tiggum's review
2.0
This is a real low point for the series and I'd probably give it only one star if it weren't for the power of nostalgia. Incredibly linear and full of unavoidable dangers, random events and dead-man-walking scenarios, this sequel makes the first book look like a fluke. The series does pick up again afterwards, but it's got a lot to make up for and never really recovers from some of the bigger problems introduced here - by which I pretty much mean the Sommerswerd. When the player's starting Combat Skill is a number from 10 to 19, a +8 bonus is ludicrously overpowered and every book from here on has to account for players of two vastly different ability levels.
On a first read it's probably not too bad, because you don't notice how little your decisions actually impact anything (although many other problems are going to be evident even then) and it's a quick enough read that I wouldn't recommend skipping it, even if only to get the complete story and the opportunity to pick up the Sommerswerd. I know what I said about that earlier, but it is iconic and Lone Wolf wouldn't be the same without it. Swings and roundabouts.
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The collector's edition bonus adventure, The Crown of King Alin IV (by Vincent N Darlage, Joe Dever and Nathan Furman) is kind of a cool idea. You get to play a character from the main story (Lord-lieutenant Rhygar) but in an unrelated adventure. Unfortunately he's just not a very interesting character to play. His abilities are boring and mostly useless, and he has very little personality.
The actual adventure isn't bad though. You get a nice little chase through the city and cap it off with a decent boss fight. I wouldn't say it's worth tracking down the collector's edition for though, because there's really not a lot to it. It's fine.
On a first read it's probably not too bad, because you don't notice how little your decisions actually impact anything (although many other problems are going to be evident even then) and it's a quick enough read that I wouldn't recommend skipping it, even if only to get the complete story and the opportunity to pick up the Sommerswerd. I know what I said about that earlier, but it is iconic and Lone Wolf wouldn't be the same without it. Swings and roundabouts.
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The collector's edition bonus adventure, The Crown of King Alin IV (by Vincent N Darlage, Joe Dever and Nathan Furman) is kind of a cool idea. You get to play a character from the main story (Lord-lieutenant Rhygar) but in an unrelated adventure. Unfortunately he's just not a very interesting character to play. His abilities are boring and mostly useless, and he has very little personality.
The actual adventure isn't bad though. You get a nice little chase through the city and cap it off with a decent boss fight. I wouldn't say it's worth tracking down the collector's edition for though, because there's really not a lot to it. It's fine.
willpollard's review
4.0
Although this is book two in the series it's really the second half of the story that began in book one. All of the Lone Wolf books are linked, but these first two more so than most of the others.
Firstly, why four stars and not five? It's guilty of something that a lot of gamebooks are; the instant death paragraph. By this I mean that you will choose a page to turn to and without any clue that it's going to happen you will be dead, just like that.
This book is a bigger offender than most in that respect and takes it to the next level. There is a particular section of the story where if you haven't taken a particular ability, or been lucky enough to find a particular weapon, you're finished. It's a small gripe and the Lone Wolf books are by no means the biggest offenders in this respect, it just bugs me.
Fire on the Water has a lot of what I like in a gamebook. An epic journey, plenty of exploring and places to spend your gold. It's a well written story, with a few stand out characters and by the time you've finished, you really feel like you've been on an adventure.
Firstly, why four stars and not five? It's guilty of something that a lot of gamebooks are; the instant death paragraph. By this I mean that you will choose a page to turn to and without any clue that it's going to happen you will be dead, just like that.
This book is a bigger offender than most in that respect and takes it to the next level. There is a particular section of the story where if you haven't taken a particular ability, or been lucky enough to find a particular weapon, you're finished. It's a small gripe and the Lone Wolf books are by no means the biggest offenders in this respect, it just bugs me.
Fire on the Water has a lot of what I like in a gamebook. An epic journey, plenty of exploring and places to spend your gold. It's a well written story, with a few stand out characters and by the time you've finished, you really feel like you've been on an adventure.
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