Giving a description of just what Silk Noil is about is difficult because, even after finishing the game and playing through it several more times to try and get a better idea, I still don't really have a clue about it. It's one of those games which plays at times more like a strange trip through the writer's mind than a 'real' game in the sense that most of us would define a real game. There are no real puzzles to solve and the game can be completed in less than a dozen moves. The 'objective' - if such a word can be applied to a game like Silk Noil - is to seize a key from the strange Silk King and open a door with it, although quite why is never explained and little is achieved even after the door is opened. But then I suspect that Silk Noil was never really designed as a game in which puzzles need to be solved: the idea was to write something strange and original - and at this Silk Noil clearly excels.

If you persevere with the game and try to overcome the sheer strangeness of it, Silk Noil is quite a captivating little game - the emphasis being on "little" as there are no more than four locations in total to explore although because of the lengthy descriptions given to each and the way part of the description often changes through clever use of events it sometimes seems to be a far larger game than it really is. The writing is excellent from start to finish though at times is pretty hard going. It takes several read throughs before you fully understand just what the writer is trying to say and even then you might find yourself shaking your head in confusion a time or two.

Silk Noil clearly isn't a game that will appeal to a large audience: it's too strange to have mass appeal and the style of writing is offputting when you first start playing it. Also there are the strange references to the Silk King spraying perfume from a phallic shaped bottle onto his crotch whilst being crawled upon by a host of minute women that I can well imagine would dissuade more than a few people. I guess this is the sort of game that will divide players into two groups: those who love it and those who hate it.

Personally I loved it.

Logic: 3 out of 10
The game made no sense whatsoever although I'm sure this was intentional.

Problems: 10 out of 10 (10 = no problems)
Weirdness aside, Silk Noil had no real problems although the game is so strange it would be a challenge noticing them in any event.

Story: 7 out of 10
Bizarre would be the best way to describe it. It held my attention for the time I was playing it although I'd really struggle to give a decent description of what it was about.

Characters: 7 out of 10
Only the aforementioned Silk King who was the strangest character I've ever come across while playing a text adventure.

Writing: 9 out of 10
Truly inspiring.

Game: 7 out of 10
Speaking from the group of people who loved the game, I'm giving it 7 out of 10 although I could well understand people rating it 1. At worst, view it as something different and original and the sort of game you're never likely to come across again.

Overall: 43 out of 60