IFComp 2024 Impressions is a series where must-play entries from the aforementioned jam are showcased for your convenience. Final Arc would like to give a disclaimer that it does not encourage readers to vote for any particular game mentioned in this series.
I had the good fortune of meeting Jim Nelson at NarraScope 2023. He was there to do a talk on his award-winning game According to Cain, a murder mystery parser text game where you investigate not the who but the what. More specifically, what was Cain's punishment for killing Abel?
Video by Interactive Fiction Technology Foundation via YouTube.
I happened to play it while waiting for my trip to Pittsburgh for the conference. It's now one of my favorite interactive fiction (IF) games ever made, and Nelson is now also one of my favorite IF authors. When he sent a call for beta testers in his newsletter I replied to him the second after I read it. A Jim Nelson game is known for its quality in not only puzzles, but prose. This is no surprise considering he's a professional author; and a fine one at that.
Alright, alright, I'm done fanboying.
What is Under the Cognomen of Edgar Allan Poe?
JANUARY 19TH, 2024
I always saw myself as an honest person. Do unto others, and all that. You know. Walk the walk.
…
When I saw others getting ahead, I used to tell myself, “Hey—at least I can look at myself in the mirror each morning.”
…
An honest person…
…
- Text by Jim Nelson.
Nelson's entry into IFComp 2024, Under the Cognomen of Edgar Allan Poe, is many things. On one hand, it's a game about dealing with the duality of superficial popularity vs meaningful respect as a career writer. On another hand, it's a mystery about the last days of famed author and poet Edgar Allan Poe. On yet another hand, it's dealing with the fallout of making a Faustian deal.
BALTIMORE, OCTOBER 6TH, 1849
Call me Theophilus.
With alarm and dread I have studied the broadsheets for news of Edgar Allan Poe’s ordeal.
The papers, so fond of the sensational and lurid, offered few details of real weight…
The particulars of Poe’s dire situation possess the earmarks of a fate I am familiar with…one that may hold the key to relieving me of my own curse.
- Text by Jim Nelson.
It may sound like a large and complex game. But I assure you that the author's skill in authoring text adventures mixes his ingredients well. Under the Cognomen of Edgar Allan Poe is split into multiple perspectives across different points in time at well-paced intervals. You begin in the modern day as a writer, waking up after an explosion. This character's past is unveiled as you find clues in Baltimore, Maryland, in the year 1849 as a European who discovers the secret of Poe's disappearance for his own agenda.
“Call me Theophilus,” say I. “I happened to be visiting Baltimore on a personal inquiry when I learned of this horrendous turn of events. I’m an acquaintance of the writer, and came to check on his recovery.”
This, of course, is a lie. I know Edgar Poe solely by his reputation and voluminous writings.
- Text by Jim Nelson.
It's complex to describe yet not too hard to digest. Under the Cognomen of Edgar Allan Poe reminds me a bit of the classic Infocom games in that there's an emphasis on puzzle-based gameplay, while still presenting a cohesive narrative that doesn't become overwhelming. Looking at the sources that informed this game, it's no surprise that Edgar Allan Poe's work and life inspired this game. Only a true enthusiast of mystery tales would be able to write something as mesmerizing as Under the Cognomen of Edgar Allan Poe and According to Cain.
One big thing Under the Cognomen of Edgar Allan Poe does well
“Again, once you’ve signed the contract, we’ll continue.” He nods toward the door. “Otherwise, leave and our business here is concluded.”
- Text by Jim Nelson.
Something I noticed in Nelson's latest piece is how it depicts the struggle of being a writer almost too well, and I don't mean this in a bad way. While playing I found myself stopping at times and thinking about my own struggles as a writer–-the times I spent craving fame or feeling hurt after scathing (at least to me) comments and feedback. It made me wonder why I put up with so much misery for something that I wasn't even getting paid for.
“The explosion blew open the side of a skyscraper at the height of the morning rush,” he says. “It’s damn lucky the whole thing didn’t come down and kill everyone inside.” Dennings’ face blanches at some fresh memory he keeps to himself. “In my twenty-two years on the force, I’ve never witnessed more human suffering.”
- Text by Jim Nelson.
It's funny if you think about it—so much violence and agony occurs around the characters in this game over being known for words on paper. At times I couldn't help but consider how far I'd go to become a famed and respected writer myself. At its core, Under the Cognomen of Edgar Allan Poe goes beyond being a solid adventure game to venture into the uncomfortable territory of our own morality. Dear reader, if fame and glory could be all yours, what are you willing to do?
Who should play Under the Cognomen of Edgar Allan Poe?
“Rules are made to be broken—but punishment for breaking the rules cannot be avoided.” He offers no specifics.
- Text by Jim Nelson
For legal and ethical reasons I'll have to discourage the violent and morally corrupt from playing this game. Jokes aside, any fan of IF will have a great time with Under the Cognomen of Edgar Allan Poe. It's an amazing parser game with embedded puzzles and an exciting story with poignant undertones. There's even a couple of choices here and there (yes, they're important)!
Eagerly I bound down the stairs, ready to open my investigation into Poe’s cursed circumstances…and, God willing, to close the book on my own.
- Text by Jim Nelson.
Mystery fans are going to have a lot of fun with this one too. There's enough details going on and lore to uncover that recreating the truth will be a fun challenge. The game also does a great job of helping you in this endeavor by tracking all the clues you find and any important locations discovered. You may have a whole tangle of clues and events to sift through, but you're in capable hands.
Before you start your investigation…
This used paperback has been so thoroughly handled, it’s lost its cover and first few pages. The copyright page is the only indicator of the book’s title:
Under the Cognomen of Edgar Allan Poe
A tale of literary ambition
by Theophilus
translated by Jim Nelson
- Text by Jim Nelson.
Wandering the streets of Baltimore, I came across an old book worked on by Jim Nelson. The forward has an excerpt from it I'd like to share with you:
“Under the Cognomen of Edgar Allan Poe emerged from two creative impulses: To write about the competition for cultural capital in the modern world, and to plumb the mysteries of Poe's death. This led to a framing story set in modern times, while the bulk of the story is set in Baltimore, 1849. As I worked through the process, I realized I could use each story line to answer mysteries in the other. It seems to me that mysteries work particularly well with interactive fiction, and seeking out interesting ways of presenting them can keep the form fresh and relevant.”
I wish you luck on finding out the truth behind Poe's disappearance. You can play Under the Cognomen of Edgar Allan Poe through the IFComp website or IFDB. Just a heads up that the game has music which can only be heard by downloading and playing the game on a supported interpreter.
Emery Joyce
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Justin's many things: Memer, designer, developer, game maker, Tarot reader, writer, and more. Now he's a keyboard monkey for Final Arc (don't tell them he said that). Website: heyjustinkim.com
