryptic clues and hidden pathways. The game's design emphasizes exploration and experimentation, often leaving players to deduce solutions through trial and error. The lack of clear direction is a hallmark of the series, contributing to its reputation for being particularly challenging. The game's parser, while functional, can be unforgiving, requiring precise input to execute commands effectively.

Visually, 'Confusing Quest 2' is minimalistic, as is typical for text adventures of the era. The screen is primarily text-based, with occasional static graphics to illustrate key locations or events. The focus remains on the narrative and puzzle-solving rather than visual flair. The game's atmosphere is enhanced by its descriptive writing, which paints a vivid picture of the world despite the limited graphical capabilities of the Commodore 64.

The puzzles in 'Confusing Quest 2' are known for their complexity, often requiring lateral thinking and careful observation of the environment. Some solutions are obscure, relying on subtle hints or wordplay, which can lead to frustration for players accustomed to more straightforward challenges. The game's difficulty is compounded by its lack of a built-in hint system, leaving players to rely on their own ingenuity or external resources to overcome obstacles.

Overall, 'Confusing Quest 2' is a quintessential example of the text adventure genre, offering a demanding and immersive experience for fans of cerebral gameplay. Its emphasis on exploration, puzzle-solving, and narrative depth makes it a notable entry in the Commodore 64 library, particularly for those who enjoy the challenge of deciphering cryptic clues and navigating complex virtual worlds.