A detective has been sent to a Californian mansion to investigate a suicide. Mrs. Linders was found dead in her home next to a suicide note. Mr. Linders called the detective because he felt that there might have been foul play involved. Throwing out ideas as to who could have done this terrible deed, a number of residents mentioned that a man named Styles could be the culprit; he had been living in the mansion for some time, and then Mr. Linders was found dead.

As the detective, you must converse with the household residents, gather clues, and solve the case. Infocom's The Witness features a variety of characters, such as a butler named Phong and Mr. Linders' daughter Monica. Characters must be questioned for information, and you must separate the lies from the truth.

There are a number of rooms to explore and search. Each location is presented with a detailed account of the room's decorations, characters in the room, items that stand out from the rest, and which directions can be taken. Items are used to answer certain questions and solve puzzles, and bring the detective a notch closer to creating a motive and naming a killer -- assuming there is one.

As in other Infocom titles, actions are handled via text commands such as "Take" or "Talk." When you want to leave the room, you can enter in a directional command such as "North" or "West." All commands are listed in the instruction manual. Be on the lookout for people lurking around the mansion as you attempt to solve the case, and remember: the truth could be lethal. ~ Matthew House, All Game Guide