buglehawkem That’s it! Congrats! Killed Until Dead. I was using the Apple II version (the one I played as a kid), but it also hit the C64, ZX Spectrum, and Amstrad CMC. Published by Accolade in the US and US Gold in the UK, Developed by Artech Digital straight outta Ottawa.
You play a detective that’s been invited to a mansion filled with mystery writers (all murder mystery stereotypes). From your desk you eavesdrop, make phone calls, and collect evidence to preemptively accuse one of the writers of a murder they’re about to commit, before they commit it. It’s a pretty good idea, executed well for its time, with some really effective use of the cartoon art direction (everyone is visually very distinctive, which becomes important while doing something like video surveillance).
When the Nintendo DS released I was absolutely certain someone would either reboot this game, or just do a homage and use its ideas. But … no.
I’m afraid I don’t have as much of a rant prepared for this one compared to The Third World War. :P
