Crash06_Jul_1984 by Marco Martinelli

No 6

July 1984

75p

MICRO GAMES ACTION

a n NOT...

" 3 D

C R A S H takes an i n - d e p t h look at p e r s p e c t i v e in g a m e s i f

SABRE WULF ON SCREEN!

D E R E K BREWSTER S

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ADVENTURE TRAIL SNOWBALLS! L 2-PART PULL-OUT MAP OF mz ATIC ATAC /

Also front MICHOMEGA: DEATHCHASE LUNA CRABS HAUNTED HEDGES STARCLASH All £6.95 tor the 16K or 4BK Spectrum

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T r a d e enquiries: Microdealer 0727 34351 Websters 0483 62222 Tiger 051 420 8888 Pinnacle 0689 73141 Prism Micro Products 01-253 2277

» Available of

(TlEGfl

3-Dimensional a r c a d e strategy o n the 48K Spectrum - £6.95 Compatible with Kempston, Protek/AGF, and Interface 2 joystick types.

speGtrylim

ISSUE 6

W Editor Roger K e a n Consultant Editor Franco Frey Production Designer David W e s t e r n Art Editor Oliver Frey Adventure Editor D e r e k Brewster Staff Writer Lloyd M a n g r a m Contributing writers Matthew Uffindell Chris P a s s e y Client Liaison John E d w a r d s

ATIC ATAC - THE MAP!

REVIEWERS' COMPETITION

S o m e S p e c i a l Mentions'

102

Photosetting by S I O S . 111 Salusbury R o a d , London N W 6 Colour origination by S c a n Studios. 4 4 W a l l a c e R o a d . L o n d o n N1 Printed in England by Carlisle W e b Offset ( M e m b e r of t h e B P C C Group), N e w t o w n Trading Estale. Carlisle Distribution by C O M A G , Tavistock R o a d . W e s t Drayton, Middlesex U B 7 7 Q E S u b s c r i p t i o n s : 12 i s s u e s £ 9 . 0 0 U K M a i n l a n d (post free) E u r o p e : 12 i s s u e s £ 1 5 ( p o s t free)

W e cannot undertake to r e t u r n a n y w r i t t e n or photographic material sent lo C R A S H M I C R O unless a c c o m p a n i e d by a s t a m p e d addressed envelope.

Cover by Oliver Frey

3D OR NOT?

T h a t is the question the C R A S H t e a m ask a s they plough through a m a m m o t h article o n 3 D in computer g a m e s

EDITORIAL NEWS INPUT

A brief round-up for the m o n t h

Lloyd M a n g r a m prints s o m e of your letters

ADVENTURE TRAIL

N o material m a y b e reproduced in w h o l e or in part without written consent of the copyright holders.

MAKING AN IMPRESSION

T h e R & D Digital T r a c e r e x a m i n e d

and indexes

Hot Line 0584 3 0 1 5

' IMewstield Limited C r a s h M i c r o is published monthly by N e w s f i e l d L t d . , P O B o x 10. Ludlow, Shropshire S Y S 1 D B

A two-part pull-out colour poster

Subscription Manager Denise R o b e r t s Telephone numbers General office 0584 5 6 2 0 Editorial/studio 0584 5851 Advertising 0584 5851

JULY 1984

CRASH FORUM

D e r e k Brewster hops a b o a r d the S n o w b a l l to look at s o m e games SIGNPOST A d v e n t u r e g a m e tips a n d hints from D e r e k a n d his correspondents

CRASH HOTLINES

T o p 5 0 f a v e g a m e s a n d the A d v e n t u r e chart

Electrogobble - w e c o m p a r e s o m e G h o s t G o b b l e r s

RUN IT AGAIN

PLAYING TIPS

100

G a m e hints from r e a d e r s a n d Lloyd's Hall of S l i m e (?)

103

C r o s s a n d I h e Arcadians return after a month's a b s e n c e

68 82

TERMINAL MAN PLAY POOL

A C o m p e t i t i o n for t h e g a m e f r o m C . D . S . Microsystems

TO THE STARS!

G a r g o y l e s A d Astra h a s hit the Microdealer charts - now's your c h a n c e to win o n e of the 1 0 0 copies going in this quiz

CRASH QUIZ

Another brain-teaser a n d results

And why not? It has the finest graphics yet to emerge from a Spectrum game. Fly the latest swing-wing fighter bomber, with full 360° control. Seek out and destroy enemy targets. Land, refuel, take off at will. With 3D multi-screen, multi-directional wraparound landscape, ifs guaranteed to give your brain hypermania. Fly Tornado Low Level today - just one in a series of mindblowing action games.

PU AS* RUSH M l

D l L L

SPECTRUM 48K

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ANDROID TWO spectrum 48k

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ANDROID ONE spectrum I6K 48k TOTAL VALUE

Gamt>% vuiloble for kfyboaid and jOytficlr NAME

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ADDRESS

t iicIom' P O r VORTEX SOFTWARE

poyab!-- to VORTEX SOFTWARE atK) < fxJ to 280 BROOKLANDS ROAD, MANCHESTER M239HD

DEALER ENQUIRIES • CALL 061973 9580

VORTEX ACTION GAMES • AVAILABLE FROM ALL LEADING

RETAILERS-

Atic Attack - The Map The response to our d r a w a n Atic Atac m a p competition h a s p r o v e d to be e n o r m o u s A s I write this, T i m o t h y S t a m p e r of U l t i m a t e tells m e that the prize is b e i n g cast. T h e trophy of t h e A C G K e y stands twelve inches high. It won't be long now before the winner's name e m e r g e s . Meanwhile, f r o m the w e a l t h of detail sent in a l r e a d y , our colour poster is being p r e p a r e d . Part O n e m a y b e found in the c e n t r e of this month's issue, with Part T w o to follow next month. All y o u h a v e to do is carefully lift up t h e staples and pull the t w o c e n t r e p a g e s out. Part O n e contains the A t t i c , F i r s t Floor a n d G r o u n d F l o o r . Part Two has the B a s e m e n t a n d the C a v e r n s T h e two parts a s s e m b l e longways o n e a b o v e the other to m a k e up a finished poster approximately 2 9 7 m m w i d e by 8 4 0 m m high. There must still b e p e o p l e around w h o will find the m a p useful as a guide to playing Atic Atac, but for those w h o a l r e a d y know the place inside out, w e hope the poster will m a k e a n interesting decoration a n d provide a memory of hours spent u n d o i n g what Ultimate h a s wrought!

39 n D ^

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Big is Beautiful I was interested in the reaction of a caller who, in passing, commented that C R A S H s o o f t e n concentrated its reviews o n smaller, often unknown, s o f t w a r e houses. T h e r e w a s the implication in the tone of his voice that this was something of a failing - rather as though w e w e r e u n a b l e to get games to review from the bigger, more important c o m p a n i e s . Or perhaps it w a s a reference to the lack of g o o d g a m e s in s u m m e r . Whichever, it h a s to b e said that C R A S H set out to b e a comprehensive review m a g a z i n e (that c a n b e difficult at times, but w e do our best) a n d a s such is duty bound to review g a m e s from any sized software c o m p a n y w h e n a n d a s space allows Besides which, e v e n the biggest software houses today w e r e all little o n e s a year or two back. W h o is to say that s o m e genius operating from his or her back bedroom today won't b e a giant c o m e Christmas? It s the ideas that count. W h a t is a

Since the item on the Golden Key of ACG was written, the superb trophy has arrived - and it stands 14 Inches high on its base. Watch out for the next issue, where the winner will be

announced! In the meantime, plans are afoot for a follow-up competition from Ultimate based on Sabre Wull. Watch out for details - next issue.

p r o b l e m for the y o u n g a n d u n k n o w n s o f t w a r e h o u s e is e x p o s u r e - letting p e o p l e k n o w that they're there. Almost e v e r y m a g a z i n e in the business will d e v o t e s p a c e instantly to Jet Set Willy a n d Sabre Wulf, but w h o apart from t h e specialist m a g s will bother with Dennis Through the Drinking Glass or Application's follow-up The Tebbit? I k n o w that the majority of r e a d e r s a r e only interested in the biggies', but it c a n l e a d to missing out o n a lot of

very g o o d a n d entertaining g a m e s . In C R A S H w e try to redress the b a l a n c e a bit O n top of that it would b e a g o o d question to ask - d o the biggies' a l w a y s c o m e up with the g o o d s ?

alike a r e now facing the traditional s u m m e r s l u m p It m a y s e e m o d d to talk of a tradition in a m a r k e t barely in its third year, but e x p e n e n c e indicates that the s u m m e r is a l w a y s poor for s o f t w a r e sales Not unnaturally, g a m e s players w h o would h a v e to b e d r a g g e d a w a y from their S p e c t r u m s in the dark winter m o n t h s find that t h e r e a r e m o r e interesting things to d o outdoors during the s u m m e r C o n s e q u e n t l y , less s o f t w a r e is bought a n d l o a d e d Last s u m m e r , less w a r y , the s o f t w a r e h o u s e s carried o n advertising in the m a g a z i n e s a n d w e r e then upset w h e n they found that the s a l e s figures didn't e q u a l the advertising bills. This y e a r , e v e r y o n e is acting m o r e cautiously, looking over their shoulders at the circulating r u m o u r s that so a n d so is a b o u t to under Naturally, the s l u m p hits t me smaller c o m p a n i e s with less funding m u c h harder, but o n e or two of t h e real biggies' don't s e e m to find it e a s y to p a y for their advertising bills either. T h e records d o show that sales of g a m e s drop in the s u m m e r , but p e r h a p s the software h o u s e s a r e helping to p e r p e t u a t e a vicious circle by hibernating. This is c o n s i d e r e d a poor time to r e l e a s e n e w g a m e s . I write this o n the e v e of s e e i n g Ultimate's n e w g a m e . Sabre Wulf. It might b e salutory to r e m e m b e r that S a b r e Wulf is only Ultimate's s e v e n t h g a m e , b e i n g r e l e a s e d in the s u m m e r , a n d that their first two, Jetpac a n d Pssst, w e r e launched about a year ago right in the middle of e v e r y o n e else's slump. A s a result of their e x p e n e n c e s across the y e a r , they a r e probably quite u n c o n c e r n e d a b o u t releasing a major g a m e (with a n e w price too) in the middle of s u m m e r . It highlights a fallacy in the theory that a g o o d product should b e s a v e d u p until C h r i s t m a s - with a lack of g o o d g a m e s to buy a n d play, a n y really g o o d g a m e r e l e a s e d will stand out - a n d b e bought. But if t h e r e is a t e n d e n c y to pull in the horns during the s u m m e r a n d not r e l e a s e g o o d g a m e s , then the b u y e r s a r e going to bother e v e n less, thus tightening the vicious circle.

CRASH Hotline Summer Slump R u n n i n g o n from the a b o v e piece, small a n d large s o f t w a r e h o u s e s

T h e H o t l i n e is hotting up! Calls c o m i n g in now a r e virtually s w a m p i n g the s y s t e m , especially with the a d v e n t of the a d v e n t u r e line. E a c h m o n t h n o w results in

i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4

ONE CHR$ INKEY$

A new CRASH column which reflects the personal views of people who either read or write for CRASH. This month G.G. Watson, from Althorpe, South Humberside, hammers home the message. thousands and thousands of calls - a lot of person-hours to enter the details into the computer for analysis. Fortunately most callers know their minds and state their business efficiently. But there are the gigglers'. T h e s e fall into two broad categortes - those w h o start to giggle, put a brave face o n a n d s o m e h o w get through (a subgroup a r e those w h o break down completely but m a n a g e to ring back minutes later and get through the rigmarole okay); a n d then there is the second group w h o probably never intended a serious vote in the first place, start giggling, then turn the call into something else altogether It's just as well that the t e a m taking the details are broad-minded! Unfortunately this telephonic incontinence wastes a lot of time, especially w h e n you get a bunch of people with unlimited funds for the phone w h o like to ring continuously a n d practise their party jokes or Capital Radio's D J of the year competition entries. It's funny now the thought of a n u n m a n n e d answering m a c h i n e attracts the attentions of bored people! Still, w h e n there's the time, these calls c a n provide hours of a m u s e m e n t at the C R A S H offices But w e would prefer to just get the votes! Roger Keen

CRASHTIONNAIRE WINNERS T h e winner of the C R A S H Questionnaire d r a w w a s J . S . U n d e r h i l l of Bromtey. Kent, w h o wins ÂŁ 5 0 worth of software of his choice plus a n ubiquitous C R A S H T-shirt. T h e three runners-up e a c h get a T-shirt plus a three-month subscription to C R A S H . T h e y a r e Philip B r o w n from Hove, East Sussex, C h r i s t o p h e r P o w e l l from Oswestry, Shropshire, a n d K e v i n S p e i e r s from Croydon, Surrey. t would like to thank all those w h o took the trouble to fill out and send in the forms, which a r e still being collated for a final result.

HAMMERING HOME THE MESSAGE By G.G. Watson As you lean back in your chair, monsters stare out at you with their glowing multi-coloured eyes. S p a c e ships zapping anything, or a n y o n e in their way, streak through sectors of the galaxy never visited before. Robots stumble across alien landscapes, tanks rumble through the ruined remains of planet Earth Racing cars s p e e d round and round Frogs and all m a n n e r of creatures and entities hop a n d leap across imaginary dreamscapes. Evil beings a n d wizards cast their spells in devilish plots to enslave humanity. Unprotected m a n h a s only his wits to k e e p him alive. No, this is not the scenario for a complex n e w computer g a m e ! It is a subjective impression of the garish, sensational, software advertisements contained within the p a g e s of any popular computer m a g a z i n e you might c a r e to mention H o w exciting the n e w world of the h o m e computer looks! T h e s e sparkling images entice us to immediately go round to our nearest computer shop to part with our money. Yes, b e the first to o w n the electronic g a m e which will strain the skills and intelligence of you and your friends to their limits. D a z z l e the neighbourhood with this bnlliant new toy. Those are s o m e of the things advertisements tell us. E v e n negative reviews of a g a m e cannot quite convince us that it will not spend much time on our television screen if the advertisement in all its glowing imagery h a s hooked our interest. T h e advertisements for computer software, and hardware, a r e slick and professional. It is only a pity the g a m e s and machinery that they sing the praises ot so well do n o t a l w a y s quite live up to their inflated and

ADVERTISERS' INDEX Addictive Games 43 Advance Memory Systems 47 Anirog 66 Atlantis 40 Beyond Software 15 Brainbox Software 63 Cambridge Computing 42 C.C.S. 70 C.D.S. Microsystems 41 C.R.L. 64,65 Cheetah Soft 58 Crash (T-shirts/Binders) 71 C r a s h Mail O r d e r 89 Creative Sparks 72 Digital Integration 16 DK Tronics 24 Dream Software 63 Fantasy Software 90

CRASH July 1984

67 Gargoyle Games Gilsoft 46 39 Incentive Macmlllan 33 91 Micromania 2 Micromega 10 M.C. Lothlorien 25 New Generation 33 N e w s Soft Back page Quicksilva Rainbow Electronics 53 7 Sinclair R e s e a r c h 43 Stack 95 Starzone 55 Ultimate til Volt M a c e Vortex 4 43 Walker

verbose lyrics. Which leads m e to wonder if the people w h o produce the advertising artwork a n d literature should perhaps try to educate computer programmers and designers how to produce material that has a n equal impact on our senses. M a n y commentators have noted the parallels b e t w e e n the computer software industry and the pop music industry. Indeed, s o m e computer companies have encouraged this comparison by attempting to m a k e their programmers into stars'. Although this reflects the fast growing popularity of h o m e computing a n d its status a s a form of entertainment, it also m e a n s that hype and image b e c o m e m o r e important than the product. T a k e n to its extremes, c a n w e o n e d a y expect to s e e screaming teenagers chasing after the programmers of their favourite g a m e s ? Will prime time television shows feature the T o p of the Floppies' and contain promotional videos of programmers dancing Michael Jackson-type steps across back-projected images of their latest g a m e ? INDEX T O G A M E S IN THIS

This might sound funny but it is not long a g o that many g a m e s w e r e produced in houses, garages, and crummy little offices. N o w plush office suites and expensive, extremely fast, sports cars which lurk outside in the executive car park, are the order of the day. At the m o m e n t the software industry is booming and n e w talent is quickly utilised a n d promoted, just in the s a m e w a y as the pop music industry grew a n d developed in the Sixties. But whatever h a p p e n e d to the music s c e n e in the Seventies? It p l u m m e t e d to the depths of banality and had to b e knocked into s e n s e by the punk revolution! Is this what will h a p p e n to the software industry in the Nineties or late Eighties? Will the hype a n d i m a g e being generated so carefully now kill off the creative flair and instanct that still survives today? Only time and the consumers will h a m m e r h o m e the answers to these questions, let's hope everyone concerned will fare better than most space invaders orpacmen!

ISSUE

AIRBASE INVADER C P Software 52 A N T I C S Bug-Byte Software 9 A T L A S A S S I G N M E N T Virgin Games 76 S E W A R E H O U S E Positive Image 108 B U B B L E B U S T E R Sinclair 12 C A R N I V A L Edipse 110 C A R P E T C A P E R S Terminal 60 C A S E Y J O N E S Blaby 12 COMPUTEH COOK BOOK Bug- Byte 99 C O S M I C C R U I S E R Imagine 51 D E A T H S T A R Rabbit 107 DIAMOND QUEST C C S 75 D R I L L E R T A N K S Sinclair 53 ERIC AND THE FLOATERS Sinclair 54 FACTORY BREAKOUT Poppy Soft 97 JUNGLE ADVENTURE CCS. 107 L E S FLICS P.S.S. 107 M A T R I X Salamander 61

MOON ALERT Ocean M U G S Y Melbourne H o u s e POOL C D S ( T H E ) P R I Z E Arcade P S i - S P Y Postern REVENGE OF THE KILLER T O M A T O E S Visions (THE) RING OF DARKNESS Wintersoft S A B R E W U L F Ultimate S N O W B A L L Level 9 Computing S P A C E C O M M A N D Virgin Games SPECGRAFAnirog S P E L L B O U N D Beyond S T O P T H E E X P R E S S Sinclair 3 0 BAT ATTACK C h e e l a h Soft TURTLE TIMEWARP Perfection W A X W O R K S D o t a l Fantasia WORSE THINGS HAPPEN A T S E A SHversott Z I P P E R F L I P P E R Sinclair

48 50 40 59 61 11 75 62 73 109 81 51 49 109 13 77 8 59

A fine day for tennis on your Spectrum

This is Wimbledon. The home of British tennis/enjoying Britain's fine weather. But this summer, thin^ will be different If rain stops play on court, you'll be able to carry on playing-with Sinclair's 'Match Point. 'Match Point is one of six new, all-action programs for your Spectrum. It lets you play tennis against the computer, a friend, or just sit back and watch an exhibition match. Enjoy all the features of tennis - bade land and forehand shots, lobs, drop-shots, volleys, a scoreboard ...even ball boys are on-call. But good tennis strokes aren't everything To win the Match Point Open Championship you'll need skill and tactics. Luckily, though, you won't have to rely on the weather1

"Match Point has been developed by Psion, one of the UlCs top software houses. You'llfindit alongside Sinclair's other new titles - Stop the Express. Bubble Buster, Zipper Flipper, Eric and the Floaters and Driller Tanksin the shops, today. At ÂŁ7.95, it's a real winner! Selected Sindair software lines are available from W.H. Smith computer stores, larger branches of Soots, John Menzies, Greens and most other software stockists nationwide.

Sindair Research Ltd, Camberiey (027ÂŠ 685311. <S> Sinclair. ZX a n d ZX Spectrum a r e Trade M a r k s oi Sinclair Research Ltd.

i i n m l a i r -

W-T

H •A

S ROBOT POWER

U'RTEP;

Worse Things Ha| at Sea Producer: Silversoft M e m o r y required: 4 8 K Retail price: £ 5 . 9 5 Language: m a c h i n e c o d e Author: M i n d s e y e It's hard to believe, looking at this latest Silversoft game, that worse things could possibly happen at sea, but written by MP perhaps the author was referring to R & R's Titanic when he W e w e n t to s e a t o see t h e world, but w h a t d i d w e s e e ? . . thought up the title, or perhaps he was thinking about White Star's Titanic - that wasn't a The sad state of the ship can to be replaced by the next CRITICISM game! be immediately seen on the room entered. Above this is the Here you are called upon to lower deck where numerous score and hi-score (shown in • This is a super-original leaks are letting the sea gush £), a diagram of the 11 rooms game from Silversoft. The safely take a cargo ship from port to port. A diagram at the in. The rising level of water is with the one you are In flashing graphics and detail are very shown by the normally white (also the effect ofrisingwater), good and the game is very top of the screen shows the background turning black. The a yellow square which indiplayable and addictive. I really ports and your ship with a robot has several tasks which cates what object you are car- enjoyed it and I'm sure this navigable distance that would include opening and shutting rying, a bar code showing ame will be a huge success, take a few moments' freestyle t's probably one of the most to complete for the poorest of hatches (green or red lights robot energy, a course indiswimmers. Judging the difficul- show above the hatch on either cator (the robot has to keep the original games of 84 so far. There are many features in the ties you are about to face from side, indicating whether it is boat on course as well!) and open or closed), picking up this innocent little diagrammaes for temperature, water game to makertvaried enough jatches and placing them over tic representation would be and cargo value. As the to give it lasting appeal - exceleaks and then pumping out water rises, so the cargo value lent!' foolish in the extremal the water in the particular sinks. You play the part of a robot room. Of course, you can only Docking successfully at port • I am amazed that such a (it's an automated ship this carry one thing at a time. results in your cargo remaining simple idea - using a trusty one), and one can only suppose that the authorities allow Hatches should be left closed, being evaluated for points. robot to plug holes in a leaky as this slows down the rate of Lives are lost by running out of old ship and keep it afloat the ship to leave port with its flooding between sections, power, although to help a rapid should prove to be so much seaworthiness certificate and indeed, it isn't possible to return to the recharge chamber fun to play. The side view of signed because it only carries the ship is extremely pleasing a crew of one, and a robot to pump out a section if all the you can hyperspace, but this doors are open, as the water might take more energy than is graphically and well detailed boot. Boots, however, are of and coloured. I found that after little use - throat length waders flows in too fast for the pump to left. Also, the robot short circope. cuits if he's operating under completing a few successful would be more appropriate, crossings that worse things because this ship starts sinkThe screen display is very weater, and this drains power busy. About two-thirds is taken faster. Should the ship sink, began to happen at sea. For ingthe second it leaves port! The ship consists of 11 up with the depiction of a room. you at least have the satisfac- instance the ship kept going areas, six on the top deck and Moving through a hatch results tion of watching the event on off course, the engine overheated due to lack of oil, and five below. Each area is sealed in the display scrolling across the screen at the very top. more holes appeared in differoff from the next by hatches, ent places. Several great and hatches in the floor of the . . . W e saw t h e s e a — c o m i n g in! tunes are played, ana the top deck access to lifts to take sound during the game is you down below. The top good. Silversoft have proright-hand area contains a ROiOT HC'.ICE wait? duced an incredibly addicmaterialisation machine, from tive, playable and attractive which your robot starts life, and game.' next to it, a recharge chamber for restoring the robot's power which is drained by work. The other rooms contain nefarious • "There are some games you bits of equipment, but it is the come across that, based on a pipe and pumping handles thai simple idea, are nevertheless are important. A patch is also completely compelling - this is supplied in each area, but only one. Worse Things Happen at six pump handles for the 11 Sea is a nightmare of activity. pumps. At first it all seems fruitless, as

C R A S H July 1 9 8 4 8 wnttcft

A-N-T-l though you can never keep the ship afloat, but as you get better it seems easier. Unfortunately, the game has been programmed to grow with you! Oiling engines and steering wheels are added to the already Herculean tasks of pumping and patching. The graphics are really very good, crisp drawing and good colouring. A massive choice of keys is offered and the keyboard is very responsive too. All in all an excellent, original game. Great instructions on screen too."

COMMENTS Control keys: Q/W left/right, E/R up/down, T = door/take, X = pump/power. There are five other combinations offered including cursors and Sindair Joystick: Kempston, Cursor types, ZX 2 Keyboard play: excellent responses Use of colour: very good Graphics: very gooa plenty of detail and nice touches Sound: great tunes, very good throughout Skill levels:;prog progressive difficulty Lives: 3 Screens:11 Originality: very high based on concept and payability General rating: addictive, playable, generally excellent.

C o u s i n B a r n a b e e t o the rescue.

these games recently are get- There are also energy-sapping ingly difficult to outrun and ting a cast list as complicated thorns embedded in the walls keep you active enough. The as a Shakespeare play!). of the mazes. sound is just great with a wellThe scenario states that Antics is played To the tune known tune played continuBoris Bee (he of B&B fame) of Bach's Tocata Fuge in D - a ously (like Manic Miner and Jet has been set upon by a vicious sort of jazzed up version. Is Set Willy). This can be gang of ants and locked away that why J.S. Bach appears in switched off if it drives you somewhere within their nest, to the halls of fame along with mad. The keyboard laybout is await a terrible fate (what, Mrs Mopp, AAAAAAA and Mr. just perfect (in fact same as worse than death?). Fortu- Spock? There's also Dr. Jones JSW). The bee flaps his wings nately for Boris, help is at hand Did Not Believe It in there too. very realistically and does in the shape of his cousin Barhave forward momentum (you nabee, who is about to launch can't stop dead right away). a daring mission of rescue. Overall a highly addictive CRITICISM game - I must just have one The game takes the form of Use of c o m p u t e r 88% Graphics 8 9 % a large number of interlinked • 'Don't prejudge this game more go before switching mazes which represent the because it's a follow up to The off... Payability 9 2 % various layers of the ants' nest. Birds and the Bees - it does Getting started 8 6 % Barnabee starts off above have the same style graphics, • This is a great game. There Addictive qualities 9 4 % ground by his hive and can fly Originality 9 5 % to the right through four screens avoiding the blue birds Value for m o n e y 9 3 % which kill on contact. In screen Overall 9 1 % three and four there are entrances to the ant complex below ground. The object is to discover the whereabouts of imprisoned Boris and rescue him. Boris will follow Barnabee if he is close enough, but Boris is weak, so you have to fly slowly on the way out back to Producer: B u g - B y t e the hive. Memory required: 4 8 K The nest is infested with ants Retail price: £ 5 . 9 5 and beetles. Contact with Language: m a c h i n e c o d e these creepies will sap BarAuthor: A d r i a n S h e r w i n nabee's strength (Bar code above) but visiting the flowers In the time honoured cinema that also live in the nest will but the game itself is much bet- isn't a lot more I can say. It's tradition of 'once you've got a restore strength through pol- ter. Also, saying the game is got great graphics, continuhit on your hands - hit it again', len. Some flowers have the totally arcade would be wrong; ous tunes, it's playable and Antics Is The Birds and the property of opening up walls in there are several elements of addictive and I think it's excelBees II. It can't really be called the mazes when they are vis- adventure and even strategy lent.' Son of Birds and the Sees, ited. The wall opened may not involved. The graphics are well since the hero of Antics is Bar- be in the maze on screen at the drawn and colourful. Although • Antics is a polished piece of nabee, who happens to be a time. In some mazes the walls not a great deal is going on on software with many neat cousin to Boris Bee, the hero of are weak and will collapse as the screen at once, don t worry graphics touches like the scrol- ^ the previous game. (Some of Barnabee touches them. - ants and beetles are surpris- ling Hall of Fame, the names

Antics

i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4

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scrolling up white disppearing behind the horizontally scrolling game details. Simple keys (ten, right and flap wings) make control something that you don't have to think about, although any joystick will work, the keyboard is better. What makes Antics a non-standard maze game is the adventure '••liiv..''' element whereby visiting certain of theflowersallows exits in the maze which weren't there before to open up. At first I thought Antics was a charming looking game with not much going for it, but a few Smiffy gives up computers for gardening - but is it a wise decision? minutes playing soon cures you of that. Controlling Barnabee is a difficult task as he takes the form of six rows of has a high inertia - guiding him large cabbages by four rows through narrow openings in a across. Alternate lines move in vertical wall can be very frusopposing directions. Weeds, trating when stamina is runblue in colour, appear at ranning out. This is a game that dom points and times, also needs a map drawn! Very moving along with the cabplayable and surprisingly bages. The killer veg moves addictive." indepdendently, but "bounces Producer: Visions off the cabbages. Between COMMENTS attack waves the display Memory required: 48K informs you of what to expect Retail price: £6.95 Control keys: Q/W and next. Language: machine code alternates on rest of row = Game instructions and Author: Kevin Bezant left/right, objectives are well displayed on several sheets which can bottom row=flap wings, Visions describe this game as be called up from the menu. S - sound on. A = sound off. a 'Video Nasty' - a game which Joystick: any gives a whole new meaning to Keyboard play: with three the phrase, meat and two veg. C R I T I C I S M keys, very easy ; keys are responsive but it takes getting The meat in this case is Visused to the momentum factor ions' dashing young hero • This is a good game featurSmiffy. who appeared in the ing some very high-quality Use of colour: excellent Graphics: excellent - smooth, computer complex of 1994. He graphics - very smooth. The is now enjoying a much quieter game is both original and playdetailed, fast and clear occupation - cultivating the able (a rare feature lately). I Sound: excellent soil. But in this garden the rows enjoyed it, especially as it had continuous tune which manages to continue while a of cabbages move all over the a fairly high degree of addictivdeath rattle sounds if you lose place and it is infested with kil- •ty.' ler tomatoes {make sure they your life! don't ketch-up with you), • If gardeners/programmers General rating: original, psycho swedes (no imagine that tomatoes, mushplayable and addictive xenophobia intended) and rooms and swedes will turn excellent value and highly manic mushrooms {no refer- savage one day then there's recommended. ence to any other game no hope for any of us! A highly intended). Scoring is done by original idea There's not much Use of computer 89% awarding points for every that can be said about this Graphics weed pulled, completing a game, just that all the graphics 90% day's work and points are are large, detailed, colourful Playabiiity 92% Getting started 8 7 % docked for treading on the and they move about the cabbages. screen smoothly. After a while Addictive qualities 92% The screen display is very I found the game became tirOriginality 8 7 % uncluttered with no score lines ing due to the way that the Value for money 9 0 % or other info visible - this gives cabbages move about the Overall 90% a large playing area, which screen with the other veg

Revenge of the Killer Tomatoes

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manoeuvring around them. You may find Killer Toms has a lasting appeal, but I thought that the novelty of the veg multiplying every so often not only daunting but boring. An original video nasty that won 't grow on you!' • The hero, Smiffy, is instantly identifiable as the hero of Visions' 1994 game, and it looks as though the same movement routine has been used. What worked in that game, works less well here, as Smiffy seems to gallop rather than potter (or whatever it is you do in gardens). The idea is original and well implemented with excellent graphics and good instructions, but once into the rhythm, it becomes quite easy to stay alive and score points. The tomatoes are the least intelligent killers, with the mushrooms being positively aggressive chasers, tn later attack waves you get increasing numbers of killers and mixed veg varieties, Quite addictive, but perhaps the appeal won't last all too long.'

COMMENTS Control keys: user-definable - requires tour directional keys Joystick: Almost any via UDK, plus 2X1 and 2X2 interfaces Keyboard play: self-selected, very responsive i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4

mi Use of colour: clear, but limited, nicely used in instructions Graphics: very good, smooth and detailed Sound: average Skill levels: 10 Lives: 5 Originality: nothing else like it on the market General rating: with a range of skill levels and reasonable addictiveness, good value.

if any bubble should hit you. Points are only scored for hitting the small bubbles and bursting them. The first three stages have increasing numbers of bubbles. The fourth is a bonus point stage where the bubbles don't harm you and you must score as much as you can in a limited time period. After this everything repeats at a greater pace.

weak and could be improved upon. The keys are responsive but not well positioned. Overall, a fast, completely uninteresting game.'

COMMENTS

Control keys: A/D or J/L left/right, CAPS/SPACE = fire Joystick: ZX 2 Keyboard play: responsive, • Bubble Buster is a very but slightly irritating with the simple idea, which turns into a left/rignt key pretty fast game the further you Use of colour: poor go. However, the initial fun Graphics: large, fast, not wears off very fast too, as detailed there's little more to it than Sound: fair shooting balloons and dodging Skill levels: progressive them. I'm not saying this is an difficulty and speeds easy task, but some of the diffi- Lives: 3 U s e of c o m p u t e r 81 % CRITICISM culty involved is a bit unfair. Originality: not totally original Graphics 78% "You" are just fat enough a as concept seems to be based Payability 7 7 % • Bubble Buster is another character to get hit by the bal- on several others like loons too easily, so there's no Getting started 7 5 % relatively original game provided by Hudson Soft for Sinc- fine adjustment possible, Asteroids, Galaxians and Addictive qualities 70% lair. It's a shoot em up but the which lowers the skill factor. Breakout V a l u e for m o n e y 65% aliens are of a different breed. And that together with the General rating: fair. Overall 74% In fact, if you saw the recent extreme simplicity of the game 70% re-run of The Prisoner on TV, means it isn't very thrilling to U s e o f c o m p u t e r you may know what they are - play for more than about ten G r a p h i c s 61% minutes. The graphics are P a y a b i l i t y 53% reasonable, with good bounc- G e t t i n g s t a r t e d ** ;SCORE: O O O O i O H I : 000040 66% ing effects, but "you" are a bit A d d i c t i v e q u a l i t i e s 45% primitive looking, and couldn't 45% a bit more fun have been O r i g i n a l i t y added with some more col- V a l u e f o r m o n e y 58% ours? Not really worth it.' Overall 57%

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Galaxian bubbles in a game of what goes up must surely squash you flat when it comes down.

Bubble Buster Producer: Sinclair M e m o r y required: 4 8 K Retail price: £5.95 Language: machine code Author: H u d s o n S o f t

bubbles. The graphics, though simple {i.e. round things) are extremely well animated. The bubbles move just like the real thing with gravity involved to make them bounce about all over the screen. I found this to be a very original shoot em up type of game it had a fair bit of addictivity but did tend to become a little repetitive. Perhaps a little variation would have improved the situation.'

Bubble Buster is pretty simple to describe. You are a small • Why Sinclair should have man at the bottom of the put out a game as simple as screen and you can move left this one makes me wonder or right, firing missiles whether they ever designed upwards. A large yellow computers in the first place. bubble comes sailing in from Shooting balls with what looks the top left and bounces about like an arrow tied to a piece of all over the place. The object is green gardening string is not to hit it, when it will split into twovery thrilling. This game does smaller bubbles. Hitting one have an element of of these will cause it to split into Asteroids" when balloons three tiny bubbles, and each of split - but not very effective. these hit will burst. You're dead Both colour and sound are i

C R A S H July 1 9 8 4 12

Casey Jones Producer: B l a b y Computer Games M e m o r y required: 4 8 K Retail price: £ 5 . 5 0 Language: machine d o d e Author: G a r y C a p e w e l l Blaby packaging has always been quite novel and with Casey Jones the company has gone on to the larger plastic cassette case with a cover insert which shows a lovely photograph of an old American Loco belching smoke as it rushes along the track. There was a critic whose words appeared in this magazine who said once that he couldn't understand why software houses always insisted in educational games of illustrating the word TRAIN with a picture of a steam locomotive when they disappeared from our railways almost two decades ago. Well, in Casey Jones the anachronism is obviously quite intended. As it says on the cassette blurb, Here's your only chance to pilot a steam engine. Not only does this train fly but also has an unlimited supply of megatron missiles.' Wouldn't John Wayne have loved it! mgc The anachronism goes even further of course, for Casey

Jones is realty a Moon Buggy type game where you must leap the craters and obstacles, shoot away those too big to leap, and contend with murderous aliens' hovering above you. The 12.15 from Bournemouth is delayed due to hostile alien activity .. The screen presents you with a graphic representation of the steam loco on the cover which travels left to right against a scrolling background of rails, fences, telegraph poles and mountains. The aliens drop bombs which will destroy the engine if it's hit, and wnich leave fires burning in the ground - these also destroy the engine. Getting through all the attack waves and reaching the station will launch you on to the track again with a tender behind the engine, making a bigger target. The aliens in this game are unusual. The first wave consists of barmy burgers - a reference to Blaby's game of the same name; from then on there are various in' joke references with aliens ranging from Eugene s toilet, Horace to camels. Access cards and Daleks. Eighteen attack waves in all.

programmer has made it the most controllable vehicle of its type. You can take neat little • This is a "Moon Buggy" type game but with a train. The hops or gigantic run-at-'em use of sound and graphics is leaps. With so many attack good Generally everything is waves there is plenty to do, but good except for payability; the perhaps there could have been | train is an easy target and its more levels of play. All in all, jumping must be closely timed. tun and addictive in play.' The game seemed too hard to be fun - it was more of a task. Even so, it is reasonably addic- C O M M E N T S tive as it's always nice to see what the next attack wave is Control keys: Z/X left/right. L to jump and ENTER to fire and soon.' Joystick: Kempston • The game is quite difficult Keyboard play : good until you get the hang of dodg- positions and very responsive ing bombs. Your train flies very Use of colour: very good well, and for the first time with Graphics: large, detailed, this type of game you can quite fast and smooth move the train left and right Sound: mixed feelings from (well, backwards/forwards) in very good to average - it is mid-air - very useful. To each quite powerful though wave there is a different alien. Skill levels: progressive Reaching the station is quite a task - and then you play the game again but with a tender attached, and this is much more difficult. The graphics are detailed and varied, and colour is well used. The sound is fair and could have been I much better. This is an original graphic presentation of the Producer: P e r f e c t i o n standard "Moon Buggy" conSoftware cept.' M e m o r y required: 4 8 K • Case/ Jones is fun and Retail price: £ 5 . 9 5 hard at the same time The graphics are fun because they L a n g u a g e : m a c h i n e c o d e are original and large and they Author: T i m W i l l i a m s all move quite well. The train does present a rather large Perfection entered the games target for the alien bombs software business with a flourwhich adds to the game's diffi- ish and their game Odyssey 1, culty. on the other hand the which won a programming

CRITICISM

Turtle Timewarp

In this doom-laden Day After world, all the mutated creatures fancy a bity of turtle and your only hope is to drop a stun bomb in a mutation s path. This leaves it safe to cross over it for a short period, but there's only one stun bomb allowed on screen at any one time. Extra bombs may be obtained from the lair which appears at the centre of the screen from time to time. The screen takes the form of a simple maze with several dead ends. Tucked into the dead ends are large sized question marks, eight in all. At first you are chased by two mutations, but the question marks may be small turtles or they may be more mutations which will give chase after two seconds If it's a turtle it will cilmb on your back and a humanoid house will appear somewhere on the screen. You must deposit the small turtle safely and then go for another When five have been rescued the timewarp gates will appear in the centre of the screen and you may move to another land where there will be more mutated creatuires to chase you - of course! The maze forms are different on different screens

difficulty Lives: 3 Screens: 18 Originality: game type is quite common now, but presentation is highly original, a fact which is reflected in the rating below CRITICISM General rating: an above average to good game with • 'Yet another original game new features and quite with a great idea. The screen addictive to play. layoul is quite good although the graphics range from fair to good. Colour could be better used. Teams of mutations tend U s e of c o m p u t e r 70% to gang up on you giving no Graphics 74% chance to get away - this does tend to make a fairly simple Playabiiity 62% jame into one much more difGetting started 71% icult. The timewarp gates Addictive qualities 6 4 % rotate very well. The sound is Originality 68% fair during play but there is a V a l u e for m o n e y great, well-known tune, while 69% the computer waits for a key. Overall 68% Quite a good game from Perfection again, this one lacks something on the content side, but this improves after about prize. Turtle Timewarp is their 10 minutes of continuous play." fourth program, set in a world disrupted by thermonuclear • I must say, I found the turtle destruction. The last a little hard to control because humanoids have gone leaving this is one of those games behind turtles which have not where your "man" moves suffered mutation like all other under his own steam, changcreatures because of some ing direction with a keypress. unstated alien intervention. As Still, you get the hang of that the biggest and strongest turtle quite quickly. A joystick ceryou must go around collecting tainly helps, as things move smaller turtles and carry them very quickly once there are off to the dubious safety of several mutations after their houses left behind by humans. dinner, and in this respect the Using the timewarp gate progame is very good as it has vided by the aliens, you must user-definable keys to suit go from land to land collecting most joysticks. The graphics all the turtles. are a bit variable with a some-

i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4

moment. On some screens, the apples are entombed within rooms lacking doors. You are also provided with a blaster to shoot out the walls. Both blaster and panic button eat heavily into your time limit, and all the apples must be eaten before this is up in order to progress to the next, more difficult screen.

CRITICISM

Open the bo* - or take the money and run? Turtle Timewarp.

Use of colour: although generally good, perhaps it could have been more varied Graphics: quite detailed, reasonable in movement Sound: only useful beeps during play, but good tune • Turtle Timewarp calls for a Skill levels: progresive fair amount of skill in getting difficulty safely round this hazardous Lives: 3 series of mazes, especially as Screens: 10 the chasers are quite intelligent. The idea of never knowing Originality: a novel type of whether you are about to catch creepie based on the maze a turtle or a nasty cold does format keep you on your toes. I liked General rating: above the game and found it addictive average to good with because it does get very hard addictiveness. as you progress.' U s e of c o m p u t e r 83% G r a p h i c s 70% COMMENTS Piayability 72% Control keys: user-definable, G e t t i n g s t a r t e d 73% four needed for direction and A d d i c t i v e q u a l i t i e s 7 0 % one to drop bombs 68% Joystick: almost any type via O r i g i n a l i t y V a l u e for m o n e y 69% UDK Keyboard play: responsive Overall 72% what simple looking turtle that isn't animated. But he does curl up nicely - or withdraw into his shell, should I say, and the mutations are very effective. Quite addictive.'

Froot Loop Producer: N T D S o f t w a r e Memory required: 4 8 K Retail price: £ 3 . 0 0 Language: m a c h i n e c o d e Froot Loop's a pretty simple game to describe. You are a small black face on the outside of a series of variously shaped takes place, dark blue rooms with single entrances to bananas appear in some them. Inside the rooms there rooms, and eating one of these are green apples which you will unaccountably restore the must go round eating. In some rotten apples to wholesomerooms there are pale blue ness once more. squares which kill you off if you To make life more difficult, should run into one. Now and there are guards patrolling the then the apples go rotten and outside of the rooms. Should picking one up will also kill you one gel too close you can hit off. However, when this the panic button which will unseasonable occurrence I freeze the guards for a i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4 14

• 'I couldn't see any point in playing this game whatsoever. What's so fantastic about eating apples and bananas, whizzing round the block at super speed? The graphics are small and insignificant, moved by the block, although quite detailed and fast moving. The brick walls are quite well drawn, but the guards look more like jugs! The keyboard layout is good, being very responsive perhaps over-responsive. But it's a poor-quality game with an unknown joystick option.'

at least he is with a joystick (programmable, because the joystick option stated on the infay doesn't actually say what protocol it's for). Amusing for a while, but the primitive looking graphics and the lack of anything worth while to do makes it unaddictive.'

COMMENTS Control keys: Q/A up/down, O/P left/right, BREAK = blaster, 1 = panic Joystick: unstated Keyboard play: better than with joystick, as keys well laid out and responsive Use of colour: average Graphics: block, small fast moving Sound: average Skill levels: 6 Lives: 5 Screens: 10 Originality: well there's not much else like it, but collecting items and dodging guards isn't L- E

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Jug-eared guards, rotten apples and blue bananas to drive you nuts in Frool Loop.

• , There is a sort of manic quality to Froot Loop which might appeal to some, but it didn't to me. The scroling up of the screens at the end when you have cleared one is nicely done. But as to the game itself, I wouldn't recommend it, as there is so little to it. Yes, on the higher skill levels it is fast, but insanely fast, pointlessly fast. When will software houses wake up to the fact that sheer speed in a game isn't what makes them difficult.' • For about half an hour I think Froot Loop might appeal as a somehwat mindless pursuit, but it's appeal is bound to be limited because there isn't much to do, and in the end too many lives get lost not through lack of skill but because the man is too hard to control well -

all that original General rating: below average, but better value for money due to price. U s e of c o m p u t e r Graphics Piayability Getting started Addictive qualities Originality V a l u e for m o n e y Overall

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How three dimensional is the 3D game? Software houses have been sticking the prefix 3D on computer g a m e s for some time now. It's supposed to help them sell better. But does 3D work, and are all the g a m e s labelled as 3 D really 3D? C R A S H m a k e s an attempt to put things into perspective . . . 3 0 OR N O P At a small g a t h e r i n g of the c o m p u t e r press held by

Hewson Consultants in mid-May, programmer

S t e v e T u r n e r p r e s e n t e d a short lecture on 3 D in c o m p u t e r g a m e s . S t e v e is k n o w n for his trilogy of 3 D g a m e s p r o d u c e d by H e w s o n s a r o u n d the S e i d d a b t h e m e . Both S t e v e T u r n e r a n d H e w s o n s a r e conc e r n e d a b o u t the definition o f 3 D , a n d feel that the press should a t t e m p t a definition of it. At the gathering S t e v e put forward his o w n definition:

The player should, for the majority of the playing time, appear to be immersed in a dynamic playing area. There should normally be some approximation to true perspective unless other sufficient strong 3-dimensional cues are present.

This definition allows two main types of game to be classified as "3D". In the first type the player is represented by a figure on the screen but his view is from a fixed position above and outside the playing area, 3D effects are generated by strong visual cues in the shapes and shading of the playing area. In the second

type the player is not represented on screen but instead has an "eyeball" or "cockpit" view of the playing area. He can manoeuvre within the arena and 3D effects are generated by perspective and parallax using a vanishing point.'

i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4

the unbroken one is bigger, we have nq'difficulty in accepting that the1 two circles are identical in sizefeiutthat one is smaller because it is farther away from us,/and we know therefore fhtfit is really disappearing^slj tly behind the nearer ichnically this is absurd one -but i orks anyway because the br is used to interpreting nformation frm the seen three dimensionality. n this way. In summing There is a second form metric perspective, we perspective, usually referred to y it is less visually effecis\ Projefct«jn or Isometric vanishing point persive. It is used a lot in awings (see figure pective. tftRcan still work perfectly well ifadditional visual 'The defects depic ues are provided for the brain. from above and IWone " So we have a sense of depth Instead of allowingwtes 3D arrived in home computer triangulation (a^riethod of judgeated by perspectives which th to diminish in ing the distance to an object) games belore the Spectrum corporate distance and size ove away frt Malcolm Evans (New Gener- as long as there\are two Uj related to distance. Objects ôbserver (in accordar ^^^ ation) had written his Monster gulation points. nearer to life are bigger and Vanishing Poiht Perspec-\ two such points, ai^gj^VTesult Chase (we misleadingly T|e to remain they eclipse objects farther implied his game Escape for of the offset image^^ve brain y 30 Ant away that"1 appear smaller. the Spectrum was his second is able to caicula^ distance or the clas&c arcade LighJjj^rShade create an illuwhen it was actually Monster and therefore dept Ndity. and when these sense of depth whil *axxon are examples of Chase) for the ZX81 a classic ts are all combined tis soft of per example. When the Spectrum ceive in the world cing 3D results. But Isometric perspe arrived on the scene there that has driven artist: are three other imports ate it in paintings quite realistic, were a few rapid conversions lemenWp' consider visual of 3D games to take advantage During the ren; of the better graphics and col- period (starting ab th iclâtmosptie^^#n i ve our. The prefix '3D' was 1290) artists began to ht is rettjj&jmûch a brain immediately recognised as a the concept of perspe i/ay thaLuis t a n f a p p e a r it C M B B S selling point' and was often within another centurylhac affeiM a faint^Pr nffepWs a result the employed quite untruthfully. A worked out the mathei to accept that a lure 3. iect. Lc not uncommon trick was to add required to reduce the or dimmer object is ou see shading to the edges of, say, a world to a flat canvas »sue fther way than a bnghter or in (six* ed\ sh^ maze and call the result 3D way that an onlooker\eould îinesYa1 liat _ _ more strongly defined one. even though the game actually "beliq^SfBe^fas seen The arcade game Battlezone • • -really - " seeihg eisV a- With littli played like any other 2D garnet^BggestrOn of deptbjn the picnal cube, uses this principle, and Steve some shading Turner uses it in 3D Lunattack, But before games can Bfe tuie None ty th^H^ device added, and now where distant fighters h a v a \ defined as 3D or not. it's impor- has changed over meiri no doubt you are less lit pixels in their graphicsV J tant to establish exactly what ing years, andw seeing a three dimensional than those nearer' to the 3D is. ter programmer player The second element is From the earliest of times them if they widl^^^pRTe a cube. Another visual cue which parallax movement. When you mankind has been driven to three dimensional i represent the real world he Perspective is the most helps isometric perspective to sit in a car or train, the landsees about himself as an important, but there are other work is what we might call Hid- scape closest to you flashes by image on a flat surface. The visual cues which tell the brain den Views Figure 5 depicts far faster than the landscape in caveman painted on cave that an object has depth. The two circles, one broken by run- the distance. If you look at figwalls. Leonardo da Vinci had classic form of perspective is ning into the other Because ure 6 you can instantly see that his canvas and George Lucas usually referred to as Vanishuses the cinema screen. What ing Point Perspective. Put is common to all three is that simply, this says all parallel they must convert the three lines converge at a point on the dimensional inspiration to rep- horizon (see figure 1). From resent it on a two dimensional this simple concept, all other area and then convince the forms of visual cue emerge. onlooker that what he is seeing It doesn't take much imagits real. nation to take this concept a stage further and state that an object nearer to the observer MAKING REAL will be larger than a similar one which is further away: nor that WHAT IS NOT an object which is not moving Humans have two eyes, set actually straight at the slightly apart. Each eye pro- observer will appear to take a vides the brain with an image, diagonal path across the but these images are offset observer's field of view. From from each other by a tiny these three basic ideas, most amount. You can achieve computer games derive their i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4 18

LOOKING BACK

« «

Figure 1 Parallel lines converge at the vanishing point <A) on the horizon.

Figure 2 represenls the same rectangular box but seen in two perspectives - Isometric on the led and Vanishing Point on the right.

Figure 5

the lengths of lines A and B are different, A being much longer, although in reality they would be the same because the vanishing perspective lines are supposed to be parallel. It follows that objects must move faster the nearer to the observer they are to cover the same distance. The third element is focus, something which is a modern concept of distance, one brought home by the advent of the camera. The eye, of course, can focus across an enormous range of distance - the camera cannot. Today we are so used to seeing photographed images incorporating a depth of field which has near and distant

objects out of focus, that we have come 1o accept this as another visual cue. It is this device which we have played on to produce this month's cover of CRASH. The painting was done in several layers and cut out before being photographed. as you can see in figure 7.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER The problem confronting the computer programmer is what sort of perspective to choose, and when having done that, how to implement it in the progi C R A S H July 1 9 8 4

ram. Vanishing Point Perspective is an obvious choice because it is the one the eye accepts instantly. But there are serious problems For a start otf, this will require objects to zoom out of the screen at the player, which means that each object must be defined many times over, i.e. as small and distant, big and close, and as many stages as possible in between. Obviously the more animation stages employed, the more realistically 3D the graphic will appear Classic examples of this are Zzoom (Imagine) and, better still, Deathchase (Micromega). Even 48K of RAM becomes insufficient if a lot of characters must be stored for each object as ,i grows bigger, and especially so it there are to be a lot of different objects to be moved. Compromises mustbe decided upon to get as much information in to handle the graphics while leaving enough space for the game commands and handling. With Isometric Perspective the programmer's life is much easier because the scenery only has to be defined once as it doesn't change shape physically during the game. Look at Ant Attack (Quicksilva) and you'll see this exactly. The city is a large graphic over which the screen scrolls, so the only problem is the scrolling, the blocks of the city don t have to be redefined with every movement. Obviously this takes up much less program space than vanishingl Pc Point Perspective graphics. The disadvantage, however, is that the game can only be played from one height as it is only from a strictly fixed vantage point that the isometric perspective will work. With Vanishing Point Perspective the player can alter height convincingly. and even move from side to side (like Pole Position type games). When all this has been sorted out. and the programmer has decided how many of the other sophisticating elements he can add to the game to increase the 3D effect, you can begin to see that Steve Turner's definition of a 3D game is pretty spot on. i

C R A S H July 1 9 8 4 20

There have been a large number of games produced for the Spectrum which claim to be 3D. In part two of this article, we examine many of them closer in the light of Steve Turner's delinition and see how successful they are at presenting a three dimensional image.

AMAZING. STAGGERING. UNBELIEVABLE. - all words that have been used to describe home computer game graphics. But how often have you thnlled to the blurb and then wished you could have drilled the programmer with his own photon laser blaster when you got the game home and discovered how staggering it was - staggeringly bad? As we have seen in part one. there are really two different

types of perspective in use, and these tend to define the type of game or. rather, the vantage point from which the game is played. Vanishing point perspective tends to the game where you' are in' the screen, i.e. the cockpit' type game Isometric perspective tends to the game where you' are represented on the screen by a character, which for convenience we will refer to as a bird's eye view There are, of course, some anomolous

games which come somewhere in between or play with space in a three-dimensional way, but aren't visually 30 on the screen - as we shall see.

FROM MONSTERS TO TRASH Programmers and sometimes software houses tend to concentrate on a particular type of game Malcolm Evans and his New Generation Software

have been one such. Escape was an early and striking example of 3D, striking because of the lovely colouring and 30 because of the way the maze is constructed. Malcolm has ranged across both forms of perspective. Escape is decidedly bird s eye view, a fixed vantage point from which your man must be guided through a series of complex mazes made of hedges. The amazing monsters which chase you through the maze are a definite hazard, but the player is confronted by the difficulty of finding the horizontal pathways which are hidden behind the height of the hedges Visual cues are provided by shading the colour and also by the character animation - characters face in the direction of their travel. They do not change size, however, as this isometric perspective.

Escape by Malcolm Evans (New Generation) - a Striking example of isometric perspeclive.

3D Vortex - similar to 30 Tunnel - bul JK Greye's game results in somewhat more realistic 30.

30 Tunnel (New Generation). Malcolm Evans turns lo vanishing point perspeclive with less satisfactory results.

With the follow-up 30 Tunnel, Malcolm turned to a cockpit view as you guide yourself along a twisting tunnel filled with flying objects to be shot as they come towards you. Visually 30 Tunnel is less satisfactory, The effect is generated by alternating squares of colour set one inside another. These jerkily move outward' by growing bigger until they grow out of the screen. Going round a comer is done by offsetting the small start squares so that their edges touch the outer ones. The result works, but only just. Interestingly 30 Vortex (JK Greye) tried the same thing but used spirahng pixels to better effect It resulted in a smoother image but was spoiled by the objects, which were very jerky.

Knot in 3D (New Generation) - 30 that requires some thought.

i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4

tance) and colour shading. The graphics are quite simple, although implemented well in the protagonist, Bogul. who grows bigger in stages as he approaches. The recent Trash man, sees a return to the bird's eye view of isometric perspective, empIn the end both games suffer loying hidden views (Trashfrom a lack of overall definition man disappears behind as far as 3D goes, leaving the objects between him and you) brain working too hard to con- and light and shade technijure up a sense of reality ques to create an effect of solKnot m 3D fared better, New idity in the buildings and hedges. Colouring too is used Generation's third game and to great effect second "cockpit view' type. Knot also scored because the These examples of 3D concept required a readjustgames from New Generation ment of thinking from the illustrate very well the differplayer, which made it more ence between the two persthan just a 3D game. In effect pective views and also the Knot in 3D is a three dimenproblems the programmer sional "Light Cycles" game faces in using them. Of these where the player must fill up games the most sophisticated the available space before the graphically are Escape and computer does. You control a Trashman the bird's eye light trail' and, as in the twoviews where the defined dimensional variety, you must graphics are fixed and unalteravoid hitting your own trail or mg during play. Without excepthat of the computer, the wintion the cockpit games are ner being the one to make the simpler, creating 3D with other crash. shape and vanishing point Malcolm's next offering was perspective, but unable to do it perfectly because of the limitaCorridors of Genon. another cockpit view game based on tions of memory and the complexity ol the calculations the classic 3D maze principle required to move objects Here, the corridors are all curved, the visual cues being realistically through space wall shaped {receding with dis- towards the player.

FROM MAZE TO SPACE If the cockpit view places problems in the programmers' paths, they have nevertheless been elegantly overcome in a number of games a 3D maze necessanly requires walls drawn in perspective in order to work. But once the shape has been worked out, it can be repeated endlessly without eating up much more program A number of maze games have contented themselves with very simple views in which each step leaps into view so that the perspective may work, but the effect of moving between walls does not. i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4 22

Corridors of Genon (New Generation) is a classic maze game which uses shape and tonal colouring to achieve 3D.

mentioned lack of smooth movement although Juefzand The Skull do have a larger number of steps to create a reasonable sensation of forward movement. The one game which outshines them all in this respect is Zig-Zag (OK Tronics) which has employed a very clever device to create the 3D illusion. Here, vertical black stripes make up the walls, with accurately shaped floors and Omitting the ubiquitous '3D' ceilings cutting into them, This from the titles, we have Mons- very simple graphic device recreates perspective ter Chase (Romik), Maze of Gold (Gilsoft), Maze (Impact) extremely well, allows conamong the earlier Spectrum tinuous forward movement offerings, and the more recent AND allows the player to "turn )uetzalcoatl (Virgin), The his head' when going round Skull (Games Machine) and corners. Its supreme advanBat Attack (Cheetah Soft). tage is in the economy ol Monster Chase. Juetzalcoatl memory used to create the and The Skull all have mons- effects. The monsters being ters in them not unlike Bogul chased in the game also obey in Corridors of Genon - but The the laws of perspective by Skull uses its monsters best of growing smaller as they run all, with the skulking skulls slid- away and being progressively ing into corridors from behind hidden by intervening objects walls when you least expect like projecting walls. them. If you are suffering with a All these 3D maze games problem in describing a three suffer from the abovedimensional space enclosed

by walls, why not turn to an easier medium - space? In space there are no walls to hear the programmer scream, and a sense of depth can be created by having objects merely change size as they approach or move away. The result of this understanding has been a number of excellent and not so excellent games of space shoot em up. Among the earliest offerings John Hollis's Timegate (Quicksitva) has become a classic, if a little confusing when it comes to the scoring! 3D here is a relatively simple visual matter. There are no peripheral objects to be moved in perspective as there would be on the ground, only the alien ships have to be coped with. 30 Spawn of Evil (DK Tronics) was a very similar game which suffered from space ship uncontrollability; although it isn't directly related to three dimensionality, heavy objects are affected by inertia, they can't just go from zero speed to flat out without accelerating or slowing down - both above-

A simple looking 30 effect using strong lines -

Quetzal coati.

Zig-Zag (OK Tronics) uses a simple and clever device ol vertical stripes which can economically be deleted or reinstated to create the planes of a maze.

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Skulking monster skulls in The Skuil (Games Machine) demonslrate an effective use ot the hidden view ina 30 maze game.

mentioned games incorporated this effect into the space craft, sometimes making lining up a shot near to impossible. It can be a nice and realistic touch though. Other games which quickly followed suit were Galaxy Attack (Sunshine Books), Space Wars, Seiddab Attack and Lunattack (all by Hewson) and Space Station Zebra (Beyond). The 3D Seiddab trilogy (Hewson) written by Steve Turner makes another example of a programmer working his ideas out gradually through a series of games. Unlike Malcolm Evans of New Generation, Steve Turner has concentrated on the cockpit view exclusively, each game getting better and more complex until the recent 30 Lunattack. where a sense of flying through a three dimensional space is about as perfect as a small home computer can allow and leave room for a playable game This concentration on vanishing point perspective is about to change with Steve's new game, a 3D adventure which employs a unique mixture of vanishing point and fixed vantage (almost) isometric perspective.

One of the earliest 30 shoot em ups in space was John Mollis. Timegate (Quicksilva). Space ship movement is indicated by Ihe moving star background and 30 results Irom the animation ot the attacking craft.

30 Space Wars. 30 Seiddab Attack and 30 Lunattack (Hewson) all written by Sieve Turner show a concentrated development ol moving 30 from Ihe cockpit view.

The outstanding 30 space game is probably Derek Brewster's Code Name Mat (Micromega) which employs a highly complex form of dynamic 3D. In this respect, the use of the word dynamic' implies that life carries on even if the player can't see it in other words, just because an alien space ship has zoomed off the edge of the screen, it i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4

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Ad Astra (Gargoyle) combines many perspective elements very successfully. Here we can see the effect of vanishing point perspective on the shape ol your' ship.

doesn't mean the computer has forgotten it - it may be lining up a shot on you or circling back. This is true of Code Name Mat and 3DLunattack The effect of craft flying towards and past you in CNM is marvellous, but additionally 3D is used in another way when navigating with the distant view' facility which requires an adjustment of the thinking process (not unlike Knot in 3D) in order to see it working. One final point before leaving space 3D cockpit games as objects approach they get bigger BUT they should also get more detailed. Again, it's a problem of constantly redefining the graphic as it moves, and some of the games mentioned here do it better than ming or poor thinking. It spoils lines. The eye can often be VECTOR MOVEMENT others. the effect of the perspective. confused as to what is the front Orpheus relies on a single and what is the back of the drawn line radiating outward As Spectrum programming object. But the advantage to from its vanishing point to cre- has become more sophisti- the programmer is that he only EXTRA VEHICULAR ate the effect of flying down a cated so has vector movement has to define the shape of the ACTIVITY long cavern. It's a primitive and improved. This is a method by objects initially, and after that ineffectual device which isn't which the position of a point in the vector part of the program Staying in space, but getting helped by the jerky advance of space may be determined rela- will take care of the movement tive to another and constantly and the compression caused out of the cockpit, we get the the alien objects to be shot. In combination of space shoot Blade Alley this aspect works monitored so as to give a con- by perspective. In lacking solem up with vanishing point very well with several stages of sistent perspective result. It idity, the games lack light and applies very much to 3D shade and hidden view - in graphics but where the player animation being employed to games of course. Program- being effectively transparent, seems to hover outside the pic- create depth and movement. ture. This has been a relatively Graphically, one of the best mers tend to ahve their own several shapes can interrecent development and the games of this type is Ad Astra particular methods for vector mingle with each other. movement. Nevertheless a very large and games that instantly spring to {Gargoyle Games). The animind are Blade Alley (PSS), mation of the alien craft is The method is nowhere dynamic playing arena can be Orpheus (CRL) and Deathstar pretty standard to the type more acutely needed than in created with a genuine sense (Rabbit). Blade Alley uses with fewer animation stages to wire frame 3D or hollow' 3D. of movement and three dimensome of the maze game tech- create forward movement than Games using this device are sionality. niques with reasonable suc- in Blade Alley, but the real generally based on the arcade Artie went on to use the cess as far as a three dimen- miracle happens with the rolclassic Battlezone. CRL had same system in their Dimensional quality goes. Alternating ling asteroids These display an early game which approxi- sion Destructors, except that colours flash outward along all the classic rules, change of mated the type - 3D Desert this was set in space and so fixed baffles of increasing size size and apparent speed, corPatrol, but it was eclipsed by lacked the feeling of a landand height to create the pers- rect perspective movement, the appearance of 3D Combat scape - to its detriment. pectivised trench-like effect of increase of observable detail Zone (Artie) Here we have a Months later the tank battle these games. Deathstar is very as they approach (the craters much more mathematically was fought again in Rommel's simitar but relies more heavily on the surface are even ani- accurate representation of Revenge (Crystal). Crystal on the strong perspective lines mated to rotate as the vanishing point perspective, provided a background mounof its trench. Oddly. Rabbit's planetoid rolls on its axis), hid- one which allows that the van- tainscape which Combat Zone game has chosen to break the den view as one obscures ishing point is not a sole dot on lacked, adding to the sense of perspective parallax rule. It another object, and finally the horizon, but actually all the space, but emphasising the has a series of dotted lines shading which is very well visible horizon. This means one essential compromise in moving from the vanishing done. And in common with that the objects can be defined this type of game - the fact that point outwards toward the Blade Alley and Deathstar, the continuously to provide a you can never reach the limits player along the walls and floor perspective drawing of your highly realistic outline of their of the playing area; as you of the trench. Perspective ship is distorted as it moves shape which is always altering approach the mountains, so demands that these should from side to side or alters depending on how it moves, or they seem to recede before start slowly and increase in height on the screen. All of this how the pTayer moves' in rela- you - a symbol for life speed as they approach the calls for a lot of program to tionship to the object. What it perhaps? player but the reverse happens redefine the graphics. Ad Astra lacks is a solid feel, since the A very young company cal- in Deathstar poor program- does it very fast and smoothly. objects are all made up of led Real time have now proi

C R A S H July 1 9 8 4 26

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Derek Brewster's Code Name Mat (Micromega) is probably the most sophisticated space 3D game yet.

Orpheus (CRL) (aits Ihe 3D test by retreating too tar from any conventions for it to wort.

Oeathstar (Rabbit) is less successful than Blade Alley, contenting itself with simple shapes to define the depth.

Slade Alley (PSS) uses a simple device to create depth and combines it by defining space with the ship's shadow and animated attackers in 3D.

Real Time's Tank Ouel - taking vector movement to a solid base for a better effect.

duced a version called Tank Vector movement is imporDuel, which employs the same tant to almost any 3D game of hollow 3D graphics but in much course, for plotting positions of greater profusion than either objects relative to each other. Combat Zone or Rommel's But there are many games Revenge and has added solid which have avoided its complicolouring to the plain and to the cations, and many which are background landscape, successful because they empincreasing the sense of depth loy the range of visual cues for and space, it works very well the eye to fasten on. indeed.

Dimension Destructors (Artie) vie with Rommel s Revenge (Crystal) in the vector movement stakes - a very precise and mathematical approach to perspective.

i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4

ZAXXANT ATTACK

The remarkable graphics of 30 Ant Attack (Quicksilva) by Sandy White. A classic example of isometric perspective, shading and hidden

C R A S H July 1 9 8 4 28

views. In this game even Ihe characters are properly represented in the perspeclive effect.

Shortly before Christmas Quicksilva astonished us with Sandy White's remarkable Soft Solid3D Ant Attack. This Scottish programmer had managed to combine 3D effects which took account of architectural solid objects as well as soft human shapes. Ant Attack is the classic example of bird's eye view perspective for the Spectrum as Zaxxon is for the dedicated arcade machine. Ant Attack uses a fixed isometric perspective over a large area which is then merely scrolled as the player moves his character about the area. To help the sense of solidity, the buildings, are all accurately shaded and additionally the live' characters disappear behind them when required. The usual disadvantage of a bird's eye view, that it is fixed, has been aleviated in this game by allowing four fixed positions at each compass point. However, the game also illustrates the main problem of the perspective, that you can't get down into it, since this would mean redefining the main graphics, and an increase in height would show up the problem that exists with the false or non-existent horizon - it would 'sink' with the foreground and look silly. In looking at Zaxxan (Starzone), the Spectrum version of the famous arcade game, one is reminded of those television shots which use a telephoto lens. The foreshortening effect of the long lens makes distant objects actually as big or even bigger than the nearer ones. Zaxxan s 3D lets your space ship to move sideways (in effect, diagonally away from you) for a considerable distance without appearing to hit the wall which is directly behind it. Even though it isn't visually apparent, a distinct space has been artificially created. The main visual cue here is the shadow on the around, a common theme with Blade Alley and Deathstar. But because of the isometric perspective, the further reaches of the trench are the same size as the nearer. In the main, this does not disturb the player much, and the additions of shading and hidden view add to the 3D effectiveness. Recent additions to the bird's eye perspective are Android 2 (Vortex), Pedro

(Imagine) and Haunted Hedges {Micromega). Of these three Android 2 and Haunted Hedges are a variation on the theme of Malcolm Evans' Escape, mazes where horizontal pathways are hidden behind the height of the hedges or maze walls. Haunted Hedges was Derek Brewster's first incursion into isometric perspective and the result (a 3D Pacman type game) is less satisfactory than the complexities of his later Code Name Mat. Here, the 3D is really only a visual gimmick which has little to add to the playing of what is a fairly straightforward ghost gobbler. Android 2 is another matter, a complex game of various stages in which the 30 graphics add greatly to the visual excitement and playing difficulty. Mines hidden behind walls can be fatal! Pedro is slightly different in that the perspective is not used to hide things - another case of 30 for its own sake, as it adds little to playing the game and indeed makes controlling the man awkward and frustrating.

Android 2 (Vortex) by Costa Panayi - a game where the 30 is an integral part ot the playing.

Pedro (Imagine) - perspective without point. None ol the characters is affected by the perspective (isometric).

ever-receding horizon works quite well with correct visual cues contained in the perspective lines and the increasing Imagine fared much better with size of approaching enemy perspective in their best- craft. The effect is entirely selling game Zzoom. ff Zaxxon spoiled by the outsize refugees is a 30 Scramble type game, marching along on the horizon then so is Zzoom, and a and whereas the player can number of other similar progaccept the horizon never getrams. The difference between ting any nearer (it doesn't in Zaxxon and Zzoom is that the real life after all) it is harder to former is a bird's eye view, accept that you never get any whereas the latter is a cockpit nearer the refugees. This is a view. The effect of travelling good example of a programlow over a road towards the ming compromise which is

TO THE VANISHING POINT

Haunted Hedges (Micromega) - a less successful approach to the problems of 3D by Derek Brewster. The effect works, but doesn't add much to the game.

i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4

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bikes, the disintegrating the player must also think simi- are not visually 3D in the chunks of which you sail larly - it's a sort of thinking accepted sense though, through as you dash on. Since man's 3D. Arguably the games your bike is very manoeuverable, the programming required to cause the trees to weave about in accurate perspective is complicated and beautifully implemented. almost unavoidable in the circumstances. It doesn't howFlight simulation games may ever actually spoil playing the appear to have more in comgame mon with 3D space games, but The other games which for the fact that the 3D view has have something in common to relate to fixed points on the with Zzoom are the road racer ground The first was Psion's games based on the famous Flight Simulation. Nightflite Pole Position arcade favourite, (Hewson) followed soon after and flight simulation games and was later improved as An interesting early Spectrum Nightflite 2 These games An amusing programming compromise between reality and payability Is Imagine s Zioom attempt at a 3D road racer require a very accurate and mathematical use of vanishing ame is Turbo Driver (Boss IK). Here the 3D effect barely point perspective in order to exists - it's almost a Cubist convince - back to the vector perspective. The cars are seen movement programming, A from well above although they runway must be constructed to work as a proper perspective are drawn with a slight foreshortening, and the road is from any angle of approach described by two lines set and at any height. The least wider at the base of the screen touch of isometric perspective and narrower at the top. This and the illusion is ruined. Naturally, with so much vectorpays lip service to a sense of depth but the game makes no ing to be done as well as program command handling, it isn't real attempt to be 3D. surprising that flight simulaAfter a long gap a rash of road racers appeared. First tions tend to be somewhat was Grand Prix Driver (Britan- undetailed when it comes to the ground Flight Simulation nia), closely followed by Road gets round the problem by only Racer (Thorn EMI) and Speed providing features like lakes Duel (DK Tronics). The most and the runways. Nightflight's convincing was Chequered elegant solution is contained in Flag (Psion). Britannia opted for a very low view point and the title - pinpricks of lights on hollow 3D graphics with a mov- the ground describe the view and create a quite effective ing background landscape The 3D is effective, only the sense of flying over villages playability of the game suffers and towns at night. from elements which have little The most exciting and busy to do with the 3D. Road Racer simulation was Fighter Pilot and Speed Duel are played (Digital Integration).This game from a higher position, almost provides a similarly undetailed a bird's eye view in fact. The landscape as that in Flight road racer games have this in Simulation, but adds extremes common, that they use the van- of speed and the chance to ishing point perspective very attack enemy fighters in aerial effectively, creating a fine combat. The fighters are seen Fighter Pilot (Digital Integration) combines sense of speeding along a in full 3D and react quite propspeed and 3D breathtakingly. winding road, and yet they are erly in the three dimensional played not as a cockpit view. space in which they are The exceptions are Cheplaced. This effect was even quered Flag (which places you better used in their follow-up more in the driver's seat) and Night Gunner, where the aerial the excellent 3D Deathchase dog fights manage to look like (Micromega). Chequered old World War II newsreel Flag's driver height playing shots. position makes the sense of Still on the flying theme, objects sweeping past you Heathrow ATC (Hewson) and much more effective than is the Airliner (Protek) can also claim case with Speed Duel or Road to be 3D, but in a different way Racer, But for sheer thrills to the other games Here the Deathchase has to be the win- player must think three ner. Here, perspective almost dimensionally although the is the game. The movement of screen display is not 3D. Airthe tree trunks from horizon to liner does have a 3D view of collision or near miss is excep- the runway on approach howtional The game is full of neat ever. The computer is playing Turbo Driver (Boss UK) - an early attempt to touches like the exploding suggest 3D in a road racing game. around in 3D conceptually and i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4 30

The outstanding cockpit view road racer - 3D Deathchase (Micromega) by Mervyn Estcourt. A game where the perspective is the game.

Rattier more sophisticated 3D effects in Grand Prix Driver (Britannia), Road Racer (Thorn EMI), Speed Duel (DK Ironies) and Chequered Flag (Psion).

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BETWIXT & BETWEEN There are a few other games which use 3D in odd ways. Atic Atac (Ultimate) is interesting. The rooms are deschbed in a form of bird's eye perspective which allows all four walls to be in view, the vanishing point being straight through the floor. But this is not isometric perspective despite the bird's eye view. Apart from this cue, the rest of the game is quite two dimensional with the objects and characters seen flat on - Picasso would probably have approved of the mixture of perspectives! Moonbuggy (Anirog) could hardly be described as 3D. yet it employs the visual cue of parallax movement, with the foreground moving much faster than the background mountains. If this device had been used with several layers' of landscape it would have given a convincing illusion of depth.

Psytron (Beyond) uses 30 in an oddly classical way - the colour is quite flat but over it is drawn a landscape in strong perspective. Enemy craft are animated in 3D. growing bigger as they approach, but hidden views are not employed. Shading is incorporated into the drawings of the base, and the overall result is curiously like that of a good-quality comic. Luna Crabs (Micromega) is an earlier attempt at 3D by author of 30 Deathchase, Mervyn Estcourt. The 3D in this game is used from two other games which rely for the effect of trajectory to create depth are the early 30 Tanx (DK Tronics) and Terror Daktils (Melbourne House). The shells fired in 30 Tanx diminish in size as theyflytowards the distant tanks on the bridge and the result works very well. The game's skill lies in estimating the angle of fire to reach the four lanes of tanks on the

Atic Atac (Ultimate) mixed perspectives and barely 3D.

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C R A S H July 1 9 8 4

L L they approach and swoop perspective - parallel lines down. Both these games use converging at a point on the 3D as an important aspect of horizon. The closer together playing but still represent a the separated images are, the less sophisticated level of 30 farther away the object seems development than we have to be from the viewer. seen recently. That's the theory - in pracFinally, there is 3 Deep tice 3 Deep Space doesn't Space (Postern) - the first work, probably due to the real' 30 game. But is it real? It Spectrum's limited colour bridge. The tanks, however, appear unaffected by perspec- works on the stereoscopic sys- attribution which makes it hard tive - a convenience which tem whereby two images are to get just the right amount of between the saves having four different provided on screen, slightly separation graphics to describe tanks in separated (like a double images. The result is that the the foreground, mid and back- explosure) and in opposing player is forced to 'work' very ground lanes. This is perspec- colours. The player wears hard to get even an unsatisfacspectacles with one green lens tory effect of 3D, So stereostive in bits and pieces! Terror Daktils employs the and one red. Each eye then copic 3D would appear to be a same effect with trajectory and sees one of the separated cul-de-sac for the moment diminishing size of shell as it images and the brain interprets more of a gimmick than a flies towards the massed the two differing images as one device. and so thinks there is depth to beasts. But this game addiBut with games like Ant tionally boasts rather excellent the scene. It can work very Attack, Code Name Mat, line drawn monsters which fly effectively. Here, we are back Deathchase and Fighter Pilot, out at you, getting bigger as to the theory of vanishing point we can safely say that the pre-

C R A S H July 1 9 8 4 32

fix 3D to a game is no longer the gimmick it used to be, and further, that the use of 30 in all these games is an integral part of their excitement and challenge. 30 games have come a long way from the paltry addition of a bit of shadow to the edges of a maze. But in the words of Steve Turner - we haven't seen anything yet! He is now looking towards a generation of games where the animated and 30 graphics will be as good as those seen on the loading screens we have become so used to. â&#x20AC;˘ Report compiled by the CRASH team-useful arcade info by Lloyd Mangram and snotty-nosed technical stuff by Roger Kean, and thanks to Steve Turner.

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Double vision to create an illusion on depth in 3 Deep Space.

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T H I N K I N G OF A J O Y S T I C K > G I V E Y O U R S E L F I H f c W I N N I N G E D G E W I T H THfc

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Clastic perspective drawing overlaid on colour gives Psytron the quality of a well-designed comic strip.

CHECKLIST The list ot 3 D g a m e s b e l o w is comprehensive in the s e n s e that we have tried to include all t h e major g a m e s that a r e . r e s e m b l e or use 3 0 . If w e h a v e left a n y o n e out. then w e ' r e sorry! R e a d e r s m a y well think of s o m e w e h a v e forgotten. P l e a s e note: the prefix 3 0 has b e e n omitted ISOMETRIC P E R S P E C T I V E A n d r o i d 2 Vortex Anl Attack QuickSilva E s c a p e N e w Generation Pedro I m a n r w T r a s h m a n N o w Generation Ztiitn Star? one GAMES USING VANISHING POINT PERSPECT1VE a d Astra Gargoyle Black P l a n e t Phipps As»oc<sled S a l Attack Cheetah Soft B l a d e Alley P S S C h e q u e r e d F l a g Psion C o d e N a m e M a t Micromega C o m b a t Z o n a Artie C o r r i d o r s of G e n o n N e w G e n e r a t i o n D e a t h c h a s e Micromega Death Star Rabbit

D i m e n s i o n D e s t r u c t o r s Artie F i g h t e r Pilot Digital Integration F l i g h t S i m u l a t i o n Psion O a taiiy A t t a c k SiWvne Books G r a n d Prix D r i v e r BrtUmrna K n o t in 3 0 N o w Generation L u n a C r a b s Micromega L u n a ttack Hewson Consultants M a j e idmpaci M a z e of G o l d Gilsoti M o n s t e r C h a s e Rom* N l g h t t l i t e 2 Hewson Consultants N i g h t G u n n e r Digital Integration Omega Run C H i O d m e t r o n Software Projects P s y t r o n Beyond O u e t z a l c o a t l Virgin Games R o a d R a c e r Creative Spariisd R o m m e l ' s R e v e n g e Crystal S p a c e S t a t i o n Zebra Beyond S p a c e W a r s Hewscn Consultants S p a w n of E v i l OK Troncs S p e e d D u e l DK Ironies S e i d d a b A t t a c k Hewson Consultants S k u l l ( T h e } Games Machine T a n k D u e l Real Time T e r r o r D a k t i l s 4 D Melbourne House T l m e g a t e Ouicksilva T u n n e l New Generation V o r t e x JK Greye Z i g - Z a g DK Troncs Z z o o m imagine

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YOU CAN NOW TAKE A D V A N T A G E OF OUR SPECIAL PACKAGE DEAL. THE SPECTRUM JOYSTICK I N T E R F A C E WE S U P P L Y IS T H E ONLY INTERFACE FULLY C O M P A T I B L E W I T H THE R A P I D FtRE M O D E OF THE N E W O U I C K S H O T II J O Y S T I C K A N D WILL PLAY WITH ANY GAME F E A T U R I N G THE K E M P S T O N OPTION. T H E I N T E R F A C E IS A L S O COMPATIBLE WITH ALL ATARI TYPE JOYSTICKS.

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MISCELLANEOUS (Games in wtiKfi 3 D elements are employed, not necessanty on screen) Artnet Protok H e a t h r o w ATC Hewson Consultants Atic Atac Uhimale M o o n B u g g y Amrog Deep Spuce Postom OrpheuaC R L

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i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4

E W S Go Nord T o cap off the day at H e w s o n a , c a m e the n e w s that their

adventure Fantasia Diamond.

entered in for a French adventure g a m e competition (as reported last issue) h a d w o n L e prlx d u M e l l l e u r S c e n a r i o for the best g a m e scenario in the presitigious G r a n d Prix Internationale d u L o g i d e l d 1 Adventure (ah z o s e French) organised by major software distributors V i d e o Telemart Report. This win h a s

led immediately to a substantial order for the g a m e - but in French language. Work is already well under w a y ! S o are plans for Dutch and G e r m a n versions. Rumours that Hewson's are translating the g a m e into Russian, Mandarin Chinese a n d Australian are probably a little exaggerated! as e v e r y o n e knows, the Australians don't have to buy software, they just s e e m to rip it off.

Gorton Hewson, Andrew Hewson and assistant Debbie Sill toe ponder the of French over a relaxing game of Les Goerres d'Expace en Trois

60 Words per Minute at Your Fingertips T h e Spectrum's full capabilities have rarely b e e n used fulty by those wishing for serious applications like word processing b e c a u s e of the small rubberised keys a n d m e m b r a n e keypad. This m a k e s fast typing almost a n impossibility. But now A d v a n c e d M e m o r y S y s t e m ' s Lo Profile keyboard c o m e s to the rescue. T h e Spectrum's P C B is placed inside the keyboard housing in such a w a y that all connections tor T V , cassette, power and interface use ports at the rear of the unit T h e r e is no n e e d to adapt any of the connections.

Laser Snaker Winners P o p p y S o f t ' s latest release, Factory Breakout, looks set to b e c o m e a n arcade winner, a n d is certainly a very original g a m e . Last year Poppy Soft brought out LaserSnakerand ran a competition in conjunction with the

C R A S H July 1 9 8 4 34

LO PR0RLE keyboard lor the Spectrum.

g a m e . T h e y are now pleased to announce the winner of the competition. H e is Mr J a m e s G a r r e t t of 1 2 0 Sandy Lane, C h e a m , Sutton, in Surrey Mr Garrett receives a cheque for £ 1 0 0 a n d a n advance copy of Factory Breakout. Runners-up also receive copies of the n e w game.

T h e keyboard features a full length spacebar and a dedicated numeric pad. T h e keyboard increases the Spectrum's 4 0 keys to 53. All the keys carry full labelling of characters, c o m m a n d s a n d functions as on the Spectrum's o w n keyboard. Together with the height-adjusted layout of the key rows, the Lo Profile allows for full s p e e d typing. A M S are k n o w n for their 3indtsc drives for the B B C Micro, but now they feel they h a v e achieved a high standard add-on tor the Spectrum as well with the new Lo Profile keyboard, ft is available from selected Spectrum dealers or direct by mail priced £ 4 9 . 9 5 plus £ 2 . 5 0 for p&p from Advanced Memory Systems, Green Lane, Appleton, Warrington, Cheshire W A 4 5NG.

INPUT "afc U | A L « I P Q t ^ ^ "

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London's computer m a g a z i n e | offices h a v e b e e n terrorised recently by the a p p e a r a n c e of two ganasters w h o h a v e c a u s e d m a y h e m a n d uproar. T h e visits w e r e a part of a promotional c a m p a i g n to launch Mugsy. the * ' r w w c o f m c stnp strategy g a m e from M e l b o u r n e H o u s e Publicity M a n a g e r P a u l a Brynes. w a s hoping to a r r a n g e s o m e similar act of dastardliness for the C R A S H offices, but apparently jiangsterism doesn't stretch arther north than W a t f o r d T h e r e i r e s o m e a d v a n t a g e s to publishing from the country I

: a

A fully programmable joystick interface wttti DKTrontcs.

D K ' T r o n l c a h a v e brought out a p r o g r a m m a b l e interface for the Spectrum. This can be p r o g r a m m e d from the k e y b o a r d , or with the m a c h i n e c o d e s o f t w a r e supplied, a n d allows all possible combinations to b e p r o g r a m m e d .

Police Investigate Spirit Bogus software c o m p a n y S p r i t Softiware, w h o widely advertised a g a m e called Formula One a n d boasted it wogld c o m e c o m p l e t e with a steering w h e e l joystick for C8.95, a r e being investigated by London's Metropolitan Police. A

M r A l e x a n d e r is b e i n g sought, not only by the authorities, but a l s o by the s e v e r a l m a g a z i n e s w h o a c c e p t e d his a d v e r t i s e m e n t s a n d h a v e not b e e n paid. M r A l e x a n d e r h a s b e e n a rather s h a d o w y figure o n t h e s o f t w a r e s c e n e for s o m e

time, a n d his n a m e h a s b e e n a s s o c i a t e d with s o m e other c o m p a n i e s of d u b i o u s honesty. T h e Kensington police, responsible for the investigation, a r e returning c h e q u e s sent in by mail order c u s t o m e r s to Spirit S o f t w a r e . T h e s e a r e only those c h e q u e s w h i c h w e r e still

). left, right, fire, etc, all at the s a m e time. T h e k e y b o a r d is not r e n d e r e d inactive s o that both joystick a n d k e y b o a r d c a n b e u s e d while the p r o g r a m is running. T h e port a c c e p t s a n y Atari D - t y p e joystick a n d the interface is compatible with Interface 1 a n d Microdrives. It also h a s a through connector for a d d - o n expansion, T h e p r o g r a m m a b l e Joystick Interface retails at £ 2 2 . 9 5 a n d is available now.

u n c a s h e d at the time of Mr Alexander s disappearance. Customers whose cheques and postal orders h a v e b e e n c a s h e d a r e unlikely to s e e their m o n e y back

i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4

INPUT

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Your Flexible Friend - the Interface Looking remarkably like one of those doobnes they use in stores for recording the detaHs of your Access or Bardaycard. is the new programmable interface for the Spectrum from A G F . Called the P r o t o c o l 4. it is designed to give compatibility of any joystick or trackball with absolutely all Spectrum software. In essence the Protocol 4 is a fully hardware programmable joystick interface, but it has b e e n designed to be easy to use with credit-card style programming cards. Snap-in program cards configure a m e m b r a n e keypad and with the preset cards supplied it interfaces four in one: AGF/Protek. Kempston a n d Sinclair 1 or 2. Extra packs of cards are available for £ 3 . 9 5 (pack of five). Protocol 4 has a side entry joystick port and rear expansion port, and retails at £ 2 9 . 9 5 (plus £1 p&p direct from A G F ) . A G F H a r d w a r e Dept L, Freepost, Bognor Regis, West Sussex P 0 2 2 9BR.

L e v e l 9, who m a y have b e e n the first UK firm to start an adventure help service, have always sent written replies to queries about their adventure games. But now they are supplying comrehensive d u e sheets which provide alphabetical lists of the objects, creatures and trickiest locations in e a c h adventure. They have up to 5 8 0 entries which should sort out most adventurers' problems. They are free to players who send a stamped addressed envelope to Level 9 Computing, 229 Hughenden Road. High Wycombe, Bucks HP13 SPG.

Magra - meaner than ever If the witch Magra s e e m s a bit tetchy it's possibly because she's b e e n rather delayed (buses not running properly again). But

arrived she has - wrath and all. No, there isn't a review in this

K e e p an eye peeled for new software house V E N T A M A T I C This company is new to Britain, and hails from Barcelona, Spain Review copies of some of their new Spectrum releases arrived too late for review in this issue, but they'll certainty be appearing in the next. The g a m e s include Crazy Climber, The Builder, Martian Tunnels and Wreckage. As you can s e e from the screen below, the graphics are large and very detailed. More news next month.

C R A S H July 1 9 8 4 36

WW 5 0 0 3

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D a t a c l o n e , the cassette duplication company' has introduced a new production technique which they d a i m will help combat priacy.. T h e new system is called P o w e r L o a d and has been developed by I n c e n t i v e S o f t w a r e L i m i t e d (Splat, Mountains of Ker, etc).- T h e system is exdusively licenced to Dataclone. It is d a i m e d that using Power Load for duplication results in cassettes which are extremely hard to copy on any system, either by bit copying, audio copying or code breaking, as only by unique software control cani Itne program be duplicated by the pirate. Additionally Power Load, using data compression techniques, reduced the cassette's loading time drastically, a C B M 64 by two-thirds a n d a Sepctaim program by one half.

Bigger Incentive O n the subject of Incentive S o f t w a r e Ltd., it has just expanded to the tune of D a r r y Still. Still (22) has joined the Reading-based company as Co-ordination Manager responsible for marketing and administration. H e previously worked as manager of a large

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issue, that s asking too much! Everything has gone off to Derek B r e w s t e r so watch out In the next issue. Meanwhile, to k e e p you all going, here's a couple of screen pictures I

Data Clones Incentive

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New man at Incentive - Darryf Still. computer shop in Reading. Incentive is now looking for another in-house programmer to assist in its continued expansion. That Ian Andrew is obviously empire building on the success of his Splat Matsf

Ocean on the move O c e a n have moved into new premises in Manchester. The 4 , 0 0 0 square feet of offices house new facilities for Ocean's t e a m of in-house programmers. N e w equipment for extra processing power has also gone into the new Central Street premises. Induded is a n emulator for Z 8 0 machines with hard-disc storage back-up for routines.

Each month

III be choosing

the best letter from the

postbag, and, as well as publishing it. I'll send the writer £12 worth of software of his or her choice (it can be two cassettes

as long as they come within the £12). I've had to grovel on bended knee to the editor for this, so you'd better be grateful' Send your letters to Lloyd Mangram. CRASH Forum, PO Box 10, Ludlow, Shropshire SY8 1DB. I can t promise to print

everything that comes m because space is precious (I 'm told) but I'll do my best.

level of ignorance that has led people to believe that it is only little me. what harm am I doing really?' By bringing it into the open as they have, at least the sub/ect is getting an airing. L. M

Our e d i t o r i a l p i e c e in t h e M a y i s s u e o f C R A S H o n s o f t w a r e p i r a c y h a s r e s u l t e d in a n u m b e r o f l e t t e r s offeringt differing v i e w s o n t h e s u b j e c t . S o t o o h a s t h e short p i e c e a b o u t P e r s o n a l C o m p u t e r G a m e s , r e p l y ing to t h e i r g o s s i p c o l u m n s l u r o n t h e n a m e o f C R A S H ! But t h i s m o n t h ' s w i n n i n g l e t t e r h a s n o t h i n g t o d o w i t h such stirring m a t t e r s . . .

HAPPILY EVER AFTER . . . Dear CRASH.

I Just had to write to explain nry introduction to the prifaphematia ol computers. I'm what you cad a tolerant wife who tor months put up with my husband ranting a n d raving about his Spectrum. H a would come h o m e from work, k«a the computer and srt there away at Its keys all night. Weffll I thought there's got to be a reasons! S o o n e afternoon I started browsing through my husband's oottedion and a magazine caught rny eya - a giant Kong sating a Spectrum It a m u s e d me, causa at the time I felt rather Wis that monster. Anyway, t started fUcklng the

As I said, the piracy article prompted several w r i t e r s . . .

i over and reading the i and. my gofih, 1 itw jll that afternoon t rushed out and bought The Alchemist. which you rated 8 5 % . By the time my husband c a m e home I'd ready caught the bug. S o now w e come horns. have tea a n d play the

Perhaps you'reright,BUT. making a game popular isn't the same thing as ensuring the software houses receive the proper benefit.'

them, join 1 C R A S H , you're groatl' Mra J . T a l b o t , B r o m a g r o v e , Worce,

Dear C R A S H - e r s . Interesting editonal in issue 4. T h e main aim of software houses s e e m s to be to m a k e it impossible for i n d e p e n d e n t pirates to copy tapes. However, o r g a n i s e d pirates may be able to afford to buy the devices available, examine them and find a way to reverse their effects. Hopefully, these security devices will be watch-dogged to s e e that they only go to respectable software houses. However, what is to stop pirates taking over or creating a software house and then using their machine to pirate tapes as a sideline? No security device can be infallible Let m e confess. I enjoy breaking into programs - but only to see if I can do it. I do not pirate, nor do I condone it. There are no pirate tapes in my collection and there never will be. If unbreakable systems m e a n no more breaking into g a m e s for m e and those like me, well then I'm willing to pay that price for a secure future of software houses. Brian H. L o n g s t a f f . Sheffield, S. Yorks.

Realty we're ail soft af heart. Mn Talbot' Your letter caused such a warm alow In everyone at the CRASH offices -even Mr Koan's perennial grimace softened So thaTs £12 worth of software on its

23*

DON'T KILL THE GOOSE

Reading your magazine, I c a m e across D.H.'s letter on copying I know that illegal copying is disrupting software houses, but GRAMMATICAL w h e n you m a n a g e to scrounge the cash off your parents tor the PIRATES computer, there is no cash left for the cassette recorder, T V , etc. let Dear Sir, alone for the cassettes at £ 5 plus. I go to a grammar school and, of Y o u just can't afford it. course, in the junior years a tot of However, software houses this (copying) goes on. In s o m e should not be too dismayed over ways it is obviously damaging, but schoolboy copying. It m a k e s their I know several people w h o would, g a m e s popular and far from taking not buy a game unless their friend profits away, they stimulate sales. I gave them a copy of one of his, Spectrum games, for example, I and vice versa. So. there you the easiest to copy, outsell all have two games purchased others. Computers which have I instead of none. This isn't just my sophisticated protection are not as opinion, but I feel it is quite a valid popular, and prices for g a m e s are point much higher - e.g. Dragon, B B C , Tim Arnold (14), W i s b e c h , Commodore. I agree that Cambs. commercial copying is wrong, but be careful software houses - don't Well the mathematics sound fine, kill the golden goose. Tim. but I wonder whether the J. Parker ( a d d r e s s w i t h h e l d b y software /rouses agree. request). LM

ORGANISED PIRATES

Obviously there's nothing to stop pirates taking over or creating a software house. I know of several people who have done exactly that Fortunately the police are looking for them even now Security devices are hardly likely to stamp out illegal copying or prevent clever disassemblers from getting into the software, but obviously the software houses have been alarmed at the extent o f illegal copying and the general

SEEING SENSE Dear Sir, In the May issue of C R A S H there was a letter featured written by a grandparent about printing g a m e s keys for pirates. I read your reply and tor the first time I saw sense. Before Christmas I was with the Pirates, now I'm not so sure. I have a suggestion though - why are games pirated? Got it? Yes! because they're expensive. W H Y ? we shout. What's so special about some plastic and dioxide tape with a few beeps on it? W e don't know! Fair enough. The programmers must be paid, but why is there such a price difference? l a m a great fan of pop music, but do I go around swapping copies of my records? N O ! W H Y ! Becaiuse they don't take six weeks to save up for on a n average of £1 a week pocket money. S o please, software houses, save your own necks and put down the prices a bit Neil S u m s e r - L u p s o n (13), N o r w i c h , Norfolk. We have already made a mention in an earlier edition of CRASH regarding the amount of money a software house makes from sales of cassettes considering the number of sales compared with those in the music industry. I wonder, though, what the software houses actually have to say? On to the other touchy matter our beloved editor's snappy rejoinder to Personal Computer Games magazine!

TRASHY GOSSIP Dear C R A S H , I've recently bought issue 4 and read an article called Trashy Gossip. I think it's totally wrong, all that rubbish about P C G is better than C R A S H . I buy both magazines and find that your mag is much better. Your reviews are

i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4

more detailed lor a start. Lots ot P C G is listings and adverts. Javid Karim, Royston, Herts. Thanks, Javid. Jason West wasn't quite in agreement though ... LM

gossipmongers I do find your m a g a z i n e to b e a good one, well worth 7 5 p , so please don't spoil it with such articles. A.C. Rawston, Leeds. W. Yorks.

that they aren't on-screen because they may be found on the insert! Looking forward to Madcap Manor! But just to show that you can 't please everyone, we received another letter from a

Such tickings off show you care, and your attitude gives us faith. Thank you! LM

programmer...

SADDENED

KNIGHT DRIVER

D e a r Mr K e a n , I totally a g r e e with you on the subject of bad journalism a n d comments between magazines Personal C o m p u t e r G a m e s fell from m y view of it as a good m a g a z i n e atter that pathetically childish editorial they printed about your magazine. 8 U T the juvenility of that editorial did N O T n e e d to be counter-attacked in the w a y you did in your editorial, it w a s so utterty futile of you to lower yourself to the standard ot journalism blatantly s h o w e d by that magazine. All you did w a s revert to the childish element apparent in the P C G piece I can't express how sad I leel that a m a g a z i n e of such a usually high standard h a d to stoop so low to m a k e its anger known, tt wasn't really necessary to d o that; a n y o n e could s e e how unintelligent the P C G editonal was. Please, you should know by now that two wrongs don't m a k e a right. Don't d o it again. Jason West. Orpington. Kent.

C R A S H Forum. T h e s c e n e is set o n a bleak grey Saturday morning, a s a machine coder lies slumped over his Spectrum. It's 8.31 a m a n d the still room is disturbed by the never-ending tick tick whir of yet another Micro Drive which won't stop T h e programmer is a w a k e n e d by the sound ot a C R A S H in the letterbox. 8 . 3 2 a m - and let the reading commence. 9 . 1 2 a m a n d the n a m e Knight Driver errupts from the p a g e , striking v a g u e shovels ot recognition in the still sleepy mind of the programmer. Isn't this the g a m e he wrote whilst discovering the inner intricacies of the 2 8 0 processor? R e a d on. H e y ! What's this? Contains s o m e B A S I C . . . no joystick options . . . can't cancel end g a m e report.' No. surely this can't be nght zero cancels the report a s well a s the d e m o . Both Kempston and Interface 2 joysticks are automatically detected and the g a m e is thoroughbred machine code. O h dear, what can I do to rectify this situation? Why, I must write to C R A S H in the hope they will print my letter. Thus said, here it is, and w h o says programmers don't h a v e a s e n s e of humour? Clive Brooker (Knight Driver), Ashford, Kent.

COP THIS PAIR! Dear C R A S H , Thank you very much for the most encouraging review of my program Mindbender, which you featured in the M a y issue I h a d s e e n a galley proof provided by Gilsoft but it w a s quite a thrill to buy your m a g a z i n e on day of issue a n d s e e it w a s part of a five-page article Did you realise that Mindbender is, in fact, a two-part adventure? O n the reverse side of the tape is the second part of the mission, playable o n c e you have e s c a p e d from the undergropund complex In Pari O n e . U H M i N U O C N U C R M

I N C

M i N o B B t i a e e t u NDee

A note on my desk (in editorial long hand) tells me to say that even editors have bad days sometimes, and Roger Kean had one that day. He goes on to say that he agrees with you Jason two wrongs don't make a right LM

HAVE MORE FAfTH D e a r Uoyd, A couple ol w e e k s a g o I saw a snippet in P C G . tt mistakenly' called your m a g a z i n e T R A S H in a n attempt to put you down. I w a s about to write to t h e m aboul their childishness w h e n I s a w your equally childish reply. I m a y b e only 13. but I a m still a b o v e such pointless name-calling. I also nope you have more faith in your readers than to think they will b e put off your m a g a z i n e by such

C R A S H July 1 9 8 4 38

Part T w o w a s largely written by a colleague of mine, w h o also collaborated in the writing of Part O n e . Unfortunately h e never got a mention o n the cassette packaging,o which also neglected to mention that Mindbender is in two parts Just for the record, my colleague is Brian Jenkinson, and like m e , he is a police sergeant with the Cambridgeshire Constabulary. Also, just to show y o u that youth is not the only requirement n e e d e d to write a program, I'll tell you that Brian is 34 and I a m 3 9 years old. W e a r e both now e n g a g e d in writing further adventures and have completed one already, called Madcap Manor N e e d l e s s to say. w e get a n enormous amount of enjoyment in wnting adventures, a n d any sales that result a r e really just icing on the cake, so your review w a s most gratifying P.A. Styles. Whittlesford, Cambs. Yes, we thought it a little odd thai there were no instructions on the insert, when the program implies

Thank you, CHve. Should you prefer reviewing to program writing - there is a vacancy just come up! The Ludlow public gibbet is getting quite packed with ex-reviewers. LM

SATISFIED D e a r Sir, Atter reading the review on Fighter Pilot in the M a r c h issue of C R A S H , I just had to buy it. But a s all the shops in my area had sold out of the g a m e I decided to buy o n e from your magazine's mail order. I sent off the postal order to you first class, and amazingly received the g a m e three days later. S o this letter is just to r e c o m m e n d any other readers w h o have considered sending off for g a m e s to do so without hesitation! Mark Harrison Reddltch, Worcs. I w a s told by the denizens of the MO dept. to print this letter or risk the consequences! They made

me an oftqr / couldn 't refuse! Still on the subject of mail order, but' on a less happy note, we continue to receive letters from people who have lost money after sending it fo Spirit Software ,.. LM

FORMULA NONE D e a r Sir. After having s e e n p a g e 110 in the M a y C R A S H . I would like to bring to your attention Spirit S o f t w a r e , w h o advertised a program called Formula One, plus a steering wheel for ÂŁ8.95. I sent a cheque on 2 2 / 2 / 8 4 which w a s c a h s e d on 29/2/84. i h a v e received nothing. Apparenty the address is a n empty office in Kensington a n d the telephone number is constantly e n g a g e d . I believe that Spirit has not paid for its advertising a n d I a m resigned to the fact that my order will remain unfulfilled and that I a m unlikely to receive my m o n e y back It h a s b e e n a painful experience, but the issue is this. H o w far-reaching is G O S H ' s sphere of activities? W e all know that Ultimate, for example, are unlikely to default, yet, paradoxically, these blue-chip companies a r e the ones G O S H protects us from I would hope that o n e day I would be able to s e n d a cheque to a o n e - m a n operator with the s a m e confidence as o n e sent to a biggie. So, please G O S H , rethink your responsibilities, or are you destined to b e c o m e a bulldog without teeth? N a m e a n d address withheld by request.

If you have sent money or cheques to Spirit S o f t w a r e , you are indeed, unlikely to get anything back - certainly not the fictitious Formula O n e with Steering wheel, and it's doubtful whether any money. Those fortunate to have sent cheques late in the day, may be luckier. The Metropolitan Police are investigating Spirit S o f t w a r e and its directors and have been returning uncashed cheques which they have found. CRASH also sent for the p r o g r a m s o m e months back, and our cheque was uncashed and has been returned by the police. Anyone who would like to check this out with the police can ring Kensington police station, telephone Ot-741 6212. As to the responsibilities of GOSH -it is still rather early days. Voluntary organisations such as GOSH do take time to find their feet, and of course remain powerless in many circumstances. R o g u e companies have always made a killing in any market and no protection system can contain that sort of thing, it can only try. LM

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THE G A M E Dear Lloyd, I am only writing to say what a great mag you publish but also to say thanks tor forwarding my name to Liz Harris (researcher for Yorkshire T V ) w h o sent m e a n application lorm tor the n e w T V programme The Game. I went for a n audition a n d w a s lucky enough to b e chosen to tar on T V to play The Game. (Actually, there's three, but I c a n t give too much a w a y . ) It will be screened in July through to August on M o n d a y nights. Unfortunately there a r e no celebrities on the show (except me) contradicting a n article I h a d read in C R A S H ( M a y ) I would like to close by saying Hi' to all the others w h o also appeared on The Game a s I know they know your m a g a z i n e . Jonathon S t a i n s b y , Shipley. W . Y o r k s . See! Reading CRASH can even get you on to the telly' Hopefully The Game will prove popular, and be networked throughout the country later on. LM

MR. ANGRY Dear Sir. Please print this letter a s it will probably save a further 5 0 , 0 0 0 people from doing the s a m e a n d should clear up o n e vital point once and for all. I h a v e f o u n d e d a Hobbit (computer g a m e s ) appreciation society and the mindless little jerk w h o wrote the tetter headed Black Z X T a l ' a n d (can I bring myself to say it?) I quote, I think Valhalla is twice a s good as that boring g a m e , The >bbit'. deserves s h ihis s spleen Hobt ruptured. How dare he compare the masterpiece of 4 0 K of pure machine code with the rushed 28K ol (badly written) B A S I C a n d some ineffective machine c o d e routines which frequently crash in Valhalla1? Coupled with the (almost) identical backgrounds 48K S P E C T R U M £5.50 C O M M O D O R E 6 4 £ 6 SO

spLan

and the pathetically animated (?) blobs (which s e e m to h a v e about as m u c h intelligence as a d e a d rat) m a k e s Valhalla a world beater a s tar a s a waste of m o n e y is concerned. H o w dare he c o m p a r e the detail in The Hobbit {such as e a c h character being given a personality a n d inventory) to badly written rubbish with the following features': if m o r e than six objects are dropped on screen (the computer c a n apparently only hold six for e a c h location) Klepto arrives (kleptomaniac - get it?) and picks up what you drop (presumably to stop the g a m e from crashing); you get a n out-of-screen error if you try to type in something w h e n other things are happening; if a printer is attached, the computer oftren g o e s haywire with nonsense spewing out of it. I'm sure the 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 Hobbit fans out there a g r e e with m e in saying that The Hobbit is, and will remain, the best and most sophisticated adventure (at least until Sherlock Holmes is released). I hope that has clarified the situation a n d hopefully put a few minds at rest (I w a s seething!). If a n y o n e else would like to write to m e concerning the H o b b i t A p p r e c i a t i o n S o c i e t y , please send a small s t a m p e d addressed envelope with your correspondence a n d I will reply to you promptly Nigel Foster, 12 M i d d l e f i e i d L a n e , Hinckley, Leicestershire LE10 ORB

Z X T a l . This is not worth the £ 7 95. O n e it's slow, two comprehensive instructions are virtually non-existent, three there a r e m a n y other g a m e s more devious, sophisticated, faster a n d interesting than this. Not that I want to take a w a y anything from Carnell. you understand, but this g a m e s e e m s to be as overrated in computer g a m e s a s C a s a b l a n c a is in films. (That's o n e of my favourite films! LM) Second. In last month's issue I w a s highly impressed by the developed English and generally intelligent review composition that J. Singh a n d others presented. Y o u yourself said the standard in the competition w a s high. I then considered whether it might be worth trying this on a permanent basts - as it were, a closer relationship with the readers, thus making the readers feel more relaxed with reviewers with w h o m they c a n relate. Third. W h e n is that article on joysticks you promised going to materialise? Fourth. Although it doesn't completely spoil my monthly reading, it does irritate m e slightly a s I view the seemingly endless typing errors or printing errors which crop up. Last month I counted 2 0 plus, giving up eventually. If it gets any worse I'm sure your readers will be sending unending letters for you to cnnge at, or undoubtedly more terrific p o e m s from Mark Harvey. S p e c I, Stockton, Cleveland.

To take the points in order: I have no strong views one way or the other about Black Crystal, never having got off base 1 with it. But I do know that W r a t h of M a g r a comes complete with the fullest instructions possible -it weighs a ton! As to readers' reviews - this has been under consideration The trouble with it is largely the insane schedules for a monthly magazine, which mean we must LOTS TO SAY be able to absolutely rely on material coming in when it's D e a r Ed. supposed to. Still, the idea is still Lots to say so will be brief a n d under consideration. The joystick to the point. First, I a g r e e with the bloke in last month's issue h e a d e d I article will happen, but we

Well, I think that's certainly clarified the situation nicely, Nigel - whatever you do. don't slam the phone down, please! LM

4 8 K S P E C T R U M £ 5 SO 8 8 C M O D E L B £6 5 0

1984

A O AMI O* GOVt*MMl%1 U 1 N 1 M MIP»T

delayed it because every other magazine under the sun did it to death just before Christmas, also, there has been a lot of developments in interfaces and joysticks since, so the material is being looked into with a view to an autumn article As I think I have pointed out before. CRASH runs to an enormous number of words each month, probably two and a half to three times as many as any other similar magazine. With the best will in the world you are going to get errors which go unspotted in over 120,000 words. By my rough reckoning, last issue's errors ran to a little over 1 %of the total wordage. and I don't think that's too bad, though w e fry to cut even that figure down of course. And anyway, you're nght - Mark Harvey has done it again .. LM

Dear C R A S H , M a n y thanks to all concerned For publishing my letter, But just to wrap things nicely up I'd like to m a k e all better My p o e m w a s not all complete In the sense the word is known. For twelve mistakes were omitted, But you a d d e d six of your own! W h y are there so m a n y spelling mistakes T h a n any other magazine around? B e c a u s e there's so much more writing T h a n any other m a g a z i n e around! G a m e s I thoroughly recommend? Well now, let m e s e e . , . Invasion of the Body Snatchas T r a s h m a n . Jetset Willy. With 6 0 rooms and 7 9 objects Matthew Smith I must c o m m e n d . But the glasses in Conservatory Roof H o w ? Or I'll go round the b e n d (If I'm not already) C r a s h is the bestest m a g around. T h e only one for m e S o much is packed in to read, And for just 7 5p. B.F.N., Mark Harvey, I T a d c a s t e r , N. Y o r k s .

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Pool Producer: C . D . S . Microsystems M e m o r y required 1 6 K Retail price: C 5 . 9 5 Language: m a c h i n e c o d e Author: M i k e L a m b Pool by COS is hardly a brand new game, having emerged in the middle of last year But most such games were released before CRASH started life, and it's no bad thing to catch up on a few of them, especially if they have been popular, and CDS Pool certainly has, remaining in the charts all year. To celebrate its continuing popularity, CDS have now repackaged the game in a new cassette cover which matches the style of their recent releases. The game, however, remains as it was. Each version has its own pecularities. In the CDS Pool you start each game with three balls and three shots. The object is to pot all six balls on

A battle on the cool green baize in the newly repackaged COS Pool.

the table, three red and three blue. Aiming the cue ball is done by moving a small triangular marker around the edge of the table, the ball being shot towards the marker (not in the opposed direction as happens in some versions). The marker is moved clockwise or anticlockwise using the S or A keys. Speed of shot is controlled by a five block bar below the display area. After a shot

fiTLAOTIS

SOFTWQRE LI ITU TED

URGENTLY R E Q U I R E M O R E HIGH QUALITY ACTION G A M E S FOR T H E Z X S P E C T R U M If you have w r i t t e n an exciting and original g a m e for the C B M 6 4 , Vic 2 0 or Z X S p e c t r u m w e would like to talk to you. If t h e g a m e is g o o d , w e will pay high royalties on w o r l d - w i d e sales. In the first instance, send a copy of your g a m e , together w i t h any instructions to: Michael Cole ATLANTIS SOFTWARE LIMITED 19 P r e b e n d S t r e e t , London, N1 8 P F i

C R A S H July 1 9 8 4 40

has been taken, the speed set- pub. The cotour has been well ting returns automatically to a used - there isn't much room value of three. for alteration of course - but it During a game the number all stands out well. Playing of shots remaining will Pool has been made simple, decrease by one for each shot especially as the cue marker made, unless a ball is potted can be inched very finely by on that shot when it will revert tapping the key. Holding the to three. After frame three, this key down will cause it to is reduced to two shots. Any speed up so it doesn't take foul shot results in one of the ages to move around the players three start balls being table. Definitely the best Specremoved. trum version, and if you Scoring is done by giving the haven't already got it and you blue balls 20 points and the red like table games, then you 10 points. Pool can be played should have this one.' by one or two players, each score being continuously disCOMMENTS played.

CRITICISM â&#x20AC;˘ This is an excellent copy of the arcade Pool game (which is. in turn, a copy of real pool!). The graphics are very good, the balls moving accurately and smoothly. Setting up shots is easy with a pointer which the cue ball will aim for. I enjoyed this game and found it rather addictive {mind you, I am a snooker/pool fan) and I feel that all Spectrum owners should have this in their collection, especially if they enjoy the real thing (either video or real ). It's a shame you cannot arrange the balls on the table to try out new or trick shots. Overall Pool is a very good game.' â&#x20AC;˘ Of all the versions I have played. I still think the CDS Pool has the best graphics. The movement of the balls is very good, smooth and convincing in the way they rebound. They also come to a rest more realistically than in any other version, and every bit as well as the dedicated arcade version in my local

Control keys: A/S moves cursor anticlockwise, L = speed, ENTER to shoot Keyboard play: simple and responsive Use of colour: well used but naturally limited Graphics: good movement of characters, well laid out text and scores Sound: well used with rebound sounds and a strident tone for the cue cursor Skill levels: 2 Lives: 3 balls Features: 1 or2-player games General rating: felt to be the best Spectrum version, a very well done implementation and good value for money.

U s e of c o m p u t e r Graphics Payability Getting started Addictive qualities Originality V a l u e for m o n e y Overall

79% 75% 76% 80% 78% 65% 87% 77%

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i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4

The room is darkened around you, concentrating all your attention on the brilliant green baize of the playing surface under its hot overhead illumination. The tension of the audience watching from the dimness of the surrounding stands is almost palpable in the air. You could cut the atmosphere with a knife! Your opponent hovers momentarily, poised over the edge cushion, one foot off the floor for better reach. There is a light click of the cue and a double click as the cue ball strikes another and then another. A sigh from the audience. It's your turn again. You chalk your cue tip and examine the lie of the balls, brilliant colours gleaming on the green. You see your shot -a classic take your s t a n c e , lower the cue and, breathing easily, line up the shot...

C.D.S.

POOL TO WIN!

Despite considerable competition. C.D.S. Microsystems have remained at the top of many software charts with their game POOL for a considerable time. In recognition of this fact, C.D.S. have now completely repackaged the game in a stunning new cover If you have never played POOL, or if your well-used copy is wearing out the baize. i

C R A S H July 1 9 8 4 44

now's your chance to win one of the newly packaged versions. In association with C.D.S. Microsystems, CRASH is giving away 50 copies of POOL to the first 50 correct entries drawn from the bag. What you have to do is examine the word puzzle and ring the letters therein that make up the 19 words listed

L K R H L S T N I 0 P X F V X G c Q H X

SPECTRUM POCKET CUSHION SMOOTH SHOT BAG FRAME POINTS CDS CUE

S J T S E F E W X I Q E T I H W E I R F

1. Who is the current UK Pool

0 D E I G E Q E U Y T V K F K 0 A B X Z 0 L X I M M p Q Q L Q I M N X S E Q D K B V I P P A A Y X J G P R F M M V I A T A V M T R Q G A B L Q C D Z A X U K K J L w U 0 A D E N E U C c 0 R Z F 0 Y E G

S B C W W 0 0 M A B G u C H A L K p H Z R G E E P U R U L M F z

Z C U S H I 0 N

0 0 P 0 L L U u 0 0 F s H R Z T X N Y G P N S L P P E L C D C I T 0 H A F R R U X K V Q F C U H I D W I 0 N H B U I Z R Fill in your n a m e and address

POOL TABLE TIP CHALK FOUL BALLS RED BLUE WHITE

champion?

2. Name 10 C D S. game titles. 0. 1 . 2 .

beside it. Additionally you 4 must correctly answer the two N a m e 5 questions betow the puzzle, fill in your name and address on Address 6 the coupon and then send it to 7 us to reach the CRASH offices no later than last post on Fri8 day, 27th July. The first 50 correct entries drawn will each Postcode... 9 receive a copy of C.D.S. POOL. C D S / C R A S H Pool C o m p e t i t i o n , P O B o x 10, L u d l o w , S h r o p s h i r e S Y 8 1 D B . â&#x20AC;&#x201D;J

C R A S H July 1 9 8 4 45

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T h e Q u i l l is a m a j o r n e w u t i l i t y w r i t t e n i n m a c h i n e c o d e w h i c h a l l o w s e v e n the novice p r o g r a m m e r t o produce high-speed machine code adventures of s u p e r i o r q u a l i t y t o m a n y a v a i l a b l e a t t h e m o m e n t w i t h o u t a n y k n o w l e d g e of m a c h i n e c o d e w h a t s o e v e r . Using a m e n u selection s y s t e m y o u m a y create w e l l over 200 locations, d e s c r i b e t h e m a n d c o n n e c t r o u t e s b e t w e e n t h e m . Y o u m a y t h e n fill t h e m w i t h objects a n d p r o b l e m s of your choice. H a v i n g t e s t e d y o u r a d v e n t u r e y o u m a y alter a n d e x p e r i m e n t w i t h a n y s e c t i o n w i t h t h e g r e a t e s t of e a s e A part f o r m e d a d v e n t u r e m a y be saved t o t a p e for later completion. W h e n y o u h a v e d o n e so T h e Quill w i l l a l l o w y o u t o p r o d u c e a c o p y of y o u r a d v e n t u r e w h i c h w i l l r u n i n d e p e n d e n t l y of t h e m a i n Quill editor, so t h a t y o u m a y g i v e c o p i e s a w a y t o y o u r f r i e n d s . T h e Q u i l l is p r o v i d e d w i t h a d e t a i l e d t u t o r i a l m a n u a l w h i c h c o v e r s e v e r y a s p e c t o f its u s e in w r i t i n g adventures.

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P H I I F P T I O I V I V / W L . L . L . W I I V / I *

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SPECTRUM'S ADVANCED KEYBOARD The LO >: PROFILE professional keyboard is the ultimate upgrade for your Spectrum. By replacing its existing keyboard with a high quality LO> PROFILE, you give this worldbeating computer the keyboard it deserves. The LO > > PROFILE is a full size QWERTY keyboard with full-travel positive-action keys for super-fast entry of programs and data. Presented in an ultra-modem and robust enclosure, the LO »> PROFILE is elegantly styled and is inclined forwards for convenient operation.

Featuring a full size space bar with dedicated numeric and curser keypad the LO >> PROFILE increases the number of keys from 40 to 53. A combination of clearly labelled, sculptured and height-adjusted keys aids the advance to fault-free touch-typing. Advanced Memory Systems have established an excellent reputation for product reliability and prompt delivery. This product has been tested to an impressive 20,000,000 depressions per key and AMS offer a full one year guarantee.

FROM ADVANCED MEMORY SYSTEMS LIMITED. Fitting your Spectrum computer board into the LO>> PROFILE keyboard is easy. All you need is a screwdriver to secure the board onto the base of the keyboard enclosure using the mountings provided. The LO>>PROFILE is compatable with all Spectrum add-ons.

If not available from one of our 200+ dealers then fill in the coupon and we will send you a LO > > PROFILE with our full no-quibble money-back guarantee. Or phone 0925 602690/ 62907 for instant Access or Visa orders. Please send No L o > > P r o f i I e K e y b o a r d at £49.95 plus £2.50 p&p (VAT inclusive) I enclose a cheque/PO for £ or debit my credit card. Card No 11 I I I I I I I I I Signature Name Address

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MOO-

terrain for you. As usual, your Rova travels from left to right against a scrolling background of mountains, and a scrolling foreground of Producer: O c e a n craters, whilst overhead, the M e m o r y required: 4 8 K alien craft drop bombs on you. The ground is divided into 26 Retail price: £ 5 . 9 0 sectors, lettered A to Z with Language: m a c h i n e c o d e Ocean claiming that over 300 Authors: K e n F a r m e r a n d the buggy. The rocks are red screens are included in the Jon Myers and the explosions white. game. There aren't all that many Oceans packaging and title round-based obstacles - at screens have been delightful CRITICISM 'irst, and the hovering aliens recently, and Moon Alert is no don't cause craters with their exception with the screen • 'In m\ iy opinion, Moon Alert bombs or lay mines in your (designer D. Thorpe) being is the best Moony Buggy' path. So at first it looks pretty based on the cassette cover. game I have seen. l. Tht The graph- simple. But it's not. This is a The scenario for Moon Alert is ics are smooth and the jumping deceptive game, because it a familiar one by now. What over obstacles is excellent. trundles along at what seems makes Ocean's version inter- There are many stages and the like a leisurely pace. But it has esting Is that they have defi- game is very playable. I liked been designed just right, nitely based this on the moon, this one, It has plenty of 'feel, slowly leading you into with the activity of the Moon so that jumping over canyons impossible situations. I parRova taking into account the is not just a hit and miss affair. ticularly liked the fact that tereffects of a reduced gravity The keyboard positions are rain isn't flat with craters. Here field. good and the graphics and you have hills, humps, valleys, many of them awkwardly Space Fighter 7 has been sound are good." shaped so you have to time blasted by the aliens and crash landed on the Moon's surface. • There have been several the jumps just right. Firing igis Spectrum versions of the nicely paced as well, The Fortunately the Moon Rova. "Moon Buggy" game now, graphics are super smooth, stored on board seems undamaged. It is equipped and I think Ocean's has been leading you on into the growwith bilateral photon canon rather long awaited. But the ing horror. Suddenly there are wait is worth it. This is the best triangular things in the air and perpendicular jet boosters, both of which you will yet. Oddly enough, it doesn't and they do make craters very exciting at first. It and double sized rocks in your need to survive the long jour- look ney back to base. The aliens isn't violently coloured, just path. I must get back and see what comes next. Highly have located your crash site black, dark blue and purple addictive!' and are even now scouring the with a pale blue line drawing of

Moon Alert

'Smooth graphics, good tunes and reasonable sound effects boosted with Currah combined with marvellous payability, make this the best "Moon Buggy" type of game yet for the Spectrum. If it isn't entirely original. Ocean should get a good rating because of the original way in which the game has been implemented. I particularly liked the way each zone is sectioned off by letters of the alphabet which come scrolling into the screen as you drive over them. Loss of life means you go back to the start of the sector you are in, not the beginning - until you lose all your lives of course. Highly addictive and maddening to play.'

COMMENTS Control keys: alternate keys bottom row for left/right, keys on the third row for jump. keys on the second row for fire Joystick: Kempston. Protek, Sinclair 2 Keyboard play: good positions, with plenty of options, very responsive Use of colour: good Graphics: smooth, well detailed Sound: good tunes, plenty of incidental effects Skill levels: 1 but progressive difficulty Lives: 4 Screens: continuously scrolling Features: 1 or 2 player games, Currah microspeech facility Originality: hardly an original idea, but a good version of the arcade original, and particularly well implemented with imaginative features General rating: very addictive, playable and generally very good. U se of c o m puter Graphics Payability Getting started Addictive qualities Originality Value for m o n e y Overall

CRASH July 1984

86% 89% 95% 88% 94% 83% 90% 89%

Stop the Express Producer: S i n c l a i r M e m o r y required: 4 8 K Retail price: £ 5 . 9 5 Language: m a c h i n e c o d e Author: H u d s o n S o f t Trains seem to be in the news this issue, what with Blaby's Casey Jones and now this original game marketed by Sinclair. Hudson Soft is the Japanese company who have been releasing games in Britain recently. Anyone who has ever wanted to do one of those S n a k e b i r d s a n d R e d m e n on t h e 9.15 - c a n you S t o p t h e Express? scenes In movies where the hero runs along the tops of the ing straps to swing up and game which requires nifty timcarriages on a moving train, avoid the redmen, or it's poss- ing and responses, but which can now have a go! ible to leap over them, even lets you improve, since the The ITA Express has fallen kicking them in the teeth. But same events happen each life, into the hands of the evil Red- watch out for the ghostly red so you get the hang of it evenmen. As Special Security things that inhabit the straps as tually. Very addictive.' Agent, your task is to stop the well. train and apprehend the vile The first stage is ten car- • No help is given from the criminals before they reach the riages long, stage two is the snakebird once you are inside border. You must reach the same before the motorman's the express, so you must time front carriage and unlock the cabin is reached. Each redman your jumps and kicks very well. motorman's cabin, avoiding thrown from the train scores There's also this awful thing the thrown knives of the red 100 points whether it is the hanging up on the hanging rotters and their fists. Your only released snakebird or a kick straps which is after your weapons are your wits, skill in which sends them flying. blood. On top of the train it's timing and the likeable worth being careful with your Snakebird. snakebirds, as they are only effective for the length of one The screen shows the car- CRITICISM carriage, falling off at the end. riages of the moving train, almost filling the playing area. • 'This is like a scene from a Also, you can only carry one at You are lowered from above James Bond film. A very origi- a time. This is a highly original idea with imaginative graphics on to the roof of the last car- nal idea nearly always sells riage. The train's motion is cassettes - this is original and which also has just the right ingredients to make it indicated by the backward great fun to play. The train car- sort sort of of ingredients scrolling ground beneath the riages are well drawn and col- fun and addictive.* train, and the flashing tele- ourful. 'You', your enemies and graph poles behind it. As you the snakebirds all move very run forward, the carriages fast. The sound isn't bad, with COMMENTS slowly scroti backwards. a clicky effect resembling the Thrown knives are ducked by wheels going over the rails. Control keys: a bit of a falling flat and the gaps bet- One disadvantage with handful - A or J/D or L run ween carriages are negotiated keyboard play is the number of left/right, Q or l/E or P to jump by jumping. If the pursuing keys needed to move and redmen catch up with you, or operate your man. One of the one of their knives hits you, you better games that Sinclair has are flung off the train, which just released.' sails on without you. Occasionally a snakebird • The graphics in Stop The flies past. Leaping up will Express are quite impressive, enable you to catch one, and probably because the train pressing the fire button will carriages are so large and release it to attack your pur- colourful, but there are lots of suers. Just below tne score other neat details, like the line is a caution signal which telegraph poles and sagging flashes whenever an overhead wires which can be seen electric stanchion is approach- above the roof and below the ing. Running your head into wheels, also the overhead one of these is painfully fatal! electric stanchions move in If you get through the first perspective as they flash by screen, the scene cuts to the above you. Should you fall off, interior of the carriages - a sort the train goes on by -the exact of cutaway view. Here the hero number of carriages you have must use the passenger hang- already got across. This is a

left/right and X orM =down, CAPS or BREAK to fire Joystick: ZX 2 Keyboard play: difficult with so many keys, joystick recommended, but very responsive Colour: very good Graphics: very good, large and detailed S o u n d : above average Skill levels: 1 Lives: 3 Originality: very high, nothing else like it General rating: amusing, fun, hard and reasonably addictive.

U s e of c o m p u t e r Graphics Payability Getting started Addictive qualities Originality Value for m o n e y Overall

58% 83% 85% 78% 85% 88% 83% 80%

i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4

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Mugsy

how many hoods are still loyal upon to make a more involved and how much dough there Is and interesting game.' in the safe. It is then time to begin decid- • The graphics, which were Producer: Melbourne ing how much dough to spend all done using Melbourne House Draw, are quite stunning. Not and on what to spend it on. In Memory required: 48K several dynamically drawn only because they are large, but because they really do scenes, your friendly sideRetail price: £6.95 look as though they have kicked accountant tells you Language: m a c h i n e c o d e each item and asks for the sum come from a comic strip. The Authors: Philip M i t c h e l l , of money you are going to use. scenery, the angles from Clive Barrett, Russell which things are seen, like the There is another comic strip balloon with a flashing asterisk overhead view of Mugsy and Comte in it. As you input the required sidekick walking into a doorway, are all authentic and Mugsy is the first interactive figures, so it appears in your ower a lot to those 1940s video comic strip. So says the balloon. When these decisions are American gangster movies as cassette inlay, and they're completed, you are treated to a well as comics. I love the probably right. Mugsy is a strategy type game in which micro-movie highlight of the micro-movies - such a pity the graphics are the stars. In a year before battle begins there aren t more of them. One sense, what Philip Mitchell and aqain^ Should a contract be is a street scene with a street walker passing by the window his team have done is to bring taken out on you by another graphics to the strategy game gang, the scene cuts to a cafe on the other side of the street. in much the same way that interior and you have to shoot Then a large limo pulls up opposite and someone leans they did in The Hobbit for the it out with the hit man. out to fire a burst of machine gun bullets at your window. LftST Unfortunately there really isn't VERR 30 ouvs enough to do for the player in GOT RUBBED OUT BV the game, as this program OTHER HOBS RNO 0 HOODS WUZ largely plays by itself. All you RECRUITED BV THE have to do is type in the sums ORGANISATION. of money to be spent and then sit back and watch the results.'

adventure game. You play Mugsy, Godfather to a gang of wise-cracking, back-talking hoodlums, and your aim is to be the toughest and most powerful gang leader in the city. To do this, you have to manage the gang by making money and deals, buying them weapons. You must decide how many clients' will be protected and how many 'squeezed', make deals with City Mall and play the rackets (no, this is not a tennis simulation). If you are a success your hoods will stay loyal, but if you are too successful one of the other gangs may hire a hit man to getridof you. The game is played along • A video comic strip eh! Well much the same lines as any this is quite a good idea involvother strategy of its type. But ing you in making decisions the look is very different. The and running a nrtob. The game loading screen sets the tone is quite playable for a few with its large comic strip games but soon gets a little graphic of Mugsy's mug. This repetitive. The graphics are cuts to a waterfront scene of excellent and the animation is heavily shadowed hoods star- also very good (it's only used in ing out over the night time city places). Generally a good reflected in the still water. game but it didn't have too Information is imparted in much lasting appeal for me. comic strip balloons - a run The comic idea is a wonderful down on last year's activities, one and could be expanded i

C R A S H J u l y 1 9 8 4 50

the balloon has been read. The problem I found with Mugsy is that it isn't really much of a game as such, and after a few years" have gone past, you have seen all the pictures there are and it begins to lose interest. What we need now is the graphics of Mugsy and the complications of a real teaser like The Hobbit. Is it too much to ask? I hope not. Mugsy probably is worth buying though, because it certainly looks good.'

COMMENTS

Control keys: (arcade scene) I IP left/right, QfZ up/down, B, N or M to fire U s e fo colour: very good, comic colours on strong black and white Graphics: excellent, with some amazing animation S o u n d : poor - a very good typical tune, but no sound during play Skill levels: 1 Lives: 1 General rating: an unusual, original presentation for a somewhat simple strategy • 'it says stunning graphics on game - a game that points the the cassette inlay, and for once way forward without, perhaps, itsright.The amazing scenes doing itself enough justice. are generated very quickly and the game can be speeded up in U s e o f c o m p u t e r 68% the informational sequences 91% by pressing any key as soon as G r a p h i c s Playability 76% Getting started 78% Addictive qualities 50% Originality 85% Value for m o n e y 63% Overall

Cosmic Cruiser

the game too. I think it's totally astonishing that the company to have released a game like Zzoom should have let this one go.'

Producer: I m a g i n e Memory required: 4 8 K Retail price: 5.50 Language: m a c h i n e c o d e Author: S t e v e L a v a c h e

COMMENTS Control keys: alternate bottom row for left/right, 2nd row down. 3rd row up, top row fire Joystick: Kempston. ZX 2, Protek, AGF, Fuller Keyboard play: average responses, but hard to control Use of colour: good Graphics: average Sound: poor (except for start music) Skill levels: progressive difficulty Lives: 4 Screens: 2 Originality: not a bad idea, and certainly quite original, but poorly implemented General rating: below average.

Cosmic Cruiser comes packaged in Imagine's new cassette design with a profile of the programmer and detailed instructions and game objectives. Essentially you have parked your Cosmic Cruiser underFor the Cosmic Cruiser, getting into the space station proves quite easy. neath an Earth-owned space station which has been overinside the space station you man is poorly drawn and very run by aliens. Your task is to must kill off all the aliens to fidgety to control.. He wobbles rescue the captured crew and escape. This is difficult due to and bounces off things, is slow bring them to the safety of your your man being hard to control compared to the aliens and Cruiser. Your ship is equipped and only firing very slowly. This fires slowly, considering how with a laser canon and a hatch, is another good idea gone many of them there are. Inside and you also have a laser hand wrong. Are Imagine going the space station, the comgun. Cosmic Cruiser is not a down the same street as that of partments are drawn in a false moving game in the sense that waning pop groups? Just perspective, but the objects U s e of c o m p u t e r 58% the ships fly about; both your releasing material and expect- lining the sides cramp the G r a p h i c s 6 2% ship and the space station ing fans to buy it won't work in space so much that there is 30% remain static. The object is to this industry. Even though I little room left for the man to P l a y a b i l i t y shoot open one of the hatches feel this is essentially a bad' move away for target distance G e t t i n g s t a r t e d 74% in the station which line a game, it's 'average' because it and he has to be facing the A d d i c t i v e q u a l i t i e s 35% revolving outer wheel. This is O r i g i n a l i t y 6 8% done with the canon. You can V a l u e f o r m o n e y 4 8% then fly up to the opened hatch and dive in. The scene cuts to Overall 54% the interior. If you are lucky the compartment will contain a crewman, and after blasting the alien guards, you can drag him to the safety of your ship. But not all the compartments contain crewmen. You will have to kill all the aliens before Producer: B e y o n d you can leave. Outside, the Memory required: 4 8 K aliens are gathering. There Retail price: £5.95 may be fighters which will Language: m a c h i n e c o d e bomb you and the warriors from the station may come Released at the same time as after you. Firing the hand gun Psytron, Spellbound is in a difwhile carrying a crewman will ferent class, sadly, a someresult in his floating away from what lower one. Dressed in the you. guise of dungeons and Progression from level to . . . getting out is quite another matter because the aliens give the hero a fit dragons. Spellbound is actulevel is either by time or by of the jitters. ally a Q-bert' game of leaping rescuing eight crewmen. from square to square to Bonus points are awarded is still better than many games alien to shoot it, so he needs change the colours of a 28 step after each level. As the levels available. Imagine just don't that space. The result is pyramid. progress the enemy become seem to get the whole thing unplayable and very soon The scenario is that you (a nastier. working correctly. They brag completely pointless.' frog in the disguise of a prince about their programmers, or is it the other way round?) • 'I'm afraid the best thing musicians, artists, techs, etc, CRITICISM let's hope they all work about this game is the title must escape the clutches of together to give a co-ordinated screen and start music. the witch Griselda. She {or is it There's precious little sound a he?) stands to the left of the • Cosmic Cruiser is. in my presentation next time!' anywhere else and the graph- pyramid, stirring her/his caulopinion, rather similar to Pedro by Imagine in as much as the • Looking at Cosmic Cruiser ics, while reasonable to look at. dron. To do this you must hop and. before it, Pedro, I begin to behave very oddly at times. about on the pyramid and game is a good idea but generally falls down on playability . suspect that Imagine tried Your laser canon jerks viol- change the colours of the steps Graphics and sound are good, lowering their prices to £3.95 ently in turning, and when you without hopping over any but the graphics do have some because they thought these leave it. your man materialises edge, or occupying a square games were not worth it, and away from it, rather than being occupied by one of Griselda's problems. But the main problem is the sheer lack of playa- for £5.50 they 're not. The basic animated out. This violence of spell creatures. These appear bility. For instance, when idea is quite good, but your control runs through the rest of on the top square at intervals

Spellbound

i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4

Xt'iOV*

Airbase Invader Producer: C P S o f t w a r e Memory required: 4 8 K Retail price: £5.95 Language: m a c h i n e c o d e Author: C h r i s W h i t t i n g t o n

vulgar as a laser, instead Annie raises her hand and blows a kiss - it's as lethal as any laser though.. Kisses can only be blown horizontally in the direction faced. In addition, the bunkers are tittered with useful objects like maps, secret documents. Hovis loaves and plates, knives and forks. The screen displays the level on which a President Raygun clone may be found and warns if one is about to press the button. Can you find it in time... ?

Politics seem to be creeping more and more into computer games - so does sexism. The two are firmly combined in this C R I T I C I S M novel idea from CP Software. Griselda stirring her (or his) cauldron would send shivers down any princeling You play a CND supporter - a • No comment on the politifrog's back. female one - and your task is to cal points in this game! Politics prevent President Raygun get into everything - I don't clones, which have been want them associated with as she throws them out of the less playable and not very loosed amongst the bunkers games! But on the game front cauldron with a flash of lightnaddictive.' beneath USAF airbase this is a lighthearted - until you ing Greenham Common, from get to the ominous warning • The graphics are rather There are 12 levels of increasing difficulty, with more cute, but the game itself is a finding the red nuclear button after failing to stop Raygun, ! and more spells chasing after little on the slow side, and I and blowing the world to king- which says, Remember - if really (eel that with the recent dom come. The inlay says that this was real - there wouldn't you. rush of 'Q-bert'' type games, hero Annie (is heroine an illeg- be a next time." The graphics there are much better versions ally sexist word now?) has are smooth, nicely done and CRITICISM around than this one. One fac- worked her way through the the game is very playable. The Iron Lady looks like something tor in Spellbound which makes wire and into the complex. • Thisgamedidn tgetoff toa it different, apart from the (airy good start - pressing the tale scenario, is the fact that Protek/AGF joystick option each level is played out against resulted in my being asked to a falling time limit - although be program my joystick, so I had warned - the red segment isn't to play with a totally unrespon- an indication of imminent sive keyboard instead, as I death. When you reach the red couldn't get back to the option bit - you're already dead!' menu again without reloading The witch on the side of the screen is realistic as she stirs COMMENTS her cauldron and throws out A spells, but the playing characters are small, undetailed and Control keys: Q/P left/right i the choice of colour is appal- upwards, Z/M left/right ling - you can hardly see some downwards of them. On some screens the Joystick: ZX 2, Kempston, change in colours when you Protek, AGF, Downsway (has jump on the steps is so slight it key programming option) hardly shows up at all. As this Keyboard play: poor is a Q-berf type game, where Use of colour: colours used have the essential spinning are varied and good, but not tops to take you up to the top always very well used A sweet-hearted heroine blows kisses at all and sundry In an attempt to charm President Raygun away from the red button. Graphics: reasonable, but gone?' playing characters are poorer The compelx itself takes the out of SPITTING IMAGE.' • At first glance, this Sound: good form of numerous rooms (with Q-bert" version looks very Skill levels: 12 between two and four doors) good, with unusual graphics, Lives: 3 • A maze-type complex filon several levels. Stairs up are led with enemies out to get you a nicely animated witch and Originality: based on arcade located at the top of a room, is hardly original, but the idea muted colours, A lot of sound game, now several versions and stairs down at the bottom. behind this one certainly is. It has also been used, which is available Annie, armed with her CND relies a lot on well drawn, large nice until you find out that General rating: interesting banner, must fight her way whenever the witch throws a variation, but lacking graphics and some neat through to get rid of Raygun semi-political ideas. Blowing spell out and there is an explo- payability due to clones. Other characters beset kisses to kill off enemies is a sive sort of noise - everything programming. her: Harry Hardnose, gutteron the pyramid stops dead good example of its originality press photographer. Old Bill, Should you be pressing a U s e o f c o m p u t e r in idea, and the concept is well 5 4 % the plodding policeman. implemented in as much as jump key at the time, the hesi6 2 % Squaddies - all Tommies with the Iron Lady is invulnerable to tation can make you try pres- G r a p h i c s 4 3 % guns , and worst of all, The sing it again, with the result P i a y a b i l i t y your loving charms! Good fun, that you make two jumps when G e t t i n g s t a r t e d and one where a clever idea 7 1 % Iron Lady herself, neatly depicted as a Tory-blue hairdo. everything resumes play-and A d d i c t i v e q u a l i t i e s hasn't swamped good paya40% over the edge you may well Annie's politics are all bility.' 4 5 % peaceful, however, so she go. The keyboard responses O r i g i n a l i t y V a l u e f o r m o n e y 4 8 % doesn't blast these numerous are the problem with Spell• First off I didn't think this bound. and it makes the game O v e r a l l 5 2 % nasties to bits with anything as was going to be a very active i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4 52

game - wrong again! Characenjoy playing this one, but I ters are drawn exceptionally would still rate it as above well, and you can recognise average when compared with each one. The idea of the games in general.' game is certainly novel if not realistic. One grumble though • Unusual game with is that there's no indication that unusual graphics, one that is you've shot the "right" Presiquite playable and where timdent Raygun, as he keeps ing needs to be quite precise doning - and I'venever found a when freezing Mammuts. Hike red button! The idea of "eatthe idea of Mammuts being ing" various objects throughable to de-ice your cannon, out the game like cups of tea, and the way Skorks can hinder Hovic, etc, to give you extra It's Icy cold under the threatened Summer Palace in Driller Tanks. your progress The graphics lives is a good one. as you are large and quite colourful often get killed off by the nasty with a fair amount of primitive CRITICISM geezers who run about the animation. There are two sets rooms. Graphics are smooth, of key layout for left and right• "This was the worst of Hud- handed players, although in large and well presented; the son Soft's programs for Sinckeys are not the best Producer: S i n c l a i r each the freeze' key is a bit out lair in my opinion. I mean this in of reach The start of each new positioned I found, as they are Memory required: 4 8 K the nicest possible way as the screen or life is quite longall low down (leaves you game is not really bad, it's just winded, something which nothing to lean on) but they are Retail price: E 5 . 9 5 that it did not seem over play- quickly becomes irritating. Not very responsive. Colour and Language: m a c h i n e c o d e able - okay but could have for the cold-hearted!' sound have been used quite Author: H u d s o n S o f t been better The graphics are well throughout the game. The game is playable, but I think its Watch out! Emerging from fairly good and the smashing of the frozen Mammuts is well addictive qualities will wear off their lairs deep underground - it depends on whether you the fire-breathing Mammut and done. On the whole I didn't like saving your country from a their mindless cohorts, the nuclear holocaust.' Skorks, are on the rampage. Oh' no,' I hear you cry, 'not again!' Never mind - Driller Tanks can prevent them from invading the Summer Palace. The battle takes place in the old tunnel complex beneath the palace. Before the tanks can use their ice-canon and the power of their own weight, they must clear a path through the earth-filled tunnels. ELECTRONICS The screen display shows the summer palace to be saved at the top, and below it the complex of earth-filled tunN O W OFFER A Q U A L I T Y MAIL nels. These tunnels are actuControl keys: CAPS 12 ally five platforms with four or O R D E R REPAIR SERVICE T O left/right, X/C up/down, V to five connecting passages betblow kisses ZX81 A N D S P E C T R U M O W N E R S ween each level. The driller Joystick: Kempston, Protek, tank starts each life by drilling AGF / X 8 1 £18.00 SPECTRUM £25.00 its way to the centre before you Keyboard play: very take over control. The earth is responsive but poorly Pru t's nu ludc p.irts, labour. VAT andpnslaffv .m<//kk kinn represented by blue colouring, positioned and moving the tank along a Use of colour: average passageway results in it turn* Very fast service Graphics: smooth, large ing black. The tank moves fasgenerally good * We use Sinclair approved components ter once a passageway has Sound: useful rather than * All work and parls guaranteed been cleared. imaginative The mindless Skorks move Skill levels: 1 vertically upwards, filling in any Lives: starting with 3 Don't forget to send us your name and address passage you may have Originality: a novel concept with details of faull. We recommend (he use of cleared. The purple coloured based on a standard type of recorded delivery. If you can obtain any kind of Mammut walk along the pasgame screen display, please DO NOT send us your sages breathing fire which desGeneral rating: above power supply. average to good, playable and troys your tanks. The tanks can fire and freeze a Mammut for a reasonably addictive. few moments before it SEND YOUR COMPUTLR AND ClUOUt IPO Use of c o m p u t e r 5 9 % unfreezes itself, but if frozen they are vulnerable to your TO: Graphics 7 4 % crushing weight and will disinRAINBOW ELECTRONICS Playability 7 1 % tegrate. Scoring is for freezing 45 DANESFORD Getting s t a r t e d 7 4 % and crushing Mammuts or HOLLINSWOOD freezing Skorks. You are lost if Addictive qualities 61% TELFORD the palace is reached by a Originality 75% SHROPSHIRE TF3 2DZ Mammut. The game contains Value f o r m o n e y 6 2 % eight stages of increasing difOverall 6 8 % ficulty.

Driller Tanks

C R A S H July 1 9 8 4

s c o F: e :

u 0 @80

B O N U S :

0 0 9 0 0

• 'I thought Driller Tanks a medium interesting game quite original in some respects, but somehow not thrilling enough to grab me for more than a few minutes. It hjas reasonable quality graphics and sound and enough difficulty in play to give appeal but not for long Very good demo/instructions.'

COMMENTS Control keys: A or J ID or L left/right, W or M up/down, SHIFT or SPACE fire Joystick: ZX 2 Keyboard play: responsive, but not massively good positions Use of colour: reasonable Graphics: average, although a little on the primtive, blocky side Sound: average Skill levels: 1 but progressive difficulty Screens: 8 stages Originality: certainly scores here, the game idea is quite novel General rating: above average Use of computer 60% Graphics 69% Payability 47% Getting started 81 % Addictive qualities45% Originality 79% Value for m o n e y 53% Overall 62%

Eric and The Floaters Producer: S i n c l a i r Memory required: 48K Retail price: £5.95 Language: m a c h i n e c o d e Author: H u d s o n S o f t

s t a g e :

E P i c s :

When you're lost and alone in a maze filled with Floaters, there's only one thing to do - explode a bomb.

inhabitants of the old system sell their own interface, but not called The Floaters, will kill Eric catering for other interface key if they touch him. He must des- mapping is just unfair. The Dytt troy them using his bombs. graphics were pretty good and The Floaters are normally the game proved to be purple, but occasionally, like "almost" addictive - the joysany arcade player, they lose tick option may have tipped the their tempers and get red in the scales against them.' face. In this state they tend to actually hunt Eric down instead • 7 enjoyed this game rather of placidly floating around. more than I thought I was The screen display is of a going to when I saw it was large and reasonably complex another maze game. The idea maze form, each maze screen of leaving bombs behind you being separate. In stage one to explode when you're safely there is only one Floater, but round a corner, and hopefully these increase in number as the floater isn't, is quite origithe game proceeds. Walls may nal, and makes for a differeent be blasted away by the placing maze game. There is also a of bombs, especially as some- kind of Pacman ghost angle in times there are totally closed this one too. When there are parts to the maze. Objects several floaters after you, it is revealed after the dust has set- easy to get trapped in dead tled may be collected for points ends or between two floaters, by running over them. Once all so careful escape route planthe floaters have been killed in ning is needed. When the floaters get "angry" is often the a stage, the bonus points best time because they track remaining from the original you down, so you can lure allowance at the start of the stage are added to your score. them to their deaths more easily. Unfortunately the game An element of strategy is lacks payability in the end required in the positioning of because the keyboard posithe bombs, which leave you tions are terrible, with a left about two and a half seconds hand and right hand cross of before they explode. The keys. I've heard the argument game has 20 stages, during that this configuration allows which the number of hidden you to use your hand like a items vary. joystick, rocking over the keys, but it isn't that easy with the CRITICISM Spectrum keyboard. On a programmable joystick I also • 'This is a fairly original found that the control was game from Hudson Soft. I liked unresfx>nsive which led to the general layout and game many Eric deaths by being type. Control was reasonable blown up with his own bombs using the keyboard, but unfor- A pity.' tunately Sinclair Interface 2 • The graphics are quite was the only joystick option. I large but a bit jerky and the think this is a little selfish of them. Ot course they want to overall use of colour is rather

Eric and The Floaters sounds a bit like a pop group of the midSixties; it also suggests an aerial game of some sort. Both guesses would be wrong, for this new game from Japanese Hudson Soft is an underground maze game. So the story goes: Hidden beneath the rubble of the Brick Lane (wherever they are) are the remains of a lost civilisation. Eric hopes to find part of them by blasting the rubble away with his bombs. But danger lurks in the Lanes, deadly i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4 54

drab. The game idea is novel for a maze game but it is spoiled by unresponsive key control. Had it not been for that fact then Eric and The Floaters may have been quite addictive.'

COMMENTS Control keys: A or J/D or L left/right, W or l/X or M up/down, SHIFT or SPACE to drop bomb Joystick: ZX 2 Keyboard play: awkward key ssitions

Bse of colour: average

Graphics: quite good, a bit jerky but your man 'folds' up well when killed Sound: above average Skill levels: 1 but progressive difficulty Lives: 3 Screens: 20 stages Originality: maze games aren't new. but this one is a very different theme General rating: above average.

U s e of c o m p u t e r Graphics Payability Getting started Addictive qualities Originality Value for m o n e y Overall

45% 62% 58% 72% 58% 62% 64% 60%

(jjeetahSoft Software

not

J i l

FOR SPECTRUM 48K

3 D B A T A T T A C K Anall action, 3 dimensional maze game where you gather up blocks of gold, at the same time pitting your wits against vicious vamptre bats whose only purpose in life is to locate, hunt and kill you. 4 levels of skill. At each level the game gets faster and more complicated, and the vampires more dangerous.

iafSSfii

Soft were

not

FOR SPECTRUM 48K

M CONQUEST C O N Q U E S T A tactical game which even veteran players will find both challenging and rewarding. Mediterranean Europe is divided into grid squares. Your aim, as Emperor, is to gam 100 squares of territory as quickly as possible - at the same time dealing with Barbarian counterattacks. plagues, civil war and rival Emperors. 5 levels of skill, plus a continuous 'Conquest' game where all the difficulty levels are thrown in together.

JSPBNL

Amfik

AFTER THESE THE REST IS KIDS STUFF. Are you ready for CheetahSoft? So don't play unless you're ready There's only one way to find out. to play the game for real. Because you'll But be warned: these vampire bats know find there's one sure thing about a good meal when they see one. And our CheetahSoft: Soft we're not. friend with the XT* . # cs^S^V ÂŁ6.95 ^.95 at all scythe has had years \ J 6 6 f Q h J O t t ^ H ^ t e g M g ^ f e ? good gOOC|stores. of experience...

Soft we're not

The Prize

one screen -1 don't know how many there are (perhaps that's the secret at the centre), but there are a lot. Graphics are Producer; Arcade well animated, parts of the guardians moving within Memory required 48K themselves. Different aliens Retail price: £5.50 have different firing techniques Language: m a c h i n e c o d e to try and destroy you. Colour shading for the walls of the This game takes its name from chambers is used very well, the fact that Arcade Software and is quite varied. Keyboard are offering a prize of £5,000 to layout (only the cursors) is not the first person to locate the so good, but the keys are very innermost chamber of a mas- responsive. Finding your way sive maze and discover its sec- around this maze is a considret. erable task - never mind findYou are in control of a space ing numbered pods. An ship armed with laser tor- a-mazing game with an incenpedoes to be used against the tive of £5.000.' various guardians in the maze. These include Death Drones, • The Prize nothing speMutants with vulnerable parts cial as games go except for its which you must discover as sheer size and the fact that the they won't just die by being graphics are of a high stanshot anywhere, and Crushers, dard, The aliens are very varilarge ladder shaped objects able, well animated and that work in threes and which imaginative in design. The kill on contact - and keep on way they behave is also varkilling! ied, and it's a nice touch that On each level of the maze on clearing a chamber and there are energy bases which entering another only to find it charge your ship so that it can packed so that you retreat withstand contact by the guar- back the way you came, you dians and destroy them find the once empty chamber instantly. Once charged, the you originally left is now ship alters colour and will packed again. That sort of remain in this super-state for a mistake can cost lives! The random time. Time running out game keeps you busy which is indicated by the force field gives it its addictive qualities. I flashing. Whilst in this stage must say, I enjoyed playing also, you can search for the this game.' coded pods to aid your progression to the next level. The • 'At last Arcade have pods are numbered 1 to 5, 5 brought out a game that is being the transporter pod. addictive to play and not just These must be collected in the graphically pleasing. The correct numerical order. game has several difficulty facPhotographing the special tors built in - the Crushers are code off the screen on level 4 is particularly hard to get past, required for entry into the com- requiring nerve and some skill petition for The Prize. in timing. I also enjoyed the energy base idea. This not only looks quite effective as it CRITICISM charges your ship up, but it • 'This is a huge maze game also gives you a few moments with each chamber' taking up of carefree fun as you charge Tlwrt'i a lot of money at stake In the mammoth maze shoot 'em up - in fact. H i quite s Prize.

where you like, sweeping everything before you. Colour is well used throughout the game, especially in the solid areas behind the edging walls, and the graphics are large and move smoothly. Quite an addictive game.

COMMENTS Control keys:

cursors

J o y s t i c k : Kempston, AGF

and Protek

K e y b o a r d p l a y : responsive,

though made harder by use of cursors, and generally better with a joystick Use of colour: very good

G r a p h i c s : good

S o u n d : above average Lives: 5 O r i g i n a l i t y : standard giant

maze type game

G e n e r a t i n g r a t i n g : fairly

addictive, playable and with good incentive. U s e of c o m p u t e r 60% Graphics 82% Playability 75% Getting started 69% Addictive qualities70% Originality 55% Value for m o n e y 69% Overall 69%

Resembling a bewildered walrus on the telephone - Zipper Flipper.

Zipper Flipper Producer: S i n c l a i r Memory required: 4 8 K Retail price: £5.95 Language: m a c h i n e c o d e Author: R . E . D / S u n s h i n e

The actual playing table looks a little like a surprised walrus with a telephone to its ear (or perhaps a steam radio, whichever you prefer). It eyes are the two main central bumpers with channels above for eyebrows and vertical channels for worry lines. Below, there are three smaller bumpers for a nose and the two flippers for projecting teeth. The telephone bit is the area containing the fruit machine.. This is protected from the main table by three rows of multicoloured bricks. Each time a ball hits a brick it is knocked out. Should you breach the wall entirely, your ball may land in the fruit machine, which can then be nudged for a bonus score. Between one and five players can enjoy the game, and a menu option provides for the setting up of a competition.

'It's late at night - the cafe's crowded - and the music's playing loud. The hunt is on for a pinball wizard - the one who can master the rolling ball. It takes lightning relfexes to master the Zipper Flipper and it's your turn to play . ..' So says the insert. So, as you may imagine. Zipper Flipper is a pinball game, and you may have already discovered the Pinball Wizard - that was by CP Software. The principle difference between this and the CP Software game (apart from the graphics) is that ZipCRITICISM per Flipper also includes a fruit machine - not as a separate • The graphics in Zipper game, but as a part of the table. Flipper are good but rather i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4

unexciting. The movement of the ball is very good, smooth and convincing - it even appears to spin as it rolls. But the main drawback is the fact that layout and content are unexciting. Anyone who has played real pinball will remember all sorts of features that aren't here. On the other hand it does include the novel feature of a fruit machine. I didn't like the somewhat unconventional flippers though. Generally good, but could have been more exciting with a few more features." • 'Whether you will like this game or not probably depends on how much you like table game simulations. Pinball is one of those things which the computer can do rather well. I didn't think this version was anything I ike as ood as the CP Software Pinall Wizard because it lacks the lively colour of that one, as well as many of the traditional bumper features. Also, the linked flippers were a bit sluggish I thought. The addition of the fruit machine is interesting, but I don't know whether it actually adds much to the fun of playing. The balls do roll about very realistically, and the addition of a small black cross on them allows for a good spinning feel to it. If it's addictive that 's because of the pinball idea rather than the game. Not a bad version, but I preferred Pinball Wizard'

General rating: a reasonable implementation, but not overly exciting.

as removing your carpet as fast as you lay it. As a target is set and must be reached before you can leave the room, U s e of c o m p u t e r 7 0 % if you've got the key, and score Graphics 6 5 % points for squares of carpet laid, you must keep well ahead Payability 5 8 % of the apprentice s depradaGetting started 6 3 % tions. Another problem is that Addictive qualities 5 8 % you cannot walk over cleanly Originality 4 3 % laid carpet, so it's easy to get trapped. One way out is to drop Value for m o n e y 6 0 % two objects if you have them uncontrolled manner, and it Overall 6 0 % and spoil the square, which takes a long while to figure out lets you out. Alternatively you what the hell is going on When will have to wait until the idiot you do, you realise it really isn't catches up and remvoes a worth it. I'm astonished that a game that looks like this one square to let you out. You will be stopped from lay- should have been released as ing carpet if you run out of new these days.' tacks or use up hammers and cutters. Escaping from a room • About the only thing written through the correct exit leads on the cassette inlay that turns you into another room. There Producer: T e r m i n a l out to be true is the warning are nine in all, each with their Memory required: 4 8 K own spatial problems and rival about TVs interfering and Retail price: £ 6 . 9 5 stopping proper loading of the carpet fitters. program. It claims (elsewhere) Language: m a c h i n e c o d e that the graphics are, "Hi-res flicker free graphics'' and that This is a game about deranged CRITICISM the screens are, "FAST carpet fitters. The screen depicts the plan of a very large • 'First glance at the cover machine code action." Well, room with several exits. The and I thought this was going to compiled machine code action maybe - they're certainly not what I would call fast, and no one could claim they were flicker free unless they were blind. The idea behind the game sounds quite good, a sort of updated "Painter" type, but it's hard to enjoy a game that has such poor payability and uncontrollable, pooriy designed graphics.'

• 'The main attraction of pinball is all the colour, noise and numerous bumpers. This lacks in all respects as the colour is a bit drab and the table layout isn't particularly exciting. Nevertheless, the graphics are very good and I enjoyed playing it.

Carpet Capers

COMMENTS

Control keys: very badly placed in a straight line - O/P left/right, Q/W down/up, SPACE for drop Joystick: joystick option mentioned but not stated L. A N D C L O A K R O O M which assistants and deranged carpet tillers jitterbug their way through Keyboard play: hall after hall. uncontrollable, and terrible COMMENTS keyboard layout object is to cover the room with be a great game - and I was Use of colour: average white carpet, of which you wrong for the second time in Graphics: primitive Control keys: left hand keys have an unlimited stock. The one day! It just goes to show Sound: fair, repetitive and flip left, right hand keys flip main problems come in the how a great looking cover an unimaginative right, 1-5lowers plunger, 6-0 form of your apprentice - who's fool you into buying a game Skill levels: 1 raises plunger, ENTER to fire absolutely nuts and should be that turns out to be rubbish. Lives: you only die once and nudge locked up - and rival firms of This is the sort of game that Originality: a possibly good Joystick: ZX 2 fitters who have also been you might have bought when idea obscured by a bad game Keyboard play: responsive, the Spectrum was first intro- General rating: waste of although flippers a bit sluggish asked to do the job. Use of colour: well used, but Lying about the room are duced. I hated it.' money. rather drab looking various useful implements like Graphics: neat and excellent tacks and cutters and a ham• The idea is certainly an U s e o f c o m p u t e r 15% spinning ball mer, as well as the essential interesting one. and Carpet G r a p h i c s 1 9% Sound: realistic ball pings, but key (without which you cannot Capers could have been a P l a y a b i l i t y 2 % leave a room). There is also winner except for a number nothing else much food around, which must be of problems. The graphics are G e t t i n g s t a r t e d Skill levels: 1 34% eaten if you aren't to starve to very primitive; you, your A d d i c t i v e q u a l i t i e s Lives: 5 balls 1% apprentice and the rival fitters Features: 1 to 5 player games death. O r i g i n a l i t y N/A Your apprentice goes about are tiny squares with an outline Originality: as it's a copy of a 10% eating all the food and picking of a man in them. They all jig- V a l u e f o r m o n e y real game, obviously not very up all the useful objects as well ger about the place in an O v e r a l l high 14% i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4 60

COMMENTS

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The Grid Wars are back - can you stay alive on on the grid with Zappers. Snitches and Camels?

Matrix Producer: S a l a m a n d e r Software Memory required: 4 8 K Retail price: E6.95 Language: m a c h i n e c o d e Author: J e f t M i n t e r

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appear on their own and with droids. On their own they decrease your score while they're on the screen, but with droids they are harmless, although they get in the way.

Control keys: l/P left/right, Q/A up/down and O to fire Joystick: Kempston, AGF and Protek Keyboard play: quite good positions, very responsive Use of colour: average, good use of contrast Sound: fair to average Skill levels: 20 Lives: 5 Originality: new features to make an old game more complex General rating: Good if you like very fast grid games.

The game comes with a very complex set of instructions, without which it is impossible to get into the Labyrinth, let alone leave it. The game starts off outside the main entrance with its lowered portcullis. There are flashing detectors which alert a Guardian, who will come and chase after you as you try to collect the anicent Rings of power. Once inside, the game becomes a maze of interlinked rooms, most of which are protected by guards. The guards must be killed before an object can be picked up. In this stage screen commands will activate the game; these are TAKE and FIGHT. In addition you can have spells, a tachyon gun (if you have the ammo), use tax returns in bargaining and there are brain bugs which work" against intelligence (not surprisingly perhaps!). The 3D in stage one is drawn with a strong perpsective, and the guard alters in size depending on his position, tn the latter stages, the rooms are shown as walls in perspective from above. Screen commands do not have to be typed in, but are accessed through single numeric key presses.

U s e of c o m p u t e r 57% Graphics 51 % Payability 64% Getting started 80% CRITICISM Addictive qualities 55% O r i g i n a l i t y 58% • 'I feel this is a good game. It 52% doesn't have the most exciting V a l u e f o r m o n e y graphics I have ever seen, but O v e r a l l 60% the game makes up for that. I found it very playable and relatively addictive. My main grumble is that after every game the menu returns to the keyboard option. This is rather Producer: P o s t e r n annoying when one does not notice or forgets to select the Memory required: 4 8 K required option. Perhaps on Retail price: E7.95 the pricey side at almost £7 CRITICISM let's not have the Commodore Language: m a c h i n e c o d e people trying to increase the Psi-Spy is a sort of 3D • My review of this game is price of Spectrum software!' adventure/arcade game which necessarily short because it This game is a cross bet- takes place under the purple almost completedly failed to ween a "Centipede' and dust of the Wandering Planet work. I have to admit that even "Grid" game but it's ,much where, it is rumoured, exists with the complicated instrucspeedier. Graphics are small the Labyrinth, a remnant of the tions I couldn't understand a and quite uninteresting and fly once great civilisation of the thing that was going on. In fact I about so fast that you can't Overlords. Great wealth and was so worried about my concentrate on them or see high adventure are promised shortcomings as a Psi-Spy that them. Colour has not been a I (those ready to challenge the I got in a few friends to see if used to the computer's full still active Guardians and find they could make head or tail of capacity, but the explosions the five keys of Zar, without events. In the end we did manare quite neat. Basically, I which exit from the Labyrinth is age to suss out some things, but I'm at a loss to explain any think there's much too much impossible. going on in the game all at once for it to be very playable Try to get in-Psi-Spy. or addictive - although some arcade mutations might be able to cope.'

In our earliest issue we reviewed Gridrunner by Jeff Minter. This new game is subtitled Gridrunner 2, It is ten years since the terrible Grid Wars shook humanity (Gridrunner) and now the terrible Droids have returned - and they are not alone. The droids now drop bombs at crazy angles and generate force fields which deflect fire, sometimes straight back at you. They also have a psychological weapon, which makes the pilot think he's seeing camels running down the grid. Your mission is to defend 20 sectors of the Grid. The grid is tastefully designed to be easy on the eye for once - dark blue squares on a black background. The droids come down the screen, zig zagging left toright,and, when hit, break their chain, the damaged segment forming a pod They may drop bombs, and when reaching the base of the screen, begin to move diagonally. A pod will remain after forming until it has been blasted to smithereens, or until it has mutated into something • "Centipede meets grid for nastier, in which case it will fall the second time. I found this down the grid on top of you. newer version more fun to play To the left of the grid, and than Gridrunner because the along the bottom, there are two droids do more, but the camels Zappers. These move back just seem to be there for the and forth, firing into the screen. in-joke quality rather than any Where their beams meet they useful game reason, again, the form a pod. The beam from the graphics are tiny and the game is super fast. I like the fact that base Zapper is deadly, If the sntich is above you and the you can enter any level betZapper below, the Zapper will ween 1 and 6 and tne snitch on fire out of sequence and get the top keeps you on your toes more. But much after level 7 it you. Some screens have deflecors, big screens in the all becomes very hard, with two drois and everything else centre which deflect your happening at once' shots.. Cosmic Cameloids

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of them. No doubt it's a worthy effort to cross arcade with adventure, but does it all have to be so damned complicated? Certainly a serious problem is that you have to think and act fast and there are a lot of keys to use. May be wonderful if you like a headache but I couldn't get on with it at all." • After playing this game several times and for a couple of hours at least, I still haven't really found out what I'm meant to be doing, despite the long instructions. An attempt has been made to produce a 3D arcade adventure which has totally failed. Because of its complciated obscurity any playability the game might have had has been spoiled.

graphics are adequate, and there is obviously an idea in there somewhere trying to get out:

COMMENTS Control keys: A/D left/right, USYM up or away/down or towards plus numerics for screen commands Joystick: none Keyboard play: sensible positions, responsive Use of colour: average Graphics: smooth but undetailed, not very large Sound: hardly any without Microspeech, busy with Skill levels: modified throughout according to status Lives: 1

Sabre Wulf Producer: U l t i m a t e Memory required: 4 8 K Retail price: £ 9 . 9 5 Language: m a c h i n e c o d e In most respects this is probably the most redundant review in this issue! By the time you read it, it would be surprising if you aren't already an expert at playing Sabre Wulf, the latest gamefromUltimate. Due to the inevitability of the natural law which states: Ultimate will always release a new game at the last possible moment before CRASH goes to press - we have had to do this one backwards in order to get any colour pictures fitted in! So below you will find the criticisms. and on the opposite page the general bits and pieces with the pictures.

• 'Sabre Wulf takes Atic Atac further. There is the search, the far from friendly creatures, • After waiting a week in a the central mystery of what state of extreme anxiety for the does what - but there is just a phone call to say, "ITS lot more of it. I managed in the HERE!" I almost fainted when short time allowed to get down it came. Then came the blow. to the bottom where you can They told me I only had two see the mountains, passed the hours to get it reviewed! But it Wulf (who is much faster than takes almost that long to load! you, don't try to outrun him) In two hours, all you can do is and to the side mountains run around like mad, try and where I found I could leave the stay alive and explore the jungle and run along the mouncountryside. Or rather the jung- tain tops. Much further, leside. I did get to see natives, though, is going to need more spiders, scorpions, lively and time! Fab graphics and sound, sleepy hippos, dancing flames brill colours - words fail. It's the and I picked up all sorts of game that counts - play the things. I also saw lakes and game.' mountains and got chased by the Wulf or a wulf anyway. As COMMENTS to how the game plays, it is going to take longer, but the Control keys: Ultimata's graphics are fabulous detailed, colourful, varied, famous QWERT combination extremely well animated and Joystick: Kempston. Sinclair very fast. The sound is great 2, Protek, AGF too. After a short time \ am Keyboard play: very responsive convinced it's better than Atic Atac. Time will tell. Pity about Use of colour: excellent the steep price increase, but I Graphics: excellent think the game is worth the Sound: excellent Features: one or two-player money.' games • In my opinion this is "State Originality: top marks of the art" Spectrum software. General rating: despite a It's basically a jungle version price increase, still good of Atic Atac but much more value. Probably Ultimata's involved (and better too). The best game to date. graphics are superb and extremely colourful. 'Many R a t i n g s : At short notice it animals are to be found and has been difficult to give an there are lots of game features. I felt that I had travelled actual rating for Sabre Wulf for miles yet only attained 25% that would make sense, - Indiana Jones eat your heart and it's probably redundant out! On the subject of aims. anyway. Let's just say Ultimate have included an ' u n r a t e a b l e ! ' and leave it inscription or warning. After to you to decide.

CRITICISM

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The graphics move smoothly, quickly, but are not at all well drawn. A lot of them are small and undetailed and none of them are very colourful. Currah Micospeech facility has been used quite well and has been backed up by a text which explains what it's saying, so you don't have to try and work it out!'

Originality: original but confusing General rating: fair, very hard to play and a bit pricey.

U s e of c o m p u t e r Graphics Playability Getting started Addictive qualities O • In the first screen, the object r i g i n a l i t y seems to be to get the portcul- V a l u e f o r m o n e y lis open and get inside. The O v e r a l l gate seems to open at odd moments quite unrelated to what you are doing. Also the guardians have a distinct advantage because they really do move very fast, sometimes even superfast. I say the object seems to be to get the gate open, but in fact the easiest way in is to get killed by the guardian. This is typical of the way the game has been designed to confuse. In my opinion it is unplayable, although the keys are well used and responsive, the 62

CRASH July 1984

some thought I took it to mean: i get the four parts of the amulet an escape through the cave (without the amulet you cannot leave). I have two main criticisms, neither of them very serious. (1) Occasionally on twoplayer games with a Kempston, I was unable to move upwards until several lives had been lost. (2) The price of £9.95 is a steep increase from £5.50. Even so, I would still recommend it to anyone. It's worth almost any two £5.50 games on the market. But I wonder whether this increase will mean an increase in its piracy. (In a plea to pirates I would like to say that their actions could rhean that high-quality software such as this may tend to decrease!) As a final opinion all I am going to say is that this is a Software Masterpiece (anything less would be a gross understatement). Thanks, Ultimate.'

II is, perhaps, almost redundant making an Ultimate game a CRASH SMASH. From the moment the first ad for Sabre Wulf appeared, the question we have heard most is, "Is it out yet?' Those rumours which suggested that Sabre Wulf would be like Atic Atac are, in many ways, correct. What we have here is another Ultimate mystery with a glossy, cryptic scenario, a long cast list of the horrors to be encountered, and very little else. As in Atic Atac, the player is expected to explore, discover and die endlessly until things begin to slot into place. Also as in Atic Atac, the game plays in a massive maze where at any moment you will be able to see a place you would like to reach and no obvious way of getting there. Unlike Atic Atac there is no pickup/drop key, and consequently no info box to tell you what you are carrying or how strong you are. This deepens the mystery. How are you to know whether you are on the right track? (Forgive the maze-like pun.) the only starting point is the dire WARNING etched deep into lifeless stone and reprinted on the insert. Put together the four sundered pieces of what must be an ACG Amulet so you can pass the keeper wrought with hate and gain an entrance to the gate. Any review of Sabre Wulf at this point could only scratch the surface of the game's complexity. But it's safe to say that, like Atic Atac, it will endure. What we do have immediately is a glowing screen full of colour, intricately drawn graphics, constant animation and action and a desperate desire to get on with it and find out what's going on in this tangled jungle world. Ultimate are very good at designing games without explanation or hint, but at providing enough clues in the action itself for you to try out things. In this sense both Atic Atac and Sabre Wulf are really like graphic adventures. It is up to you, the player, to find solutions to the problems. The very fact that the problems exist is a guarantee that there will be a solution - If only you can discover therightcombination of events.

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A D ASTRA! Can you fight your way through 20 segments of fully animated space terror to reach the Way Station? Can you survive your mission to the stars? N o w y o u c a n f i n d o u t ! In a s s o c i a t i o n w i t h Gargoyle Games, C R A S H is o f f e r i n g r e a d e r s t h e c h a n c e t o w i n a c o p y of Ad Astra in t h i s competition

•

Ad Astra was first reviewed anywhere by CRASH in the May issue, and all the reviewers who saw preview copies were impressed with the graphics, both for their size and for the use of 30 in the game. Since our review, Ad Asfra has gone on to jump into the distributors' charts, due recognition of its qualities and its shoot em up addictiveness. Gargoyle Games is a Birmingham-based company founded by three partners, Greg Follis, Roy Carter and Ted Heathcote. Ted is responsible for the sales side, while Greg and Roy are both designers and programmers. Greg (36) and Roy (30) have been involved with computers for almost 16 years, working as commercial programmers and analysts. At the moment Gargoyle is still only a part-time

occupation for them. They both work on the games programs although Greg concentrates on the art and design side, while Roy deals with the actual programming. Greg went to art college in Stourbridge where he developed an interest in film techniques, an interest still evident in the design of Ad Astra. This aspect will be even more developed in their forthcoming games. Greg says, 'We aim to hit a film type image, smooth moving and lifelike - a bit like Walt Disney cartoons. I suppose you could say that we're aimingfor realism.' Their next game is strikingly called Tir Na Nog. If you think that sounds a bit Welsh then you'd not be far off. It's actually the name of an anicent Celtic Paradise. Tir Na Nog is based on Celtic and Greg-originated' mythology. "The hero is a large figure who is able to move about the screen (or rather the screen scrolls about him) and he's fully animated hair, hands, head, the lot moves!" says Greg enthusiastically. It's a bit like shifting the view angle of a camera around - each view being redrawn at the new angle to relate to what has been seen in the last anale. On' top of that comes a strong story line involving a major quest and several subsidiary quests. Primarily Tir Na Nog is an action game at the interaotive level, so it's a blend of arcade and adventure. More details of Tir Na Nog when we see a preview copy soon!

Meanwhile, if you haven't already rushed out and bought a copy of Ad Astra, don't waste any more time! Send in the answers to this competition. Some of the answers may be found on page 14 of the May issue of CRASH, where Ad Astra was reviewed. Entries should be on a postcard preferably - we don't mind them included with other correspondence but make sure the answers are on a separate piece of paper - to arrive at the CRASH offices no later than Thursday, 26th July. Send to: AD ASTRA COMPETITION, CRASH, PO BOX 10, LUDLOW, SHROPSHIRE SY8 1DB. The first 100 correct entries drawn from the bag will each receive a copy of Ad Astra. Winners will be notified shortly after the draw by Gargoyle Games.

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Not for the faint of heart

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There are more than 40 rooms in the maze-like Tower ot Evil. Throughout the Tower is scattered the stofen treasure of King Sallmos, which Andros must retrieve and place in the sacred chest at the top of the Tower. To collect the treasure, Andros must travel from room to room, duelling with the Demi-Clones, wrestling with the Baphonets. To defend himself, Andros can throw fireballs from his fingertips, but even this skill cannot help him negotiate the dreaded Fire Pits, which must be leaped in a single bound. Tower of Evil is for experts only. We guarantee you hours of enthralling, fast action play. You should find Tower of Evil, with a free poster offer, at any major software retailer.

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CREATIVE SPARKS

T h i s m o n t h D e r e k B r e w s t e r t a k e s a c l o s e l o o k at a s p a c e a d v e n t u r e a n d s o m e g a m e s for girls a m o n g others. But before that, he d i s c u s s e s s o m e points o n presentation . . .

PRESENTING THE ADVENTURE The format an adventure uses for display is important since it shows you where you are, what items and monsters ou see, and how you might ave a location. It is surprising when wellcoded games involving many hours of concerted effort are let down by a cluttered display with all the information jumbled together in a confusing way. An untidy, scrolling list of mixed description and input barely separated from the last location's mess is hardly the manner in which to present a complex adventure. An improved format can make use of different colours for objects you come across, the monsters you meet, and especially when in a rush, the

exits Similarly, capital letters, BRIGHT and FLASH could be used more for emphasis. Temple of Vran has gone some way in tackling these problems with neatly boxed-in location descriptions presented upon a freshly cleared screen and your input bearing a different colour. These are simple changes indeed yet add much to your enjoyment of the game. The more complicated and involved the game the more important the input routine. Snowball has a very poor, sluggish input routine which hinders fast typing and has no audible confirmation of key depressions; this in an otherwise highly sophisticated game.

Many adventures only use delete when it would be a simple matter to use the Spectrum input routine that allows full cursor control. A game with a broad and friendlv language that goes beyond simple verb/noun couplings needs to make full use of the editing facilities of the Spectrum, ft would be a useful feature, particularly with those games requiring long, intricate inputs, to enable the rescue of an incorrect input line so it can be brought back on to the screen and corrected. Fantasia Diamond and The Hobbit don't allow cursor movement through the input characters only delete is used. In a more straightforward verb/noun adventure this would not be

such a drawback but certainly is when dealing with the highly complex sentence analyses featured in these games. Long sentences are often used when communicating with other characters: it would be useful to recall the previous input were it not understood. Valhalla has complex syntax checking which commendably doesn't allow the entry of sentence structures it doesn't understand Before leading you through the maze of this month's adventures let me just point out the simplest advance in presentation - white, or even better yellow, text on a black background which is much easier on the eyes around midnight!

short it is excellent and reveals a literary style and flair which Producer: L e v e l 9 imbues the whole work, and Computing owes much to a careful conRetail price: ÂŁ 9 . 9 5 reflect the symmetry inherent sideration of the game as a Authors: P . a n d M . A u s t i n , concept as in any well-designed, modular wholesome opposed to a mere flight of spacecraft. I. B u x t o n Level 9 have produced a lav- whimsy. TV Star Trek fans may Snowball is a large adventure Although this may give rise to ish booklet giving 12 pages of know something of which I information and background speak. game with over seven misgivings concerning the The booklet, like the adventhousand locations but don't let structure of the game, let me at that leaves the fanciful efforts of less literate manufacturers ture. is both informed and pointhis dissuade you from under- once allay such fears. Snowtaking the adventure as many ball 9 is an interstar transport firmly folded within their highly tedly witty in a way that only of the locations are repeated. and the repeated locations decorative cassette cases In science fiction can be. It i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4

includes a geopolitical sum- cal airlocks lie between 2 iris mary of 2195 and paints a not doors, cyladders transport you implausible picture of five big up and down (or on a larger sophisticated, fully urbanised scale - around); there are nations overseeing a status transpextubes, ultrasound quo that has the Free Nations scalpels and plasteel, plastic poor and under-developed. In with the strength of steel. the near future the Big 5 will Well, if you insist on receivfinally decide to help but in the ing some clues. You must have 2190s they are chasing stars. the helmet before entering the You play Kim Kimberley, air lock (although you are given secret agent extraordinary, one or two moves to get back and you are described as fairly out) and you need the probe to intelligent and athletic with repair the robot which gives brown eyes and fair hair. Cap- you a space helmet in return. tain Kirk perhaps? Unlikely You don't score points for since you are 55 kilos and only collecting treasures in Snow1,7m tall - and you're a ball: instead you gain by doing woman. things that are steps on the A detailed background in the way to the eventual goal, e.g. booklet tells of how Snowball 9 assembling a working spaceset off for the EEC's Ceres suit scores points. According base to colonise the star sys- to that learned script, the booktem Eridani A Passenger discs let, if you get killed you lose a carrying 200,000 colonists lot of points. Its amazing what were followed by the Snow- you can learn if you read the ball's engine unit accelerated instructions! rapidly by its four great fusion Snowball has no graphics motors. Ten ton blocks of and is a trifle slow but I would ammonia-ice, fired from nevertheless highly recomaccelerators beyond Pluto, mend it. The adventure sets were reeled in by Snowball's new standards in descriptions skyhooks to be used later as and can be likened to a good fuel for the fusion dhves. The science fiction novel. The full, ice-shell, which gave the vivid and highly imaginative Snowball Series its name, text evokes a mental imagery formed most of the mass of the that far surpasses that wnich completed craft any simple computer graphics You begin the adventure might achieve. The program is very user inauspiciously enough in a coffin - a freezer coffin - as fea- friendly both with the input it tured in science fiction films. will accept and its responsiveMuch of the early phase is ness. There is a pleasantly spent sidestepping (or waiting surprising width of intelligent - a clue) the ominous clanking responses for any input you and indubitably deadly night- may think up. Definitely an ingales as you struggle to rise adventure for someone with a from the lower levels of a pas- bad case of the You Can ts'. senger disc. Your mission is to Those powerful and realismfind the main control room in creating commands, Search the engine unit and save the and Examine, are used extenstarship. You find yourself in sively to a point when you can an intimidatingly vast starship certainly believe that Level 9 but part of the adventure is to have devised their own find that part which is most super-compact adventure lanconsequential to your mission. guage known as a-code'. The first thing that strikes There's no question that you during the early scenes is they've packed a lot into this the quality and substance of one. Level 9 have produced a the descriptions. The language is very imaginative: 'YOU ARE very good adventure that sets ON A SIGNIFICANT CYLIN- new standards in description DRICAL LEDGE ABOVE and data compaction. This is STEPS TO A TOROIDAL very much my idea of an WALKWAY. TRANSPEX adventure and is set to TUBES LEAD AWAY become a classic. THROUGH A MAZE OF WIRES AND MACHINERY/ and THE SOUTH WALL IS A WAVERY AND OBSCURE CONFUSION OF FLICKERY D i f f i c u l t y 9 VIDS." Some of the examine A t m o s p h e r e 10 reports are amazingly long and V o c a b u l a r y 9 detailed. This literary compe10 L o g i c tence is further affirmed with 10 the inclusion of science fiction D e b u g g i n g scenes and devices. Cylindri- O v e r a l l v a l u e 9 i

C R A S H July 1 9 8 4 74

Jungle Adventures Producer: CCS Memory required: 4 8 K Retail price: £5.95 Author: B . B a r t is This is another in the Games for girls' series. The objective of the game is to help Bobo, a young African girl, to get home safely from school through the jungle. the game consists of two parts. The first part is a mastermind style game, set in the school, where you try to guess the four objects concealed in the four jars. You have six guesses in a limited time determined by the level of play, 1 -5. You can play with or with-

must guide her to her hut diagonally to the opposite corner. On your journey across the screen you meet shops and creatures. If you are quick enough you can buy an item (preferably one you couldn't bring from the first part) at the shop since you are never sure which creature you will bump into next. An owl demands a book, a snake an egg, a cannibal a hamburger and a gorilla coconut. If too slow at giving up the object demanded you lose

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out sound, which is a nice one of your five lives. At higher touch. The prizes Bobo wins levels the flash indicating the help her bribe the creatures to creatures, positions is shorter allow her safe passage and you are given less time to through the jungle. The graph- shop or give up the objects. ics and sound are good and the* Jungle Adventures movement of hamburgers, emerged as one of the more books, eggs and coconuts addictive games to pass along the bottom of the screen through my tape recorder this is very smooth. month. It is a simple game but You enter the second part of has that easy charm of a game the game carrying forward the well thought out and colourfully objects you guessed correctly implemented. A game for girls, from the first part. e.g. two boys and the young at heart. books, a hamburger and an egg. You see a map flashed up on to the screen for about a second (level 1) and what you D i f f i c u l t y 5 can remember of the positions A t m o s p h e r e N/A of snakes, gorillas, owls and Vocabulary N/A cannibals is ued to help naviL o g i c 8 gate your way through the Debugging 9 jungle Bobo starts at the bottom left of the screen and you O v e r a l l v a l u e 6

to you. Hence a little patience in the early stages, when experiences are mostly of a violent nature, is probably what's needed. It's a good idea to keep up to date with your status, hit points (a measure of your mortality) and food units (with each movement using up food) as starvation can be an embarrassing end to first attempts. The Ring of Darkness will take a long time to solve because it is a relatively long and complex adventure and there is too little information provided at the start with the effect that you set off having no idea of what exactly it is that you must do. The choice of keys for the Spectrum version are very poor QW & P - mixing up and down with left and right (much tike the syncopation exercise where you circle your head with one hand and pat your stomach with the other) and the painfully slow movement of the figure home of deadly accurate and through the adventbre seemingly unassailable becomes monotonous after a archers. At almost regular short time. intervals you are confronted by The game consists of sevbandits and evil rangers and, The game falls between the eral programs that must be two stools ol arcade and since it is difficult to escape, a loaded consecutively but to be adventure without the addicsimple battle scenario begins. honest I could only reach the tive qualities of either but The Ring of Darkness was a Although you can be resursecond level (a 3D maze) marks an interesting adapation rected three times, on each highly successful game on the before an untimely end at the of the role-playing theme. Dragon 32 and has now been occasion one of the objects hands of the skeleton. If only you were carrying is mislaid. converted for the Spectrum I'd started out as a warrior, and Every now and then a setDifficulty 6 not a wizard whose character tlement appears though Boris blighted by his inability to A t m o s p h e r e 6 derton looks remarkably simicast spells unless ensconced V o c a b u l a r y N/A lar to Port Stillwater with a within the underground ca- L o g i c Smiths, Arms, Pubs, and 6 verns. Magic and King's domains. Debugging 9 Buying and selling items at The game is in real time to O v e r a l l V a l u e 6 Will's Weapon Store is a nice the extent that if you leave the part of the game. One quest game the word PASS will had me searching for a jelly appear every 20 seconds. A cube (curious - but similar more conscientious approach Your first task is to develop a forms are not unknown to the will see you gaining experiwith progressive character to represent you on role-playing fraternity) and on ence your quest and this is achieved another I was searching for the increases in technology and the variety of goods available via a program on side A' of the Sinclair sign. cassette. After choosing your character name 40 points are distributed to determine your Producer: CCS intelligence, strength and agilMemory required: 48K ity. In keeping with true roleRetail price: C4.95 playing vogue the adventure is Author: M . Sherlock enacted within a midworld, your race can be Dwarf, Elf or CCS have produced a series of Human and characteer clasgames aimed at the young ses include Wizard, Warrior female market. I must confess and Thief. to being dubious of both the The game sees you moving concept and the market that through a scene with simple exists for such software. There representations of rivers, again, remember cabbagemountains and forests. In patch dolls? effect your token remains in You begin with a choice the central area of the screen between three levels which is and the map scrolls in the unusual for an adventure opposite direction to your game - Impossible, Hard or apparent movement. On first CM OUT! Easy. I started out with the first playing you are unable to cross b*n<i i t â&#x20AC;˘ D a t a g e 1 0 option, Impossible, no sexism theriversor climb the mounimplied I hope. tains and the forests are the

Diamond Quest

* *

i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4

Your quest is to find four keys and make your way to the golden palace where the diamond treasure is to be found. You begin in the Desolate Lands and it comes as something of a surprise to find the wooden key in the first scene, and further, to be attacked by a hulk in a game one assumed to be at least only moderately violent. On going into battle with the hulk I was quickly and unceremoni(ously killed. Where it says impossible you'd be wise to take this literally. So much for the macho stance - let's try Easy.

Atlas Assignment Producer: V i r g i n G a m e s Memory required: 4 8 K Retail price: ÂŁ 5 . 9 5 Author: M.C. D a v i s

A top-class criminal, codenamed Atlas, has stolen the American nuclear defence plans and it's your unenviable task to make sure he doesn't do something silly with them like blow up the world. The training manual is not as intimidating as it sounds since it involves only a few notes on lurid pink cover with Games thoughtful interaction. the inside of the cassette inlay. for Girls' firmly embossed on It is a text adventure featuring Did the male author of this the front. The game seems to software really design it for a three simple arcade games. have little that might appeal to feminine audience? We are told much of the author a girl and were it even aimed at It would seem likely CCS whose hobbies include book a more general market it could contrived to aim this program collecting and serious computbe described as positively viol- at its limited market for the ing. ent as hardly a scene goes by simple reason that it is not of Load " " Code - curious, without an attack emanating sufficiently high calibre to be most machine-code programs You find yourself this time in from one quarter or another. judged on its own merits. As a these days use a Basic loader the wood where again we find The graphics are very simple marketing ploy it is more likely and most of this program is the wooden key straight away chiefly as a result of the author to alienate the boys. Basic. On loading you are but it is much easier to fight the limiting himself to the 21 usergiven your Atlas Assignment foe at this level - in this case a defined graphics. The plot is Briefing and your first location pack of marauding lions is eas- unimaginative and uses no D i f f i c u l t y finds you outside the Chief's 3 ily dealt with. Go north and you detailed descriptions; there is Office. The text is the inverse 3 of the normal for the Spectrum are at The Volcano, where you no sense of mystery to retain A t m o s p h e r e 3 are attacked by some tribes - interest for any length of time. V o c a b u l a r y men, but what is this? - the The level 3 option. Impossible, L o g i c 6 golden key. This game seems would seem superfluous as it is D e b u g g i n g 9 incredibly easy: only two no misnomer. Every time you 4 scenes and I have two of the visit a location - even if one O v e r a l l V a l u e four keys already! This is. I you've visited previously - you take, no comment on a girl's are confronted by a combatant ability to play adventure whose fighting skills and initial games. The tribesmen are eas- energy points would seem to ily disposed of and travelling bear little relation to their north we enter The Foothills, expected prowess, Are fleas find some lunch and are as deadly as lions? The game attacked by some blood-thirsty makes a poor adventure as bats. I eat the food and my there is a conspicuous lack of problems to solve and the fiaht energy goes up. Diamond Quest has a rather sequences allow no room for

CRASH ADVENTURE TRAIL CHART Most compuler magazines publish their own charts these days. With only one or two exceptions, adventure games lare badly in these charts. Mainly because few adventurers are slocked by the chain stores who make up the charts. We at CRASH would like to produce the first adventure chart. This chart will be based on what you think about the games you have played, not on sales figures. This will give the many excellent games not sold i

C R A S H July 1 9 8 4 76

by the chain stores a chance of Adventure Trail Chart need You may WRITE in to us or ring charting. This should prove a not affect any votes you might us on the CRASH HOTLINE much better indicator of which want to send in to the main PHONE-IN NUMBER but really are the best adventure HOT LINE CHART, so don't go please remember to tell the games than does any other dropping adventures out of answenng machine that your chart. your HOT LINE votes because vote is tor THE ADVENTURE CHART. The number is 0584 To contribute all you have to you also want to vote for the 3015. do is give the adventures you ADVENTURE CHART! have played a rating out of ten The names of all conand send these ratings to us at tributors will go into the bag for CRASH. We will then calculate a monthly draw and the first out the average readers rating for of the bag will win ÂŁ40 worth of CRASH ADVENTURE TRAIL CHART, PO BOX 10, each game and draw up the software and a CRASH teeadventure charts accordingly. shirt, with five runners up win- LUDLOW, SHROPSHIRE SY81DB Voting on the CRASH ning a CRASH tee-shirt each.

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i't e s 8

Waxworks

ing (lots!) you may be caught out since the identity of the object is inserted, almost hidden, amongst the list of items Producer: D i g i t a l F a n t a s i a in the top half of the screen. •ou c a n s e e Memory required: 48K This can be a little disorientatnothing o f i n t e r e s t ing atfirstbut what is more, Retail price: £9.95 had you been in graphics P o s s i b l e r o u t e s S , U . Authors: B . H o w a r t h a n d mode - and who could blame C. O g d e n TULK TO MAN you as the graphics are superb - you would not notice the idenThe n a n l o w e r s h i s p a p e r , loofcs A large box houses this Mys- tity of the object at all. Not q u e s t i o n i n g ly a t you f o r a terious Adventure; a sticker « o m e n t , t h e n s a y s q u i c k l y , necessarily a bad thing, I point tells you have the right version it out only because it strikes me " C a r f u l h e r s , c m . G l a d to meet - it requires a ZX Spectrum as non-standard. y o u , A g e n t S . U e ' v e J u s t h a d 48 K ram and one cassette • o r d t h a t t h e R u s s i a n who i s to Set within the washroom recorder. buy P t l a s ' s m e r c h a n d i s e i s a floor is a grid but after unlockInside you find a booklet fil- ing it you can't simply go down c e r t a i n I v a n L e n d e i o v i c h . " led mostly with general hints and it is quite a struggle to find with white on a dark back- that which allows you to prog- on solving adventures which, the right words. The vocabulground which is less tiring on ress. The result is a loss of real- leaving aside the exercise in ary is not far removed from the eyes and BRIGHT is used ism and the game is reduced to speed reading, will not warrant Verb/Noun (take off gloves to emphasize inputs. nothing more than a string of much attention from experi- must be entered remove enced adventurers. Con- gloves) but combines the Moving south, you reach the puzzles. equipment room and see a After much intelligent versely, fresh adventurers may surefootedness of this style labelled bottle and an automa- analysis you reach the first of learn something of the creed. with some noteworthy flexibiltic pistol with only three bullets. the three arcade games, which By far the most useful informa- ity. Commas are used as in The message in the bottle is happens to be the lesser of the tion is on the first page where QUICKLY GET THE LAMP, truth and the pistol comes in three. It is a poor version of a you see the Spectrum Version SWORD, CLOAK AND handy when engaging the type bomber game where one has some special features STAFF' and the word THEN or of hoodlum who likes to bomb demolishes the whole (don't say the BBC looses out a full stop is used as in GO remove and check the colour building and the plane travels again!). Pressing ENTER NORTH THEN CLIMB THE of your liver. The program, much too fast. Since the game gives you a pictorial view of TREE. EXAMINE HOLE which accepts straightforward is very difficult it is annoying to your current location and pres- THEN GO DOWN.' Single Verb/Noun entries, accepts be sent all the way back to the sing again puts back the text. word entries include help, both TAKE and the more beginning of the adventure on The stoiy line tells of a day at score, quit, save, inventory, expedient GET and only your inevitable failure. The the seaside spent stuffing run, jump, shout and the requires thefirstthree letters ot second arcade game has you yourself with junk food where- increasingly popular wait. the noun and four of the verb. fired upon by an erratic and upon you are in need of a long The eccentricity of the lanAt the back door of the M15 hiccupping helicopter - decei- snooze in the cool and quiet of guage often adds to the game building you exchange tively difficult - and the third, the waxworks. You endeavour but one solution is only invoked my favourite of the three, is to. escape the nightmare that with the curious command GO played out on the lawns of ensues. Cherriere Lodge where the The screen is split into two AIRLOCK'. The examine areas. The upper half displays command must be used with what you see graphically, or in care. Examining the jacket words with the name of the reveals nothing - until it is location and a list of the items picked up. One innovative feathere. The lower has prompts, ture is found on searching the pile of junk in the workshop input and brief comments. You're in the leisure lounge which is well worth examining of the waxworks and moving twice. north gives you the washroom. The waxworks of your Examining the toilet door and dreams can become tricky to ferocious Alsatians are coaxed reading the bottom half of the map and the solutions to some into the ponds in the manner of screen you are informed of an of the problems, perhaps in pleasantries with the man lean- a strategy rather than an object. If you're used to playing keeping with this theme, are a ing against a lampost and he arcade game. Briefly, die-hard the adventures I've been play- little unreal. Rising from the proves most helpful. He adventurers may not welcome informs you of a certain Ivan these arcade games, more Lendeiovich, the Russian who especially the first two. Atlas Assignment is a rather is to buy Atlas's merchandise. Moving on via an affluent and modest text adventure with a careless drunk you meet the conspicuous linear progresbelligerent shop-keeper. You sion and limited vocabulary draw the gun that has given with the inevitable result - 'You Can't'. However the diminutive you such a sense of security wordstock allows a quick and shoot only to meet with the response time and the sound is report hat you don't hit anything in particular Apparently, used to good effect. you can only shoot the people you are supposed to shoot. Difficulty It is at this point that my sus- A t m o s p h e r e *ho+o-eiectric trigger Display picions were aroused and later V o c a b u l a r y h voice says "Say t h e Vear it Happer.*d' confirmed: the game too often WHAT MOW * returns to the unswerving path L o g i c l i H f t T MOW f S A V Debugging ol linear development The 11 w r o n g UHftT MOW • ! only meaningful interaction is Overall Value r • i ( e « i

ou s t a n d o u t s i d e t h e b a c k d o o r ( h e M 1 5 b u i l d i n g . T h e qu i e t f e e t is a l a o s t d e s e r t e d , c e p t for a Ran l e a n i n g a g a i n s t lamp p o s t , r e a d i n g a p a p e r .

C R A S H July 1 9 8 4

0 k U H f l t NOW ? U k fth o t o - e i e c t r i c c e i l s t r i s ^ e r H Sayf u h e n I was pyj s o n ' » * s : 3 I aid n o w d o u b l e h i s a g * Say hoi>i o l d I am i l H & f MOll * •

Display

treehouse takes you into the Waxworks has excellent main hall but no matter how graphics and a good vocabulyou descend leads you back ary and has all the makings of a into the leisure room. Indeed, good adventure. The absence in many places the game of long location descriptions is sends you back to this main more than compensated by the area. detailed pictures. In the grand hall, up from the leisure room, north gives you the Everest and west the D i f f i c u l t y Undersea World display. If you answer the display bedecked A t m o s p h e r e with Jacques Cousteau and V o c a b u l a r y his scuba gear correctly the L o g i c , * aqualung decides to appear in D e b u g g i n g the hall of mirrors. It's worth O v e r a l l v a l u e noting that when answering these questions you must type SAY ANSWER' and not just the answer. There are two mazes in the game - one being easily enough for my tastes-in the hall of mirrors and the other in the sewer (both six location mazes) which is painstakingly mapped out for the sake of a rat-trap.

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C R A S H July 1 9 8 4 78

solving problems. Points are necessarily lost tor attacking friendly creatures. As the game ends on killing Velnor there may be treasures yet undiscovered or evil creatures still roaming caves and even problems unsolved whose points remain uncollected. Keepo on sending comments on adventures you have played and suggestions for improvements to through the letter box - it looks Adventure Trail. I shall be like I'll be able to answer your giving away E12 of software queries shortly - or will it just each month for the most interesting or helpful letters. lead to more puzzles? Many explorers are having problems with mazes whether it be a forest, desert or twisting McKENSIE narrow passages, the solution DAVID MUNRO is achieved in a similar way. How do you get out of the Firstly, enter the maze with as prison cell? many objects as you can carry Check your inventory; you and drop an object at each never know what useful location. By doing this you can objects you might be map out the maze in terms of carrying. the objects at each location. I have recieved several missives from people correctly completing Velnor's Lair SMUGGLERS COVE without achieving that magical JASPER SHARP 200 points. The reason for this How do you get through the is that points are awarded for Palatian Room? eliminating evil creatures, Don't bother - try the angry ) collecting treasure; and (iii) pirate instead.

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VELNOR'S LAIR CARLOS MOZO Where do I find the oars? Try searching piles of rubbish, it's amazing what Trolls will throw away.

Pick up the bard in the village (he doesn't like walking). When you come to the dragon drop him (gently I hope) and say to him shoot dragon.

COLOSSAL ADVENTURE T. WILLIAMS How do I open the clam? I'm sure Neptune would have had the key!

VALHALLA ALMOST EVERYONE How do you find Ofnir? Go to the Plain of Midgard where the help command tells 'You need Boldlr's help to go north.' You can either summon Boldlr or hang URBAN UPSTART around and he will appear. TIM MAYWELL You will then be able to go How do you get out of the north into Rankle's Hall. To police cell and the hospital? find Ofnir you must go NW Bide your time - wait to another hall, but you patiently in the cell. In cannot do this when Rankle hospital try S-S (take and is present. After killing wear coat) Rankle you go NW and find N-E-E-N-N-W-W-N and a tightly locked chest. As you're out. (Since I haven't your strength is too low you played this game I must will need to summon thank Robin Bislney of someone else to open the Newark for these tips.) chest. Inside Ofnir can be found. This solution is supplied THE HOBBIT by Howard Taylor from HOWARD TAYLOR Licheard, Cornwall, to How do you get the bard to kill whom I am extremely the dragon? grateful.

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3 79

The CRASH HOTLINE

JULY HOTLINE STATISTICS

With our new collation system Of the phone calls received for the Hotline (we're using a approximately 7% collapsed in computer!) it's now rapidly giggles and were not entered possible to give an indication of and 3% were obscene phone how many votes by percen- calls - many of which may be tage the top games received. compiled for a Christmas speOverall, the top seven posi- cial! (I'm joking, Mrs Whitetions in this month's chart house.) So to the 90% who received a total of 48% of the make up the votes, thank you, vote, with Jet Set Willy way out and keep it up - the voting that in front - getting 19% of the it. total votes cast Manic Miner received 8%, Atic Atac 7%, Lunar Jetman 5%, Wheelie This month's Hotline winner is 4%, Code Name Mat 3% and Timothy Williams, Leeds. W. Vorks. The four runners-up are Football Manager 2%. Rachel White, Bamaby, near This month's Hotline received Selby, Yorks, Darryn Reid, the highest number of calls and Belfast, N. Ireland. G r a h a m forms ever, with a staggering Pugh, Ely, Cardiff, S. Glamor24,000 plus votes recorded gan, Gary Hawes, Longhors(nnot including the Adventure ley, Morpeth, and Russell C"hart). Smith, Leven. Fife.

This month's biggest climb is from M i c r o m e g a ' s Code Name Mat - an enormous 30 places upwards to the 6 slot, just pipping the ever-popular 3D Deathchase. The other big news is the inevitable arrival of U l i m a t e ' s Sabre Wulf. What's amazing is that it reaches 29 in the chart with only two days eligible voting! A d d i c t i v e ' s Football Manager not only proves popular but climbs up again to number 7. Other climbers are Android 2, Pogo with new entries in the lower area of Blade Alley, Psytron, Jack and the Beanstalk, Tribble Trouble and Mugsy. G i l s o f t ' s adventure utility The Quill has made another big leap upwards too, from 31 to 24. The big question now is, will Sabre Wulf knock Willy off the top? THE CRASH HOTLINE PHONE NUMBER IS 0584 (Ludlow) 3015

HOW T O USE THE CRASH HOTLINE Method* Ring I f x Hotline telephone number (above) and record your votes on the answer™ machine Please speak dearty, spofling out name and address it it s a dilticutt one' List your frve games starting with the number one. Method 2 Use the coupon below, making sure you H in aU the details. Pop the coupon m an envelope and send ittous Atternativety you may send a letter it you don'l want to cut up (he mag The telephone Hotline is getting very) engaged. Baietse tails-write ml

I atter a new issue comes out. so bear with us H it's

BRILL 'N' FAB HOTLINE PRIZES!!

Whether you phone or write in, all names go into the voluminous bag to be drawn monthly. First out receives £ 4 0 w o r t h o f s o f t w a r e plus a CRASH tee shirt, and the five runners-up receive three issues of CRASH free plus a CRASH tee shirt.

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O t h e r s m a y t r y a n d c o p y u s but the CRASH HOTLINE CHART is the one that counts - and you are the people that make it count.

Y O U R V O T E IS E X T R E M E L Y I M P O R T A N T — USE IT PLEASE! f

C R A S H H O T L I N E W R I T E IN C O U P O N Please use block capitals and write clearly! Name

T ) T L E

Address

Postcode

S e n d y o u r c o u p o n to: C R A S H H O T L I N E , P O B O X 10, L U D L O W , S H R O P S H I R E SY8 1DB

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My top five favourite programs in descending order are:

CRASH July 1984

PRODUCER

VOTE for the

CRASH HOTLINE SPECTRUM SOFTWARE CHART

CHARTS^

T O P 50 FOR JULY (Figures inparenthesis indicate last month's position)

6 7

8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

(36)

(14)

(6) (7)

(8)

CO)

(12) (20) (13) (11)

(21) (28)

18 (~)

19 (8) 20 (24) 2 1 (18) 22 (30) 23 24

(26J

(37; 25 (27; 26 (16) 27 (77;

28 (22; 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37

38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45

(-)

(23)

(~) (75; (39j (23)

(-) (-) (19)

(48; (25) (41) (38)

(29j (34; (-) (-)

48 (35)

J E T S E T W I L L Y Software Projects M A N I C M I N E R Software Projects A T I C A T A C Ultimate L U N C A R J E T M A N Ultimate W H E E L I E Microsphere C O D E N A M E M A T Micromega F O O T B A L L M A N A G E R Addictive 3 D D E A T H C H A S E Micromega S C U B A D I V E Durrell C H U C K I E E G G A & F Software F I G H T E R P I L O T Digital Integration C H E Q U E R E D F L A G Psion A N D R O I D 2 Vortex T H E H O B B I T Melbourne House J E T P A C Ultimate F R E D Quicksilva N I G H T G U N N E R Digital Integration T R A S H M A N N e w Generation 3 D A N T A T T A C K Quicksilva V A L H A L L A Legend T H E P Y R A M I D Fantasy P O G O Ocean S C R A B B L E Psion T H E Q U I L L Gilsoft K R A K A T O A Abbex Z Z O O M Imagine A L C H E M I S T Imagine B U G A B O O Quicksilva S A B R E W U L F Ultimate P E N E T R A T O R Melbourne House S T O N K E R S Imagine H U N C H B A C K Ocean MAZIACS DKTronics H A L L O F T H E T H I N G S Crystal B L A D E A L L E Y P.S.S. P S Y T R O N Beyond D O O M S D A Y C A S T L E Fantasy U R B A N U P S T A R T Richard Shepherd B L U E T H U N D E R Wilcox B E A R B O V V E R Artie T R A N Z - A M Ultimate MR. WIMPY Ocean P H E E N I X Megadodo J A C K A N D T H E B E A N S T A L K Thor TRIBBLE TROUBLE Software Projects T I M E G A T E Quicksilva T E S T M A T C H C.R.L. P S S T Ultimate M U G S Y Melbourne House S P L A T Incentive

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The winner of the Adventure Trail Hotline is: A n n Potter. Crossens, Southport. and the runners-up are: F a r l e y Sollick, E g h a m , Surrey H M c C u s k e r . Ibrox. Glasgow. N . H . O u g h t o n , Morefon-in-the-Marsh Gloucs, a n d C h a r l e s R e d m a n . Burton, near Christchurch. Dorset

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T Richard Shepherd 9 Computing Dorcas T H Artie 1_Mikrogen Artie * H e w s o n Consultants TAINS O F K E T Incentive iCK C R Y S T A L Carnell I I G H T ' S Q U E S T Phipps Associates >LOSSAL A D V E N T U R E Level 9iComputing I S L A N D Richard Shepherd Digital Fantasia O F T I M E Level 9 Computing ^ D O O M Artie TAIN Phipps Associates >H Phipps Associates igital Fantasia 1 Quicksilva

Shepherd

JRE Melbourne House

i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4

CRASH RESULTS OF THE MAY CRASH QUIZ W e a s k e d you to identify the 1 2 inconsistences b e t w e e n two drawings. T h e three w i n n e r s are S i m o n W e b s t e r from Cambridge, O a v l d A t h e r t o n from Bamsley, S Yorks, and A n t h o n y B a r b e r from Waterloo, Huddersfietd. T h e y e a c h receive ÂŁ 2 5 worth of software of their choice and a C R A S H T-shirt. T h e three r u n n e r s - u p e a c h g e l a T-shirt a n d they are, B e n j a m i n C l e g g from Gerrards Cross. Bucks., T . J . c o w a n from Kingston-upon-Thames. Surrey, and M a r k L o w e n from Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk

THE MONTHLY CRASH QUIZ

CRASH CROSSWORD CLUES ACROSS 2 Adventurous n a m e tor a n old F a n t a s y 4 Fire o n T o p 8 ( U K ) producer of 14 d o w n 10 A rubbish g a m e 11 W h e n C R A S H d o e s rt 14 S o f t w a r e h o u s e s hate ' e m 1 5 Look lor ( s y n o n y m ) 1 6 T h e second w a s in 3 0 1 8 Ultimate d o it to joysticks 1 9 Lunar inhabitant 2 1 For infinite lives 2 2 A T a b statement 2 3 A b o v e 4 across 2 5 A Quicksilva hero 2 8 S e e 23 down (2) 3 0 A software h o u s e o n the run 3 2 D e v e l o p e d the Z X C r u m p e t s 3 3 C R A S H Edtor

This month's incredible quiz is a crossword, the basis of which h a s b e e n sent in by a reader, J e f f H e r b e r t from Alvechurch in Worcestershire. W e ' v e a d d e d a few words to his to m a k e it a bit more complex, tt w a s just as well s o m e o n e sent in a quiz this month as the C R A S H puzzle department is still in a state of shock on discovering that neither of the two a n a g r a m puzzles in the last issue were correct! In the first there w e r e too few asterisks tor letters - In the second a n essential I w a s missing. But C R A S H readers a r e so clever that these little hiccups don't appear to h a v e put anyone off! Y o u can either fill in the crossword below a n d send it in to us, or if you prefer not to cut up the issue, just list the words with their A c r o s s and D o w n numbers beside them in the order the clues appear. Entries must reach the C R A S H offices no later than July 26. T h e first three correct entnes out of the bag on that date will e a c h win ÂŁ 2 5 worth of software and a C R A S H T-shirt. T h e three runners-up will also get a T-shirt each, don't forget to include your n a m e and address with the entry!

CLUES DOWN 1 Z i p p y rests g l a s s e s o n t h e m 3 A p r o g r a m m e r w h o B a c k e d his o w n H u n c h 5 . . a n d about 6 G E T in a d v e n t u r e s 7 H e w s o n fty by nrte 8 T h e g a m e that w e n t to the stars

9 12 13 14 17 20 22

GoRyl It s the software h o u s e s A d v e n t u r e from a n Australian residence Play the g a m e Features a drunken Piman Silversoft's robots c a u s e d It S e v e r a l quests in h e a v e n Middle Eastern inhabitant with nothing special to do with computers Electric Software say the W o r l d will die in t h i s . . .

A n s w e r s in t h e A u g u s t I s s u e , w i n n e r s a n n o u n c e d in t h e S e p t e m b e r

C R A S H July 1 9 8 4 82

24 26 27 29 31

Softek's Joust by another n a m e Creative Things 'Attack' H e ' s a G e m at the Disco G o o d adventures d o it with their a t m o s p h e r e Takes 8

YOUR PLANET NEEDS YOU! Train to save Civilisation Subscribing

Subscribers'D SOp offeach Cr Mai!Order ite MICBO GAMES ACTION

Address Postcode"/////////.

!enclose

C R A S H ( S u b s ) , P O B O X 10, L U D L O W , S H R O P S H I R E S Y 8 1 D B J

As we promised, here are a few reviews from entrants to the CRASH REVIEWERS' COMPETITION, which received a Special Mention. Included are reviews from A.J. G r e e n , Toddington, Beds; S. Guillerme, London W 8 ;

R. N o r f o l k , Stoke-on-Trent; and V i c G r o v e s ,

London NWI. height and speed you have instructed them to follow - is neatly shown on an easy reference display at one side of the screen. So if it's that simple, Where's the challenge, I hear you ask. Select from a comprehensive menu. For exam.pie, a Hewson Consultants mixed bag of small, light aircraft and large Jumbo jets, Air traffic controllers spend compulsory height separation, aircraft, sudden most of their working lives rogue Approaching the runway - Flight Simulation studying television screens. If emergencies, etc, and the this is the case, you might ask. goina gets really rough! Fortusurety this is one function that nately. the imputting of the should be easy to simulate on instructions to the aircraft is Through these you can see the Special Mention a computer? And you'd be easy and straight forward: this horizon' formed by the light is essentia! because the airsright. sky and dark ground. If you are In this simulation blips' pace around Heathrow can near a runway you will see its come up on the screen and you soon get very very congested lights in 'three dimensional direct the aircraft they repres- and alTone's attention needs to perspective', and also lakes. ent to land on the runaway at be devoted to those blips' on As you turn, climb, dive, so the Heathrow airport, and most the screen, not the keyboard. A honzon and features on the realistic it is too! Even the famil- nice helpful touch provided is ground will move accordingly iar tail' of the signal is repro- that once an aircraft is locked through the cockpit windows. duced to enable you to see the on' to the correct glidepath for Your instrucments are rather direction of the aircraft. In fact, a successful landing this Psion detailed and technical: speed information is notified to you, the only major item missing is indicator, altimeter, rate of the static-filled crip exchanges so enabling you to forget that climb, fuel left, engine throttle, between the controller and the particular problem and free This game must be one of the etc... The understanding of you to concentrate on the aircraft's crew, but even this is oldest simulation games those instruments is vital if you displayed at the bottom of the hordes of others approaching designed for the Spectrum. Its do not want to crash immedifast. screen! title itself gives enough expla- ately. So always keep the Don't panic if the instructions nation of what it is all about: a instructions near you, they included on the inlay card flight simulation game. You are provide everything you need to appear complicated and are the pilot of a 'small two- know about the functioning of difficult to absorb - the progengined propel lor-driven the plane. ram gives you a chance of plane', you can take off, land The second screen is a map watching the computer Heathrow A.T.C. is a fas- on one of two runways, or just showing all the lakes, moundemonstrate how it's done, cinating simulation, demand- fly about, locating your position tains and runways, as well as before you tackle the job by ing fierce concentration, an on a map and the help of vari- the beacons used to navigate. yourself. Mind you, after orderly mind and is very addic- ous instruments, all in real Those beacons can be becoming proficient at the tive. You even receive a rating time. changed, depending on the exercises I'm not convinced after each exercise. The progThe simulation in itself is direction you want to head to. the computer makes such a ram can give you hours of quite detailed. At the beginning Your plane is also shown on good job of it after all! enjoyment and if you're fed up of the program you are faced this map, but maybe on too Basically, the idea is simple with or want a change from with three options: take-off, large a scale to be really pre- as the aircraft signals appear those wham sphlat high-speed start in flight at a random posi- cise about your position (espeon the screen, circling or hold- arcade games and want a tion, and the final approach" cially when landing). ing' at one of four beacons at quiet, thoughtful action game for landing. Then you will be varying distances from Heath- then this is the one for you. asked if you want to include the row and conveniently referCriticism? Yes, but a effects of wind. But beginners CRITICISM enced alongside, you guide reserved one. The time restric- beware! If you say yes' your them by means of inputting tion on each exercise is only 25 plane will be far more difficult to One thing seems to be lacking compass bearings along >ng with minutes, and, believe me. it handle. Then the simulation in this game: excitement. Apart controlling their speed and seems nearer 10 minutes with itself starts. from flying, you just are not height levels, to land on a ail that work on your hands. The main display is the given any tasks to perform, or runway at Heathrow, But there again - should Delta pilot's cockpit view with a do not have anything to shoot approaching in either an east- Four 'hold' at Biggin Hill detailed instruments panel in at. I found that the most interward of westward direction. All beacon for hours while I sort the lower half of the screen, esting part was landing your the necessary data concerning out the unholy mess that I cre- and a view of the world outside plane, as this needs a good each aircraft - the heading, ated in the first place? through the cockpit windows. deal of practise. Otherwise i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4 84 Special Mention

A.J. Green

HEATHROW A.T.C.

S. Guillerme FLIGHT SIMULATION

WflON

Special Mention

R. Norfolk

RCfUGCCS

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ZZOOM

BONUS

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Imagine once you have mastered the controls of your plane it is rather dull. The lack of sound gives a sort of eerie feeling to flying, as if you were in a glider rather than a 'two engine propelled plane'. Colours and graphic details do not help either. Apart from lakes and runway lights you do not see anything. I would have liked a bird flapping its way throught he screen, or some town with lit skyscraper on the ground. The seven pages of instructions are detailed but actually hard to digest. The Instrument Landing System does not seem to work properly (it is better to ignore it altogether) and you sometimes get some oddities when looping the loop. However this is in fact a good simulation game. It takes time to master the keys. Detailed instruments and realistic (I guess), they just should have made it more exciting, less contemplative. Arcade freaks beware!

In the midst of some internaO O O 7> tional incident' you are dropped into the cockpit of a powerful and well-armed fighter plane, with instructions to save the lives of refugees who are being bombed mercilessly by waves of enemy planes. If you are successful in surviving two waves of attackers, you are moved to a desert location siles are armed for the first where more refugees are flight over the desert it being decimated by tanks, becomes almost unnecessary then to an area over water with to use the machine guns and submarines surfacing without the operation of five keys is warning. then quite easy. Use of the The inlay card gives very full machine guns when trying to instructions for keyboard play hit the tanks has a tendency to (the joystick options being thin out the numbers of the given on screen) and lists six very refugees whom you are functions with a good variety of there to save. keys for each one, enabling the The first screen is of a flat player to choose the layout landscape, the straight line of fleecy white clouds devoid of which suits him best. A useful the horizon being broken only all menace, except for the feature is the use of any top by the straggling lines of the cross wires of your gunsight, row key to freeze the action, refugees who are attempting to where the twin streams of enabling you to stop for a cross the road along which you machine gun fire will converge. breather, if the frantic pace are flying. Lifting tne nose of At the toprightof the screen a will allow you to get at the top your plane reveals a clear blue message indicates condition row! In practise, once the mis- sky with drifting patches of green' but this quickly changes

DORCAS SOFTWARE

Formerly DORIC COMPUTER SERVICES

ATTACKS OOOOC" â&#x20AC;˘

PRESENTS

THE ORACLE'S CAVE

The Oracle's Cave is an exciting adventure game containing a unique blend of H I G H R E S O L U T I O N A N I M A T E D G R A P H I C S and text which has been designed especially for the

48K S P E C T R U M

Its many features include: * Continuously displayed high resolution graphics * Time limit of five 'days' on every adventure * Completely new cave layout, monster position and event sequence generated for every game * All monsters, articles and locations depicted to a level of detail that pushes SPECTRUM graphics to the limit ' T h e c l o s e s t y e t t o a t r u e a n i m a t e d g r a p h i c s a d v e n t u r e , e x c e l l e n t v a l u e ( o r m o n e y Popular Computing Weekly 'Superb high resolution with s m o o t h scrolling with t h e nights d r a w i n g in this p r o g r a m s h o u l d g i v e y o u p l e n t y t o t h i n k a b o u t Micro Adventure Dec 83 T h e g r a p h i c s are s m o o t h startling a n d e x c i t i n g T h e y s h o w the w a y lor the d e v e l o p m e n t o l t h e g r a p h i c s a d v e n t u r e i n t h e n e x t y e a r Sinclair User Annual 84 ' E a c h q u e s t 13 s e l e c t e d b y y o u a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o l t h e g a m e a n d y o u w i l l h a v e f i v e g a m e d a y s i n w h i c h t o c o m p l e t e it T h e t i m e t a c l o r is e x c e p t i o n a l in a d v e n t u r e g a m e s ' Sinclair User Dec 83

Available from WH SMITH, selected branches of BOOTS and J MENZIES and other leading retailers. Trade Enquiries welcome T e l e p h o n e 0S33 314345

Also available direct at ÂŁ7.95 (Postage and packing free) from;

DORCAS SOFTWARE, 3 THE OASIS, G L E N F I E L D , LEICESTER LE3 8 Q S i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4

REVIEWERS' COMPETITION

to condition yellow' and a lance at the small screen at ttomrightshows why. This screen shows the area bounded by your main view and a large area outside this, on which the radar blips of approaching aircraft can be seen. Condition red', and the aircraft comes into view, some dose and within range of your guns, some farther away and out of range until they break formation to wheel at you. Bombs hurtle down amongst the refugees, who sometimes stand and wave their fists at the aircraft in impotent fury, and Exotron missiles whirl towards you at terrifying speed. Too many missile strikes against your shields results in them gradually disintegrating. and you only have three spares A missile hitting your plane when it is unshielded results in instant grounding at speed, although the only visible damage is a large crack across the windscreen.

and you find yourself dealing with submarines, which surface. attack the boatloads of refugees and hurl Exotrons at you before submerging again. Once more it is necessary to fly very low, and this is where the di-bar' comes in very handy. It indicates height and direction of flight and flashes when you are flying at minimum height. The use of a joystick would probably increase the risk of a pile-up, whereas with the keyboard it is possible to get down to the minimum height and then leave the down' key alone. The graphics are superb, extremely well animated and with a use of colour which is bright without being distracting Sound, within the limitations of the Spectrum, is well used; in fact the only complaint is that response keys really need to be a little faster, especially left andrightwhen after those tanks. A reasonably easy game on which to make moderate prog-

ram costs £14.95. At that kind of price you feel obliged to carry on' whereas a £5.95 price tag may make Ithe temptation to give up and return to another onslaught of Galaxians too great. The manual takes . you through a mini-adventure, Thefirstof these factors - explaining as you go how to set inspiration - can come to you up various aspects of the at any time; sleep, on the bus, adventure. When you underat the launderette, or indeed, stand the various concepts you all three at once, asleep on the are in a position to design your bus going to the launderette! own adventures ont he same The (b) factor - time - can, lines, The Quill being more believe it or not, usually be than flexible enough to make found, especially when you each different adventure an have come up with what original piece of work. seems to be a good factor (a). Amongst the options open to The real problem arises with you are the describing of each factor (c). location, a dictionary of each Let's be honest about this: word the game understands, a When you first bought your method of counting so that Spectrum you were full of good events can occur after a given intentions. It wasn't just going number of turns, a movement to be a games machines, was table so that the designer can it? You were going to learn all control where each command about Basic and then all there will send your player, and a was to know about Machine random chance element, Code. It wouldn't be too long handy in battles and similar before you were programming situations. The basic concepts along with the best of 'em. It are well explained, despite a didn't quite work out that way small mistake on page 22 of for most of us though, did it? the manual, but the fact that The Sinclair book got a bit even I could rectify the error at heavy going. Space Raiders least proved that the concept was only a fiver and you was well explained! My only couldn't ever find quite enough other niggle was that I could time to really get to grips with not find out how to control the strings' without tying yourself 'Flash' command. However, up in knots. having said that, I must give full If you have ever had your marks to Gilsoft for explaining dreams of writing adventures it to me upon request. cast away on such a tide of Sound can be incorporated lethargy, prepare to have your into the adventure by the usual creative buds re-awakened by Beep commands, as can The Quill, from Gilsoft. graphics, but I have to be honWhat they have done is to est and say that at this stage I virtually take oft your hands the am not sufficiently familiar with Shooting the relugees is more tun on Zioom - Out not so nice! programming part of adven- the program as to inclue my ture writing, and design a own User Defined Graphics. framework, into which, follow- However, they can be used, so After each wave Of attackers ress but a difficult game to ing prompts on the screen and watch out Picasso! On myfirstattempt at advenand a return to condition complete (assuming that it has instructions in the manual, you green', the auto pilot comes a finite length). Addictive and put your own ideas and create ture writing with The Quill I was able to design a 75-location into operation and you can very good value for money, but your own masterpiece. relax tor a moment or two be prepared to take a few flying Now comes the time to put game. No mean feat for somemy cards on the table. I am not one who even had trouble with whilst the score and bonus is lessons to achieve success. a computing genius and know for-next loops using Basic! calculated. Then back into batSpecial Mention precious little about programtle. which after two waves Should you design a game ming in Basic and even less you would like friends to be drimoves to a desert scene with about Machine Code. Given ven mad with, it can be Saved tanks crawling menacingly this background, the book and and Run without The Quill, thus over the horizon. As the palm software which go to make up enabling you to pass it around, trees flick by beneath, you go The Quyill has to be fairiy and should you believe your into action against the tanks, straight forward tor me to be game is marketable, all Gilsoft aided by the addition of misable to follow it. It must have ask for is a mention, so you can siles to your armoury. Now Gilsoft been so, because follow it I did, drive the whole country insane however the temptation is to even if it was not as easy as and still collect all the royalties. nose down' to get the tanks which you missed on the horiIn order to be able to write a falling off a log or, in adventurThere is little doubt that the zon, with the almost inevitable good text adventure for the ing terms, as easy as being £14.95 price tag is off-putting result of an attempt to build Spectrum, you need three vital decapitated by a Troll. Under- at first glance, but there is sand castles with your plane., factors: (a) an original idea; (b) standing took a bit of effort, a equally no doubt that with a litwhich promptly mends its a good deal of time; and (c) the couple of sitting and a good tle effort and patience The Quill windscreen and takes off ability to program your compu- few cups of coffee. In a per- will be the best investment you unaided. ter in order to write your adven- verse kind of way it is here that made since buying the Sinclair you can be pleased the prog- Hand-Warmer itself. Persevere with the tanks ture. C R A S H July 1 9 8 4 86

Vic Groves

THE QUILL

> UJ 0c Li. O O

z< DC LL

Utilities galorel From screen creators to moving graphics, a multitude of aids are available to help the budding programmer along. Anirog's SPECGRAF is in aid of the User Defined Graphics manipulators, UDGuys for short. The program allows you to hold up to 200 UDGs in memory at any one time. Up to nine UDGs can be edited on screen simultaneously. Let's take a look at this latest UDG fast breeder. The cassette, which is contained in a neatly packaged plastic case, contains SPECGRAF, the UDG creator on one side and Roller, a demonstration program, followed by Toolkit, an assortment of subroutines for handling the UDGs on the other.

SPECGRAF The main menu displays seven options. (1) VIEW WHOLE SET displays the current UDG set containing 20 characters from A to T. The current UDG set can be selected with (4) CHANGE SET from any of the 10 sets (7) PRINT BYTE VALUES will list the bytes of the set in hexadecimal or decimal form in two pages with the possibility of a hard copy (2) SAVE SET TO TAPE and (3) LOAD SET FROM TAPE involve the storage and retrieval of the UDG sets. A name can be given to the tape file, which can either contain a single set or the complete repertory of UDGs. These sets can be loaded for future editing

B L A N K key B clears the grid I N V E R T key I inverts the character C H A N G E key C changes the start position of the group S T O R E stores the displayed result in memory. Main menu may be called without losing the graphics after this EXIT key X returns to main menu R O T A T E rotates square group configurations by 90 degrees HORIZONTAL M I R R O R mirrors left-hand side of grid on to theright(left/right symmetry) VERTICAL M I R R O R mirrors from top to bottom N E W S E T key N selects a new UDG set and changes the current start indicator PRINT gives a hard copy of the display M O V E S P E C G R A F (shifted cursors) moves characters around in the grid pixel by pixel with permanent loss of pixels at the edge of the grid G E T reloads the grid with the current start characters

or for serious use into any of the sets from 0 to 9. (6) EXIT provides an exit facility from the utility. Run returns you to the facility. (5) DEFINE ROLLER CHARACTERS leads to the central activity of the program, namely the editing of the Once created and saved to UDGs. tape, the UDGs require handlThe FORMAT MENU makes ing from within a Basic progavailable nine different forram. Roller demonstrates the mats. This enables up to nine use of two sets of graphics and UDGs to be edited in the forby breaking into the program mat in which they will appear in illustrates all the points the program for which they are required to use SPECGRAF being designed (from 1 to 3 x 3 UDGs in your own program. characters). The program The routines used are conrequires an input of the first tained in Toolkit which follows character to be defined. The Roller on the tape. The 200 group of characters required UDGs may be used either by for the chosen format must be paging between 10 sets of 20 consecutive and within the UDGs or, alternatively, by dissame set. Next you are asked playing 96 different characters for the set required. If existing by poking the system variable characters are to be edited, the CHARS with 256 less than the set in which they are held must starting address of your graphbe entered. ics. This will redefine the The screen will display the characters from space to the grid in the format selected. copyright symbol with the Grids of forms with more than SPECGRAF characters. one character indicate the individual character areas with CONCLUSION white and yellow backgrounds. The existing characters will be copied to the grid and a minia- The SPECGRAF is a useful ture screen in the top right. A and dependable tool for creatflashing cursor may be con- ing User Defined Graphics. trolled via the cursor keys or Considering the amount of the Kempston joystick. The facilities it provides, the price of current start character is indi- ÂŁ9.95 may prove to be a little cated at the bottom right of the high in view of the stiff competition such as Procom's screen. The options available are DYNAMIC GRAPHICS with its displayed on the right-hand excellent moving sprite facility or Print 'n' Plotters PAINTside of the screen. BOX with its integrated screen creator. SPECGRAF certainly FILL key F fills the square. performs well and should i.e. plots a point ensure that you don't run out of E R A S E key E erases the UDGs any more. square, i.e. plots inverse i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4 87

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T H E EASIEST WAY OF BUYING SPECTRUM SOFTWARE Y O U WILL FIND! A l l y o u h a v e t o d o is fill in t h e f o r m below .mcl send i t o f f . W e still o f f e r a FREEPOST ordering servicr, b u t p l e a s e r e m e m b e r t h a t it c a n take three Co four t i m e s l o n g e r t o r e a c h us t h a n ordinary First Class post. If y o u w o u l d p r e f e r a speedier delivery th<*n w e r e c o m m e n d y o u use a stamp. O r d e r s r e c e i v e d w i t h a f i r s t class s t a m p will be d e s p a t c h e d w i t h i n 24 h o u r s b y first class post.

• .

ANY OF THE SOFTWARE R E V I E W E D IN T H I S ISSUE* O F C R A S H M A G A Z I N E M A Y BE O R D E R E D BY M A I L U S I N G T H E FORM BELOW. A "M(i"

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CRASH MICRO GAMES ACTION ORDER FORM T e l e p h o n e L u d l o w (0S84) 5620. Please s e n d m e t h e f o l l o w i n g t i t l e s : B l o c k c a p i t a l s p l e a s e ! Title

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KOSMIC KANGA, a multi-screen, amazing, arcade standard original action game. Featuring superbly animated graphics and packed full of arcade features. Help KANGA find his space ship so he can return home to his planet. Leap about buildings, trees, clouds etc., pick up bonuses and throw boxing gloves at the enemies. Keyboard or most joystick. 48K SPECTRUM for most other Computers soon. Tutankhamun

Pengy

ONLY ÂŁ5.95 EACH

Invasion F o r c e

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Miei&MAMA 48K Spectrum

DEALERS:

Available from most good software retailers, If your local software retailer is out of stock, send cheque/P.O. to Micromania, 14 Lower Hill Rd., Epsom, Surrey, KT19 8LT., and we will send your order by first class post free.

MICROMANIA

PHONE M I C R O D E A L E R UK 0727 34351 OR M I C R O M A N I A

(03727)20152

In o u r s i x t h c o m p a r i s o n , r e v i e w e r s C H R I S P A S S E Y and M A T T H E W U F F I N D E L L snatch a g l a s s of w a t e r a n d a h a n d f u l of p o w e r pills a n d p r e p a r e t o d o b a t t l e w i t h a l e g i o n of ghosts... i

C R A S H J u l y 1 9 8 4 92

Ghost Hunt

Pacmania came over from the States quite a while back. Initially the game was regarded as odd in that it was relatively non-violent P.S.S. for a computer game, but It rapidly established itself as the number one arcade favourite. Although the craze is over now, there are still a lot of pacfans around. As a classic maze game, This gets off to a rather poor Pacman was among the first arcade originals to be copied in start because it uses the cursor numerous forms on to the Spectrum. Copyright owners, Atari keys for control - an obvious International, have been promoting their expensive official' ver- disadvantage with this type of sion since before Christmas, but it competes against some very game. Generally the graphics strong 'unofficial' versions, some are good, some not so good, are small (one character size), and there are some interesting variants. okay, but not the true pacman size I The sound does bear a In brief, the classic version should have a medium complex mazeresemblance to a connected horizontally by a wrap around tunnel. In the four cor- noise. Such things inck ners are a similar number of power pills. Each pathway of the are fruit, tunnels and power lis. Overall, this is not a very maze is regularly dotted. In the centre is a 'home' for ghosts of mpressive or addictive verdiffering colours and point values, which are released into the maze at intervals. The object is to take your Pacman, an orange sion, but not the worst you can ball with a gobbling mouth, around the maze and eat all the dots to promote to a more difficult screen with more intelligent ghosts. Eating a power pill will cause all the ghosts to turn blue and edible. In this condition they should run away from your approach at a This game got off to a terrible slower speed than yourself. Strawberries appear at intervals and start - there are no instructions can be eaten for bonus points. whatsoever. Once loaded one

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i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4

of the three skill levels has to be chosen, from easy to ultrafast. Don't worry if you make the wrong choice - you merely have to reload the program. The graphics are small, very blocky and primitive. There is no gobbling action, but there are some odd looking fruit for bonus points. Sound and colour are generally poorly used, and the game isn't worth considering. MU

Gulpman Micromega

Fruit and warp tunnels are non-existent An ageing game, but with plenty of choice. MU

This was originally the Campbell Gulpman, which is now marketed by Micromega. It is a variation on the Pacman theme, which involves you in shooting the nasties. There are a large selection of mazes, C.D.S. Microsystems speeds and skill levels. The graphics are small but smooth, but I think colour could be bet- Gobble a Ghost is packaged ter used. On the subject of con- very well Looking at the cover, trol, the keyboard is poor - cur- I thought, This could be the sor, but it does offer Kempston one.' Boy, was I wrong I The joystick. Generally this is a nice game is no way a close Pacvariation, playable but for me man. It has poor graphics, no not over-addictive. fruit and stupid ghosts. These CP poor spectres seem to like getR & R Software This must be one of the oldest ting into a chain, making them We get off to a good start here pieces of software available on easy prey after eating a power with a nice loading screen the market. Gulpman gives pill. Piayability is not very high you a choice of 15 mazes at all - an average to poor ver(presentation is always a virsion. tue). When the game started I which look very blocky, four was amazed! ft includes a big, chasers also of primitive CP character design, and incredfull-sized Pacman and set of ghosts - the only problem with ibly, 81 skill levels ranging from C D S. come up with a convenunchallenging ghosts to super tional style game but have this is that they are not as smooth and fast as they could non-human ghosts. No power failed in reproducing arcadepills, but lasers defend you. like moving characters. The be. The maze itself is a little

Gobble a Ghost

Gnasher

simple but the general pacfeatures more than make up for this. For instance, you eat the ghosts (after a power pill) just like the real thing and their eyes even return home. The fruit is here too, plus some new ones like pears, all in excellent detail. All in all. this is a very close copy of the original, which I enjoyed. It is a shame that the movement is not just that bit better - but they have got it ail into 16K too and included good key and joystick option. CP This version is much more true to the original with a large gobbling ball and ghostly looking ghosts. The maze is uncomplicated due to the big playing characters. The graphic characters move by the block, but this by no means spoils the playability of the game. Eating power pills changes all the ghosts to a deep blue and they start flashing when the power starts to wear off - good. Detailed fruit appear at random intervals to ive bonus points when eaten he sound and colour have been well used. The keys can be redefined and are very responsive. This game presents a difficult choice between itself and Ghosts Revenge. MU i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4 94

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maze is well drawn though. The characters are small but quite colourful. The ghosts give no indication that they are about to become invulnerable again after eating a power pill. The game plays quite well but the ghosts don't seem really eager to get you. Sound could have been better used but the keyboard play is quite good with fairly portioned keys that are responsive. MU

Muncher!

Silversoft

Here the graphics are on the small side but at least they are pretty smooth. The maze seems very big (too big) making the pace a bit slow, and I don't think this is a very good version really. Although fruit bonus points are included both Pac and the ghosts have been changed (sacrilege!). The key layout isn't one of my favourites either. I didn't really enjoy

ft&R

GULPMAN

| Micromega

GOBBLE A GHOST

CDS

Silversoft

GHOSTS REVENGE

MAZE CHASE

| Hewson Cons.

HUNGRY HORACE

Psion

HAUNTED HEDGES

| GHOST HUNT PSS | GNASHER

I MUNCHER!

| Micromania

| Micromega GOBBLEMAN | Artie

/ /

4 95 1

4 95

4.95

5 95

5.95

4 95

5.95

6.95

4.95

this one - mind you, it's getting feature this version has that no appeal. Some details like the The only 30 maze game out of other does is the invisible on a bit now! finishing' of the maze are a lit- the bunch, essentially everymaze - just to make life a little tle bit primitive by today's stan- thing else is the same ghosts CP more difficult. Both colour and dards, but this still outdoes chase in a hazardous sort of With this particular version it sound have been put to good many newer games. If anyone way, power pills aid your task. can take up to five minutes to use, tunes adding a nice intro has not got Hungry Horace - The differences are the 3D eat up all the dots in the maze, to each new-life screen. The get it! effect and you' are a real runnot because the game is slow keyboard is just right. A very CP ning. but small, man that walks but because the mazes are so good version, but it would be over the dots. Sound and collarge and complex. The difficult choosing between this Horace cannot be called a trad- our are average. I didn t really characters move smoothly and and the R & R version itional Pacman game there like the 3D effect maze, but the are quite colourful but small. MU are no ghosts for a start off. just game itself plays averagely. Power pills have the usual park guards which multiply Novel. effect of turning ghosts edible. after a set time. The three MU A warp tunnel is included As mazes are very simple indeed, the game progresses the though quite well drawn. speed increased dramatically Power pills don't exist either, until the game is totally instead there is an energency unplayable. Not the best, but alarm bell. Ringing the bell will very fast. Hewson Consultants cause the guards to freak, MU allowing you to throw them out Poor graphics, unexciting and of the park. The characters are and move Artie unaddictive seem the words to well drawn sum up this one. The graphics smoothly Colour and sound are small, undetailed and lack- are well used Totally different Like most of the really early ing in colour. Control is with the from the arcade version versions, Artie s has small and cursors to make things even MU rather uninteresting characters worse. It didn't appeal at all of a small size. Power pills but the less said the better (Sorry no bonus fruit in this fast game. Hewsons!) Generally pretty uninspiring. CP CP

Maze Chase

Gobbleman

Ghost's Revenge Micromania

Good controls, joystick options and large, almost full-sized pacgraphics which are smooth too - YES. I'm telling the truth. This has the best character movement around the maze. It also includes some new features like invisible mazes. Tunnel and power pills are included but, alas, no fruit. Micromania don't seem to have attempted a direct copy version but have produced a fresh variant. Although I say that, I would like it to have the original features too, but once cannot have everything. CP The first impression this version gave me was that it must be the best ghost gobbling game on the market - at the moment. The characters move smoothly and are well drawn,

with the ghosts looking very much like the arcade equivalent The star of the show looks very convincing as it gobbles its way continuously around the good-sized and wellplanned maze. Several noncharacteristics of the original arcade game crop up during play no fruit for one. worst of all the ghosts give no indication when changing from edible to non-edible states after a power pill has been eaten Being able to choose your own skill level also become unrealistic One

3D Haunted Hedges

Like a lot of these games, this version is quite old, and it shows. It is very primitive with its design and graphics. The maze is exceptionally com- Micromega plex, with the odd lemon positioned randomly in it. This is a fairly original game. Power pills, too, appear ran- The maze has been turned into domly placed. Ghosts move a 3D maze using colour. It is about the maze not caring at all quite realistic too. The man whether you eat the dots or runs behind hedges so that not. The game does have 12 only the top half of him can be different mazes, but the terrible seen. Bonus features apart, cursor keyboard layout is quite this is basically a Pacman type unresponsive - if not positively game and it's a reasonably erratic. Can't be recom- good one too. The game offers mended apart from historical user-definable keys; it's playinterest - Maze Chase to 3D able but I still prefer the fruity Lunattack ~ there's encour- original. Nonetheless this is a agement for you! good version. MU CP

Artie first produced Gobbleman for the ZX81 - it played a very vicious game even then. This version is even faster. The maze is nicely drawn and is quite complex The characters are small and quite insignificant compared with the size of the maze. Eating power pills causes the ghosts to pulsate not a very good effect. No fruit appear at any time, having included them would have helped the game along a bit. Colour and sound is not at all well used, although the keys are well positioned and responsive. MU

Hungry Horace

Psion

No need for intros here as every self-respecting Spectrum owner has heard of Horace (if not. why not?). This is an excellent variation which has stood the test of time well. I remember buying this one over a year ago and it still has i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4

wMEMWimmM

4BK

SPECTRUM

Che Ultimate Challenge... « D A R E Y O U F A C E IT?

The most advanced 3-dimensional scrolling graphics program ever devised, brought to your fingertips in 100% machine code arcade action. Fight through missiles, fighters and luel dumps, evade radar installations and deadly force fields, then challenge the enemy's ultimate defence. The only game ot its kind lor the Spectrum, requiring skill, nerves and lightning co-ordnatibn. \ Incredibly addictive. Kempslon joystick compatible.

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Now available from: W . H . Smith Centresoft Lightning and ill good computer shops

/ _

I 0 1 7 2 0

Factory Breakout Producer: P o p p y S o f t Memory required: 4 8 K Retail price: £ 5 . 9 5 Language: m a c h i n e c o d e Author: S t e v e C r o w

•

A L P H A

I L E U E L

L I U E 5

and chase Zirky like mad. The idea is to change the colours of all the doorways by passing through them. This has to be done three times. At the ends of some corridors there are force fields, rather like power pills in a Pacman game, once eaten they disappear but allow you to kill off the monsters for a few moments. It all sounds quite simple, but on later levels, things are deteriorating in the factory conveyor belts start up. not all In the same direction at the same time either - monsters are on the increase - in fact H begins to look like a normal day at any British factory.

Aliens have been blamed for a lot of things since Space Invaders replaced Tank Pong and Tennis as a video game, CRITICISM but they haven't usually been blamed for causing strikes. In • 'Brill! Factory Breakout is this new game from Poppy one of the best Spectrum Soft, alien monsters have acti- games I have seen over the vated the self-destruct past few months. It contains mechanism of the X-IAL robot colourful, smooth graphics, its factory. So all the other robots got some pretty onginal ideas have gone on strike and only included and I really enjoyed it. Zirky is left. Can you help him This game will definitely be a evade the monsters and break winner in the Spectrum market out of the factory? and I would strongly recommend it for a game of the The game has three differmonth - in fact MEGABRILLI* ent screens and gets harder with each successfully completed go. In the first, Zirky is in • The graphics are of a high his egg capsule at the centre of standard -in a way quite simthe screen. The factory's self- ple shapes, but imaginatively destruct mechanism is already designed and ultra-smooth. There are nice touches like the firing deadly laser beams at him from seven directions. The mirror image of the ground rays progress slowly, giving over which Zirky travels. The him time to swivel round to skill level of the game has each in turn and fire back with been really well pitched, with his defence laser. This stops the easiest (Alpha) level still the deadly rays for a moment being very hard for the first few only. Below him, a column of plays. The game demands a energy isrisingup under the high degree of skiff and timing, egg - when it reaches him, and because of the three very Zirxy is saved, and transported different screens, each type of out as a fully fledged Zirconium skill is varied. Very playable and very addictive.' Mk III robot. Sadly, his transportation • Basically this game leads him on to the rejection includes three different types line, where five overhead lasers keep firing. Zirky must pass of game, each of which requires a different talent to get them all safely. Each laser is made up of three van-coloured through them, each of them beams, white being the fastest. being excellent as well. GraphIf he spends too long In the ics are large and very smooth, not flickering one little bit. rejection chamber a killer canary comes up to get him. In Aliens are well animated and are progressively more intellater screens this chamber ligent - I think they leam by may have conveyor belts. The third screen is a plat- their mistakes! The keyboard form type with seven levels. On is nicely laid out with few conthe top six there are two or trols (it's cursors, but only 5 three connecting doors to the and 8 are used for direction) next level down. A lift on either and they are responsive. side of the platform complex Sound is well used where takes Zirky up. He can exit at appropriate and there are nice only two (different) levels on tunes. Factory Breakout is either side before reaching the playable and very addictive top. Three monsters (on the with a good progression betfirst screen) inhabit this area ween skill levels so it builds up

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A with your skill. A great game which I don't think will ever age-

COMMENTS

Lives: 3 Screens: 3 Originality: highly original ideas General rating: addictive, playable and highly recommended.

Control keys: 5/8 left/right, 0 to fire Joystick: Protek. AGF and Kempston Keyboard play: simple keys and responsive Use of colour: very good Graphics: excellent Sound: very good Skill levels: progressive through 5 levels

U s e of c o m p u t e r Graphics Payability Getting started Addictive qualities Originality V a l u e for m o n e y Overall

CRASH July 1984

85% 89% 92% 85% 91% 94% 92% 90% 97

E-N-l'G-MACan you break the code?

CONTROL

ACCEPT?

REJECT?

ACCEPT?

REJECT?

ENIGMA is a new type of computer gome. In most Available on cassette with full instructions for the GDC gomes you hove a set of rules. In these gomes it is D, Electron ond Spectrum machines, ot £4.95 including thelother woy round. The gome will be over when you VAT, post ond pocking. When you've solved oil the five discover the rule by which it is being ployed. The gomes return the cassette with £,4 to us and we'll send computer will accept or reject cords - your objective is to you another. discover the rules. There ore five rules in oil - but don't be Dealer Deals Ltd, 20 Orange Street, discouraged - the gomes con be solved - if you hove LondonWC2H 7ED enough imoginotion ond perseverance. Access cord holders ring 01-269 2186 24 hours. rTo"DeolerDeaisLtd. 20 Orange Street, London WC2H 7 ED Please state machine

Please rush mean Enigma cassette.

I enclose a cheque/P.O. for 04.95 payable to Dealer Deals Ltd or debit my Access cord No

Signature

No me

Address Postcode,

£ ( ) c S u ttt)cott W u i I fccr GRAPHIC ADVENTURE SYSTEM SPECTRUM 48K T h e D u n g e o n Builder is a highly sophisticated p r o g r a m e n a b l i n g m a c h i n e code graphic a d v e n i u r e s to be w r i t t e n quickly a n d easily, e v e n by those w h o have no p r o g r a m m i n g e x p e r i e n c e at all W h e n creating your a d v e n t u r e you c a n choose f r o m 1 6 0 0 possible locations w h i c h are visually displayed on a n octagonal lattice The p r o g r a m gives you t h e facility to illustrate your c h o s e n locations it you w i s h . A separate " g a m e - m a k e r " p r o g r a m is provided w h i c h e n a b l e s stand alone g a m e s to be m a d e that w i l l r u n o n S p e c t r u m s w i t h o u t ' T h e D u n g e o n B u i l d e r " being present T h e r e are t w o versions 1 Cassette ( n o w available). For w r i t i n g m e d i u m - s i z e d adventures 2 M i c r o d r i v e (coming soon) This w i l l e n a b l e you to w r i t e really large a d v e n t u r e s ' T h e D u n g e o n Builder" is available f r o m larger b r a n c h e s of Boots, Lightning Records and Tapes, and good c o m p u t e r shops Y o u m a y also order direct f r o m us by sending a c h e q u e , P 0 , or your A c c e s s n u m b e r A c c e s s orders m a y be placed by p h o n e

Price £9.95 inc. V.A.T. (Cassette) Please s e n d " T h e D u n g e o n Builder"

(Cassette)

Cost £ 9 95 P&P 0 50 Total 1 0 4 5

Name Address Access Number (if applicable)

I I

1 T T T T 1

DREAM SOFTWARE LTD, P.O Box 64. Basingstoke, Hants RG21 2LB Telephone; (0256) 25107

The Computer Cook Book

Choosing then leads you to the recipe list, where you can tell the computer which dish the wine is to accompany. The result is a first offer and a cheaper alternative. Some of the wines are extremely expensive. A useful section is the Store Cupboard, which allows the computer to sort through the recipes and find out if there's one which will use up whatever Producer: Bug-Byte ou may have lying around. It Memory required: 4 8 K as some oddities, however. Retail price: £9.50 Since the sort is only done from Author: Ian Hoare a basic list of ingredients used in the program, I was surprised In some recipe books it tells to see that red cabbage cropyou how long to allow for prepped up nowhere in any recipe aration time of the dish.. With so why was red cabbage listed The Computer Book, the first in the first place? Trying in of its kind, you had better allow desperation to find something a few extra minutes per pound to do with the wretched stuff, I as the data takes a while to pressed for a search through load. Desserts. As I expected there The package comes as two In most respects this works was no recipe, but the compuUsing this section is quite cassettes, a Menu Planner simple and the program is very well. I was only disapter must have become contape and a Recipe tape. The reasonably user-friendly, with pointed to be informed that the fused as it printed out, "d recipe tape uses both sides of one startling exception. A cooking method for Coq au Vin COPY e?Cabbage - sorry, the cassette. On side one there numbered menu (no pun) was the same as for Beef there are no recipes using d are 20 Starters and 20 Main allows selection of the particu- Bourguignon. which meant COPY E£Cabbage in this secCourses, and on side two there lar section,, e.g. Starters or wading through the menu tion." are 20 Desserts, 20 recipes for Main Courses; information in a again. It should have been It was obviously a firm vegetables and 5 recipes for box explains how to get a hard possible to repeat the instruc- reminder that I should write my odds and ends like mayon- copy if you have a printer, and tion, surely, for the selected own dessert recipe based naise and fish fumet. then a yellow box states, Q to dish. around red cabbage. Computer cook books may quit, any other key to continue.* well be very useful, especially Pressing any other key, howso if you have one of those ever, will result in varied onultra-modern kitchens with a screen abuse explaining that I n g r e d i e n t s for 2 0 0 ( I m p e r i a l ) plumbed in Spectrum and you are an idiot! Below the yelmonitor, but one thing this low information box is another program lacks is the mouth- set of text which merely says, watering colour photographs To remind yourself of the title 200 PorK Chops of dishes designed to get your PLEASE PRESS 1.2 or 3. . i ne 25 Lbs Mushrooms chopped 10® F t Oz C h o p p e d S h a l l o t culinary skills going. Perhaps This is a roundabout way of 5 0 F I OZ O i l the advantage to the non- confusing the novice compu. 3 F l Oz Leinon Ju i c e computing mum (there seem ter cook. You cannot just press 8 Nu t i e g 1o be less and less of these any other key, but only the 100 F I Oz Dou b le Cream Thyme around nowadays) is that appropriate numbered key. 100 F 1 Cz C h o p p e d P a r s l e y because this is computer Anyway, selecting a section cookery, she can get the results in a neat dissolve to the S a l t a. P e p p e r alien-zapping son to do the 20 recipes. Any may be chocooking from now on. sen by pressing the appropriAny recipe book must stand ate letter key. You are then or fall by the recipes contained asked to input the number of H A R D COPY? PRESS N OR in it. The author, Ian Hoare, is guests being fed, and here is a noted chef to British one of the Computer Cook Routiers, and the program Book's great strengths - the MENU PLANNER CONCLUSION notes claim that the recipes recipes can be shown with the are well tried and tested - required ingredients for bet- The second tape is the cook- For what you get (60 main indeed even favourites of Mr ween one and 200 diners. (Did book's index with five sections. recipes) this package is Hoare's customers, so they you know that Chocolate Section one sorts things out - reasonably priced. I wonder can be used with confidence. Mousse Basquais requires dishes from a particular coun- how many cooks will actually The starters section incfudes 151b plain chocolate and 120 try, dishes by ease of cooking, have a Spectrum in the standards like Avocado with eggs to feed 200?). Tfte ingre- dishes by price, dishes by time kitchen, but it isn't necessary Crab, French Onion Soup and dients are listed and a hard of preparation. You can also with the hard copy facility, and Scampi. It also has a few exo- copy may be made for shop- see a list of the recipes, all the in this respect the program is tics like Gulyas Soup or Whit- ping list purposes. A key press ingredients used in the recipes friendly to use. It is possible to ing a Verdurette. Similarly, the then reveals the method of and pick an ingredient, say buy cheaper books with more Main courses are well selected preparation and cooking with Celery Seed, and find out what recipes in, but I hope the Comfrom Beef Bourguignon helpful hints also available at a recipes it is used in. One sec- puter Cook Book does well, through Elizabethan Pork to key press. This too may be tion will suggest wines to not because it is invaluable, Choucroute Garnie. The sent to hard copy. Before accompany meals. This is but because it points the way to desserts range from Jam returning to the main list, the done by first asking whether better things in the future. Pockets through Vacherin to ingredients may be seen the wine is to go with starters, Zuppa Inglese (trifle). again. main courses or desserts. Roger Kean

i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4

â&#x201E;˘

rniFEi

i 4l 1l 1u l lfllM l I l li lh kr i l^ lJ fl kt

S i n c e last m o n t h ' s issue, letters a n d s e v e r a l p h o n e calls h a v e f l o o d e d in w i t h p l a y i n g tips a n d c o u n t e r a r g u m e n t s . For instance, the r e a d e r w h o w r o t e in s a y i n g he h a d f o u n d a trailer f r o m t h e M o o n R o v e r o n a particular level of Lunar Jetman, c a u s e d a few r a i s e d e y e b r o w s . A caller s a i d h e h a d r e a c h e d level 2 5 in a d e s p e r a t e s e a r c h for the trailer, but t h e r e w a s n o sight of It. O n c o n t r a c t i n g Ultimate he w a s told that t h e y h a d w a n t e d to put a trailer in but there h a d n ' t b e e n r o o m left in t h e p r o g r a m - so It l o o k s like s o m e o n e h a s a g o o d i m a g i n a t i o n . A n y w a y , o n to y o u r t i p s . . . LM

WHEELIE/ATIC ATAC

JETMAN HOLES

Firstly. R i c h a r d Leadbetter stated that in Arte Afac. the green key is always on the level you start on. This is not true as I have found it on the floor above. Secondly, here are the first eight codes for Wheelie: 2 W I T T Y . 3 S H A R K . 4 BEBOP. 5 XENON. 6 ZX83B. 7 2MQL3.6 HRME2

J . U . Flattery's methods for getting across the holes in Lunar Jetman may be safer but it Is significantly slower and makes the g a m e more dangerous later on that level w h e n you have to destroy the missile with laser fire, which has b e e n launched because you have taken up too much time. It's better to practise laying bridging units, which also have the advantage of being there later, instead of having to recross holes. O n e of the best g a m e s I h a v e got is Jet Set Willy, but could somebody tell m e how to get the items in the Conservatory Roof? J o h n Curtin, Skelmersdale, Lanes.

Ewan Lithgow (14), D u m f r i e s . SNOWMAN W h e n you are after an object and it's in an awkward position (eg on the lar right), all you have to do is go to the very bottom of the screen and walk along to the far right ladder, wait until the g a s flames are on the (eft or in the middle, go up the ladder and get the object, then go back lo the bottom line. The monsters will never go along the bottom because they can t K e e p doing this until that level has been done. After stage four there is a different screen layout

Richard J o h n s o n (15), W o r k s o p , Notts.

Still on the Manic problem of Still on the Manic problem of JSW. JSW, Software Projects have announced the winners of their competition for the first to complete and get to bed. They are CRASH readers R o s s Holmanand Cameron Elseo/ London. Ross and Cameron have also worked out how to get around ihe problem of the Attic so successfully in fact that Software Projects have allowed publication ot the POKES required to overcome the bug: Enter M E R G E " " and press play

There's obviously a serious problem in getting Conservatory Roof objects in an honest way. However Peter Y o u n g , C h r i s t i a n M c G u i n e s s and Paul H e n d e r s o n , all of Slough, rang to tell m e this interesting P O K E Type in P O K E 3 4 7 8 5 , n (n = 4 5 at best). I have to say now that l haven't had time ime to try this one out /et, but it's supposed to build sndges in space so you can jump ws if it Willy across. Goodness knows works'

on cassette. Once the first part has finished loading, stop the cassette and enter: CLEAR 32767 LOAD 'CODE Start the cassette again and after the main part of the program has loaded enter: POKE 60231.0 P O K E 42163,11 POKE 59901.82 P O K E 56876,4 If you would like to save the new version of Jet Set Willy, prepare a blank tape and enter: SAVE "JETSET' LINE 10 SAVE ' J S W ' C O D E 32768,32768 It not, to play the new version enter GOTO 4 0 This routine will stop the chain of events which occurs the second you enter the Attic screen and which causes isntant death in the four famous locations! LM

Are there any readers who have an arcade g a m e called Voyage Into The Unknown? It's by a new firm called Mastertronic. If so. could they give m e information on how to pick up objects with the

CRASH July 1984

Jeremy Smith, KitddTrmlnste idderminster, Worcs.

ANDROID 2 I have found out how to get all the time you need and as many m e n as you want All you have to do is, in the first clearing kill yourself four times then go to a place where a monster goes over a mine. Then try to walk on to the mine at the s a m e time as the monster. If you time this right you will be killed two times more, making a total of six

UNKNOWN VOYAGE

100

inS

i and where to go after I down by a tractor

hits on yourself. Now, due to a bug in the program, you have as many lives as you want and all the time in the world. K e v i n Allen, Weston-super-Mare.

ANT ATTACK If you go out into the desert, you might find an A m m o D u m p . . . I will say no more. J. PBrker, B r l g h o u s e , W . Yorks.

BETTER SOUND It seems common practice for software houses to state that the sound may be improved by connecting the Spectrum's mic socket to your tape recorder's and pressing Play with no cassette in it. But stereo headphones can be used to amplify the Spectrum's sound. This is a considerably better technique as the sound is louder and no one else has to listen to it. A n o n , W a t e r Orton, Birmingham.

MONSTERLESS JSW II yoi JSW W's mansion without monsters

(sounds a bit boring to me), S . W a t s o n of Greenlees Estate. Cambridge, says skip the first pari of the program thon enter: 10 C L E A R 2 5 0 0 0 : L O A D ""CODE 20 F O R A = 4 3 7 8 0 T O 4 5 8 2 3 : POKE A , 0 : N E X T A 30 F O R A = 4 6 0 8 0 T O 4 9 1 5 1 : P O K E A.O: N E X T A 40 P O K E 3 5 8 9 9 , 0 : ( T h e i n f i n i t e lives P o k e ) 50 BORDER 1 60RND USR 33792 RUN Again, I haven't had time to check this out (someone ran off with my copy of JSW). LM

Having waded through literally hundreds of letters with the infinite lives Poke for JSW (!), I came across this one, and I promise -it's the last POKE for this month! It comes from S t e p h e n P u n s h o n o f Peterlee. Co. Durham, and is P O K E 3 6 3 5 3 , 4 4 . What it does (quick burst of laughter) is allow you to get sucked up a left-hand wall if you jump from underneath! If you walk and jump into the wall, you jump twice as high as usual (useful tor the Nightmare Room).

CHEQUERED FLAG

FIGHTER PILOT QUERY

You c a n o v e r c o m e the p r o b l e m of low p e r f o r m a n c e after hitting g l a s s by keeping your finger d o w n o n the accelerator, but chainging gears right d o w n to first.. TTheti h e track still s e e m s to w o b b l e , but the car's performance is u n i m p a i r e d This saves a t i m e - w a s t i n g trip to the pits. Murray P o p e , W e s t L i n t o n .

In Fighter Pilot, w h e n you e x a m i n e the m a p , there a r e tiny little dots dotted a r o u n d it U p o n closer e x a m i n a t i o n from the cockpit a l 2 7 feel, I noticed that they w e r e in fact w h a t looked like miniature runways. P l e a s e , could a n y o n e tell m e w h a t they a r e ? L a u r e n c d e Hoff, Four Marks, near Alton, Hants.

JUMBLY

PUSH OFF

For anybody with a copy of Jumbiy, try these titles: NURSERY, FLIGHT, PLANS, WINDOW, VERSE and VERTIGO. Will someone please do a version of Galaga for the Spectrum! Danny Balcomb and Paul Hirst, Acomb, York.

I h a v e r e a d a b o u t the difficulty of loading Push Off by S o f t w a r e Projects. After m a n y hours of e x p e r i m e n t i n g with the c o m m a n d C L E A R , I h a v e found that the p r o g r a m c a n b e u s e d in 16K. B e f o r e loading the line C L E A R 2 4 0 0 1 must b e input. T h e n load a s usual a n d the g a m e won't

•Jr Lloyd Mangram's

I d o n ' t k n o w w h i c h Is t h e c r e e p i e r - b e i n g a l o n e in a c e m e t e r y at n i g h t or r e a d i n g all t h o s e grovelling letters with o u t r a g e o u s c l a i m s for hi-scores. I k n o w other m a g s p u b l i s h H a l l s of F a m e , b u t n o n e of t h e s e s c o r e s a r e v e r i f i a b l e a n d y o u ' r e p r o b a b l y all l y i n g a n y w a y t Still, it's b e i n g i n s i s t e d u p o n , s o b e it o n y o u r o w n h e a d s . If y o u w a n t t o c r e e p a n d let e v e r y o n e k n o w j u s t h o w fantastic y o u are, here's your c h a n c e to e n t e r L l o y d M a n g r a m ' s H a l l of S l i m e . Only totally o u t r a g e o u s s c o r e s will b e a c c e p t e d - 8 U T T H E Y M U S T B E H O N E S T o r it's n o g o o d , t o k i c k off w i t h t h i s m o n t h I h a v e c u l l e d a f e w of t h e s l i m i e r c l a i m s f r o m s o m e of y o u r tetters, b u t f r o m n o w o n I'm expecting official figures for t h e m i l d e w e d p l a c e of h o n o u r .

THE HALL OF SLIME Lunar Jetman 1 3 7 , 8 8 0 ( L 1 4 ) Y \ » \ Manic Miner 107.122 t Jetpec 419,440 Atic A t a c 4 mins 51 sees W h e e l ie 9 . 3 0 7 Penetrator 109.060 Ant Attack 40,320 Chuckle Egg 256,110 (L22) Scott M c K e n z l e (17), G l a s g o w . L u n a r J e t m a n 3 2 9 . 7 9 5 ( t h a n k s to Chris Sutherland) Jetpac 13.765.920 R. B r o w n (13), Leyton, L o n d o n . Hobbit 2 days Jetpac 181.000 G r a h a m F. C r e s s w e l l . Rugby, Warwick®. B u g a b o o 3 0 sees Lunar Jetman 147.230 Richard Avent, Bristol. Lunar J e t m a n 142.350 (L16) Jetpec 8,736.810 C o d e N a m e M a t all M y o n s d e a d o n L 3 A l t c Ollling (12), Loughborough, Leics.

POGO SPEAKS

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I wonder if y o u k n o w a b o u t the added bonus in Pogo by O c e a n . If you are lucky e n o u g h to o w n a Currah M i c r o s p e e c h unit y o u will find that P o g o s p e a k s , e v e n though nothing is written a b o u t it on the cassette. T h e s n a k e hisses at you a s well a s saying, 'slither' and squirm'. Darren Muir. Enfield, M i d d x .

crash. C. D o n e g a n , Leeds, W. Yorks. K e e p the playing tips c o m i n g in. If y o u a r e w r i t i n g t o m e for t h e C R A S H F O R U M , it w o u l d b e b e s t if y o u k e p t a n y t i p s s e p a r a t e in y o u r l e t t e r r a t h e r than Incorporating them with t h e m a i n l e t t e r s , a s it m a k e s s o r t i n g m u c h e a s i e r . L o t s of writers have been asking for a HALL O F FAME . . . read on . . .

Sal I

Anl Attack 47,684 P y r a m i d 1 2 6 . 6 2 6 (9th go) D a n n y Balcomb, A c o m b , tork. Chuckle Egg 123.769 Daniel Pipe, Harlow, Essex. Punchy 1.753.900 Darren M c K l n l e y (12), Birmingham

j 1

Lunar J e t m a n 221.510 (L22) Alan Simpson, Milton. Glasgow. C h u c k l e E g g over 2 0 0 . 0 0 0 (120) Paul M u m m e r y , King's Lynn. Norfolk. Chuckle Egg 566.120 D a v i d Vickers (12), P l y m o u t h . Chuckle Egg 279.360 Jetpac 4,376,980 River Rescue 65,300 Richard Eden, Kenllworth, Warwlcks T h e Pyramid 147.000 odd Mark ellis (13), Y a r m , Cleveland. Inca Curse 3 days (9.950) Ian S i m m o n s , Sheffield.

O f c o u r s e . It y o u r e a d y w a n t t o o t t e r s o m e t h i n g b y t h e w a y of p r o o f , y o u c o u l d s e n d in a p h o t o of t h e s c r e e n showing your score - but then, w e all k n o w h o w e a s i l y p h o t o s c a n b e faked... G o o d luck with the hi-scores! LM

h Kff

V i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4

101

F a c e d w i t h t h e p r o b l e m of c o p y i n g a n e x i s t i n g d r a w i n g , p a t t e r n or m a p o n t o t h e S p e c t r u m T V s c r e e n , t h e r e w o u l d b e little h o p e o f a f a s t a n d s i m p l e j o b . Drawing grids, listing coordinates, reseating a n d inputting either via suitable s o f t w a r e or via light p e n c o u l d s i m p l y take h o u r s . U n l e s s of c o u r s e a n R D DIGIT A L T R A C E R w e r e at h a n d .

MAKING A N IMPRESSION CONSTRUCTION

Franco Frey

Text m a y be printed using key P for normal, key M for inverse a n d key V for flash after positioning the cursor at the desired print position. T h e screen display m a y be copied on the printer or saved on cassette at any time a n d recalled at a later date from within the D R A W progr a m m e for further modification.

SCALE W h e n operating the tracer with D R A W the drawing o n the tracing sheet is transferred with a fixed nominal scale of 1 m m to 1 pxet. With the program S C A L E the display image m a y be m o v e d up a n d down, left a n d right, scaled up a n d down, reversed left to right a n d turned upside down or any combination of these. Automatic scaling can be achieved by: F i g u r e e n t r y m o d e : by inputting the coordinates of the desired rectangle on the screen. U p o n completion the cursor will m o v e

T h e tracer consists of a double jointed a r m with a hair cross sight at its end. T h e knee joints contain potentiometers which detect in combination with the supplied software the exact location of the hair cross in reference to the tracers base. T h e tracer Interface unit does not inspire confidence, in fact the enclosure is constructed out of a standard cassette box a n d certainly doesn'l reflect the high cost of the unit. Nevertheless the tracer performed immaculately throughout the test and proved reliable

number. U p to 5 , 0 0 0 samples may be stored on a 4 8 K Spectrum or 5 0 0 with a 16K m e m o r y

GRAPHICS D R A W enables text to be printed normal inverse a n d flashing including standard graphic symbols or U D G ' s . With G R A P H I C S a inew character set m a y b e generated and s a v e d to tape for later use. T h e current character set is displayed. Entering the letter to be changed the 8 x 8 dot matrix is displayed and the character m a y be redesigned with the use of keys 1 and 0. If a n error is m a d e while generating a line of the character it is possible to return to the beginning of that line. The programs SCALE. R E T R A C E a n d G R A P H I C S must be m e r g e d with D R A W to operate. However the composite program m a y be loaded, which contains all the a b o v e mentioned facilities. T h e programmer may use individual routines from the utility program a n d m e r g e them with his own.

INSTALLATION T h e tracer c a n reach a m a x i m u m tracing a r e a of 3 0 0 x 3 0 0 m m using automatic scaling, but the nominal a r e a is 2 5 6 x 1 7 6 m m for normal draw mode. T h e base is fitted in position with a d a m p or with the double-sided adhesive strip supplied A template is provided for the correct location^Hrw interlace of the tracer is plugged into the back of the Spectrum (with the power supply disconnected!) or Into the extension port of the printer e d g e connection. T h e software cassette D T 2 is loaded and the system is ready.

SOFTWARE T h e cassette contains five programs: pt D R A W All general purpose draw features inieluding out) ine paint and copy l AA L E T h e drawing is transferred S" C to screen scaled up or down, reversed left to right a n d upside d o w n a n d repositioned. R E T R A C E Stores a string of drawing c o m m a n d s a n d coordinates for later retracing. In practical terms this m e a n s that it stores a n outline drawing which c a n b e recalled repetitively. G R A P H I C S Sets up a n array of user defined graphics C O M P C o m p 4 8 includes all four a b o v e progams. C o m p 1 6 includes D R A W , SCALE and R E T R A C E . RETRACE, SCALE and G R A P H I C S must b e run from within D R A W a n d must therefore be m e r g e d with DRAW.

T h e D R A W program prompts entry of background a n d paper colour a n d a flashing cross wire cursor displays the current position of the trace head. If the trace h e a d is m o v e d out of ttie tracing area, a warning B E E P will sound. A large or small or invisible cursor m a y be selected. Border, paper and ink colour changes, screen clearing, display of colour character grid, line erasing within character square, etc, facilitate the production of the drawing. Drawing can be accomplished either in normal m o d e by holding down key W (pen down) or in continuous m o d e (toggle key C ) Pressing key E will create thick lines, while key Q plots single points. Special drawing functions are provided including straight line, quarter, hait and full circle, rectangle and right angles. All these facilities permit rapid P ' d tproduction of complex outline drawings. For a r e a filling four different functions are available: key g paints solids key F hatches (alternate horizontal lines) key D hatches (every third line) (Sym) M Toggles shading limits (shading to edge)

C R A S H July 1 9 8 4 102

only within the confines of this rectangle w h e n moving the tracing a r m across the entire nominal tracing a r e a D r a w n e n t r y m o d e : T h e four coordinates are input automatically by the screen cursor. By indicating the lower left and upper right position with the screen cursor, the required area rectangle will be displayed temporarily or permanently. S i n g l e p o i n t e n t r y : Inputing a scale factor a n d positioning the trace h e a d at a reference point o n the drawing to be traced. T h e x a n d y coordinates may be read a n d input.

RETRACE T h e program R E T R A C E stores consecutive points from the tracer, the x and y coordinates a n d the key pressed being stored in a string array. T h e program allows to trace many outlines, stores at different points in the array and to recall any o n e in particular commencing the retrace at the appropriate sample

Furthermore he may add additional subroutines to be called by non-assigned keys and customise the program to suit his requirements . All this c a n be done in Basic a n d should not prove too difficult. A complete listing is provided lor this purpose.

CONCLUSION T h e R D D I G I T A L T R A C E R runs rings round the usual drawing utilities with a n d without light pens T h e tracing a r m is definitely more easy and accurate to use than a light pen. However its application lies not in sketching and freehand drawing, but is limited to the copying or tracing of existing drawings. T h e extra features of S C A L E . RETRACE and GRAPHICS increases the efficiency of the system and m a k e s it the most versatile tracing utensil on the market. T h e only drawback is the price of ÂŁ 5 5 . 5 0 which m a k e s it a rather expensive Spectrum add-on, and limits its application to the serious or well off Spectrum owner.

f THE TERMINAL MAM

UPDATE: The passengers of the Star Uner Arcadia were marooned and captive on an uncharted world. The man called Crota was dedicated to saving them. Actually, he was only part man; a mixture of human, computer and vims smashed into existence m Arcadia's crash, he was a bizarre hybrid. But he was still tree andfighting.Ha wai their only hope..

KIWIS

CROSS, W I T H I N fiNC? MANPRELL, WfiS SEARCHING FOR HIS PASSENGERS IN THE. CITV O F KEBU>0& ,„

. ~ THE PPRKEST RATS

RUNNING IN THAT SEWER wWHERE FEAR qi\|P VIOLENCE RRN _ WERE THE |V\PERtOL &UORPFEAREP RNP HflTEP BV T h R O U & H the streets M LIKE PN OPEN S E W E R - • Ieverv living Thing,,,

Icross bnp his COMWNIONS HRP T O K E N R E F U G E I N T H E | POOREST QUARTER ,„

DAMN/

PISTOL'S i LOST L CHRRGEri k j T ^ V O U R MAGIC- J TOV HAS N O <v ~ POWER POfllNST t h e i m p e r i a l GUURP OUTSIDER - L t V f IT ' LflSlPE RNP PREPARE i k FOR P E P T H / A

ONLV YOU, THE T A L L O N E / ORE TO &E S P f l R E P - VILGARRE HAS « USE FOR WOU / YOU VAJILL PTT&NP THE P U R I F I C A T I O N OF "THE. OTHER O U T i i P - E R S AT THE CFlTWEPRflL///

i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4

103

there r r e ^ BACK-UP GUflRPS OUTSIDE — GRA& IAJHRT ^

Y."> BU T

^ VDU WILL NOT , RMKE M E /

t mav ATTEND

. C R N

PNt>,*

mm! THERE'S TOO ^ MANS", CROSS CAN'T HOLD

.YTCORRECT, . ; A FRLLSflOK•,

Jr INTO a ( THAT ^ TRRNSPORT L STATION'

C R A S H July 1 9 8 4 104

wni<7

SUICKIX•JTO THE COR/

KE8WO&S SUSPENDED 'RAILWAY' WRS NOT THE SflPEST tflOPE OF TRfiNSfORT EVER INVENTED 6V MAN — BUT IT WAS INFINIT&W SAFER THAN WflLKlN& THE STREETS///

D R A W N BY O L I V E R F R E Y t

UNLESS,OF course, you URPPENED TO BE ONE OF THE SLAVES. WHO SUPPLIED THE M O T I V E R3W£R FROM -treadmills,'

' CUT OFF BOTH W A Y S —

HOPELESS CROSS

THEY'RE STILL CO/VMN&

With the last shreps of HIE, ENERGY, CROSS BURNET? THE ROPE BOLPIN& THE CAR IT WAP ONLY q MET^S TO

THEY'VE GOT -

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WliMA N O T Y E T / * I Power-w L WL 77 IF I CPN HOLP I more f IRON pulley* POWER i N 'USE-TWE VIRUS TO COME ON 8URN/ AMPLIFY ELECTRICAL fc.BURN/ ' ^ R E S I S T A N C E , / /

I\l For THE GUARPS, HOWEVER, THE L\1 PROP WAS CONS 1PERflBUf GREATER WL\|AnP P A T A U / ^

KEEP^S

P0VJN -THE CRR WILL BREAK OUR k FRLL

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i C R A S H July 1984

105

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THE G R E R T COTHEPRRL "THAT POMINflTEC

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T R K I N & R I S K S RNE> LEARNING THE RRT OF CUNNING/

Next: The Thing that wouldn't die i

C R A S H July 1 9 8 4 106

Les Flics

Death Star

Producer: P.S.S. Memory required: 4 8 K Retail price: £6.95

Producer: Rabbit Memory required: 4 8 K Retail price: £5.99

Language: m a c h i n e c o d e It was probably inevitable that at some time or other the Pink feline thingummybob with a tail and a penchant for stealing diamonds would appear in a computer game. Les Flics isn't someone's name of course but a bit of French slang for the police, and in fine Peter Sellers style French, the inlay explains the situation. This is an arcade game with adventurish overtones, or rather it's several arcade games in one. The first screen shows a plan of a city centre with a maze of tree-lined roads connecting nine buildings, their doors indicated in red. You

Language: m a c h i n e c o d e Author: J . H . C a i n Inside, the places resemble plush gyymnasiums - you're the pink thing with a tail.

rapidly depleted energy levels. well fed and everything, and Numerous doors in buildings the diamond is around the next may be entered and exited corner, to run into a police car from if in possession of the key. through inept maze dodging! The chasers include Les Flics got me real mad - so Gendarmerie Kaolin {dis- it must be a pretty good game. guised as a chef), and of Initial impression of simple course Cleudeau - famous graphics quickly gives way to idiot detective. the smooth, fast and large The main task in this novel ones of the building interiors. game is to collect things which One of the nice touches is the will allow you to do the right incompetence of Inspector things in other buildings, while Cleudeau, who will often come remaining free of pursuit. Dis- along and knock a Flic unconguises help in some cases, the scious for you, just before the dagger will help in others. And cop was about to nick you. I all the while, the police cars are thought this was fun and really waiting outside . . . addictive.'

CRITICISM • At first, this game looked quite primitive with its block graphics, but once inside a building this all changes to Small graphics belie a lot of larger good, detailed, colourful and activity iniide the buildings, while well-animated characters. outside Les Flics patrol. Finding the gemstone is fairly easy but getting it is difficult appear as the Pink Thing with a With only a set number of buildings, I wonder how long its tail on a road low down the screen. As soon as you start to good playability and addictivity will last.' move, two police cars appear on the streets, zipping about, but generally homing in on you. • Unless the copy I was The idea is to enter the build- given had lost an extra set of ings and pick up useful objects, instructions inside the larger plastic cassette case. Les which will enable you to find Flics has a massive oversight. and steal the blue diamond. The interiors of all the buildings Nowhere does it tell you how to play the game or what the are designed as platform controls are. Of course, half games with five levels and the fun here is in finding out holes in the floors. Levels are connected by staircases, up or what does what and when it does it, but some control keys down lifts and firemen's would have been nice. Trial poles The buildings are litand error proved them to be tered with all sorts of things the cursors, rather a drawback including daggers, a bag, a in a game of this speed. Apart spanner, knives and forks, a from this quibble, Les Flics is a key, money bags, beard disguise, masks and of course the great deal of fun, original, and combines several ideas in one famous diamond. There are some other odd things like game. The graphics are large heavy weights and poles. and smoothly moving, amusThese can be moved around ing things happen, the lifts work very nicely, and there are and weights, if dropped through a hole, will fall and enough adventure elements to squash the chasers on the make it all playable and addictive.' floor below. There are food pods' dotted around and passing over them • 'It can get to be extremely when in possession of the knife frustrating when you have got and fork will replenish your a key, a bag, money, you're

COMMENTS Control keys: cursors plus 0 to collect items and in combination with direction keys will operate lifts, poles, etc Joystick: Kempston. Protek, AGF K e y b o a r d play: pity about the cursors, but responsive Use of colour: good and varied Graphics: very good Sound: good, but the tune between lives gets irritating an interupt key might have been useful Skill levels: 1 Lives: 3 Screens:11 Originality: very high in content and style General rating: very good. U s e of c o m p u t e r Graphics Playability Getting started Addictive qualities Originality V a l u e for m o n e y Overall

68% 78% 56% 56% 79% 85% 78% 75%

Death Star is a 3D shoot em up set in a trench on the surface of a massive alien craft, and as such is in the tradition of Star Wars' type games of which Blade Alley by PSS is another example. Unlike Blade Alley, this game has only the one screen. The scenario is that the evil Garth Fader has sent the most deadly weapons system in the Universe to destroy humankind and the only form of defence left is a squadron of three ion-drive Ford Prefects armed with laser canon. You are the only pilot left and by remote control you must save humanity, byflyingalong the trench firing at the enemy fighters as they hurtle towards you. The trench is described on screen by three areas of the same blue, each divided by two pale blue lines going from the two lower comers almost to the top centre of the screen. This forms the 3D perspective view along the trench. Movement is indicated by a line of dots running down one wall, across the floor and up the other side. These appear in the distance' and shoot towards you, and continue to do so at intervals throughout the game. In the small slice of black sky at the top, stars are also moving towards you. Your ship can move left and right as well as up and down, its position in space marked by its shadow on the trench floor The aliens appear from the distance and are animated towards you through several is yo stages.i. Sc Some of them fire plasma bolts.

CRITICISM • This is another of the 3D type shoot em ups, but it isn't really a very good game, it seems to lack excitement. The ship keeps getting hit even when you attempt to fly over other ships. Also it can be hit whenflyinghigh by attackers in the distance! It seemed to me that no matter where an attacker was (ie distance or height) it would hit you if it overlapped with your ship. This is surely a mistake in programi C R A S H July 1 9 8 4

107

ming (or is it just poor program design?). The movements, etc, is okay but firing seems a bit on the cheap" side with a streak or line going to the end of the trench (vanishing point). Not one of the best games of this type I have seen

jumping up and holding on is a good one, but I don't think its lasting appeal is very strong.'

• I really enjoyed playing Bewarehouse because the use of the keys is good, and the skill requirements are well judged to make a fast and surprisingly difficult game. True, • Death Star doesn't have the graphics are nothing to much going for it - rather diswrite home about, but this is appointing after all those little definitely one of those games ads in the magazines telling us Poor looking 3D supports very little in Death Star. where the idea is more imporlife would never be the same tant and the graphics do not again after Death Star. The detract from its ptayability. I do • 'I probably shouldn't com- via UDK graphics are simple to the pare one game with another as Keyboard play: average like the word BOP which point of not working - at least a form of criticising it, but after responsiveness appears for a quarter of a secas far as the 3D goes, and playing Blade Alley, Death Colour: average and unvaried ond after a box has hit you - at there isn't anything special to Star has little appeal. Every- Graphics: generally first you think your eyes are do except shoot at enemy craft thing seems wrong with it. Any reasonable, though flickery playing tricks. It's a simple when they appear. The game, and quite addictive sense of dashing down into a but 30 effect poor graphic of your ship is quite deep trench at high speed is S o u n d : frying bacon sounds, because, although repetitive, it large and does distort in does offer a challenge in timing lost by those silly little dots poor explosion noise shape when you move from which move fast when they are Skill levels: skill.' side to side, but oddly, a "long way off', and slow down Lives: 3 remains the same shape no as they get nearer" to you. COMMENTS Originality: a poor copy of a matter what height it is at. This That's wrong, it ought to be the much more complicated Control keys: Z/X left/right, 0 makes it difficult to line up other way about. Some of the arcade game to jump shots at times. The other irritat- alien characters are quite nice General rating: below Joystick: none ing thing is that if this is sup- but overall I thought the graph- average. K e y b o a r d play: responsive posed to be 30, how come ics poor and undetailed - also U s e of colour: very good you can't get over a low flying very flockery. Is this comGraphics: detailed, enemy? Can 't the programmer piled? The user-definable keys movement by block character U s e of c o m p u t e r 68% make his graphic characters are good though!' S o u n d : poor Graphics merge or pass each other 52% Skill levels: progressive without the computer deciding Ptayability 48% difficulty through 12 stages you've been in collision when COMMENTS Getting started 68% Lives: 5 your eyes tell you that you Originality: the idea behind Addictive qualities 4 3 % haven t? All these points made Control keys: user-definable, Bewarehouse is really quite Originality 54% the game unexciting and four need plus fire new, although a similar unplayable as far as I was Joystick: AGF, Protek, V a l u e for m o n e y 46% concept is used in Sinclair's concerned.' Kempston plus most others Overall 54% Stop The Express General rating: playable, medium addictive and simple, generally a good average almost touch the floor, allowing 4 the game becomes almost game. the man to pass underneath impossible to play! Timing is but not jump. A rail runs along important. The graphics tend 68% the length of the warehouse, to be a little bit on the primitive U s e o f c o m p u t e r Producer: P o s i t i v e I m a g e G r a p h i c s 5 9% and blue rails a little higher up. side, but overall they are colMemory required: 4 8 K At the extreme left, a ladder ourful and well drawn. An P a y a b i l i t y 65% runs up to the floor and safety - addictive game from an G e t t i n g s t a r t e d Retail price: £5.95 72% well almost! Rolling along the unknown company.' Language: m a c h i n e c o d e Addictive qualities 65% floor from left torightcome the and BASIC O r i g i n a l i t y 69% barrels. These may be jumped • 'Bewarehouse contains Author: T o m C a n n a v a n 61 % over by leaping up and hang- small and rather jerky but col- V a l u e f o r m o n e y ing on the rail until the barrel ourful graphics. The idea of O v e r a l l 66% Beware the haunted warehas passed. In the last area, house! Here you must get as boxes are being thrown down A wary man in a scary Bewarehouse needs good leaps and strong arms. many men as you can across which must be dodged. As the the warehouse floor and up the game progresses, there are ladder to safety . more barrels at different The ghosts don't like their speeds and boxes start peace shattered so they will do appearing in the other areas several things to try and stop too. Once on the ladder and up you, like throwing boxes and to the top, safety is assured barrels, they may chase you or except on later levels when a just try and block your path. ghost appears and walks Your energy is limited and it across at the last second - it s goes even faster when you to be avoided. Later still the jump about. ghosts may descend to the The screen depicts a cross- warehouse floor. section through the warehouse. Your men line up below CRITICISM the floor and a short ladder takes them to the main floor. • 'This game is totally original, Above there are five areas one of the main features which divided by vertical walls that attracts me to it. By about level

Bewarehouse

108

CRASH July 1984

confusing at times, and no immediate response from the keys Use of colour: fair to average Producer: C h e e t a h S o f t Graphics: average, reasonable 3D effects Memory required: 4 8 K Sound: poor Retail price: £6.95 Skill levels: 11 with between Language: B A S I C a n d i and 4 bats selectable machine code Lives:3 Author: M a r k J o n e s Screens: 4 Originality: 3D maze games Gold blocks and garlic in Bat Attack. Remember - a clove a day keeps Ihe To emphasise its 3Deeness. bats al bay. are hardly new - depends on Bat Attack has the '3D' at the how much one has to offer in end of loading, seen lying flat behind. If it attacks from in ungainable in a hurry unless new ideas . . . on the ground' some way off in front, you will see it approach- you happen to berighton top of General rating: Our full perspective. The characing. a clove of the stuff. What also reviewers" opinions ranged ters then come closer as you confuses and slows reactions from poor, to fair/average to walk' towards them, rearing CRITICISM down is the system whereby above average, but felt that at upright when you get close. you can move in any direction almost C7 it was pricey for This is a three-dimensional • Movement of the maze is with the cursor keys, but to what it offered. fairly slow, while the bats fly face in the direction you must game in which you are incarcvery quickly. Garlic is never to use the cursors and CAPS erated in a tower with four floors. There is a lift between be found when you need it, and SHIFT to turn. This means you a map that is not co-ordinated can sail down a long corridor the floors and you can go to with your key movements - only seeing the side wall! In a any one you wish, although that is, you move in one direc- panic situation this can be each time you use the lift the bats which inhabit the floors of tion and your position marked quite troublesome. I enjoyed the tower will become more vic- on the map moves in a totally Bat Attack, but I don't really different direction - very con- think it offers quite enough ious. U s e of c o m p u t e r 54% fusing, if not frustrating. Graph- playability or excitement in the G r a p h i c s 5 5% ics are large, detailed and long run to be addictive.' P l a y a b i l i t y 43% approach you in a quite realistic way. The colour is also well C O M M E N T S Getting started 63% used. Overall, a batty unaddicAddictive qualities 45% tive game.' Control keys: cursors, CAPS Originality 48% and 0 to view maze V a l u e for m o n e y 48% • After following the usual Joystick: ZX 2. Protek. AGF |4.| , I 0 0 3 9 0 Keyboard play: a little screen messages I pressed Overall 51% "any key to begin'' (it wasn't the BREAK key) and the game crashed, leaving a mess on the screen Said incident hapbefore the attack wave of aliens. The floors of the tower maze pened several times. I made a are lined with gold blocks final attempt with the KempThe screen shows the surwhich you must collect. You ston interface unplugged face of the asteroid at the bothave no armament against the and success! Surely if the tom. with the force field bat attacks, but at intervals on game was tested fully such emmanating between each floor there are cloves of information could be included opposed wings of hillside. garlic which may be eaten by with the program. I thought Bat Producer: V i r g i n G a m e s Between the hills can be seen running over them. This will Attack was basically boring, the domed city, communicaMemory required: 4 8 K give you immunity for 20 sec- dated and almost colourless tions dish (in the centre) and Retail price: £5.95 onds only. If a bat attacks you 30 maze game There were the space port. Below the disLanguage: m a c h i n e c o d e after garlic has been eaten, it games like this about a year play are two bar codes for laser Authors: T e r r y M u r r a y a n d strength and fuel level. ago. Unless this type of game will stun but not kill the bat Roy Poole An eight-option menu allows The corridors of the maze can be revitalised or improved for joystick or keyboard selecare drawn in perspective with upon, then the 30 maze game Your task in this game is to pro- tion, customisation to the green lines, uprights indicating has had its day. Not a particutect a domed city on an extent of having armed or the length of one step. The larly inspiring or exciting verunarmed aliens and the type ol asteroid from the ravages of gold blocks on the floor are sion anyway.' alien attack. You control a space ship you would like. solid yellow rectangles, and Attack instantly small spacecraft armed with There is also a very good demo the resulting scene resembles • Bat a modern open plan office with reminded me of Gilsoft's Maze lasers, in this game written by mode on offer Aliens hitting desks in straight lines and of Gold. You had to collect gold the authors of Yomp and the force field weaken it, so having unarmed aliens does dividing partitions. Below the bars in that one too. but without Rider. visual display there is a radar the hindrance of monsters The city is protected by a not necessarily make the showing your position and that chasing you. The graphics are two-stage force field whose game any easier. The screen of the four bats. A map display greatly improved though over energy banks become weaker wraps around horizontally, and of the maze, gold blocks and lift some of the earlier 3D maze after many impacts. This force diving your ship into the force is also available at a key press. games, and the map facility is field will be lowered to protect field will kill you off. On this large map you can see excellently done. The sense of the civilian parts of the city, the bats flitting about quite movement along the corridors thus leaving the large comwell. Below the display there is works quite well, but I think the munications dish unprotected CRITICISM real drawback to the game's a direction indication arrow If the dish is destroyed, you If you are hit by a blood suck- working really well is the bats. lose a life. Your ship's lasers • 'Quite a reasonable shoot em up here with good graphing bat, a large crack appears Wouldn t it have been better to will run down with repeated over the screen and may take provide a weapon for shooting use and take time to recharge; ics. The game is fun but not similarly fuel may run out really varied enough to make it you by surprise if it came from them? The garlic is totally

3D Bat Attack

Space Command

i C R A S H July 1 9 8 4

109

word B - O - N - U - S - oddly enough, this awards some bonus points to your score. Hitting targets on the upper row awards more points than hitting any on the lower row. Above the moving rows is a carousel of clay pipes which must also be shot for bonus scores. The game ends if you run out of bullets before clearWrap around rotten are virgin' on the suicidal as they try to wreck your Space ing the screen. Bullets may be Command. replenished by shooting two little blocks with a 5 and a 10 in truly addictive. Options to arm S o u n d : above average them, bullets warded accordor unarm the aliens and have Skill levels: 1 ing to the number. different spacecraft help. Quite Lives: 4 good graphics, smoothish, fast Attack w a v e s : 10 playable and addictive at first, movement of the ship and Originality: quite a novel CRITICISM but I think its lasting appeal is aliens. Virgin are improving. space shoot em up likely to wane after three or This is a good game but with- General rating: above • 'Carnival is an excellent four hours of play.' out much addictiveness.' average for those who like a shoot em up game. Its graphics and sound are very good. • This game plays so fast that very fast game. Quite a bit of thinking out is COMMENTS it is almost impossible to conrequired to clear a sheet with 61 % centrate on your targets. U s e o f c o m p u t e r the limited bullet supply. There Control keys: CAPS/Z Graphics are large and G r a p h i c s 75% are quite a few features includ- left/right and SPACE to fire detailed and the colour is well P l a y a b i l i t y 58% ing shooting at a well-animated Joystick: ZX 2, Kempston, used. Other than shooting G e t t i n g s t a r t e d 7 0 % bear between games, the idea Fuller down aliens there isn't much being to keep him on screen by K e y b o a r d play: responsive A d d i c t i v e q u a l i t i e s 4 4 % else to this game. Overall, hitting him centrally, which Use of colour: good quite a apod game but with O r i g i n a l i t y 68% makes him change direction, Graphics: above average to low playaoility because of the V a l u e f o r m o n e y 62% so hit him again, etc. I found good impossible speed it plays at.' Overall 63% this a very playable game S o u n d : good with on off which seemed to have an option to kill the carnival • "I know I shouldn't compare appeal that kept me playing.' sound games across computer types, but sometimes damn it, you JC P have to. Space Command JOOOO looks tike the same sort of game asMetroblitz by PSS for the CBM 64. Now I know the 64 Producer: Eclipse BONUS 200 graphics are much stronger, Memory required: 4 8 K but I have seen games for the Spectrum which I think are bet- Retail price: £5.95 ter than on the 64. In this case it Language: machine code t t i i I I o » I isn't so, nor is the level of play- Author: W . M o o r e ability. After all, the screen area is the same, yet PSS manage to make it seem infi- On looking at the cassette nitely bigger This spaceship inlay, it's a bit difficult to decide I * has no momentum, zipping who really is responsible for about like a gnat quite marketing this game. The unrealistically. Also the game copyright says Eclipse, but as has been mis-paced, every- the game is part competition thing happening too fast for the this is run by British M i c r o of size of graphics for you to be Watford, below which is says able to do much. The key posi- created and produced by E M S tions are terrible, alt in a (Holdings) Ltd. EMS (Hold'Roll upl Roll upt Shoot the flying ducks and harmless bunnies and win straight line on the bottom row. ings) Ltd is. among other yourself a Graphpad.' It's a pity, because the game in things, an advertising agency itself is reasonable, just the which handles a number of • I wasn't very sure at first Skill levels: 6 speeds general working seems to computer and software-related that you would be able to take Lives: 1 have gone adrift somewhere.' accounts. something like a carnival rifle Originality: novel idea for a range from reality and repro- shoot up, well implemented Carnival is a fairground duce it on a computer game, General rating: considering sideshow shoot 'em up. You COMMENTS but in fact it's worked quite the competition prizes and start off with three lines of well here. Graphics move game value, pretty good. objects moving in opposing Control keys: Z/CAPS smoothly and quickly and are directions, bears, rabbits, up/down, M/SYM left/right, well drawn. Care must be U s e o f c o m p u t e r ducks and a alphabet letters. SPACE to fire, ENTER = 77% taken with your aim because At the base of the screen is engine boost, alternatively, G r a p h i c s 7 3% your rifle, which may be moved of the short supply of bullets; cursors and 0 P a y a b i l i t y 7 8 % this does add a considerable left and right. Below that is an Joystick: ZX 2, Kempston, difficulty to the game. Ducks allocation of bullets. The yetAGF, Protek Getting started 76% low ducks have a tendency of that tend to dive down and eat A d d i c t i v e q u a l i t i e s Keyboard play: responsive 75% breaking line, flying down and your bullets, generally come at Use of colour: good O r i g i n a l i t y 70% once, so one of them is likely to robbing you of some bullets. Graphics: reasonably 76% get through your barrage of V a l u e f o r m o n e y The letters should be shot in smooth, large, detailed and fire. This game is fairly original. O v e r a l l the correct order to spell the 75% fast

Carnival

C R A S H July 1 9 8 4 110

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