Xanagrams

Personal Computer Games

Graphics 1/10

Sound 1/10

Originality 6/10

Lasting Interest 2/10

Overall 3/10

Chris Anderson 3/10

MACHINE: Spectrum 16/48K JOYSTICK: No SUPPLIER: Postern PRICE: £6.95 This is simply a sophisticated version of Hangman, except that instead of getting hung you lose points. The computer makes up a simple crossword of up to five different words. You're shown the shape of the crossword, and the letters which need to be fitted into it. You start at any position on the crossword and guess the letter. If you're wrong you lose points. but when you get it right it helps you to make a better guess at the next letter. The program comes with 5000 words (which on the 16K version can only be loaded 600 at a time). You can choose how many words you want in your crossword and one of three different skill levels according to how difficult you want the words to be. But the game would've been a lot more interesting if the crosswords were a little more intricate. It's hard to see Xanagrams being played a lot.

Your Spectrum

John Hall 7/10

Mark Knight 7/10

Tony Samuels 6/10

Your Spectrum is continuing to scour the country's computer clubs to get the undiluted thoughts, feelings and impressions of dedicated games enthusiasts - thus providing our readers with unbiased evaluations. Any club wishing to offer their reviewing services should contact Ron Smith, Spectrum Soft, [redacted]. This month we visited the Heald Green Computer Club (which meets fortnightly at the Public Hall, [redacted], on Wednesdays from 7.30 to 10.30pm). Three of the club's leading members each played the games we gave them for review and in some cases found them so well-conceived and written, went completely over the top with the superlatives. In others, the games were deemed to be re-hashes of old ideas and evaluated accordingly. The club was formed four months ago, and has already managed to attract over 40 enthusiasts. All members are being brought up to the same standard of proficiency by the more experienced members who are running formal courses in both Basic and machine code. Membership is offered at a very reasonable rate, and all enquiries should be referred to Tony Samuels on [redacted] (after 6pm). Tony, incidentally, is currently working on a new program for the Spectrum (called Ugh - see Rumbles in this issue) which will be available from Softek in the near future. XANAGRAMS Postern £6.95 This looks like some sort of educational cross between Hangman, anagrams and crosswords. The game begins with a line of dashes that show where the letters go, with the letters appearing - jumbled up - on the right-hand side of the screen.

Read it at Your Spectrum Unofficial Archive