Published by Psygnosis Limited after development by Divide By Zero Limited, Innocent Until Caught is a graphic adventure game that was released in the early nineties. It was created for the Amiga and the personal computer running the DOS operating system. It is a single player game and plays entirely from the third person perspective. Innocent Until Caught has an icon-based point and click interface that is very easy to use. The game is very strong in the puzzle-solving category and features a very interesting science fiction, futuristic setting.
The game surrounds the life of a wanted thief, Jack T. Ladd. He runs all about the galaxy performing heists and petty thefts and has made a lucrative living at it until the game picks up. Of all the things to bring him down, the interstellar tax agency has given him a short twenty days to pay his delinquent taxes or they will hunt him down and punish him. Taxes, in the future, are apparently an even bigger issue than they are now, because Jack looks at possible termination as a punishment. Jack is already stranded on a less-than-lovely planet, Tayte. He has to come up with a good amount of cash, and fast.
Innocent Until Caught is an interesting
game with a fresh premise and easy-to-master controls. There is a miniature window on the screen that will provide a map for Jack to follow. It also serves as a looking glass, which magnifies small items and makes them easier to attain. The fact that the map shows the exits of an area is very handy and makes navigating between the screens much less frustrating. As the plot progresses and the user solves puzzles and acquires inventory, there will be several rendered sequences that will help detail the plot.
The character of Jack Ladd is not a very likable one, and the gamer may find himself doing more dangerous things just to get back at the jerk that he plays. It all works to add a little bit more excitement to the game, as well as a real human element. There is some humor in the tale, mainly in the form of Jack’s rude one-liners. Overall, this is a solid game with some very sound elements to it, both in well-placed puzzles and intuitive interfacing. It should provide a good classic play for most fans of the adventure game, and space junkies will likely also find some very likeable things in this game.
