Countdown

Crash

Atmosphere 75%

Vocabulary 76%

Logic 77%

Addictive Quality 71%

Overall 79%

Derek Brewster 79%

DEREK BREWSTER'S ADVENTURE TRAIL CHICKEN AND EGGHEADS The 128K Spectrum has been around now for some time, and apart from some early commissioned software, and the exemplary efforts of Mastertronic, every software house old enough to remember computers like the Oric. Enterprise, and Memotech is saving its efforts until the 128 has a proven sales record. Admittedly, there have been question marks over the computer's future since the takeover by Alan Sugar, but everyone knows that it may take some time to produce a successor, and that when it arrives it will no doubt be fully compatible with the 128. May I just put forward the argument that if the successor is not compatible then this is a matter for Alan Sugar to worry about and not any potential 128 purchaser. There has been much advice on this issue in magazines and the general consensus is that the public should wait and see. All I can say is heaven knows what would have happened to the Sinclair phenomenon if such advice was offered in 1982 amid rumours of the 48K's unreliability. Presumably, everyone would have ended up with Atari microcomputers which were (and still are) superb value for money, and the home software industry might never have gained the poise and standing it has now earned for itself. Alan Sugar is caught in a marketing quandary over the positions of his Amstrad and Spectrum concerns. He claims far too much for the likes of the CPC 464 and its derivatives and is too dismissive of the huge Spectrum games world he has inherited. I suggest the potential micro purchaser keeps well clear of such political manoeuverings and simply goes out and buys the microcomputer which offers the best software backup at the most competitive price. If this be the 128 Spectrum then so be it. Sold in sufficient numbers, the 128 will ensure both software support in the near future, and hardware compatibility in the longer term - no matter who provides them. SOMETHING TO CROW ABOUT? Adventuring began with the mainframe Colossal Cavern and due to the inherent limitations of mainframes, text without pictures was the order of the day. Along came the ZX Spectrum in 1982 and, although many adventures remained text-only, mimicking the original, the first faltering steps were taken towards full-blown illustrations with the likes of The Hobbit and Fantasia Diamond. Some time later, graphics (as pictures on computers are invariably called) became quite sophisticated, and respectable even, as some specialist graphic computer artists got to grips with the Spectrum, most notably Banner of Interceptor (Jewels of Babylon, Warlord) and Teoman Irmak of the old Adventure International (Gremlins, Touchstones of Rhiannon). Now, you might think it a little hypocritical to mention these games. After all, when they were released I refused to be swayed simply by their graphics but instead reviewed the adventure as a whole - remember this was when Level 9 were releasing games with simple graphic styles but immense intricacies of plot and composition, and games as good and innovative as Sherlock and Lords of Midnight were about. The reason why good graphics could not co-exist with complexity of gameplay was simply the restriction on memory. Surely now with 128K, adventures can combine the two and produce something worth crowing about. COUNTDOWN Producer: Central Solutions Retail Price: £0.99 Author: C & B Bradbury You are a reporter, somewhat baffled as to why a famous explorer, well-known for his contempt of the news media, should offer you an exclusive interview. You approach your destination with your editor's words echoing in your mind: 'Don't' ask me. He specifically requested you. Anyway, it'll do you good to get away from all those corruption exposes for a while'. After a short journey across the bay, you arrive at the island retreat of Sir Justin Philips. The huge mansion looms up in the early morning mists as you reach the jetty and secure your motor boat alongside a similar craft. Approaching the imposing front entrance you notice the main doors are slightly ajar. With a gentle push you are inside. You sense a sudden movement and turn to see the doors slam behind you. So goes the story which follows a superb loading screen for such a cheap game (commissioned loading screens can cost a fair amount on expensive games these days). Keeping the quality up, the first picture isn't bad either with very neat shading and altogether superior appearance when compared to the normal untidy line-drawn-cheapy look. It is a drawing of the large entrance hall with a pair of stairs leading up to a landing with two pictures hanging from its walls. The perspective and shading are just right and the redesigned character set is a very readable set of capital letters. Heading east from the off you meet a cloakroom, and a useful item while heading west takes you on through the library to a study where examining the typewriter reveals a clue: 'Confused already? Let's soap you're not, insert the tape to discover your lot'. The tape this sheet of paper in the typewriter refers to may well be the video tape you find in one of the remoter rooms in the mansion. In the library you see a fairly typical location description. 'You are in the library. In the centre of the room stands a low table. On it an ornately carved bowl-shaped artifact containing the remains of several cigars is resting beside a coffee-pot and cup. Along each wall are rows of well-stocked bookshelves. Doors lead north, east and west'. There are a few clues as to the lifestyle of the owner of this mansion here, and a further insight is the reply to examining most domestic items, 'It looks expensive'. To the north is a location which at first appears pivotal but is somewhat unyielding to efforts to actually get anywhere: 'You are in a stylishly appointed lounge, containing items ranging from the prehistoric to ultra-modern. The walls are adorned with many unusual and obviously ancient ornaments, including an elaborately decorated sword, a sacrificial dagger and several grotesque carvings. The room also boasts a state-of-the- art video, TV and audio system. In the centre of the room stands an easy chair with a coffee table alongside. To the west there is a window'. I won't go through what happens when you try to make use of every item here but when you get down to the window at the end, even that's barred! Further along the way you meet a dumb waiter which is easy to operate and takes you up and down the levels and about four different shades of bathroom. Countdown is a game composed around The Quill and Illustrator. As a cheap game it has much to offer, not least its surprisingly effective (if slowly drawn) graphics. The room descriptions are evocative and the game is well enough constructed to hold your interest for some time. COMMENTS Difficulty: easy to roam Graphics: Not bad for the price Presentation: good Input facility: verb/noun Response: Quill

Your Computer

Graphics 4/5

Sound None

Playability 5/5

Value For Money 5/5

Overall Rating 5/5

Roger Garrett 5/5

Spectrum48K Central Solutions Graphic/Text Adventure £1.99 Cass When the bigger software houses release new adventure software it seems that much of the lesser-known software releases tend to take a back seat, due, no doubt, to the fact that they have less financial muscle than the major concerns and are less able to advertise their games. It is not often a company will commit itself to releasing new adventures without some form of pre-publicity but one company doing it is Central Solutions. In the last few months the company has released somewhere in the region of 20 Quilled adventures for the Spectrum CBM64 and, at only £1.99, they represent very good value. One such game I can recommend thoroughly is Countdown. The action takes place in a large mansion. You take the part of a unsuspecting journalist, summoned to a remote island by Sir Justin Phillips. On entering Sir Justin's creepy old mansion, the door suddenly slams shut and your task is to find a bomb and defuse it before you and the mansion are blown to pieces. Good, lengthy text descriptions create a tense and atmospheric scenario. Finely detailed graphics, neatly done with the illustrator, also add a degree of pleasure to the overall effect. I look forward to seeing more of the same and, at such a low price, this is a must for everybody's collection.