description Infidel Overview
Infidel is a text adventure game published by Infocom in 1983 and written by Michael Berlyn. The game places the player in the role of an arrogant and morally questionable Egyptologist who becomes trapped inside a newly discovered pyramid while searching for treasures. It is historically significant in the interactive fiction genre for its unlikable protagonist and its deliberate use of a depressing, unhappy ending. Players must solve a variety of inventory-based puzzles to navigate the ancient tomb's interior.
help Infidel FAQ
Why is the protagonist of Infidel so unlikeable?
Michael Berlyn deliberately made the player character, G. R. "Rose" Steeley, arrogant, exploitative, and obsessed with treasure. The crew abandons him before he enters the pyramid, and the story uses his flaws to shape its unusually grim outcome.
Can Infidel be completed with a happy ending?
No conventional happy ending awaits Steeley after he pursues the pyramid's treasure. The fixed conclusion was controversial because many 1983 adventure players expected successful puzzle solving to produce victory.
What were the physical extras packaged with Infidel?
Infocom packaged the game with archaeology-themed "feelies," including documents that supplied atmosphere and useful context. These physical materials also served as part of the original product's copy protection.
How does Infidel differ from Infocom's Zork games?
Infidel uses Infocom's parser-driven exploration and object puzzles but replaces Zork's comic fantasy with an Egyptian archaeological setting and a morally compromised protagonist. It was published in 1983 and written by Michael Berlyn.
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