Douglas Adams' famous comedy science fiction series, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," transcended several mediums after it first appeared on BBC Radio 4 in 1978. Adams wrote five novels, a TV series, movie, and, in 1984, a computer game.
Originally published by Infocom, Adams' game was a text adventure — meaning the online way to interact with it was by typing in commands such as "open door," or "turn the light on." Now, for the game's 30th anniversary, the BBC has re-launched it as an online game that's free to play.
See also: Interactive Doodle Pays Tribute to Douglas Adams' 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'
The game, available here, is infamously hard and wickedly funny. Often the most logical course of action will only yield a sarcastic remark from the game's AI engine, while to progress you must do something completely ridiculous.

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy text adventure game, BBC's 30th anniversary edition.
Image: BBC, Mashable screenshot
Those familiar with Adams' work will likely be able to solve some of the puzzles more easily, as the narrative in the game loosely follows the first novel. The revamped, online version of the game does have some visuals and sound effects, which should make the experience a bit more easier for those unaccustomed to the harsh world of text adventures.
Another less visual online version of the game has been available on BBC's website for many years. You can still find it here, along with a trove of info on Adams' work and the game itself.
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