P702 CEEFA( 702 Mon 13 Oct 21:18/27 1/14 U SPECTRUM REVIEW Paul Roxbz Johnny Rib II, by Lothlorien, simulates a battle in the American Civil War. The Confederates must advance across a river plain. The computer can take jithjr side, or two people can play. An order- then-move system is used, but a one]player game can take place in real time. The battlefield and armies can bj altered considerably, as can the colours, the control keys and the time in which the game has to be completed. T Player's comment next P702 CJEFAX 702 Mon 13 Oct 21:19/09 2/14 U SPECTRUM REVIEW Paul Roxbz The clear instructions and the icon control system make Johnny Rib II (Lothloriin* easy to play. The graphics work well and the symbol for each army unit changes depending on what it is doing. The computer plays strongly and the pieces behave realistically. The real-time mode is excellent - you , can even hear the gunshots. - Although ultimately it is a simulation of only one battle, the wargamj has great flexibility and is easier than most to play. Definitely recommended. Cassette £9.95P702 CEEFAX 702 Mon 13 Oct 21:10/55 3/14 SPECTRUM REVIEW Alan Creevy The object in Firebird's Buccaneer is to shoot down all the aliens and advance to the next level. , You are in your spaceship on the left of the screen and the invaders fly in all directions on the right, trying to destroy you "jfore you T get teem. After competing a level you move onto a similar screen, except that the aliens take a different form and are slightly harder to hit. After five stages there is a docking stage, where you kit more fuel if successful. MoteP702 CEEFAX 702 Mon Q3 Oct 21:20/37 4/14 U SPECTRUM REVIEW Alan Creevy Buccaneer, from Firebird, is certainly one of the best games of its kind on the market. Graphics are colourful and detailed and the action is fast and exciting @ on an excellent background. , The docking feature is necessary "ut too easy. Not an original game, but better than most of its rivals, which cost around three times as much. At £1.99, worth buying. T Cassette £1.99 P702 CEEFAX 702 Mon Q3 Oct 21:31/55 5/14 C64 REVIEW Richard Hewison In Parallax (Ocean) you are one of a group of jive astronauts who have landed on an artificial world divided into five zones. T You soon discover that the inhabitants are going to launch an attack on earth. You must contact your four allies in the other zones and destroy the main computer. You fly over and under the surface of each zone in your IBIS spacecraft. You can also explore bz leaving your ship and walking into numerous hangars. T Plazjr's comment next P702 CEEFAX 702 Mon Q3 Oct 21:12/48 6/14 C64 REVIEW Richard Hewison Parallax is obviously Ocean'u answer to Uridium. Game play whilst flying the spacecraft is similar, but flying under the zones and exploring adds some new elements to the proceedings. The graphics are smooth, colourful and fast. The sound effects are good and loud in the right places. The element of strategic play makes the game stand out jrom the usual run of the mill shoot 'em ups. A very good, very slick and very impressive game. Cassette £8.95 Disc £12.95P702 CJEFAX 702 Mon Q3 Oct 21:23/12 7/14 C64 REVIEW Alistair Newton Spikey Harold is another game from Firedird's budget range of software The object of the game is to guide Harold, with keys or joystick, through 57 different screens collecting items of food and drink to feed him before his winter hibernation. The intrepid Harold must overcome the perils of sulphur clouds, bouncing balls, conkers and ravenous predators to reach his home cavern. Fortunately he has 19 lives... Player's comment nextP702 CEJFA( 702 Mon 13 Oct 21:14/09 8/14 C64 REVIEW Alistair Newton Spikey Harold is anothjt of the many multi-screen platform games that have appeared on the market since the success of Manic Minjz. The game may lack originality, but it is well presented with good graphics and a tuneful melody. I found it fairly difficult to play - and this is the only feature that is likely to maintain your intirestn Good value, but only worth "tying if you haven't already got a platform game in your collection. Firibird - Cassette £1.99P702 CJEFAX 702 Mon 13 Oct 21:14/32 9/14 U SPECTRUM REVIEW Matthew Platts Nightmare Rally from Ocean iu a driving game with a difference — or rather, a nzmbjr of differences! You must negotiate a car through flags on the various terrains which comprise the individual stages of the rally. There are no other cars, but a wide variety of hazards and bonuses that compensate for this, especially the magical Standing Stones and Pulsating Irises which induce weird effects. , Hazbrds include trees, obelisks, fog, skidding and damaged steering plus some more bizbrre jeatures!!P702 CEEFAX 702 Mon 13 Oct 21:05/u8 10/14 SPECTRUM REVIEW ] Matthew Platts Control of your car is simple, which helps to make Ocean's Nightmare Rally more of a game than a simulation. All manner of stunts can be pulled off, from somersaults and side wheelies to flying and hzperspacing - all against clock and fuel tank! The graphics are generally good (pbrticularly the Standing Stone effects) and the sound is adequate, * but the gamjplaz is the best aspect of the program. An enjoyably original driving game, not just for the simulation jams. Cassette £7.9uP702 CEEFA( 702 Mon 13 Oct 21:05/43 l,4<,,l /14 U BBC REVIEW Miles Potwell Stryker's Run (Superior Software) is a horizontally-scrolling shoot- 'em-up with a theme which will bj familiar to Dune Rider fans. Our Hero must carry vital plans through enemy lines to the allied HQ. He is on foot, dodging mines and fire from injmz troops and aircraft, armed only with pistol and grenades , From time to time he comes across abandoned aircraft which hj can commandeer - leading to aerial dog- fights and brushes with missile batteries. Player's comment nextP702 CJEFAX 702 Mon 13 Oct 21:26/22 12/14 U BBC REVIEW J Miles Potwell The graphics in Strykjt's Run (Superior) are very impressive - as one would expect from Chris Roberts, author of Match Day and Wizadore. The war-torn landscape and the large, detailed characters have an immediate appeal, slightly spoiled on longer acquaintance by a faint flicker in the scrolling. The game is so good-looking that one would like to predict instant success, but I found the action just a little too slow, with the early stages, after a while, irritatingly repetitive. ( Master version next P702 CEJFAX 702 Mon 13 Oct 21:27/14 13/14 BBC REVIEW Miles Potwell Stryker's Run (Superior) is the first BBC game to "e supplied with , an "enhanced" Master version on all discs and cassettes. Some of the enhancements are basic features one expects to see on any game - thjmj tune, high score table and a menu of plazjr options. Play remains the same, but the atmosphere is much improved by the addition of an extra 40k of graphics, mostly in the landscapes. A good buy jot Master owners. Cassette £9.9u u.2u disc £11.95 Master 3.; disc £14.9u P702 CEJFAX 702 Mon 13 Oct 2):07/39 )4/14 JJ[ ON 701 THIS WEEK WHAT IT TAKES Nigel Edwards looks at the ingredients of a successful adventure game. NEW' * New IBM mbinframes * Cheap U+ link * Micro Live returns PAYIVG THE PIPER Washington dictates to UK $ computer users PARDON... More jargon evjty computer buff should know. ) UQDATJD EVERY FRIDAY-