From Russia with Luck

C&VG (Computer & Video Games)

FIGHTING THE DULLOIDS CAN BE EXCITING! Battle against the forces of sheer boredom in a tongue-in-cheek adventure featuring the Dulloids of Boredor. Epic is the name of this comic text adventure game, where you have to save the Island of Moo from the Dulloids in Muddle Earth. Yes, they are trying to turn the island into a boring place. Only the king can save his kingdom by saying a few magic words, unfortunately he doesn't have them - you do. You have to get the scroll bearing the magic words to the royal palace and present them to him. As in all adventure games, there are obstacles to avoid, objects to pick up and spells to cast. A variety of characters will be met on the way, one of which is the Dulloids' pet, the Imperial Storm Panda! Beware, he will seek you out and sit on you, or freeze you to immobility, all to stop you journeying any further. Gawdzilla, the cockney dinosaur may be a potential ally if he can be persuaded to help you. Epic from Birmingham-based Jabberwocky Software is available for the BBC B at £6.95. Also available is From Russia with Luck - an adventure cum graphic game. Here you are being chased across Europe by agents of the KGB in your quest to get some secret documents back to England before they catch you. As in James Bond 007 there are some useful gadgets your most important being a multipurpose briefcase equipped with a radar scanner. When your radar shows the KGB to be hot on your heels, the game changes into an arcade shoot-out where, firing through your gunsights, you have to kill the enemy agents as they pop out from behind buildings. If you fail to kill them your last resort may be the suicide pill. From Russia with Luck for the 48K Spectrum costs £9.95.