Angle Ball

Sinclair User

Overall 7/10

Tony Dillon 7/10

Label: M.A.D. Price: £2.99 Memory: 48K/128K Joystick: various Reviewer: Tony Dillon An old idea with a fresh twist. Well, admit it. Very few of the games released today are purely rehashes of old favs. Everyone likes pool. Let's give the table 6 sides instead of 4. And there you have it, a completely original concept. Angle Ball has 6 sides, 8 balls and 6 pockets. The idea of the game it to pot the balls in any order, potting the black last. You must position a cursor over the ball of your choice and in whatever direction. Then you must select spin and pull your cue back to as far from the ball as you want to signify power of the shot. This game is great and its great fun.

Your Sinclair

Graphics 7/10

Playability 8/10

Value For Money 9/10

Addictiveness 9/10

Overall 8/10

Lucy Broadbent 8/10

M.A.D. £1.99 Reviewer: Lucy Broadbent When it comes to potting balls, chalking up and leaning over the green baize nothing beats a testing game of Pool. Except perhaps a new computer game from MAD, which will have you glued to your screen, not stuck to the bar waiting for your turn in the pub. Based on the traditional game of Pool but played on a hexagonal table, it'll sort the Steven Hendry's from the plebs. It needs skill and thought which, whether played against a partner or the computer, make it not only an exciting game, but also good practice for real-life Pool-shooting. Choosing from a selection of frames, your aim is to clear the table of balls, saving the black until last and accumulating points. But it's taking the shot that requires the accuracy and it's that which makes it exciting. Position the cursor at the aiming point to which the cue ball will move, choosing your angle either next to one of the balls or on the cushion; then set a spin on the cue ball with its separate diagram; and finally decide the speed of the shot and fire. The computer will then take the shot exactly as you have arranged. But take your time, you're only allowed three misses. It's simple and better than the real game because the smoke won't get in you eyes, and if you're not very good at Pool, you don't have to find yourself an unwilling donkey to suffer your game playing.

Read it at Your Sinclair Rock'n'Roll Years

ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)

Visual Effects 5/7

Audio 1/7

IQ Factor 2/7

Fun Factor 4/7

Ace Rating 468/1000

Andy Smith 468/1000

Crazy pool from MASTERTRONIC. Played on a hexagonal table with six pockets, this basic pool game has the player competing against the computer or a friend in an attempt to win 20 different frames. The computer opponent has three skill levels; on the easiest level he rarely manages to pot a shot but on the third level he rarely misses. When you line up for a shot you get the chance to use a variety of spins on your cue ball in an attempt to line up the next shot. As a variant on a clapped out theme Angle Ball is not at all bad. It's different enough to keep you playing for a short while at least Reviewer: Andy Smith RELEASE BOX C64/128, £1.99cs, Imminent Spec, £1.99cs, Reviewed Ams, £1.99cs, Imminent MSX, £1.99cs, Imminent Predicted Interest Curve 1 min: 50/100 1 hour: 60/100 1 day: 50/100 1 week: 30/100 1 month: 20/100 1 year: 0/100

Crash

Presentation 66%

Graphics 50%

Playability 60%

Addictive Qualities 50%

Overall 51%

Bym Welthy 60%

Nick Roberts 42%

Paul Sumner 51%

Producer: M.A.D. Retail Price: £2.99 Pool can never be the same again after you've taken your cue to a hexagonal table. As in the standard game, coloured balls have to be hit into six pockets using the white cue ball. A cursor is used to align the cue ball and a coloured object ball with the pocket. By creating the right angle the coloured ball can be hit into a pocket. Six of the coloured balls may be hit into the pockets in any order, but the black must be left till last, or a foul shot is incurred and the game lost. Different types of spin (top, side and back) can be given to the cue ball, causing it to react after striking the coloured ball. In this way a good position can be achieved for the next shot. A shot's strength is regulated by altering the length of the cue in the box at the bottom right of the screen. For every ball potted, points are awarded. When all the balls on the table have been potted the frame is over and another one can be played with a different arrangement of balls. (A frame designer allows you to add your own ball arrangements.) If three shots are missed, the game is over and it's time to hang up your cue. A frame-designer allows you to set up your own starting position. COMMENTS Joysticks: Cursor, Kempston, Sinclair Graphics: simple but clear Sound: informative bells, whistles Options: redefinable keys, or two players or one player versus computer, frame designer

The English always from cues.