Monty Python's The Meaning of Life

Overview

Monty Python's The Meaning of Life was released by 7th Level in September 1997. Critical feedback for the game was mildly positive, however the entire game was tainted by a fatal bug that meant that the title, in its released state, could not be completed.

The game offers the player the chance of discovering the Meaning of Life. Like the previous two games, Monty Python & The Quest for the Holy Grail and Monty Python's Complete Waste of Time, it featured a point and click interface. The game also includes 'new' content, mostly contributed by Eric Idle, that added nonsensical narration to the events onscreen.

The game involves various screen 'clickables' with mini games and clips from the film of the same name. Players travel from location to location in order to follow various linked 'stories' of the characters. The player was expected to follow these threads in order to understand the various outcomes for characters, and ultimately discover the Meaning of Life.

Gameplay

The game features many objects that can be interacted with, such as a ringing phone in 'The Living Room' and TV options.

The game was split across several screens and stories. These game locations were split between the Study and The Living Room. The Study was a 360 degree viewing environment that the player could interact with, while the Living Room was made up of: The Organ Area, The TV area, and The Computer Area. Each of these were separate 'clicky' areas that the player could interact with.

The stories featured in the game:

• Broadnose's Quandry
• The Chronicle of Thog
• The yarn of Mary Catherine
• The Story of Henri
• The Redemption of Preacher Bob
• The Reasonably Heroic Intention of Fraidicus

The game progresses through the player clicking parts onscreen, with many of the options changing upon multiple clicks.

Players are also tasked with finding 'Dennis Moore' (the Python equivalent to Dick Turpin) in various locations throughout the game.