Review of "The Asian Challenge" Review of "The Asian Challenge"The Asian Challenge is a MS-DOS text adventure game written with [AUTHSYS] and is © 1989 ButtonWare, Inc.. It was written by Conrad Button.
Review by David Welbourn (originally posted at IFDB)
The Asian Challenge is remarkably similar to the author's South America Trek, except this time your fact-finding mission is about Asia, you're starting in Istanbul, the geography teacher you'll meet is a Mr. Piddlebush, and the submarine you have to signal is in the Indian Ocean.
Once again, make a map. Asia's a big place, even with some countries reduced to one or two locations apiece. Some of the wandering around is a bit more fun this time: you get to ride a magic carpet, a camel, and several types of boat in the course of your "investigations".
What is perhaps more curious is comparing this untroubled minimalistic Asia of yesteryear with the one that makes headlines in the news today. In this game, you wander through Syria, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, etc. and there's not a hint of unrest anywhere. Oh, some places are communist, but that happens sometimes. What's not being said is probably a lot more important than what is said.
Still, it was interesting in its way. It's not every game that let's me "sail sampan".
Rating: ⭐️⭐️