Web Fed Award-winning Planets

Reviewed on May 9, 2004

Paha Sapa translates into the Black Hills, where the Lakota have populated a planet and turned into a world of their own. In space you can view the twin moons, try your luck with an opponent in the arena, or take your chances trying to outrun the formidable Tannahasse if you venture into his territory. The landing pad is actually a mesa with a panoramic view of the lush valley and forest below. From a distance you can make out roaming herds of buffalo and horses, and hundreds of tipis nestle in the center of the forest.

On reaching the valley floor, the usual facilities of any planet are woven into the theme of this planet, and visitors are greeted at each location with fitting excerpts from a prayer written by the Lakota Chief, Yellow Hawk. One of my favorite places was Chenuhula's Ship Repair, where high tech spaceship meets tipi in an interesting blend.

CHENUHULA'S REPAIR

++ I SEEK STRENGTH NOT TO BE SUPERIOR TO MY BROTHERS, BUT TO BE ABLE TO FIGHT MY GREATEST ENEMY, MYSELF. ++

The tipi is full of ship parts. Some are hanging from pegs mounted on brace poles. Others are stacked on wooden racks constructed of willow poles lashed together with rawhide strips. Chenuhula repairs or sells new ships. His kaskapis (slaves captured in battle) work very fast and efficiently. (Exit-NE; In-Weapons Tipi)

Just outside the village you can find Nuhira's office and living areas, all decorated in the planet theme. An attempt to use 'double' locations in the office area can be disorienting, making it look like there are movement errors. I also found myself mysteriously debarking a shuttle I didn't know I got on when I moved from the garden to the bedroom.

A little farther on you can find the Sun Dance ceremony. But heed the warning; the locations beyond the path do get somewhat graphic.

This path leads to the Sun Dance. The braves have been preparing for days by fasting and purifying in the Sweat Lodge. This is the most important and meaningful ritual since it is performed to show obedience and gratitude to the Great Spirit. This is not a ceremony for the faint of heart to watch.

I found exploring the life of the Lakota quite interesting, the text describing the their activities vivid and rich. You can help with erecting a tipi, hunting for food, or even attend the moving wedding ceremony of Pi-Zi Ista and Mato. Makakin Lake is a great place to spend a lazy afternoon.

Some of the best descriptions of the planet are hidden within 'The Quest' – a puzzle that takes one through an arduous physical journey. Unfortunately working through the puzzle one is reduced to far too much blunt-force object name guessing, and due to event/object problems in one location description I found I was 'using' an object I hadn't even run across yet.

Pahasapa is quite well written and almost all the descriptions incorporate the theme of the planet, and Nuhira has several mini-challenges aside from the Quest that were very interesting. Movement and event problems keep it out of the Walrus category, but it does deserve a Carpenter Award!