The suspense that only a disk drive can bring

Hero's Quest I: So You Want To Be A Hero

Late at night, the faint hum of cool air blowing through the ceiling vents. I'm tucked into the corner of my mom's sewing room, where the family computer sits. No lights on, save for the bright colorful glow that our 13" CRT monitor brings across my bloodshot eyes. Color shades of dark blue and green.

The forest of Spielburg. Evening time. My blond headed fighter, name of Donatello, is in full sprint desperately running to the right. Boots barely gaining traction on the wet forest floor. He's not looking behind him, only forward.

Because hot on his heels is a Cheetaur. Half Centaur, Half Cheetah. All danger. Black and purple fur shimmering (if the graphics allowed it). Fresh blood on his claws.

Donatello's blood.

I frantically press CTRL+S to look at my stats.

Health: 15/110. Uh-oh. It's been hours since I saved too.

I return to the game. I press up. Donatello starts to move to the north. The Cheetaur starts to follow, he cuts across the map diagonally and touches me just before I reach the exit. The world stops as the combat screen loads.

The battle music begins. The Cheetaur looks at me with murderous intent.

I frantically press 'E' to try and escape. To my relief, the end battle music plays almost as quickly as the battle music began.

I'm returned to the forest, the Cheetaur appearing to move in slow motion as I press up again. Desperate for a screen change.

The disk drive on our Packard Bell kicks in. A slightly overworked 3.5" floppy disk begins to whir. The game freezes while the next screen loads.

BUZZ. BUZZ. CLICK. CLICK. BUZZ. BUZZ.

The screen refreshes. I'm surrounded by dark forest once again. My blond haired hero enters the screen continuing his run to the north. I wait until he's halfway across the screen and then press right.

There's only one place to save me now. Erana's Peace. The vibrantly colorful grove filled with the most peaceful song my young ears had ever heard. A sanctuary whose halls I was desperate to darken once again.

I'm two screens away. I have no health and nothing to heal myself. If the Cheetaur hits me again, the dark forest will be my tomb.

My hero turns right. The Cheetaur enters the screen. My fingers tighten. I reach the right side of the screen. The disk drive whirs. The screen freezes.

BUZZ. BUZZ. CLICK. CLICK. BUZZ. BUZZ.

The screen refreshes. The dark forest comes into view. There is a gap to the north.

Erana's Peace.

I press 9 on my keypad, a diagonal run up and to the right. Almost home.

My hero starts to move. The Cheetaur appears quickly, right on the heels. I reach the top of the screen.

Then I stop.

...why do I stop?

The diagonal run put me right next to the exit to the north, I bumped against the brush!

Panic. I press right, ready to press up when the time is right.

The Cheetaur catches me. My time is up, his time is now.

The world stops again as the combat screen tries to load, the disk drive providing a death march of clicks.

The combat music begins. I press 'E' repeatedly.

The Cheetaur swings a giant clawed paw at me. I see Donatello recoil slightly, and my health bar becomes the tiniest sliver of pixels I've ever seen on a computer monitor.

He wounded, but he didn't kill. The end battle music plays. I escaped.

I'm dropped back to the dark forest. The Cheetaur is so close I could be considered his hobbyhorse. I press right. Then I press up.

The disk drive whirs.

BUZZ. BUZZ. CLICK. CLICK. BUZZ. BUZZ.

Silence.

BUZZ. BUZZ. CLICK. CLICK. CLICK. BUZZ. BUZZ.

More silence.

CLICK. CLICK. CLICK. CLICK. BUZZZZZZZZZ.

Seconds have become hours. This is my eternity. Will I have peace or punishment?

BUZZ. BZ. BZ.

Tension melts into relief as the first few notes of Erana's Peace plays over the Ad-lib sound card. My eyes grow three sizes in shock as the dark forest gives way to the green, yellow, red, pink hues of Erana's Peace. Flowers decorate the floor. A giant stone and large tree your only places of comfort.

I thrust my hands up and shout my success at beating The Cheetaur to the finish line. I throw my head back and laugh.

Then I feel gravity start to take over me. I leaned back too far.

My chair tips over.

I fall over. My head hits the floor.

I lay on the floor, giggling to myself as the soft, relaxing notes of Erana's Peace playing through the speakers.

Then I pulled myself back up and sat there, listening to the beautiful tune play.

Then I type 'sleep' and press Enter.

"You sleep comfortably among the fragrant flowers."

We can be a hero again tomorrow. Tonight, we rest . . .

And save our game. The disk drive whirs and clicks.