Master of the Lamps, a classic game from 1985, was conceived by Russell Lieblich and designed by Peter Kaminski, with a captivating soundtrack by Lieblich.
Plot
In this game, the player takes on the role of an Arabian prince whose father, the king, has died, shattering three enchanted oil lamps and releasing the genies trapped within. The palace is overrun, and the prince must reassemble the broken lamps to contain the genies. Dressed in a white thawb and red keffiyeh, the prince must venture into the seven dens of each genie, as each den holds a piece of the lamps.
Gameplay
The gameplay alternates between two distinct modes. In the first mode, the prince navigates a flying carpet through a winding tunnel to reach a genie’s den. Once in the den, the second mode begins, where the player strikes a gong three times to summon the genie. The genie then draws from a hookah and blows out a ball of smoke that generates a sequence of tones. The player must repeat this sequence in a call-and-response pattern to progress.
Reception
In 1986, Antic magazine praised Master of the Lamps as an “offbeat game program with several unique elements.” Although they noted that the game “does become a little monotonous,” they appreciated its non-violent gameplay.
