THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Monday, July 24, 1995                  TAG: 9507220045
SECTION: DAILY BREAK              PAGE: E5   EDITION: FINAL 
COLUMN: THE GATEWAY
EXPLORING THE COMPUTER WORLD
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   54 lines

YOU'LL MEET YOUR DOOM WITH NEW CD-ROM GAME

Here's a look at some of the most recent CD-ROMSs.

``Gahan Wilson's Haunted House'' invites you to meet your doom. The object of the quirky game is to collect a set of 13 mysterious keys that will unlock the haunted house and free you from its spirits - both evil and playful. You have to collect all the keys before the house clock strikes 13 or risk being trapped inside for all eternity.

Each of the weird rooms offers you a chance to earn a key:

In the game room, you can try your luck with tick-tack bat, or a monster slot machine. In the basement, you trap creepy creatures and torture or crush them to force out keys. In the kitchen, you try to conjure up keys with witches' brew. In the bathroom, you plug up and overflow the toilet and see what emerges.

Mostly, though, you'll earn your keys by exchanging weird items with one of the many monsters that shares the house with you. As you participate in the strange swap meet, you learn each monsters' favorites. (A hint: The two-headed guy likes the grossest stuff, like the moldy brain.)

With so many ways to get keys, the game may sound easy. But no method is full-proof: Each task could earn you a key - or leave you with nothing. Worse, a monster might suddenly get mad and attack you.

The rules change because the house cheats. It will even speed up the clock if it thinks you're getting too close to winning. The house doesn't like to lose.

And many unseen hazards lurk inside the house.If you spend too long in the attic, you may never get out. If you torture too many monsters, the house gets angry and starts sending evil spirits to hex you.

The game is fun to play - but hard to win. (Even on the easiest setting, I played for hours and never got more than 12 keys before being buried alive.)

But even if you lose, the sound effects and animation and the constant surprises make this game a winner. It's guaranteed to keep you entertained for quite a while.

Perhaps for all eternity.

- Lise Olsen

Gahan Wilson's Haunted House is for Windows CD-ROM and costs about $50. MEMO: If you have any ideas or comments for The Gateway, contact Tom Boyer at

boyer(AT)infi.net or call 446-2362.If you have any ideas or comments for

The Gateway, contact Tom Boyer at boyer(AT)infi.net or call 446-2362.

by CNB