Krypto | Classic retro game for the Commodore PET Computer (1982)

KRYPTO is a difficult math card game for one to three players.
There are 52 cards in the deck, with two sets of cards numbered from 0 to 25.
Each player is dealt five cards, a card is turned over as the target,
and the next card in the deck is shown.
The object is to invent a mathematical expression containing all the cards in your hand that yields the number on the target card.

For example, if you have the cards 20,5,15,10, and 0 and the target is 0, you might choose the expression:
20+5-15-10+0 then press the RETURN key.
KRYPTO checks your expression, and complains if it is wrong.
If your expression is correct, the next person plays (or you get your next chance, if playing by yourself).
You can discard one of your cards by entering a C when asked for your play.
It will ask which card you want to get rid of, and replace that card with the card shown on the top of the deck.
Each time you discard, play passes to the next player (unless you are playing a single-person game, naturally).
To keep things moving along when more than one person is playing, there is a three-minute time limit for each move.
If you haven't solved the puzzle within the allotted time, the next player gets to take a turn.
However, you can be thinking up your solution while the other players take their turns.
Your math expression can use addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
As in BASIC, multiplication is shown with the asterisk (*) and division uses the slash (/).
You may also use parentheses to control the order of evaluation.
Normally, multiplication and division are done before addition and subtraction.
As always in math, there must be an equal number of left and right parentheses.
KRYPTO checks, and complains if they are mismatched.
When you type in an expression, KRYPTO objects if you try to use numbers that aren't in your hand.
If you propose a valid expression that doesn't produce the correct target result, the right expression will be shown, and play continues.
When you want to end the game, press Q to quit.Krypto is a game written by Gary Marsa and published by CodeWorks - Cursor, a company known for developing software for the Commodore PET. The game was released during the early 1980s, a period when the Commodore PET was a popular personal computer for both educational and home use. CodeWorks - Cursor specialized in creating games and utilities for this platform, and Krypto is one of their notable releases.

The gameplay of Krypto involves solving cryptographic puzzles, reflecting the game's name. It was designed to challenge players' problem-solving and logical thinking skills, which aligns with the educational focus of many Commodore PET programs. The game likely featured text-based or simple graphical interfaces, typical of the era's hardware limitations.

Unfortunately, specific details about Krypto's mechanics, storyline, or reception are scarce, as documentation and preserved records from this era are limited. However, it remains a part of the early history of computer gaming, particularly within the niche of Commodore PET software.