Spectacular Games for Your ZX Spectrum

ZX Computing

Paul Cain

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO COMPLEMENT YOUR BOOKSHELVES FOR CHRISTMAS? PATRICK CAIN TAKES A LOOK AT A SELECTION OF THE LATEST TITLES... Any book with a title like Spectacular Games For Your ZX Spectrum will always stir me to search and deny any claim. With this one, it wasn't too difficult - few of the games included in the 130 odd pages came close to being spectacular. Each game was accompanied by some narrative; but this merely attempted to briefly describe the game and was of no instructive value. The illustrations were simple and, while often funny, their relevance is in question. Of the games, 'Kentucky Derby', 'Las Vegas A Go Go', 'Treasure Hunt' are all treading a well worn path. Perhaps it is because the authors, Hal Renko and Sam Edwards, wrote the book in Finland, and away from the UK software market that many of the other programs, while simple and uninvolved, are novel and good fun to play. Not the first book I would rush out to buy, but certainly one I'm glad to in my collection. Spectacular Games For You ZX Spectrum is published by the Addison Wesley Publishing Co, written by Hal Renko and Sam Edwards and costs £3.95. ISBN 0 201 14667 3

Personal Computer News

Peter Worlock

'Spectacular Games for your ZX Spectrum', 'Volcanic Games for your Vic 20', 'Tantalising Games for your T199/4A' by Hal Renko and Sam Edwards, published by Addison-Wesley at £3.95 each (paperback, 132 pages). Three identical books - only the listings have been changed to be machine specific. The common word, you will have noticed, is 'games', and rather poor they are too. All the old favourites are here under assumed names, Fruit Machine, a version of Simon, a few variants of Noughts and Crosses. On a brighter note, the longer listings look more worthwhile, with a reasonable adventure and an original game called New York New York which gives you the task of controlling traffic in the streets of the metropolis. It would be as well to get someone else to type in the adventure if you plan to play it, as entering the listing will give away much of the pleasure. On the whole, these books hardly seem worth the price, and the effort of entering the listings should only be considered if you absolutely cannot afford a couple of reasonable game cassettes. Alternatively, you could invest the money if you are in search of programming ideas, although there is no documentation of the listings in these books.