I guess not, but just to verify...

Is it included?

It sure is. You can select whether you want the updated graphics and redrawn backgrounds, or you can use the original graphics if you prefer. You can even mix and match if you want... updated characters with old backgrounds, or the original low-res characters with the redrawn backgrounds.

What I'm NOT sure about is the checkpointing... the new version updated the checkpointing so it occurs more frequently, but sometimes this means the game will forget something that you did (there's a certain sequence in the middle of the game that is probably the least linear section, this is where the problems can occur). I don't know if you can opt for the original checkpointing instead, anyone else know?

Also the original may have had problems with "remembering" what you'd done as well, I don't remember. If you've played the game before, then it will be obvious when these checkpointing issues happen, and even if you haven't you can probably figure it out. If you are able to go back and check whether you've completed a certain section yet, it doesn't hurt to do so after a respawn.

I also noticed one section where the connectivity of rooms was wrong. It's not a gamebreaker and doesn't even really affect anything but it was weird. After the first time moving through that area the connectivity worked properly.

Thanks for the extensive answer.

I've played the game with the original graphics and checkpoints, and since I'm kind of a purist, I'm glad to hear that the minimalistic version can still be played.

Too bad about the addition of checkpoints. Back in the days difficult games like these were the standard. The added checkpoints for me kind of destroys the fact that this game reflected this. I look at it as a tiny piece of video history wiped out. I don't just buy old games for fun but so they remind me of the time back then as well; how games were made, what they were capable of technically and in which way the game industry was heading (which is why I'm glad GOG was able to obtain the original Gobliiins and Broken Sword).

It's silly in the greater scheme ot things, I know...

Ah, anyway, thanks again for your answer. It's still on my wishlist.

Honestly I don't think they were changed that much... I think there are only a few extra checkpoints, and now that I think about it, the original game probably had the same problems with remembering what you'd done during the non-linear sections. But I totally understand the desire to play the original game unaltered. It's pretty close though. Plus you get some cool extras like the soundtrack (which was composed for the game but only one or two tracks were actually included in-game) and a making-of video.

By the way, a cool factoid: the characters in the game were made using vector graphics, so the "updated" character graphics aren't really updated at all, they're just running at a higher resolution. It's the exact same character shapes and animations, taking advantage of the fact that vector graphics can be scaled up to any resolution. The new backgrounds are pretty cool too. It's worth checking out the new graphics in addition to running the old.

The original version was for the Amiga and it was shorter (missing quite a few rooms). A really good version was the VGA PC version which is the one featured in the GOG.com release (when you turn the new graphics off).

The game is really an amazing piece of work. The guy basically lived in his flat for 2 years working on this game. It explains why it's so short to finish once you know how to. I admire how he didn't want a sequel and wanted players to imagine how the story continued.

This game is a true cult classic.

Yeah that's true... I believe that when he was working on the DOS port the publisher wanted it to be a little longer so he added some rooms. I only ever played the DOS version though so I'm not sure which ones are the ones that were added. I think this is discussed briefly in the "making of" video that's included in this release.

You can watch an Amiga playhtrough. Basically after your buddy lifts you up into the ceiling the PC version has a whole new section.

The Amiga version skips to the last few screens.