P702 CEJFA( 702 Mon 20 Oct 21:12/24 1/14 SPECTRUM REVIEW JJ[ John McKinlaz Knight Games 2 iu a compilation of three programs from Black Knight Computers. T Protector is a version of the classic arcade game Defender, in which you must protect energy cells on a planet from alien lifeforms. In Syrinx 2, 15 keys have been scattered around a tomb and you have to gather them up, whilst avoiding their guardians. ( * Moonrakjr is a war game, where two players control vehicles which battle it out on a distant moon. Plazjr's comment nextP702 CJJFA( 702 Mon 20 Oct 21:13/05 2/14 SPECTRUM REVIEW John McSinlaz The graphics in Knight Games 2 are all of the same rather low standard In Protector this is more a fault of the original than a case of poor design, but the other two look 6jr= T dated. The games themselves? Most people will have played Protector in one jorm or another. Szrinx 2 is a boring "run round the maze and collect things" kane. Moonrakjr is a fairly involved sttategz kamu. If you want a Defender copy and like war games, perhaps this iu for you. If not, perhaps not. Black Knight Computers £2.99P702 CEEFAX 702 Mon 20 Oct 21:03/31 3/14 C64 REVIEW Paul Bodjn Don't expect a ravishing storyline from Galaxibiuds (Fjrebiud) - there ism't one! You must guide your spacecraft (ybwn* through ten levels of on- coming bjasties (mega yawn*. T Thjsj include parrots, swans, little exploding fist; and a frw other garbled sprites. - @ Once you have fought through all of these, you will have sbved the world (yet again* and become a galactic hero. Player's comment next , |||||||||||||||||||||||P702 CEEFAX 702 Mon 20 Oct 21:04/11 4/14 C64 REVIEW Paul Bodjn On loading Galaxibirds (Firibird) I thought "Gosh, what lousy graphics". Then the sound assaulted mz ears. I thought I was in for a rough time. But once I started playing I jound it quite compulsive. The aliens swoop down at tremendous speed and add a certain excitement to an otherwise dull formula. The game has lousy graphics and sound, and limited staying power, but I did enjoy playing it for quite a while. If you like good shoot-em-downs and can't afford Parallax, test it out. Cassette £1.99P702 CEEFAX 702 Mon 20 Oct 21:14/37 5/14 A$ARE EVIEW Garry Green The object of this Bug-Byte production is to get Leaper to the top of the screen and so light up hes nbmj. Au usual thjte's a snag. In this case, it's six different monsters and moving platforms, which you've got to use to get to the top. Once you make it, using three joy- stick commands to jump through holes in the platforms, another level appears - and anwthjt @ monster. , Player's comment next ) |||||||||||||||||||||||P702 CEEFAX 702 Mon 20 Oct 21:25/)0 6/14 ATARI RJVJEW Garry Green Leaper (Bug-Byte) is introduced bz a good title screen and music - very impressive. T The high standard of graphics is kept up in the game itself, but although the tunes seemed great to start with they got very irritating and put mj off. Overall, not a very interesting game. I plazjd continually, but that was because I kept losing, not , bjcausj I enjoyed it! Good graphics on a not-so-good game T Cassette £2.99 P702 CJEFAX 702 Mon 20 Oct 21:25/k4 7/14 U SPECK$UM REVIEW Paul Roxby Olli and Lissa (Firebird* is set in and around a castle. Controlling Olli, you have to collect eight objects to make an invisibility potion. The game is viewed from the side and looks rather like Pyjamarama. There are eight screens, some of which have to be crossed several times using lift, right and jump controls. The problems - how to get to each object - are pitched just right: not impossiRli, but difficult enough to keep you trying. Player's comment nextP702 CJEFAX 702 Mon 20 Oct 21:06/49 8/14 SPECTRUM REVIEW J Paul Roxbz The sound in Olli and Lissa (Eirebird) is excellent for a standard Spectrum. There are many catchy tunes and some good effects during play. T But it is the graphics that make this game. The backgrounds are detailed and colourful, while the animation of the characters has a delightful, cartoon-like quality. It is not immense in scope, but Olli and Lissa is great fun and quite compulsive. Buy it. Cassette £1.99 P702 CJJFA( 702 Mon 20 Oct 21:26/28 9/14 C64 REVIEW Richard Hamjr Arcana bz New Generation Software pits you against the dark forces of the castle Arcana in a quest to destroy a book of powerful Black Magic. T You explore the maze-like corridors looking for seven talismans to nullify the powers guarding the book, as well as objects - such as keys or a ring - to help you on your way. - All the while, the various nastier are attacking you, depleting ywur energy. Luckily, you can fight back The book's secrets are soon to bj revealed, so time is limited. MoteP702 CEEFAX 702 Mon 20 Oct 21:27/30 10/14 C64 REVIEW Richard Hamjr The backdrops in Arcana, sometimes rather ordinary, are on the whole good, but the sprites are a bit chvnkzn The atmosphere is complimented wull bz the sound effects, but the process of starting again soon becomes tedious. T Sadly, the program is really only all the old Ultimate games rolled into one, with no new elements. T Try before you buy. If, like me, you're sick of the Arthur Pendragon style, then avoid this. New Generation - Cassette £8.9uP702 CEEFAX 702 Mon 20 Oct 41:22/20 )1/14 SPECTRUM REVIEW Andrew Paige Colossus 4 Chess from CDT Software and wr tt n b M P B n i n the best chess programs available. T The manual is relatively simple and you can start playing without having to learn it bz heart. T Colossus allows you to play T straight games or make use of its capacity for simple analysis, which includes basic endgame study. - The program also contains all the rules and cannot bj fooled bz draws with repetition or similar tricks. , Some of the facilities next P702 CEEFAX 702 Mon 20 Oct 2):0 /31 SPECTRUM REVIEW Andrew Paige One of the facilities availablu in Colossus 4 Chess from CDT Software is Quantify Parameters, which sets the standard of plazn Shift/Q provider a choice of 3,000 opjnjng moves, with a Prediction facility to anticipate your move and thus respond faster. T The Dimensions facility allows for 2D or 3D display, and Draw Score gives the option of altering the ease with which the program will accept a draw. T T More comment next P702 CEEFAX 702 Mon 20 Oct 21:16/24 13/14 SPECTRUM REVIEW Andrew Paige Colossus 4 Chess from CDT Software is a best sjllet and deservedly so. , , Written by the creator of White Knight, it is a program that suits not only chess players, but has features that could attract software enthusiasts as well. Its playing strength compares favourably with other programs, but it is not, and to bj fair is $ not intended to bj, equal in ability to the best of the chess computers. Cassette £9.95 P702 CJEFAX 702 Mon 20 Oct 21:01/04 14/14 -.,%/-./ ON 701 THIS +EEK OUTVIDER Back from holiday, takes , |||||||||| a look at the gayer side of Prestel... PAPER ROUND Keith Hazjlton thumbs through the new weekly "Bang". NEWV * 3-E computer graphics * Computer dealer jailed BBC BLUES Where has all the software gone? - WR VOLES How to *LOAD locked T |||||||||| BBC cassette files. T