Infocom's first foray into the Mills and Boon romantic stories which, incidentally, is their first adventure written by a woman, Amy Briggs, a 25 year old graduate from Minnesota. Plundered Hearts is all about swashbuckling Pirates on the high seas, mutiny, kidnapping and romance in any order you like.
Playing the part of a female heroine shouldn't deter you (if you are of the male persuasion) as the puzzles and adventures are exciting and original in their own merit.
Amy's style is very descriptive, although the beginning is more scene setting than interactive, so saving is recomended, otherwise a rather lengthy intro will have to be endured over again.
This apart, when the adventure really gets going, you are faced with some early changes for a quick demise, in the guise of a lighted fuse leading to a pile of gunpowder that cannot be reached and a mutinous crew of cut-throats that cannot be calmed. Very taxing. To solve Plundered Hearts you must use every ounce of female intuition and not a small amount of female clothing.
One thing that pleases me is that with the virtual plethora of Infocom products that are coming out at a rate of knots this year, the standard is still tip top which proves that in the hands of professionals a lot of product does not mean a diluted product.
9 out of 10
Thanks to Frank Skagemo for transcribing and donating this article.