Hexan

## Description

_Hexan_ is an educational game that tasks the player with solving math
problems. The premise is that the player character is exploring a maze where
the treasure of a medieval sect “HEXAN” is hidden. The maze consists of
featureless corridors, through which the player moves in a first-person view,
using arrows (or, on the Atari, a joystick) to walk forward and turn 90 or 180
degrees.

Some places in the maze contain “messages” – these are math problems where the
player has to type in the answer. Only one chance at a correct answer is
given.

Once all ten problems have been found and answered (successfully or not), the
player can gain entry to the treasure room. Depending on the number of correct
answers throughout the game, the treasure is more or less difficult to
acquire. If all ten problems have been solved correctly, the game is now won
immediately. If less than seven problems have been bested, the game is over.
If between seven and nine problems have been bested, the player must type in a
password to win the game. The password is generated randomly each time and no
hints are given as to what it is. The number of digits in the password varies
based on the number of correctly solved problems, but the number of allowed
attempts is always just enough to give the player a one-in-ten chance of
winning.

If the game is won, the player is shown a code. Until September 30th 1987,
those who sent the code to the publisher had a chance at winning a prize.

Hexan