Avenger

ZX Computing

Mark Davies

READERS REVIEWS Tell us what you think about the software that's on the market. This feature provides space for you to air your views on any software, be it for the ZX80, ZX81 or ZX Spectrum. If you've had a good or bad experience of any of the commercial software packages available for your micro, why not write and tell us. Your reviews should contain your critical thoughts about the software and the relevant details concerning the availability of the package, the price etc. If you can provide any screen dumps to illustrate the review, so much the better. Any reviews published in this section of the magazine will be rewarded with the price of the tape you review. So, if you buy a cassette and send in a review that gets published, you'll get your software for free! AVENGER Abacus Programs Mark Davies Dear readers, if you have been looking for an excellent arcade-type scramble then buy Avenger from Abacus Programs. It's really the best scramble program I have seen available for the 16K ZX81. The game loads every time and once loaded, runs automatically displaying the instructions and which keys to use. Then, when you have pressed 'p' as you are told, the next screen of instructions are shown and the points awarded for each target. You then enter the skill level and set off on your intrepid mission. You fly over mountainous terrain hurtling bombs or lasers at the ground. They are both accurate and the computer responds quickly to key depression (which is just as well!) Guided missiles are launched against you and are only destroyed by bombs whereas factories and missile pads can be flattened by both sorts of ammunition. Watch out! If you miss the guided missiles they are sure to get you! Your plane can be hit as many as five times before you are destroyed but a hit from a missile counts as two shots. You can also be killed by the atomic explosion resulting from the destruction of a power station. As if this isn't enough, interceptors will attack you from all directions and they are hard to destroy as you only have your lasers for defence and they are no match for their rockets, if you manage to score more than 5000 by the time your fifth plane is destroyed then you have beaten the planet at that level. At the highest level, level 5, the game is very, very fast. Not only are there more guided missiles and interceptors to deal with but your laser is shortened, making it much harder to destroy the interceptors. In addition, there is a high score facility for every level and a hit/time ratio which tells you the average hits you have made in your allotted time. Avenger, at £4.95 from Abacus Programs is great value for money and really releases the full potential of the 16K ZX81. For further information on the cassettes reviewed in this article you can write to the following addresses: Silversoft Ltd, [redacted]. New Generation Software, [redacted]. Red Shift, [redacted]. Artic Computing, [redacted]. Automata UK Ltd, [redacted]. Abacus Programs, [redacted]. Bug Byte, [redacted]. Softek Software, [redacted]. PSS, [redacted].