Once Upon A Time In Arabia (Critical IF gamebooks) Paperback – September 29, 2013

A fun game book with lots of variety. The unique aspect of these books is that the game "tracks" where you've been using codewords. This means that instead of making free choices like a Choose Your Own Adventure book, you may be forced into situations based on earlier decisions. The gear you possess also forces certain decisions, so it's always a good idea to think seriously about any opportunity to buy gear. Some gear is set by the character you choose at the beginning of the game, so by playing through with each different character, you can be sent off on completely different adventures.

Back to the Arabian Nights indeed! In this adventure you get to explore the world of the One Thousand and One Arabian Nights. Genies, monsters, corruption, treachery, the Rokh bird, shipwreck and magic. Dave Morris has done a good job recreating the atmosphere of the original tales for this story. It felt a bit short but not enough to complain.

I love this book. My only issue with it is the same as all game books I've read, when my character wants something I don't though the author calls it "you", but that aside this is a truly beautiful book. Separate stories you can choose between brilliantly interwoven, imagery splendidly described but not hampering, and lore that feels both fantastic and real in turns make this possibly my favorite interactive narrative to date.

A Book with good beginning and interesting options for playing and exploring.But ending is very dissapointing. A rising challenge is lost and you wonder what was the whole story for

An excellent gamebook but one star docked as 'Once Upon A Time In Arabia', which is a reissue of Virtual Reality 6 'Twist Of Fate', is missing its original Russ Nicholson illustrations for some reason? A black and white map, with only one of the the genies hands remaining, the rest of the original painting having been erased, also replaces the original colour one. Anyone know the reason for these changes when other reprinted Dave Morris gamebooks do contain the original illustrations? Certainly the reprinted Blood Sword series, for instance, is actually better than the original issue with superior maps and cover illustrations.

Re-release of the old "Twist of Fate" that I never had, with a new prologue and cover.This is a fun gamebook (or interactive novel, as you don't throw dice). Pick a character (Beggar, Sailor, Thief and so on) and match your wits against the Evil Vizier Jafar (booo!). Deal with Jinni, the heat of the desert, shipwreck and lots more as you blunder around, die horribly or possibly win. It's great fun whatever happens.The keyword and skill system is nicely done... so instead of asking you "Have you been turned into a donkey?" it can ask you "Do you have the keyword Eeyore?" which means you don't get spoilers.Some beautiful prose too.

Finally republished!

Such a good book. Not as much in the way of combat as some other game books, but none of it is down to dumb luck, so I would say it is better for those who like to think about things before rushing in head first