The Dink Network

Milderr!! 3: End of Questing

October 30th, 2002
v1.00
Score : 7.0 good
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Binirit
Peasant She/Her
 
This is the last part of the Milderr!! trilogy.

Storyline: Although this part starts where part 2 ended, the story is rather vague and you are not told what you have to do, or why you have to do it. All you are told is that Milder can not return to Terris, and then he is on an island and has to find a way to get a bridge repaired.

Map and graphics: The map is a bit less empty then in part 1 and 2, but still quite empty. The title screen is done nicely; it looks like a cat though, and I am still wondering how Milder got involved with a cat.

Music: Suits the situation.

Good: The interaction with the people you meet. Almost everybody has a story to tell. The explanation Milder gives why he does not want to fight is good. It is also explained in the readme.txt, but it is nice to have that in the game too. The in between movie in the intro movie about Dink is quite nice.

Not so good: The storyline is better then in part 1 and 2 and there are subquests that make sense (in part 2 they did not). There are not that many savebots; especially before a screen with an enemy there should be a savebot – Milder got himself killed while fighting the dragon and I was the one who had to play half of the game over again; very boring and annoying. As in part 2, more hints to let you know what certain solutions to tasks might be, would have been appreciated: it took me ages to find the ‘entrance’ to the river.

Overall: A D-mod with a good storyline, but not that good gameplay.

Fit for: If you have played part 1 and 2 you should play this one too.
March 29th, 2005
v1.00
Score : 8.7 good
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Although I hated Milder 1 and 2, Milder 3 has always been one of my favorite dmods. In this dmod, Milder, though intensely self-centered, is not actually evil. And he evokes sympathy because a) you have to play as him, and b) he gets used by everyone. But of course, he's also a very unsympathetic character. This paradox is something I have never seen in a computer game, and it makes for a surprisingly moving experience.

Style: 10
Good mapping and tremendous dialogue. Some people might think that there's too much talking; not me. The music is okay, but repetitive. No new graphics.

Gameplay: 7
Some interesting things here, but too much is forced; Milder finds his way out of problems without your help.

Story: 9
Many things are unclear, but the basics of this story really work well. Sharp does a good job using irony (in the Alanis Morisette sense) to drive the plot: every time Milder saves a group of people, they banish him.

In fact, the timing is generally superb, for whenever Milder claims any sort victory, he faces an even greater setback. Few games use this technique as effectively as this one, although many books do a good job of it (grapes of wrath, invisible man, etc.)

Overall:8.7
You might have to sit through Milder 1 and 2 to figure out what's going on here, but it's probably worth it.