Pedro

Your Spectrum

Ian Simmonds 4/10

Jon Warner 4/10

Simon Cox 4/10

Sticks at the ready, the Chiltern Computer Club buckled down to some concentrated critique as they sifted through the latest bundle of software to give us their unbiased evaluations. Any club wishing to offer their reviewing services should contact Ron Smith, Spectrum Soft, [redacted]. This month, the reviewers in the YS jury hot-seat are all members of Chiltern Computer Club, Eaton Bray, near Dunstable. They are (in alphabetical order) Simon Cox, Ian Simmonds and Jon Warner. To be honest it wasn't an easy job for them, with many of the latest offerings falling short of an acceptable level - in fact, sheer crud in some cases. Read on to find out what (and what not) to buy. The Chiltern Computer Club was formed around two years ago, and usually it manages to attract about 35 members - ages ranging from 13 years to near senility. Membership is currently £4 per year, for which potential members can expect practical help with their computer problems, and guest speakers and lecturers from time to time. Club contacts can be made via Steve Betts, [redacted]. Finally thanks go to Steve for the ultra-fast speed at which he pulled the test together. PEDRO Imagine £5.50 Protect your flower bed from invading bugs by jumping on them, or blocking their paths with compost or bricks. But if things get too bad, you can always plant more seeds.

Read it at Your Spectrum Unofficial Archive

Sinclair Programs

June Mortimer

This month we focus on the exploits of hero Willy after his mining experience and on some of the best and worst new Spectrum games. Pedro is the eponymous hero of a new game for the 48K Spectrum. To preserve his garden, he must build a wall round it, stamp out any animals which appear, plant new seeds, and scare away the tramp who tries to steal his seeds. Finding the correct point to stamp on an animal, pick up a brick or even plant a seed is very difficult, and since so much attention must be paid to that detail, the game quickly loses its sparkle. It is from Imagine House, [redacted] and costs £5.50.

Sinclair User

Gilbert Factor 7/10

Memory: 48K Price: £5.50 Joystick: Fuller, Sinclair, Kempston, AGF, Protek, Arrow keys The 3D perspective style of graphics so cleverly demonstrated in Ant Attack is bound to breed offshoots. Pedro from Imagine for the 48K Spectrum is in a similar mould, though the graphics are not so complex and the theme not so absorbing or original. The scene is a carefully-tended garden in Old Mexico where Pedro the gardener has created a fine flower garden. The quality of the blooms is such that all the animals in the area sneak into browse on them and Pedro stands guard to protect his work from their ravages. He can choose either to jump on them with his boots or try to block their way with bricks and compost, convenient stacks of which are placed around the walled precinct. A shady tramp will appear now and then in an attempt to steal seeds from Pedro's store. He, too, has to be driven off if the garden is to be preserved intact, for Pedro can re-seed the flower beds with his stock if he can find the time. Rats, ants, cats and stags assail poor Pedro and he must move very fast to keep his score mounting, since a clock is also ticking away the seconds. The dogs even lift their legs to the plants. Pedro is moved by the keyboard or by a range of joystick options, though the keyboard was difficult to co-ordinate given the speed of action. The graphics are attractive but flickery at times and it will take the player a time to get used to the system of movement. The theme may not have as broad an appeal as more aggressive games but the program is of excellent quality, requiring practice and skilful handling to attain high scores.

Read it at Sinclair User Magazine Online

Personal Computer Games

Graphics 6/10

Sound 5/10

Originality 8/10

Lasting Interest 5/10

Overall 5/10

Stuart N Cooke 5/10

MACHINE: Spectrum 48K CONTROL: Keys, Full, Sinc, Kemp FROM: Imagine, £5.50 Stop the animals from eating the plants by jumping on them. Make sure the tramp doesn't steal the seeds. The same game as the Dragon version reviewed elsewhere. Surprisingly the Dragon version is better, this one being very difficult to control.

Crash

Use of Computer 70%

Graphics 68%

Playability 47%

Getting Started 61%

Addictive Qualities 55%

Value For Money 68%

Overall 62%

Unknown

Unknown

Unknown

Producer: Imagine Memory Required: 48K Retail Price: £3.95 Language: Machine code Author: Frank Johnson In line with Imagine's new policy of detailed inlay cards, comes a new super-low price. The inlay gives detailed instructions on how to play the game, as well as details on the author and his host of helpers which include some other professional musicians Imagine have hired to improve the sound on their games. Pedro is a sad little Mexican. At least, if he's not sad, he should be. Trying to scratch a bare existence from.the dry soil is hard enough without having to cope with hordes of predators. He has a box of seeds, with which he can replace those plants eaten by the nasties, but a local tramp is likely to stroll in and take them if Pedro doesn't stop him in time and frighten him off. Actually the inlay states that Pedro has the most beautiful flower garden South of the Border, and that's what attracts all the animals to come and eat the plants. These include ants, rabbits and cats, among others. To stop them Pedro may jump up and down on them, or he may take bricks from the pile, or compost, and block up the entrances to the garden. The game is over when all the plants have been eaten. The action is played out on a screen which suggests a 3D perspective, and this is accentuated by the fact that up and down are in reality diagonals. COMMENTS Control keys: left/right alternate keys bottom row, down - any key on 2nd row, up - any key on third row. Jump, pick, put - any key on top row or SPACE Joystick: Fuller, 2 x 2, Kempston, AGF, Protek Keyboard play: very responsive, but finicky in movement Use of colour: average, although plenty used Graphics: detailed, reasonably smooth Sound; game sound, poor, tunes very good Skill levels: 1 Lives: 1

That well-known Mexican jumping bean, Pedro, has green fingers and bloody red feet and face extinction of his garden.