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fight
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DEFLEKTOR
N o he r oe s . N o Foe . Only pur e
skill a n d t e ch n o lo g y a s yo u g u id e
yo u r la se r b e a m s t h ro u g h a se a o f
d a n g e r. a p yr a m id o f o b st a cle s re fl e ct
It f r o m m i r r o r s , b o u n c e i t o f f w a l l s .
d e fl e c t i t t h r o u g h l e n s e s , e v e r
c a l c u l a ti n g t h e a n g l e s . c a r e fu l l y
ju d g in g it ' s p a t h t o w a r d s t h e h o m e
re ce ive r a n d t h e n a n o t h e r 5 9 le ve l
o f f ru st ra t io n a n d m in d b o g g lin g
i n tr i g u e . A d d i c ti v e .
C o m p u lsive . O n ly f o r
t h o se w h o ca n
w it h st a n d d e f e a t .

BASILTHEGREAT
MOUSEDETECTIVE
F ro m t h e b a se m e n t o f 2
Ba ke r St re e t , Ba sil a n d h is
fa i th fu l b l o o d h o u n d T o b y

(M I
ve n t u re f o r w a r d in se a rch o f t h e
d a st a rd ly R a t ig a n s h id e o u t w h e re
p o o r D r. D a w so n is h e ld a g a in st h is
w ill. W h a t clu e s d o t h e y u n co ve r
a m o n g st L o n d o n 's f a m o u s
la n d m a rks? W h a t d isg u ise s
do t h e y a d o p t in m o vin g a ro u n d
the ro d e n t u n d e rw o rld ? it ' s
e l e m e n ta r y m y de e r e n th u S i l l e t
the a n sw e r s a re in t h e g e m .. T h e
q u e s ti o n is d o y o u h a v e t h e
skill t o U n e a rt h t h e m !
C BM 6 4 / 1 2 8
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Gremlin Graphics Software Ltd.. Alpha 'Rouse,
10 Carver Street. Sheffield S i 4 FS . Tel: (0 7 4 2 ) 7 5 3 4 2 3
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Act io n p a cke d a d ve n t u re o f t h e h e ro ic
. M a sk t e a m in m o re d a n g e r fi lle d
9 m issio n s a g a in st t h e e vil f o rce s o f
9 Ve n o m . M a n a n d m a ch in e in va b a n t
de fe nce o f t h e w o r ld a n d it 's
t re a su re s. An e xh ila ra t in g ch a lle n g e t o
a ll g a rn e rs w h a t e ve r t h e ir in t e re st s.

TOURDEFORCE
F ro m t h e in st a n t t h e
st a rt e r sh o u t s
-
G peci t r t h e la s t
g ru e llin g m o m e e n t s, yo u 'll b e b-s1 iy r
h e a d s w it h fi ve o f t h e m e a n e st , t o u g
b ike rs t o e ve r p u mnp p e d a ls. An d if t h a t
not e n o u g h t ht e co u rse is so m e t h in g
sp e cia l t o ol:- Po t h o le s. M a n h o le s,
C a ke hole e s, Ace h o le s, Bo ld e rs,
S kum n ks, Sn a ke s, C h a sm s,
O ilslicks, I ce ep a t ch e s, Brid g e s, Be a r
t ra p s a n d m u ch m o re . So clim b
a b o a rd y o u rn Ve lo M a r k I V a n d se t
• o f f in p s
u rsu it o f t h a t co ve t e d
Y e llo w Je rse y a n dt e xp e rie n ce t h e a g o n y
a nd e cst a sy o f a
in t e rn a t io n a l r
t
I , o p e n s.
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li!
 I N T E R FA C E
7 News
The first millionaire programmer? New
video standards? Ge t yo u r e a r t o th e
ground and catch the latest whispers from
the world ot computer entertainment

14 Previews
3
Our technicolour crystal ball checks out the
stunning 16-bit Eco from Ocean plus Ariola
soft's Werewolves of London, Rainbird's
Carrier Command, and many more
20 Great Computer Disasters 36 One Man Band
Forget t h e u su a l b la th e r about micro Flolancrs 11112 gives you a whole orches-
awards - this is one ceremony which the tra to play around with. Michael Downey
winners definitely won't be attending. investigates.

85 Of Strategic ImportancP G A M E P L AY
Fifteen games that fight
back featured i n ' our
Strategy Buyers Guide 51 Screen Test
plus previews o f Rain. The Christmas assault on your wallet is
bird's Universal Mili- hotting up Check out our 22 page guide to
tary Simulator an d the latest contenders
Ecommiutonan, game
Mike Singleton's Da rk
Sceptre.
23 Letters
Praise, protest. passion_ .We give you the
space, you give us the punchlines. •••
-
122 The Blitter End 45 Pictures at an Exhibition
Just when you thought it was safe to put Stunning Amiga arrivals at the PCW Show
1
b
1 0 b
-
, 14 k _I
down the magazine.. plus news of the ACE - but watch out for 4096 colours on your P
1:-•-•
:
1 1 1 1- 1. 10 1 1 1 . V " ' " • • •
Christmas Cracker. Atari ST. t
i , 1k
n
-
47 Paint Boxing
e
W •
4
e
Digipaint and Deluxe Paint If In fierce l i I
, o
competition? Or just good friends? P
38 The Upgrade Stakes 4
•
Check out all the facts before placing your 3
- I
bets i n t h e AtarliAmiga/Archimedes 4

steeplechase - otherwise you could end up

,
4
L
a loser. .
k
.
:Aloggymayhem from Elite
0
328 Arcade Ace
r
:Afterburner and Skywoll - how do these
;
•uprights stand up to the ACE treatment?
4
.
•
•
ACE 1 0 0 theM051 at Oggipaini andDeluse Net 2 •
•
:
0
0
.
.
0
:
31 Sampling Safari
Forget the beeps and squeaks o f your
micro's sound chip - sampling enables you
to capture real-lite sounds from the big bad
world. Mark Jenkins shows you how to pack
Altetturnel : hot
barks into bytes.
 82 Updates
Latest format conversions. including Super
Sprint tor the C64, Gunship tor the PC;
and F15 Strike Eagle for the ST.
102 Postal Orders
ACE puts its stamp o n Play-By-Mail
games. Find out how 18p can lead to the
conquest of another galaxy.
107 Tricks 'n' Tactics
Make this your highest scoring month yet
with our s ix page guide t o R ed LED,
Skuildiggery, Boulderdash, Dizzy, a nd
many more.
The skyey sieve to success...FindDui how the vogranirDers do
On RedLED.
93 Adventures
Gnome Ranger presents Ingrid Bottomlow.
Or is it the other way round? Plus Yes,
Prime Minister, and a peek at Jimrter from
Magnetic Scrolls.
BUY L I N E S
120 Special Offers
We must be mad to offer you up to E4 dis-
count on these games. Get your order in
before the men in white coats arrive to
take us away.
119 Subscription Offer
Join the elite band of readers who are
gloating over a years subscription to ACE
and an extra NO off those amazing mail-
order bargains.
1 estel/Micronet 045 874 011
COMPETITION
26 Emergency eye treatment
You've seen the competition on the cover
and you can't believe your eyes. Don't
panic. Do not adjust your set. Just grab a
pen and go for it.
Now we are three...
School Report
Pupil: ACE Magazine
News: Good to see young ACE broadening its coverage to include impor-
tant issues of concern to games players, and not just new releases. Am
shocked to read how much these programmers earn. Must apply tor a
rise...
Specials: Excellent coverage, but cannot agree with the Upgrades article
—still maintain that my MSX3 machine is yonks better than Amiga or ST.
New Sections: New dedicated sections for music and graphics?? Cannot
remember authorising this shocking extravagance. See me behind the
gym tomorrow morning. (PS Bring copy of Star Trek with you).
Strategy Buyers Guide: Rubbish. If Space Invaders was good enough for
me, its good enough for the readers. The only strategy around here is a
swift, sharp stroke of the birch. See me behind the gym tomorrow morning.
(PS Bring an ST to run it on as well).
Games: Very distressed about this. I thought I had made it quite clear that
at least 90c/0 of the coverage should be devoted to educational software for
the under 5's. Bitterly resent inclusion of colour preview pages, play-by-
mail, and complete waste of six colour pages on tricks'n'tactics. See me
behind the gym tomorrow morning. (PS Bring colour monitor while you're
about it).
Great Computing Disasters: At last! A serious article, despite wicked slur
on reputation of Oric Atmos—an excellent machine which I had the good
fortune to purchase. Still play PacPerson on it every evening. (Note: How
about including the Oric in the Release Boxes?).
Never !
Moia
DVANCED COMPUTER
ENTERTAINMENT
Future Publishing Colallors Peter Connor
4 Queen Street
BATH BA1 lEJ SteveCooke
It 0225 446034 Reviews Editor Andy Wilton
Fax 0225 446019 Staff Writer AndySmith
Art Editor Trevor Gilham
elecom Go1d84:TXT152
Publisher Chris Anderson
UBSCRIPT1ONS & SPECIAL OFFERS Carrie-Anne Porter. The Old
arn, Somerton, Somerset TA1 1 W Y IT 0456 74011 • COLOUR
RIGINATION Wessex Reproduction, 352a Wells Road, Bnstol BS4
CIL • DISTRIBUTION SM Distribution, 16/18 Trinity Gardens, London
W9 8DX IT 01-274 8611/5 • PRINTING Chase Web Offset, Plymouth
Copyright FUTURE PUBLISHING LTD 1987 S No part of this publi-
bon may
. •
r e p
r o d
u c p
 The latest adventure in the award winning Ultima saga

e3t trill

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 NEWS

Multi-load
mania ACE
NEWS
Mastertronic empire
building
astertronic are getting their son - the duo behind defunct CM
hands on some hot proper- software house TaskSet of Super
ties these days - not content Pipeline fame_ With their first title
with the Sega machine, Melbourne for the system. Road Wars, their
House, and Arcadia, the company programming careers come full cir-
Comber School lAmstrad):lake wallsanyour stride
will now be producing the 8-bit ver- cle: in pre-TaskSet days they wrote
dence that multi-load may soon be sions of Psygnosis games. coin-op games, back when that nor-
beginning to benefit from the standard f or ful l price releases If you've got a Spectrum, mally meant Frogger or Centipede
I A sudden growth in the 16-bit comes from Ocean, who are putting Amstrad or C64, therefore, and clones.
software
v market, though the advan- their weight behind extended 8-bit have been drooling over 16-bit titles Walker described working for
tages
e may be offset by increased software with this year's big winter like Deep Space, Barbarian (not the the arcades again as 'tremendous',
loading
n times Fleahsing that the releases_ Maria Whi ttaker arid said of the
8market is being bombarded by disc- The impressive graphics o f one) o r Ter r or - Amiga-ish c on-
-
based 16-bit programs featuring Game Over and Renegade were pods, then drool no sole 'It's not an
bsnazzy graphics a n d extended too bulky to fit into a low-memory 8- more. t h e 8 - bi t ideal pi e c e o f
gameplay,
i 8-bit programmers are bit machine in one go. and Ocean's conversions a r e hardware - i t
thitting back in the only way they can new titles continue this trend. three due real soon now. only really ha s
m- multi-load games. big coin-op conversions - Combat The games wi l l eight sprites, for
a Check Out Indiana Jones from School, Gryzor and RastanSSaga - carry t h e na m e example - but
cUS Gol d (reviewed thi s issue). and the film tie-in Platoon will all Psygnosis, but this there's a lot to be
hRoad Runner, Intogrames' Passen- load in several separate stages on is largely a matter thankful for The
igers o n t he Wi nd a nd others the C6 4 , 4 8 K Spectrum a n d of 'badge engineer- Amiga is definite-
Psygrxisissnarl-erm-upBarberon on the Si'
nreleased to dale, but the real evi- Amstrad 464/664. For people with ing' since they will will
: klastectronicS 8-bit versionscome up to
ly a g a m e s
e disk drives or 1281< Spectrums this be written, pack- scratch machine at heart
o doesn't pose too much ol a prob- aged and market- , even i f Com -
w lem, but the rest of you will pust ed by the budget goltaths modore don't want to present it as
n have to put up with mid-game load- Meanwhile, o n t h e tal ent- such. I'm well pleased that there's a
e ing delays. - snatching tront. Arcadia have man- good future for the machine now.
r Y ogames
to u like Gryzor or Combat aged to pick up veteran program- after t he r ough patch i t went
s School
j u s without
t mulliloacr, explained mers Andy Walker and Paul Hodg- through.'
a c a n manager
software '
r Gary
t Bracey. i f s
e the
d only o way to get
the
j ugraphics
s a nd
the
t igame c size.*
&par (Spectrum*. blast the security panels le e There's anoth-
Iowa out due torcelkeld. er slant to the multi-
load game that's worth bearing in
7
. .
"
mind Competition between budget
" • labels and full-price companies has
1
! 1 r been hotting up i n the last few
1 - I months, with the latter constantly
1
I _ —I E
1 being called upon to justify their
1 .
I higher prices. Given the economics
1
- - "
of budget companies, multi-load is a
1 I
, I FITYFITI province that could remain the pre-
rogative of the full-price merchants
-11 and add value t o their products
without necessarily addi ng t o o
C -
•array I n d the detente computer much in the way of programming
costs.
-II7
before too late It got youfast_ Walker&Hodgson's RoadWars. the last Arcadia litle - out on hone MOOS soon. tea'

- AdvancedComputerEntertainment 7
-
r NEWS

PROGRAMMERS - RICH & FAMOUS?

contracts and places any original
games her clients come up with.
The advantages for the pro-
grammer are clear: you just get on
with the job while a toughish cookie
with years of deal-making experi-
ence sorts out the financial and con-
tractual side (for a percentage, nat-
urally). Jacqui Lyons is, of course.
pretty reticent about what her indi-
are: but what if you're just a lone-
some figure running your own free-
lance life? The worries here are
threefold; that y ou just can't get
your act together, that you don't get
a good puce for the job or even that
you get ripped oft when you've done
rt. The last of these happens much
more rarely now than a few years
ago; but there are still sad cases of

The Professionals

Orel Broben -100001 pod romps for dimconiemed grin. Lyons of Marjacq has forthright views on the kind of peepte shoal;
W lake on board "They must be machine code programmers They
From y e s . you guessed - Elite. -
h
working from home! Turn your How did he do it? David's an unas-
clea
a v.itr d amateurs.' What she means ts knowing what you're doing and
y hobby into a profitable pas- suming type of chap; he just reck-
then
t e it - properly and on time So if you can't get your act together -
doing
time!
O Yes, wnting computer games ons he was In the right place at the
'orget
h itr
can
u make you nch and famous! right lime', although he does think
a Thes kind of poeople who have got the;r act together and are signed up
t Well, can it? Hundreds, it not his science background (he's a as
v clients t include the aforementioned David Braben Me Electric Pencil Co
thousands,
o of people are hard at Cambridge man) has made him
'more familiar with the maths need- e-' Zords a and Fourth Protocol tame , and Argonaut Softwae ;of Stargbden-
work
o coding games in this country,
t n
but
c how many of them mak e a ed for 3D programs
h d
decent
a liv ing? H o w ma n y a r e One reason why David Braben viduals or teams earn, but she did programmers being taken for a nde.
e w Nigel Brooks of newish devel-
rich?And
n how many are seeing little might have got a slightly better deal say that 6-7.5K would be a reason-
or no return for their labours? g h opment house Smart Egg thinks the
m than s ome other programmers - able fee for a game conversion from
o to 6502 a
a Lets start with one of those apart from writing a superb game, of Z80
t
by a programmer with best way to start off is by making a
success stories t hat fi rst o f a l l course - is that his business inter- o
a good reputation. She also added little money from your hobby - a
k i
warms the very cockles of y our ests are handled by an agent Along d Marjacq
that clients could expect to budget game put out on one of the
e t
heart and then sets you to thinking with 30 or so more of the UK's top p *a good
earn professional salary - in myriad small labels might net you
a m
you could d o that t oo - Dav id programmers David Braben is 'han- r
excess of E20,000 a year.' E1000. II doesn't sound much, but
f e
Braben. He's 23, and for the past dled' by Jacqui Lyons of the the o That's Marjacq clients - see the when you consider that out of the
o a
Marjacq Agency; s he negotiates g
box for what kind of people they £199 retail price the programmer
two
r years has earned £100,000.
r n gets around 10-13p it's a lot of
t s
a copies to sell. Things change if you
u Darling C o d e t
m have a budget bestseller - 5 0
n Masters o
m Mastertronic games are reputed to
e •ogramming might be one b
e have sold in excess of 100,000
way to earn a living, but if e
r copies - but t hen we're talking
you want to make a real for- p
s about something a bit special.
tune wouldn't you be better of start r
g The professional programmers
ing y our own software house? o
o life, says Nigel, is 'very, very hard
That's what Richard and Dav id
t f work. A game doesn't sell itself.
Darling did with Code Masters - e
t You've got to go around the publish
and haven't they done well? The s
h ers selling yourself and your work.'
software wunderkmder started off
a s Unless you're prepared to put that
programming for Mastertronic. I n
the space of two years they wrote
1111111111•1211 t i i
o iridusry
kind of effort in, you're unliekly to
make that P.20K salary that seems
DavidandRichard - Darlings of t the budget
20 games and, estimates Davie
h n to be the point where you cease to
Darling, made around £100,000. and is now worth, David recently released Spectrum v et be a n amateur and start to be a
e a
sion of Grand Prix Simulator sold
Their own budget label rapidly ns, ov er a million pounds
o l pro.
acquired a reputation f or quality And business is still boomin: the 12,000 copies - on its first day
t i
h n
Cops
e is at 3-phase space shoot-em- style sequence rounds it oft. No,
Tough Talkin• Them's fighlin• words, boys -
but if the game plays as well as this upr whichhinvolves you in chasing the scenario isn't exactly original,
Arcana preview saeenshot looks they UFOs
s through
e space and down but who cares? If the action's as
might just have a point Ma r s trenches
h m before a Lunar Landing- slick and exciting as promised it
a a could be one to watch. There
quality of your software
E r i before it actually hits v r should be a review in your
k next issue of ACE.
lthe shops is one way of set- e
ating
k yourself up to be hoist n e Also coming soon from Arcana
t are the 16-bit versions of
iwith
n your own petard. But it '
gdoesn't bother Bristol-based t W Powerplay. This is a quiz-cum-
bsoftware house Arcana, ? e strategy game. originally
othey're claiming that their J d released to good reviews on
limminent Amiga and ST a o Amstrad and C64 about a year
drelease Mars Coos 'is des- c n ago. Arcana say the game has
ctined to set the standard for q o been souped up considerably
i 16-bit software that others will u t in terms of graphics and num-
ahave to meet.' WesCoos - that's youin the green,anal o w r ber of questions.
--
W a s
l
m
8 Advanced Computer Entertainment
s
 NEWS

Don't forget your LipStik Snippets... He-Man

Gremlin
LipStik over here from next spring, Captain Courageous C64..128 E 9 . 9 9 cs E l 4.99 dk
was the last you'd hear for a but as yet there's no word on the English software. Spectrum E 7 . 9 9 c s Amstrad
I while on the subject of joysticks, likely price. C64 E8 95 es E12 95 dk E9.99 cs E 14.99 dx
you'd
f be wrong. Adverts are now Access Software are promoting Join He-Man in this good versus evil
appearing
y in US mags for yet anoth- the LipStik by including it with their arcade adventure. Gremlin try to
er
o 'revolutionary ga m e control game EchOon, a tight sim based on recreate the forthcoming feature film
gizmo
u - the UpStik Plus, a Voice- the Lockheed C-104 Tomahawk for the benefit of home rTIFCto own-
activated
t control headset'. T h e fighter, that too will touch down here ers. Due mid-December.
headset
h with mouthpiece acts as from US Gold next year.
'another
o fire button': y o u shout
Gary Lineker's Superstar
'Fire!,
u or 'Di e slimy aliens!. or
Soccer
whatever
g takes your fancy instead
Gremlin
of
h hitting the trigger.
Spectrum E7.99 cs Amstrad E9.99
t The manufacturers, Access Cs E14. 99 dk C641128 C9. 99 cs
Software.
N claim that it works with
04. 99 dk Atari ST El g.'99
95%
o of games that use a joystick
and with machines including C64, A foolballing sim that tests the play-
v ers management, coaching and goal
Amiga.
e Atari ST and IBM PC, In the
Slates ifs sold at $24.95 or $29.95. scoring abilities. Imminent release
r expected - could even be out as
US Gold will be distributing the -41111
n you read this.
All-Amen
1 1can
. 0 boyoreacyngUpSigt
b
e Blasting jungle combat game - sur- Terramex!
r
' Upgrading your T V _ vive sniper and crocodile attacks
and r a c e f o r t h e helicopter.
Ouleksilva
Play the part of Albert Eyestrain in
s Imminent release expected. this action packed arcade adventure
p your telly just doesn't do justice lo your latest copy of Mutti-Colour
game that is awash with tortuous
i The Stratton Air Terminal
R I Mutant Midgets. Shelling out on the latest hires colour monitor will puzzles. Avoid the dive bombing
e CRL
esolve
t the problem, but it will probably bankrupt you as wet. What's the solu- Pteradactyls arid dodge the acid
c
tion? C64 E9 95 E14 99 dk rain. Price unknown but should be
's
e The answer at the moment is a visit to the optician, but take heart A fully computer controlled air termi- available in January for Atari ST,
f
abecause just round the corner lies a revolution in TV display standards. Sony nal has been hit by terrorists and is Amiga, Spectrum, Commodore and
chave developed a high-definition video standard that uses a display of 1125 in a shambles. Due Out i n this Amstrad.
elines, instead of the normal 625 lines on yer average British telly. The screen month, the player must de-activate
idisplay is 54 ratio, which gives it a cinema-type display format as opposed the central computer and release Power Pyramids
tto the normal squat. square ratio of standard TVs. the trapped passengers. Guicitsihra
, The quality is so good that although the system has yet to be adopted by Specirurr E7 99 cs
tthe world's soap corporations, the film business has already started to use it Night Raider Send your spheroid through 128
hfor shooting movies. Rather than film your next block buster on expensive Gremlin screens of arcade adventure where
ecelluloid, you can now use the Sony system to film on video, edit it far more C64 Eg.99 cs E14.99 dk you don't move the ball but move
rcheaply, and then transfer the results to film for the cinemas. Julie Julia, Atari ST E19.99 dk the landscape instead. Dash across
estarring Sting and Kathleen Turner, used this system and is now on general Combining flight sim with shoot-em !he space - time continuum for a
release in the States.
a up, your objective is to sink the few light years, deliver your goods
r Implementing the system on a national basis is going to present prob- Bismarck, dodge the flak and return and get your docket signed before
e lems, since we're talking about a completely new approach to TV broadcast- safely Spectrum and Amstrad ver- you return t o pick up your pay
t ing that demands more than a simple upgrade of existing equipment. There's sions are due in the new year. cheque. Expect lo get your hands
i little doubt, however, that the system, or an equivalent, will eventually be
m adopted, though it may take one of the new independent organisations to
e take the leap first.
s
Meanwhile, you can try out ED.Beta. another Sony development that Electric D r e a m s throttle up....
gives twice the resolution of normal video tape recorders and rock-steady
w
freeze frames - should be available here in the New Year Of the XVT600,
h Dreams for the conversion to home micro Four different courses
pictured here, which uses the MSX standard as the heart of a scanneceditor,
e T lour skin levels and conversions for 8 bit micros are well under way
allowing you to scan images and edit them on a 15 colour, 320'200 pixel dis-
n n
velh the Spectrum version likely to be the first, swiftly followed by C64 anc
play. It you can afford the E600 for rl however, you can probably afford a
t Amstrad
e Prices around E9 99 tor cassette versions and C14 99 for
decent hi•res monitor, so perhaps better to wait for Me new TV standard
hafter d, s
Commodore and Amstrad disks Ther e are plans for 16 bit versions but
e e
these are a while off yet.
c q Not content
r with
u the one coin-
e op
e conversion
e Electric
l Dreams
p tare also converting
y the
o Data East
- games
S Fire Trap
c and
e Kamov due to
r appear
g in early '88
a with
a price tags off
w E9
' 99 and E14 99
l for
s cassette and
y disks
H respectively
Hangingpn inSoper hiang-On
Sony'sKVT600 - MSX iivrolts clothing .a
,
f

ii
n
u g Advanced Computer Entertainment 9
z
 The instincttosurvive.Outofcontrol,scream-
1ingtowardsEarthatMach3,just8seconds I I1
and20,000 It left! Fly aileron rolls,CubanB's,
evenhammerheadstalls.Simulationsorealistic
youmayjustblackout.Remember—test pilots
areonlywrongonce.
CLIMBINTO THE COCKPITWITH THE GREATESTTESTPILOTEVER - CHUCK
YEAGERFLY 14 DIFFERENTAIRCRAFTINCLUDING EXPERIMENTALJETS
COMPETEAGAINST 6 ADVERSARIES.

DYNAMICINSIRDMFNTATION, BLACKBOXRECORDERS AND IDVIEWPOINTS

WITHZOOMUP TO 256X.

E C : T I?• N I C: 1 1 rb"

Wo
e

UNLEASH THE POWER OF

YOUR IMAGINATION
Electromc Ans software v
Lommottore
a i I a t I Ami e ga Atari SI IBM K and cornooldoles, Spectrum ant Arnstra0
Election,c
o n Arts products a are araitoble from toad software StOdwale awe 03penally where you
see
w this i Siodn e
l i n g o
o f E C T R • N I C A R T S'
h o m LIEACITI
e
c, or a full
o ofm m d scra w l ihe complete !loge or information on Fournearest stockist nmte tO
oadsheel
aElectrook
t eM s.r 1 1
s-
Customer ServicesDept311 0753 46485.
i4 9 nS t ce l l a
ul e d a id ,r
tI mg l a
Cy . o m
ml a or k d
o r e
r NEWS

Infocom shorts out Yak attack!

There a r e e i g h t scenarios some lunching mobsters here', t o Yak and LLama loving mae-
and Bert Couldn't Make Head E stro of the C64 has turned his
involved, and you can move at well which you might reply, 'Munching
I or Tail of it must be an all-time l
affections t o wa r d t h e 1 6 b i t
between seven of these. To play the Lobsters'. O f course y ou would,
adventure
n first. Instead of The usual eighth, however, you need seven wouldn't you? e
machines and is currently working
fadventure scenario, they've come passwords, gathered by successful- Other c hanges inc lude t h e l two Llamasoff products, The first
on
o with a series of eight short ski
up ly completing the other sections absence of directions to go in. The f
release will probably b e a game
nes
c on one disk. - - There are, however, even more program simply names adjacent game
M called Die. Filthi and will be
shocks for the hardened adventurer available
i on the ST. It's an all action
o rooms, and you type 'Kitchen' or
m . Instead ot solving puzzles based 'Stable to go there shoot-em-up
n featuring nine special
' around using objects o r c om- We'd like to promise a review weapons
t that the player collects to
s manding characters, y ou'll b e for next month, but the PlIgnm has enhance
e his firepower, including the
l confronted b y baffl ing puns, been behaving a little strangely 'Vortex'
r which puts 15 planetoids
a wordplay, and verbal trickery since receiving the game... around
, t h e player's s h i p (Yak
t . For ex ample: ' There a r e shapecff
t i n t rue Nemesis s t y le.
e Should
h be ready for Christmas. and
s though
a the price is not yet fixed, the
author
t hopes the game will retail for
t
under
C a termer.
r
e a Also in progress is the next
developement
m in the Colourspace
l
series
e of 'Light synthesisers'. Light
e
Mage
l for the ST allows the user to
a
create,
, interactively. dazzling light
s
displays
S that accompany the user's
e
favourite
h music. L i g h t Mage will
,
take
e advantage of the STs built in
N
MIDI
e port by allowing up t o five
o
machines
p t o b e linked together:
r
Look
, out for it in early '88.
d

3-D Digital Integration

AJfrs aimed, DI claim, at 'a brainy weights MicroProse o n a n a l l -
Surrey simu ,1: .) shoot-ern-up audience'. D o t hey American fi ghting machine: t hey
N - Integration a r e t hree wint er mean us? previously beat 'Prose to the draw
nwhoppers,
1 fi eallnindglowing
s 3D. For the Don't feel left out if you're an over the F•15 (Fighter Pilot v. F-15
d8-bitDmicros
i g ithere'll
t a be the highly ST owner - you should be getting Strike Eagle) and the Apache attack
Lseasonal
l Bobsleigh a sports game the fastest, slickest version of DI's helicopter (Tomahawk v. Gunship).
:involving team funding as well as third winter release F-16 Combat Wonder who will be first out with
osleigh control. and ATF. an aerial Not. The first Fighting Falcon simu- Tridenr
rcombat game based on Lockheed's lator into the shops, Combat Pilot 7
nYF-22 advanced tactical fighter. sees DI again scooping US heavy- DognalIniegraOom's Bobskigh
e
r Dark Castle Look no heads!
f
r adventure; a first and
o Haunted Ho u s e very brief look indi-
E on the Hill? I f
m l a n y ou survive t he cates pretty graphics, Whitehouse will be pleased to hear. Palace programmer Steve
you think you might but somewhat antiquat- N Brown responsible for the aforementioned blood-letting beat•em-
be able to, or have ed garneplay: you run o has turned his attention to more conventional methods of destruction
up
some interest i n around c av es a n d d Pimrunner is a multi-lane scrolling landsCape shoot-em-up in which
trying, Mirrorsoll's leap o n plat f orms e control a n Insectod warrior i n confl ict wit h t he malevolent
you
latest import from chucking a handful of c
Arachnoids Frantic boogying alien-killing anthems from Richard Joseph
the US of A could rocks a t y our pur- accompany
a the action Expect the C64 version soon. with Spectrum
be your cup 01 poi- suers. There'll be a full Amstrad
p and Amiga conversions shortly afterwards.
son. Dark Castle by review i n t he i
360 P a c i fi c I n c . t 3 )
appears on PC. Amiga a fUI E . 2 0 9 0 r 7 ( 0 7 $1
and S T. l l ' s a n arc ade t ,
i 641
o
n
s
e
q
u
e
n
c
4 .
e
0
s RenvurmeiC64 n5ecto4 •s ArachrA ircrr Ihe programmer ot Paige s Barbarlar,
-I , 1 OdVo L I L L 5 , ELUIS 4
i
1 2 Advanced Computer Entertainment n
t
h
MCWEIZ-014111116110
1 A GOCD E
Tellthecoachyoucan'tmaketrainingtonight.Tellyourgirlfriendyou'rewashingyourhair.
Tellyourfriendsyou'vetakenupkarate.
BecauseElectronicArts, thenumberonecomputergamescompanyin theUSAare
launchingover12newgamespermonthforthenextyear!Thesearejustsomeofournewreleases:
ElectronicArts - available from HI-VOLTAGE
01-686 6362
goodsoftware stockists! LANCOMPUTERSYSTEMS
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Whereyousee this sign. MEGABYTE
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A U : H O R D [MA
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Not all titles are available onevery machine format Please consult your stockist for availability Electronic Arts products are available from good software0stockists For
6 a full hmadsheet descnting the
completerange or informationonyour nearest stockist write to Electronic kts, 11-40 StationRd Langley. Berkshire SL3 BYNEngland Or call our Customer2Services Dept 1 on 0753 46465
3
3
r PREVIEWS

A STAND
BY FOR
ACTION!
Western G a m e s 'Real soon
Magic Bytes

Its open season on sports tobaco-spittin' hombre nort h

now' is a
games all of a s udden, wi t h
s of t ware houses f alling ov er
of t he Rio Grande in a gru-
elling Wild West wa g g l e - em- phrase
eac h other to releas e spoof
athletics titles. G e r ma n giant s
up, or look v ery silly in t he
at t empt . Ca n y ou eat more we've all
Ariolas of t we i g h in wit h this beans ? Can y ou milk t he
c o wb o y six-eventer on t heir
n e w Magic Bytes label, out
c o w faster? Can y ou shoot
more beer? Can y ou Can-
grown to
soon o n ST, A mi g a , C64 a n d
Ams t rad: p r o v e y o u ' r e t h e
Con? Find out in t he full ACE
rev iew, real soon n o w
know and
meanes t a r m- wr e s t l i n , pardners i love over
UI the years
but the juicy (ST) Out on patrol over one i t Carrier
Command'sEdi Mode, in plane no

'4 A i l stuff on Carrier

Command
these pages Rainbird
a r :t A i
t WW1
.0-volommok 4 is coming This arc ade/ s t rat egic big-
1 12 a
soon; and
k ' gie for Spec t rum. Ams t rad
f flg7 i s 4 a n d v arious I 6-bit
1
0
.t; I l i
1
1
most of mac hines hails f rom 3D
specialists Real Time, a n d
• to rassie v ery impres s iv e it looks
ienstrad) Ready
, G r e e t4
these too. It's you, a n airc raf t
carrier, lour planes and a
c o l o u r
t r a ,m
t h e
games wh o l e load of ground
forces agains t an ident i-
P I C
C
h e y
r e
should be c ally e q u i p p e d enemy
task-force. You're light ing
, for c ont rol of an arc hipela-
a
y o
sr ready for g o - 64 islands in all - and

u
p r
.
e
review in it isn't going to be easy.
y o u don't just giv e orders:
y ou ac t ually fl y t he mis-
p
)
a m
our next sions a n d fi ght t he battles,
all in Real Time's amaz ing

issue.
b u
solid 3D graphic s . Ca r r i e r
s t
Co mma n d s ambit ious
y
o
u r
So don't stuff, but ff t he demos are
a n y t h i n g to go by t hen
Rcrinbird are s urely on to a
b
c
i
e
(amstradi Thee to out your moneywhere your mouth is: judge the distance 1411 and you'll hit the spit-
miss it. winner.
%al Cl yoursrivers leer; ovemhoot andyou've got one men hombre on your hands!
p

14 AdvancedComputer Entertainment
 P R E V IE WS
"

s itir m im itii
fi l l e c t i l t i
I t i f t t I t t l I CE
2 titiMihrifi t
gatristradtDown ir tlw tube station at midnight, ------ - 14
you're hungry tor sloanes h Mal a snack I
beton me?
Wer ew olves of You're roomingin to enemyterritory - but your dose indicator (the hors) a too hipt, you've got to
I. London besneakier than that The rrapROWOrlett shows your positiontWAtlye to the target, vette. the * a t
deplay alerts you lithe presence it enemy teams Onthe night is adisobey of the weapons you're
Viz Designs carrying
There's a t ouc h of t he grue-
s ome about this first title f rom
Anolas of t label Viz Designs.
Tak ing its ins pirat ion in •
roughly equal parts f rom
A me r i c a n We r e wo l f in
London a n d a wh o l e load of
old Holly wood shockers,
Werewolv es has y ou scour-
ing t he c apit al for food.
Because y ou're a werewolf ,
'food' means h u ma n fl esh -
Sloane Rangers, pref erably -
so y ou c an ex pec t s ome trou-

_
ble wit h the l a w a l o n g the
dor a F l u e wa y . Your Fiona-hunt takes Project: Stealth
. _4
4
1A
0
7
;T
Ti Your pis oat arldits backe.
borne to leather' for refueling and
i n rooftops, t ube stations,
park s and sewers: wi t h 120-
plus locations on CoLl a n d
Ams t rad a n d ov er 200 on t he
Fighter
Microprose
Prose's latest C M c ombat -
1.
1 k centre of operations, and one of Spec t rum, there's room for a
-anti re; 1 Welk earner's the s imulat or looks pret t y
e games 5e t c h i n g Whom e Ica f air old slice of t he Smoke,
NNW accomplished. so irs Prinks all round! tasty stuff - as s uming y ou
.. . c an s t omac h Wi l d ' Bill
tz 0 w
4 . Stealey's 1950s-style Cold
, Airborne R anger
• War politics, You pilot
Microprose
n ers t while top-secret US
4
i t ight er/ bomber in any
,
Thisr is a k ind of s ouped-up a possible 100 missions. •
'
Commando, g i v i n g y ou 12 Using t he planes stealth
l
missions around t he world on t ec hnology y ou hav e to
r CM. You're parac hut ed n i p in, des t roy ins t alla-
your
t tions and t hen nip out
d o wn int o enemy territory •
A
and hav e to t ak e out missile again.
_
bases, rescue hostages etc. The fl ight sim element s
Terrain differs, arctic, jungle are there, but there's a
and desert are s ome of the wh o l e lot of other stuff to
options offered. On y our mis- •et'kai• oc c upy y our mi n d as well
sion you'll hav e to skirt mine- - such as whic h selection
fields, t ak e out pill-box es a n d f rom y our possible 20
wriggle t hrough trenches. As we a p o n s y ou s hould t ak e
you play y ou c an a d d to wi t h you. Success means
your character's attributes,
• I• a ret urn to base and a
save t hem a n d use t hem in - • - • bac k -s lapping reunion
the next game. A i r b o r n e •• wi t h y our buddies ov er a
Ranger looks to hav e wh a t it f ew snorts of J ac k Daniels.
takes to mak e an ex c it ing ' • Failure means a g l o o my
ac t ion game; we hope to drink alone as y ou mull
• L . .
hav e a f ull rev iew in our ov er y our inept it ude.
next issue. You're pinneddownins trenchby the hostiles tire. Ccwki it be time tor a grenade ammit

Advancea Computer Enterlamment 1 5

PREVIEWS

Eco
Ocean/Denton Designs
If you want a garne that looks
gocd and picrys strcmge, just
wait till this one hits the shops.
( E n t hold your breath it you've
got an 8-bit machine, mind you
- Ocean tell us itli be ST and
Amiga only ) Eco is all about
evolution: you start as an amoe-
ba, and over successive genera-
• pink heels will be the equally
lions must shuffle your genes
around until you (as a speoes)
reach human form.
01 course, it's not all breed-
ing and mutating (though
there's a lair amount of both).
New-born offspring have to fi nd
food and crvoici predators until
mat ing time so each stage in
fronthem
The
, Pink Panther
the evolutionary process m i A Magicbytes
be
l l have the necessca
for
- f r e a k s designed sim- Another German-pro-
ply
y qtou get
a l you
i t i human
e s fast (or grammed game on the n e wl
give you a few very cheap Ariolasolt
: label, this hefty
laughs) probably wont stay the cartoon
_ tie-in should bring
course that gentleman, scholar and
acrobat to the screens of all
the major home micros early
in the New Year A n d that
ain't all, folks: hot on those
mammot h Tom and Jerry

11143RNRH44
pha s e -' WOO
pa r art-+ W O
va 1 ue - + 431490
•• rlw rot
Alta_ pa r a n- -4- 00141
v a l u e - + 0 1 ,S 0
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.
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•-
engineering or a better veva
your own,aesthetic senses. t$T) liere's one I madeearlier, a vector graphics kanknidIs the eel of the
for Erin. What nest - cave pamtings?
' l i fe •
d e s i g n
.
y o u r ';
o u r
o l l a t t e •

SOMETHINGHORRIFYINGH
O
RR
IF
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GANDI
t s ,
l e t t e V
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o -
t h e
i r
e n v i
r o n m
e n t

ss
 PREVIEWS

p r i l l i i i r
Skate or Die
Electronic Arts

you thought skateboarding How about an brief City Down-

a nice peaceful pashme. EA
e got a nasty surprise lined
for you. Their incoming CM
e sun features some rather
events alongside the stan-
d ramp and downhill events
hill Battle against computer
opponents Poseur Pete or Aggro
Eddie? How about a Pool (cue)
Joust wit h the formidable Lester?
Well heck - you didn't think they
meant 'die of old age did you?

(Si) heedsyou lose MO pink hero's tilting a nsit gang in Mei tha t - awlthe °tenet's taking a sleep
salk!

" e 4 eV - - -

1
:
0
1
(ST)Earth-movingequipment sant abogpeanetmoil's close totele sun?Want to

3
tint M e l equatonal diatneles?Noprobieent Practice n a l Wad i t O N rompmoves - you bolo!

E
PLICABLEISGCSINGTO HAPPEN...
•
,
-

\ It

FACTIVISION1
\ C) 1987 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp, All
rights reserved Trademarks owned by
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp and
used by Activision Inc under authorisation
 "7,5

1 1311PLI T
LIrqt oCICT:C
sou ' S I N C L A I V ; COPIPIJTER e44?P4041C
tiO , I
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r SPECIAL
GREAT MICRO
DISASTERS
THE N A T I O N A L M I C R O DISASTER A WA R D S 1 9 8 7
Pete Connor and Steve Cooke
staggered from the Exhibitor's
Bar at the PCW Show, took a
wrong turning on Level 9, and
stumbled into the splendour of
the Sir Clive Sinclair Suite,
secret venue of the National
Micro-Disaster Awards.
Flicking the switches on their
concealed Living Daylights-
style miniature tape recorders,
they were able to compile this
exclusive report...
The assembled company includes Jell Minter,
Tony Crowther, Richard Branson, a Klingon,
Samantha Fox, Jack Tramiel, an unidentified
alien, Basil the Great Mouse Detective, Gary
Lineker, Conan the Barbarian, a yak, and
Maria Whittaker...
Enter JUDGE DEATH. brcmdishing a neuron
whip.
DEATH: Attention punks, this meeting is now
in session and I AM THE LAW...I
(CONAN THE BARBARIAN faints)
DEATH We are gathered here together to
pass judgement on the computer industry, to
purge it of unwashed, spotty, ineffectual
awes, and to elect the Greatest Computer
The GoodOldDwrsMuds Bone{ andDave Lannon ot imaginepose
Infrom or the original Lim Birds
PromCoroder TraaWOROf
2 0 Advanced ComputerEntertainment
Disasters of all time The meeting will come
Star Trek - b e a m m e
to order and I call upon Mr Richard Branson
to read out the nominations down, ple a s e !
This was going to be the Iscence to end
BRANSON rises to his feet. grinning broadly. them all: the cult TV prog was going to
Cameras Bash. He grins again, displaying become a real 'mega-game, stunning the
that perfect set of teeth.. Again the ccuneras punters with its graphic brilliance and absorb-
flash as he attempts a third grin - but JUDGE ing gameplay - all of it featuring your old pals
Kirk, Scotty. Spock, Uhuru at al. Well. two
DEATH lashes out with the neuron whip and
restores order... years on they're still waiting to beam down to
your local software store. For two successive
BRANSON The lust nomination is. PCW shows the program has been promised;
neither show has seen it delivered. Why?
BRUCE EVER'S& Imagine! The old Imagine The reasons are shrouded in mystery.
cornpcmy, Eugene Evans, Wac k y Waders, Some say that despite the reputedly enor-
mous amounts of money spent on the design
the mega-games. the Ferraris, a n d Bruce
Everiss and programming (E60,000 to one individual,
the story goes) the early versions were natl.
Others murmur about clauses in the licence
contract giving Paramount the right to veto
any part of the game, from the shape of
Spock's ears to the picture on the packaging.
Will we ever learn the truth? Who knows. Will
we ever see the game? Yes, we certainly will
- and real soon now, The ST version will be
around before Christmas, 8-bit versions in the
new year. In tact, d you want to see it right
now. lust mosey on down to your friendly local
KirkandSpeck wed Iv IN game tobeam trove pirate - ST versions have been available on
(There is a loud mooning. c ut short b y a the hackers network for quite some time, mak-
quick c ommunal ccaess f rom t he neuron ing Star Trek the most widely seen unre-
leased game of all time. How this will affect
the games sales remains to be seen.
BRANSON: ( grins cheesily) The first nomina-
tion wait ing for that game out in sector 238 since
Star Date 1985 I distinctly remember that
KLINGON Come on chaps) Themes no compe- Kirk fellow threatening me wit h it. But where
tition - what about Star Trek? We've been is it, ehl
Im a gine
Back in '83 Imagine were big, big, big. They were one of the snazziest companies around,
with classy packaging and more publicity than Madonna. In tact sell-promotion was probably
their strongest point. One of their juve programmers - Eugene Evans - made the Daily Mirror
as an example of the new superstar. the whizz-kid programmer. Eugene posed nonchalantly by
his Lotus sports car while figures of 00,000 were bandied about as his salary. Rumours
spread about amazing 'mega-games that would usher in a new era of computer fun - on the
Speccy.
Well. it all ended in tears. One line day - while the BBC just happened to be up in Liverpool
filming a documentary about the company - the bailiffs came a-calling. Imagine sank under the
weight of debts and dreams, while the name was bought to live on as Ocean's arcade label.
Where are they now?
Bruce Everiss - once the Voice of Imagine - is now working for budgeteers Code Masters as a
one•man Think Tank.
Dave Lawson and Ian Hetherington. erstwhile Imagine directors. are now directors of 16-bit
software house Psygnosis.
Eugene Evans is now programming for Mirrorsolt. His game The Bermuda Triangle should be
around before Christmas.
 SPECIAL'V

SOFTWARE PIRATE rv e got a copy

, H
for yonke
a d o n e
KLINGON Yes, you and every other dirty
pirate in the solar system And honest games
pecryers like me are still wcaung. It's a dis-
grace. a shambles. It's lust not cricket.
BRANSON A n d the first nomination
THE YAK OwzaV One of your very first
games. Mr Branson Do you remember how
in this cricket prog - written in BASIC. I might
add - you had to EDIT line 10011 you wished
to change your team? Do you remember
how the white on green graphics meant that
the game was virtually impossible to watch
The Great Space Race
Launched by software house Legend after selling a rumoured 150,000 copies of Valhalla, this game
was expected to conquer the charts in the Christmas of 1984. Carried away by the general mood of
enthusiasm. Personal Computer Games magazine corn-
. missioned a E1000 artworked cover and offered the origi-
nal drawing !wore' considerably more) as a prize in their
Great Space Race Competition. Imagine the faces of
Anderson, Cooke, & Connor when the game actually
arrived. The industry shrieked in disbelief, buyers of the
game shrieked with horror, and Legend never recovered,
disappearing into obscunty a short while later.
Rumour has it that the last few remaining copies of
The Great Space Race were shipped to a far-oft country
I
!t. copy. Even at that price, no-one in the UK would be likely
Oto buy it. PhOlo Compulet •fraOS We r ty

for more than five minutes? Do you remem- f Ardiamim

ber...
a
CHORUS The what?
n
u
Wor ld C u p C a r n i v a l I T.
n
what
- rm talkin• about: neat little red and
More of an embarrassment than a genuine d
disaster. Basically, Brian, US Gold T
black box that was supposed to take on and
i
released an old Arlic game with three h
beat that Spectrum thing of yours.
s
'enhancements - practice screens - and a e
c
slack of pretty posters and badges The O
SAM FOX: We l l how about something t hat
l
soccer game itself was pretty poor. bui r
combines hardware and software, big boy?
o
what made some people suck as parrots Like
i that cute Mikrogen D o n * ?
s
was the fact that US Gold didn't mention c
e
the games origins; they bought the game A
d
only to discover it was the Artic game they t
s
already owned. And it cost them two quid r
u
more than the original Some carnival. n
m
o
,
s
b BASE_ THE GREAT MOUSE DrrECTIVE, Come
BRANSON: Oh, shut upl The test nomination ,
is e on a u 11 you really want to talk about own
y
l goals try those two licensed games from
o
SOFTWARE PIRATE Th e Great Space Pace - i Ocean - Knight Rider and Street Hawk it
u
the only game I could never be bothered to e seemed like they were advertised for years
c
copy. v before they actually appeared - and when
l
e they did make it, what a disappointment!
i
JACK 'MAMEL Jeez. you guys don't know d They were pretty bad. Of course, the whole
m
what a real disaster ist Lets talk some serious t business did some good; Ocean stopped
b dongle that almost kilted a company. Mikrogen's
The
hardware glitches here - like that great o
Shadow of the Unworn boosted your Speccy's memory to advertising games so far in advance, and
o
British success the Orr Atmos b but cost the company a fortune. The game OkIn'i live up
MK, they vastly improved the quality of software
s
toeeiitvel the idea or the espense - neither did the sales. produced tram licences
Y
The Or ic A t m os a
o
r
BRANSON: Let s k eep it clean, pleas e - as JUDGE DEATH: Get lost. creep! And you get
The Oric was a totally British computer; the u
Mrs.
o T said to me only a f ew mont hs ago. on wit h it Demon, or you'll taste the gentle
Atmos was an upgrade that looked to have a kNow, the first nomination is
u touch of my neuron whip)
Spectrum-beating specification_ There was a n
slight problem. however: the operating system n
o
GARY LINEKZR: Out in Barcelona the fans are BRANSON: Aye. ay e set The first nomination
ROM contained a bug. Onc cleverly (?) got d
w
still talking about World Cup Carnival A real is
round this problem by bundling a cassette with 2
the machine that you loaded belore loading own
0 goal, that one was
p JACK TRAMIEL Hey, what about that C5
your program. So all you had to do lo load a
tape was - load another tape first. Neat, eh? p thing that your Se Clive used to peddle? Now
e that was one Lulu of a Catastrophe. It really
Fact The Uric was relaunched this year in
r tickled us stateside.
France. Funny people, those French.

BRANSON. I rrelev ant - it's not a computer

disaster. The first nomination

BRUCE EVERISe I magine! The old I magine

c o m e l y . Eugene Evans Wac k y Waders

JUDGE DEATH: That's it punk e You're finished

I've had as much of this as I can take. I
declare this meeting finished, kaput. over,
closed. r m going to terminate the lot of you!
(The neuron whip cracks and whimpers of
pain - or is it pleasure? - ripple through the
resembled worthies as they are herded out in
to the harsh realities of the real world.)

Advanced Goitputer Entertainment 21

R E D L.E.O. I S A C H A L L E N G E " GO O U T A N D GET T H I S G A M E
N O T TO BE MISSED . IT' S S O M E T H I N G R E A LLY SPEC IA L!"
- C OMMOD OR E USER A J U L I A N IH IGN A LL: Z A P P

R EA L A R C A D E A C T I O N A T I T S B E S T !

The y e a r l a 2 3 7 9 : E a r t h ' s e m i t r e s t:pur e ea S I.E C11111. I R E A T U I R E S :

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a ile d , • fi n d s a r e d 1191 b y T o w n . . Crcrionellowr E14.99 SPECTRUM E8.99

M I Z I I
• O V O I

• Touché
My first reaction after reading D
Webb's letter (Missing MSX. issure
2) was to till down in an
uncontrollable fit of laughter. But
after about half an hour I became
suddenly weak at Me knees again,
not with laughter, but with utter
horror at Me thought that he could
conceivably be senous!!!!
Who's he trying to kid?
Himself? The Commodore 16 has
probably sold more units, never
mind the rest he quoted! The last
figure that I read about the C64, of
which I am an owner. Is 10 million
(world %%ride total). I n the weeks
September 25 to the 9 October.
covenng two weeks' issues of PCW
they announced the following New
Releases
Machine: % t a t New Releases
Amstrad CPCs 1 9
Alan )(LAE 1 with a spare $7 million to invest.
Spectrum 29
BBC B 5 company got in to serious financial
Atari ST 3 difficulties and, after a whole lot of
IBM PC 8 Maples 4 wheeler-dealing involving the figure
CBM16,..4 1 of Jack Tramiel. became the
CBM64,128 35
It really speaks for itself' Doesn't it.,
D, Webb? A total of 97 new
releases over eight machines and
not one of them an MSX! I see that
the software companies are falling
over themselves producing
programs for the machine. To be
fair, a lot of the new releases are re-
releases under a new label and
price but I think the point is
adequately made.
Don't get me wrong, D. Webb. I
sympathise with you and hope the
software for your machine increases
but you can't blame ACE, or any
other magazine come to that, if
there is no software to review can
you? My advice to you is do the
same as I did when I bought a C16
then found out that that machine
was a contender for the golden
turkey award: it was easier to find
the proverbial needle in the
haystack than software. Cut your
losses, sell the MSX and buy one of
the better supported machines. The
moral of the above is
Pig
- dinoanPoke ' t (excuse the pun, but I
couldn't
b u y resist it) then moan when it
doesn't
a grunt!
Whew' Now to Me magazine,
it's very good, reviews & rating
system. I hope, nay trust, you keep
up the good work'
Peter Leswell
Gleorothes
thank you for your research,
youVe made my point much better
than c ould ever have done. I
don't think I'd have been quite so
cutting, though
• First timer
This is the first time I've written into
a magazine and I thought that I'd
congratulate you, it's tab! just what I
like to see. I have an Amiga and
disliked the rude message in the
workbench V1-2 Could you tell me
who invented the Amiga? and why
that message was included? Do
you think the Risc Machine
(Acorn's) will be successful? I am
an 18 year old male seeking a
female Amiga user to swap
programming tips. games, etc,
Neil Chubbock
59, Woodcock Road
Norwich
That 'etc.' sounds a bit fishy to me,
but here's wishing you luck
anyway. The Amiga was originally
conceived and designed by an
American compay called Amiga
Inc., set up by three Florida doctors
The machine was developed, the
Commodore Amiga. Why the
naughty message was included is
a mystery to me: but nothing
connected with programmers is
surprising, is it?
• Silly letters
At last, a multi-machine magazine
that supplies a thundering good
read in addition to the many multi-
colour adverts that magazines like
yourselves need to carry in order to
survive. You seem to have got the
balance just about oght.
Although a dedicated machine
magazine is perhaps a must for
ANY micro owner, it is refreshing
and informative, not to mention
entertaining, to keep abreast of all
the latest software and hardware
developments on both 8 bit AND 16
bit machines.
I only hope the multi-machine
format does not move the 'my
machine is better than yours*
element into a Spate of silly letters.
I have owned a whole range of
machines in my time, (I'm over 35.
wheeze) and everyone of them had
their own good or bad points. Let
us all simply support the machine
that we prefer, and can afford, and
not enter into letters page slanging
matches with people who may
prefer, or can afford. OTHER
machines.
One small request with regard
to your content. Can we PLEASE
have a wargameistrategy game
section. Most computer mags
either forget altogether, or have a
column or two every tour months or
so. Good games of this genre ARE
LEITERS
ACE
LETTERS
All human life is here in ACE Letters; the
man who bought a CBM Plus 4 to run a
free game, the man who makes mincemeat
of the MSXers, the man whose cat all but
destroyed his computer. Read them, and
then send your own opinions to ACE
Letters, 4 Queen Street, Bath, BA1 lEJ
around, and can give many HOURS
of mind-taxing entertainment, so • Sound
Welcome and
to the bagraphics nut
efl eid I know
how about some page space you guys here have all been-there'
please? before but welcome anyway and
Dave Tremlin good luck. If issue 1 is the standard
Chard you maintain you'll have no
problems; it was superb. I'm a
No, we won't be going lot any sound and graphics nut and found
'Commy v. Speccy• debates, but the midi and graphics sections
we will keep readers abreast of the extremely well done. It's nice to
latest machines and try to provide have reviewers talking sense
them with the information on which instead of talking down to us as if
to base their buying strategy. we were all s and not the
Talking of strategy, I hope you like people who fork out the cash'
this months's buyers' guide. We I intend sending you samples of
hope to be reviewing strategy my Deluxe Paint work but would
games in a section of their own in really like the disk back How about
future issue. if we use re-useable Jiffy's with
Controversy of the Month?
ones, at least). Personally, I feel
• Bulging
Don't you think it might be an idea that a more iintriguing issue is
to include in your ACE Letters that of explicit violence, cop a
section a debating issue, some load of the Rygar ads around, in
subject readers have voiced their which a circular saw is just
view on. eg. I believe strongly in beginning its journey through the
the deliberate abuse of the female torso of some poor geezer. Do
readers feel this Is just 'cartoon'
sex in advertising. The subject has
cropped up time and time again violence, or do they think such
and I'd be interested to know what images in both ads and games
everyone else thinks about it. Do may have a pernicious effect?
you agree in 'bulging' Maria
Whittaker or extravagantly
'undressed' Athenas? Well ACE,
am I a voice in the wilderness. At
least tell me your view even if my
'debating' idea is impractical.
Demeiri Panay'
Harrow
It's not quite clear from the
wording of your letter whether you
think 'bulging Maria Whittakers'
are a good or a bad thing. If
anyone feels strongly enough to
join in and stir up a controversy
then we'll be more than happy to
print their letters (the interesting
r LETTERS
S.A.E, label and return postage
included?
I hope you run a regular galley
for readers an work; maybe you
could offer a nice inkjetlaser print
out of the months best piece! The
chances of the average 'binary
warhof getting high quality hard
copy of his/her work are (at the
present) very remote indeed. Cume
on Ace, what do you say'
Barry Walsh
Bury
There'd have been some readers'
pits in this issue's Graphics
section - if we hadn't run out of
space. Nex t month, we promise.
The jiffy bag idea's not bad; we will
try to send back disks as soon as
we can.
Amiga airing
Having recently boughl an Amiga. I
have come across a few annoying
points that I wish to air in your
magazine.
1) Having upgraded from a 64, it is
apparent to me that software
houses are converting from 8 to
16-bit machines and are therefore
reproducing identical software
costing an extra el 5 for a 16- bit
Freebies
• Bubble Bobbie bug?
There was a beg ,n Bubble
Bobble. It you press keys 4-9 all
at the same time player two will
come on to the screen at any part
of the game. Other than that, it is
a brilliant idea having a game on
the front cover.
Tony Pole
III Weird happenings
I'm writing to you about some
unexplained weird happenings in
issue Zs Bubble Bobble game,
Apart from enjoying myself to
pieces, I'm wondenng firstly, why a
huge apple appeared at the
bottom of the screen and what it
was I must have picked up and
secondly, why did rows of pulsing
hearts appear arid everything else
disappear just when I was enjoying
myself the most? Even more
wowy than that, when I got all the
hearts the thrilling message
PERFECT appeared on the
screen and then. da-da daaa!
GAME OVER was printed
underneath.
Joanne Walls
Great Dunmow
• Beat that!
On Blue Max I got 7430 and on
Bubble Bobble I got - wait for it -
2 4 Advanced Computer Entertainment
program and for the privilege of a
disktased program!
2) Mostly the software available for
the Amiga is adventure-based.
Where are all the good arcade
conversions, such as a four player
version of Gauntlet?
3) The Amiga's graphical powers
greatly surpass anything capable of
an 8-bit machine so, therefore.
software should be wntien on 16
bits and then converted down to 8
buts, not vice versa (this would keep
the quality of software up on both
formats).
4) On trying to purchase Amiga
software in the Cambridge area, all
retailers said that they had no plans
to stock Amiga software although
they were already stocking ST
Software, What is happening to the
distnbution of the few Amiga
products which have been whtlen?
5) The Amiga is the most powerful
home system Whin an affordable
price range, and yet the ST is
attracting interest from the major
software houses who are now
starting to produce quality products,
all of which could be improved on
an Amiga!
6) I hope you will receive and
review more Amiga software in the
near future because a large
an amazing 456,000. Beal that'
This is how I got that amazing
score. All I did was eat the obtects
that looked like soda bottles, then
eat all the symbols that appear like
musical notes or oranges If you
eat all the symbols within 30
seconds you get 100,000 points
added to your score. Keep up the
good work.
Robert Barbour
Trowbridge
Cheesed oft
I'm fed up! On the cover of Issue
1, you gave BLUE MAX away for
my computer - I already owned it.
But, as d that wasn't bad enough.
you put a 5 screen demo of
BUBBLE BOBBLE on issue 2's
cover - and, of course. I already
had it Ifs just not fair. The
excellent content of the magazine
made up for it though.so I'll let you
off. Your questionaire was great,
though a little easy Cl managed to
score 86 out of the 88). Please do
some more in future issues, and
make them harder. The reviews
are top class - though they looked
a mite boring in the first issue (The
second issue was a great
improvement).
R Tmughton
Keighley
magazine can make or break a
computer depending on the way it is
portrayed within its pages. Given a
chance the Amiga will become the
most popular 16-bit machine. It is
not getting the support it deserves
from software houses and the
popualr computing magazines.
Earl Alexander
Cambridge
You should fond that software is
now starting to be developed on
16-bit machines and then ported
down: e.g.. Mastertronic's Arcadia
label, which produces games in the
first instance for arcade machines
- but on Amiga boards. And next
month we should have a bumper
crop of 16-bit titles for review. As Sorry, but we definitely won't be
for buying the stuff. you could covering any of that spreadsheet)'
always try a reputable mail order business stuff: you're in a tiny
service. minority in asking for it. In fact, if
And, by the way, are you a you started a business users' club
among ACE readers you'd
real aristocrat or were you just
christened that way? probably be the only member.
There is a PC emulator card under
development for the Amiga. but we
suspect it will work only in the
What is a poke? 2000. Prices of 16-bit software are
I'm sure I speak for many computer
owners when I ask What exactly is very high at the moment; next year
a poke?' I'm sure hundreds of they should come down
people just type them in, knowing substantially.
it% make something weird happen
in the game. For example, infinite
lives, invulnerability etc. Would it be Bland, ordinary, boring
Did you like my last letter? I didn't. I
possible for you to start a monthly
write-in to help people with pokes thought it was bland, ordinary,
and to give them information on boring...
how to make their Own? Just think,
you'd have to extend your 'tricks Just like this one - which is why we
and tactics' section. You may also aren't onnfing any more of it.
find there would be a lot more top
tipsters.
P Norton Where is it?
Skelmersdale Firstly. a word of praise. I think your
mag is absolutely fantastic. Your
Look in Tricks 'n' Tactics next new rating system is excellent, all
month and you should find an praise to the person who thought up
that idea. Secondly, I have just read
explanation by A. Boffin of just
what is involved in Pokeing. your section on budget software
and noticed that it said Rebelstar is
out for the 064. Please tell me if
Down to business this is a printing mistake or whether
II is true because however hard I
Firstly I'd like to say that you've got
a wooer with this mag, it leaves the look I can't find it in any of the
rest standing. The only thing that I shops
would like to see introduced is a M I Alchome
small business section similar to the West Yorkshire
ones on graphics and music. I have
recently bought an Amiga to use for It's a mistake sure enough;
a variety of reasons, from game Rebeistar isn't available for the
playing to business. What I would C64, which is why you can't find it
like to know is if there are plans to in the shoos. Our apologies.
make the 500 emulate PC's like the
Alan 520 can?
Also, do you think that there is a What wuz dat?(Ed) 2
Your magazine is the best around,
any justification in the prices of
at least the best I've read. And in
Amiga and Atari ST software? Is it
relation to this mag, some treak
likely that the prices will come down
eventually'? wntes in and says your mag
Adam Morely boring! What does he want!! I'd like
Leicester to tell R.R.MORANZANI (see Drab
and Boring in issue 2) that if he

wants to read things like 'What wuz
dat? (ED) then he should go out
and buy that rubbish elsewhere.
and not try to convert one of the few
serious magazines around into
averge run-of-themill drivel. If he
wants to read that it is up to him, but
there are quite enough of those
magazines on the market arid I do
not want to see ACE degenerate
into such childish pulp.
kluncaster
Coniston, Cumbria
Will R.R. Moranzani fight back?
Buy our next issue to get another
thrilling instalment of 'What wuz
Oat? (ED)
Desperate for An
I have just read with great interest
your article The Graphics Scene. As
an addicted graphics man I was
interested in the mention of The
Advanced Art Studio for the
Spectrum. I live on the Isle of Wight
and cannot obtain this program
anywhere. Could you please advise
me where I can obtain one, and at
what cost
. D. Chenery
' Ryde, IOW
If you can't get one in a shop down
there, try a decent mail-order
supplier. As a last resort you could
try the suppliers, Rainbird. AAS
costs around E16.00.
114Smart buy?
I was lucky enough to get a copy of
ACE last week and wishing to try
out your free Blue Max game I
bought a second hand Commodore
Plus 4 computer. However, when I
tried to load the program following
your instructions I only got the
following message on my TV:
DEVICE NOT PRESENT
ERROR
READY
RUN
BREAK
READY
Can you help me? Does this mean
that my Commodore Plus 4 will not
accept anything but C16/Plus 4
software? Can you let me know who
supplies this?
Name unknown
Glasgow
You've got a bit of a problem here.
Blue Max is a C64 program, and
wiII run only on a C64, or C128 in
C64 mode. The Commodore Plus
4 is a different kettle of fish
altogether and can only run
software specially written for it - of
which, I'm afraid, there is not a lot.
about.
Helpline
Firstly, thank you for the excellent
public-Om, it is a pleasure to
purchase and read. Secondly, in
response to Mr Hammond's letter
(ACE Issue 2). an adventure
helpline would be useful but my
view is that this would limit the
precious space needed for reviews
etc.
I would like to recommend a
couple of excellent tanzines armed
at adventure players only (No not a
rival magazine') They contain
everything about adventures (tips,
maps, reviews, letters etc) for
beginners to the most seasoned
player. They are called Adventure
Probe and Soothsayer and at E1.00
each are in my opinion, the
The Woes of Amstrad
• Whoopee!
Whoopee) have just received the
second copy of ACE and what is
this I spy on the front? Yes. it is
another one of those fantastic tree
computer games (well the first 5
screens anyway) but there is one
tiny problem. Yep, you guessed it,
I'm one of those people who own
an Amstrad: but not to be dismayed
I gave the tape away to someone
less fortunate, who does not buy
yo u r m a g .
The point of my letter is. please
could you think of all the Amstrad
owners and give us a tape with
something to Zap on it? It really is
depoissing when you have already
spent this week's wages on all the
special offers you were offering - at
full price down the local computer
shop.
klartyn Ayson
Plymouth
a Poor student
Browsing through the Student's
Union newsagent's I happened to
come across a magazine called
'ACE'. Picking up the mag I quickly
glanced through the pages. So far
so good. Turning to the front cover
a free tape, even better. I then
looked at the price - E1.50, not so
good. Being a student, money has
to go on more important things
(such as beer!). Also the tape wat
tor the Spectrum and Commodore
only. Definitely not so good (being
an Amstrad CPC owner) After
much pondering, I handed over half
my grant and bought ACE issue
two. After hours of reading I was
pleased that I had bought it.
However. I think it would be a
good idea if you made it so that the
buyers (Amstrad owners in
particular, since you don't put an
'Adventurers Bibles'. The address
to write to is: Mrs Sandra sharkey,
78, Merton Road, Wigan,
Lancashire. WN3 SAT.
David Brown
Portsmouth
• Split Pilgrim
I just thought Id write to say how
brilliant your magazine is, the first
issue anyway. I haven't found the
second in any shops yet. but I'm
suscribing so I'll get the third, I s the
Pilgrim the same one as in M? I
had Gauntlet on disc but I
formatted it accidently. If I sent it
back do you think it would be
replaced?
Will there be any articles on
Amstrad selection on the *free' tape)
could have the option of buying
ACE with or without the 'free tape
Hence the magazine without the
tape would be cheaper.
0 Williams
Newtow
• Deep regret
I was from the moment I picked up
ACE annoyed' why! - well, a nice
free tape. Blue Max, a game I have
always required. the other side Gift
of the Gods. very kind of you. So
why am I annoyed, I will tell you
why. the free gift is for
COMMODORE users AGAIN. They
get free tapes often on THEIR own
mags, they get cheap reduced
games in all local shops, they get
hundreds of new games released
for Commodore. We AMSTRAD
464 owners (tape) get very few new
games out, our mags are the last to
appear on the newsagent shelves,
we get far fewer war games and
flight combat games. What do you
do for us/ Give a nice free cassette
to the Commodore users. What's
wrong with AMSTRAD users, we
never get a free game? I like BLUE
MAX. I like ACE 2 but you never
give nothing to us Amstrad owners.
Your ad for ACE 2 says available
for every computer except
AMSTRAD owners. I deeply regret
I ever chose Amstrad Computer, I
didn't realise the Commodore would
be a better buy. More games
available, and more free gifts.
P Hall
Basildon
Very angry
Well you're only two issues old and
already you've made me angry:
issues I and 2, free games
cassettes for lucky old Speccy and
Commodore users. What about all
LETTERSI
sprites in the future? I would like to
use them in my programs, but I
haven't a clue how. I hope the mag
stays brilliant,
Smurf
Dublin
Yes the Pilg iS the same as in AA
If you explain clearly what
happened to your disk, then the
supplier will probably replace it We
may well be covering sprite
creation in the Graphics section in
the future.
• Binders
Now ihat ACE has gamed a loyal
following due to the magazine's
conciseness and humour (??) how
us Arnolds? Well you say, you can
have an Amstrad game at E8 off.
Ok says I, here's my E6.95 send me
Star Games on disk. Sorry, comes
your reply, no Star Games on
Amstrad dish, cop your E6.95 back.
Hang on a minute though, just
because you now say you can't
supply what you first offered to do,
why didn't I get offered a second
choice? This way I feel Ne been
cheated out ol my E8 off
introduction offer. As far as I am
concerned it stinks! I hope you can
investigate this sad affair for me.
R A Adams
Welwyn Garden City
Well, life is pretty tough for
Amstrad CPC owners these days.
But we did offer a pretty good
alternative to the cover games -
i.e. massive savings on new
games. The idea of selling the
mag cheaper without the games is
a nice one, but thoroughly
impractical, I'm afraid Mr. Adams'
complaint about Star Games is a
justified one, we were told by
Gremlin that the compilation would
appear on Amstrad disk, but they
changed their minds - too late for
us to do anything about it in the
magazine. You could, of course,
send the money back to our subs
department and claim another
game. If you feel very strongly
about it - if. for instance, you
subscribed simply on the strength
of the Star Games bargain - then
well refund your subscription.
Two final points: the amazng
competition on the cover of this
issue should appeal to all
computer owners,' and in our next
issue we hope once again to have
a very attractive proposition for
everyone, irrespective of race
colour, creed or computer.
Advanced Computer Entertainment 2 5
LETTERS

about something to ensure that the

magazine can still be read in the
21st century a binderil
You're entitled to your opinion,
Don Even if it is wrong. But we still
aren't going to print listings.
COVER
I now have a rapidly growing
collection at ACE and would like to
preserve this in a suitable
receptacle - a binder'
1 Cat-astrophe
Could you please help me? My cat
COMPETITION
The above article would cost came into my bedroom 2 months
0
approx E4.95 and would be in a ago and knocked my good old Superlatives fail me for this latest ACE
suitably tasteful colour (black, red, Amstrad keyboard off the monitor
blue, white, gold. etc). It would have which was on the floor and broke competition; brilliant, fantastic,
the capacity to hold up to 12 the Shift and Del keys. Do you know incredible,amazing,otherworldly....they just
glorious issues and would be if I Can buy some new ones? if so, aren't strong enough, because in
available to the public before the where? Keep up the good work
end of your first year lads.
conjunction with Silica Shop we're giving
Philip Latham Stuart Gayns away FIVE Amigas, plus FIFTY superb
Cheshire Welling software titles. The whole kit and caboodle
is worth nearly 0,000 at street prices.
They're or) their way - probably in We don't know of anyone in your
a couple of issues' time. And they'll neck of the woods: we suggest you
cost something like the figure you try the shop where you bought the
machine I f that doesn't bring any
1st Priz e
suggest.
joy try Amstrad. Or you could The tastiest prize in the competition is
phone some of the people who
Who's the creep? advertise Spectrum and Amstrad AMIGA 500
Your competitions are brill. I love repairs in vanous magazines.
the glossy cover How about some
1081 COLOUR MONITOR
typeinsl And who the hell is the 50 SOFTWARE TITLES
weirdo on the cover of the
November Issue? • PC please
Mac Where magaz,nes tall down is their Runners Up
Eastcole treatment at the IBM PC, I accept FOUR runners up MI each receive
that the PC has virtually no usable
Listen. Mac - the weirdo's got your sound capabilities, but Starglider AMIGA 500
number, so don't go sayin• no more doesn't suffer when compared to
mean things about him. OK? the 8-bits and the gameplay is TV MODULATOR
equally as good as the ST.
What I'm basically asking tor is
5 SOFTWARE TITLES
Are listings a bore?
Listings are not 'a bore' - to the some serious coverage, not lust a
That's a whole lot ofentertainment for five fortunate people. But we're
unemployed - which, thankfully, I passing reference to a 'boring old
PC clone'. How can 16-bil8MHZ not giving something for nothing - you're going to have to work hard
am not. They help pass the lime
half-a-megabyte memory computer to win these pnzes, and that word square on the front cover is no
and give software to people who doddle. Full details of how to enter are on the card, but remember
would not otherwise normally be with 16 colour hi•res graphics be
bonng? that the closing date for entries is Friday December l i th, Winners
able to afford anything but a little
Roger Cope will be announced in our February 1988 issue, on sale real early in
budget software. They also teach
Exeter January of the new year
such people how programs are put
together; who knows, an
Were trying to provide that
The Hot 50
unemployed listings freak may
suceed in writing a good game and coverage; one PC game is Here's a complete rundown of the software the word-square
reviewed in this issue, and others winners will be playing on their Amigas.
get off the dole. Don't knock listings,
are mentioned in our Updates All prizewinners will get
please'
Don Griffin pages. We'll try to cover all PC Marble Madness, Goldrunner, Karate Kid 2, Barbarian
London games released.
In addition, the winner of the first prize will receive
Ogre Knight Orc Nima Mission
Ultima 3:Exodus The Pawn Mouse Trap
Monkey Business Silicon Dreams Plutos
Borrowed Time Starglider Silent Service
Hacker Winter Games Shanghai
Hot--1) ot Mindshadow Championship Tass Times in
, CroT -r o F I NI SH
SUSI' Arena Baseball Tonet own
I t A or,1
Brataccas Championship Challenger
1TOMA R. out , n) 13E_ k o Deep Space Football Cruncher Factory
S E Terrorpods Championship Demolition
1-10Nt E ST Guild of Thieves Basketball Dr Fruit
C , Jewels of Darkness Gnome Ranger Final Trip
Phalanx
3 u S T inNE PR.
Leader Board
Leader Board
MotZ.E ( 7 - 0 •
Tournament Disk
Famous Course Disk
PLEA5E Snooper
King's Quest 3
Space Guest
Sky Fighter
Thatdream prize Space Battle
Adventure
- the Amiga500
muzgoason
- i9e7
26 W Computer Entertainment
Advanced
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 ARCA
r ARCADE

Andy Smith reports from

high in the skies on the

DE
latest aerial combat
games zooming in to the
coin-ops; Skywolf and
After Burner send his
adrenalin soaring to new
heights.

AFTERBURNER else scrolls around it. Just i n front of y our

Sega
20p per game/50p for three
Upright cabinet version
This game created something of a fuss when
it appeared - largely because tt was play ed
in a roc k ing a n d rolling s it -down c abinet
that gav e the player a real sensation of high
speed mile-high action. But h o w does t he
upright version shape up?
The unus ual pric e set-up of t he g a me
means t hat f or 20p y ou get t hree planes,
and for 50p you get nine. These are all used
up one after t he other; y our 50p ac t ually
gets you one mega-game rather t han three
separate ones.
Hav ing deposited y our c hoic e of c oin
you grab hold of t he large met allic ioystick
in one hand and the throttle control in t he
other and from then on in it's just solid action
all the way. You control a iet fighter fl ying
low o v e r c h a n g i n g s c enery c ont inually
scrolling t owards y ou. Y o u r v i e w o f t h e
plane is from just behind, and it stays more
or less central to the screen while everything
plane is a small white square - your sight for
firing your t wo weapons at the inc oming jets
that are hell-bent on blowing you out of t he
skies.
Your tirst we a p o n is t he V u l c a n Gun,
basically a rapid-fi re c annon. The
second we a p o n (ac t iv at ed b y a
separate but t on on t he joystick) is
your heat -s eek ing missiles. Wh e n
you g o fl y ing t oward t he enemy ,
your sights will lock ont o a target
and t he mac hine SCIECEMS FIRE at
you. You then let loose wit h a mis-
sile whic h will rocket toward the target while
you b a n k lef t -right i n a (us ually v a i n )
attempt to dodge the missiles that have been
fired against you.
In the top right comer is a very simple
catiticial horizon which is a guide to the posi-
tion of y our plane relat iv e t o t he ground.
1 -----
' sometimes b r e a t h t a k i n g
A i Stage One - skimming over
11 the ocean and irs time io test
9 111
With the enemy c oming at y ou from in front
and behind, the action is sheer. unmit igat ed
destroy-and-sunrive stuff. The only rest y ou
get during the game is when a large plane
flies overhead and releases a cable. allowing
your plane t o aut omat ic ally loc k ont o t he
cable a n d re-fuel. This happens
whenev er y o u get l o w o n f uel
and the player doesn't part iapale
in any way.
After Burner's graphics a r e
astounding; v apour trails from the
mimies, t he g r o u n d landscapes
and explosions are breathtaking
The scrolling is not quite so hot, when you're
fl ying along at Mac h 159 or whatever, then
the scrolling is superb, but should you get hit
and go plummet ing t oward Terra Firma then
as y ou lose speed t he scrolling gets wors e
and becomes v ery jerk y a n d v ery bloc k y
For t he impression of s peed a n d n o holds
barred action t hen After Burner is a winner.
but it will take you a fair few goes to get the
hang of t he controls. However, despite the-
graphics, it really is no more
than a n a v e r a g e a r c a d e
shoot-em-up 11 you don't play
the sit-down version

1111
1r
4 7
' 1
1

Stage Iwo - back on and and you're

locked onto a target. Get ready to loose Siage Three - strafing the surface ot
off a heat seeking missile then bank The water may be fun built won't help
sharply to avoid Incoming lire ,routo live any longer

MI R;
2 8 Advanced Computer Entertainnteert

That Hercules is dropping pilots for the enemy lets so b - r n out 01 the skies
SKYWOLF
K&G Co.
20p per game
This fast and furious shoot-ern up has you at
the controls of an up-to-the-minute helicopter
whirlybirding around a number of parallax
scrolling landscapes.
You're armed wit h two weapons. a front-
firing cannon and torpedoes (activated wit h
sepercrte but t ons ) a n d y o u r
obective is simply to reach t he
end of eac h s t age Thcrt's not
going to be easy beccruse you're
up against a constant bc mage
of fl ak f rom bot h airborne a n d
ground-based installations. A t
the end of the stage a heli-pad
appears a n d t he play er lands
on this to re-fuel before setting off for more
action
The enemy at t ac k us ing a v ariet y of
weapons inc luding huge missiles that c ome
flying over hills in the background. a n d air-
craft that c ome screaming across the screen
toward y ou A quic k blast wit h y our front
A R C A D Esi
The tanks have reduced you 10 that pile of rubbish in
the screen
cannon wi l l soon despertch most of t he air-
borne assailants but you'll hav e to drop tor-
Builseye A l the end oil the first section you ve
pedoes t o des t oy any t hing on t he ground.
These ground targets include tanks that rum-
despatched the last of the enemy
ble onto the screen and tire salvo after salvo
of deadly missiles at you Onc e you get a lit-
tle way Into t he game several s mall people
appear o n t h e g r o u n d r u n n i n g s mart ly
toward their lets whic h are lined up along a
runway. Dropping torpedoes on these chaps
may seem a little cruel but at least it means
they can't c limb into their cockpits and come
chasing after you.
Extra weapons are av ailable
from time to time in t he shape of
green parachutes that appear on
the s c reen, c o l l e c t i n g t h e s e Happiness is an end of level heioad You
much1:11 a breather though Wore you have t
before t hey fl oat t o t he ground yoursell into the nest stage
increases y o u r f e e p o we r a n d
makes your p b a little easier.
The scenery chcmges for each
stage. a d d i n g v a r i e t y t o t h e ,.. ill
game a n d giv ing y ou s omet hing t o work d hot in the c o m
toward. Sk y woll isn't t he mos t as t ounding ,
, erlophobe. It you get the chance to look over
game graphic ally but its very tough and its meone's
o p s ashoulder t while t here playing the
very addictive. Onc e you get used to fl ying t e, hyou'll
e be contused by what appears to
your c hopper and learn some of the forma- m a strangely
o m deformede man blasting away at
bons of the attacking craft the game just gets 1 am
_,. r gne green
t balls. In fact, the man is crawling
better and better. around
i in alien-infested
s corridors in which he's
ENO too tall to stand up. Its an interesting game,
PHO and we hope to report on it in more detail in a
future edition of ACE.
Stage Five - the tension mounts as yo BE
., FACT: the word xenophobe means 'one who
wait anxiously for the inevitable attac fears or hales foregpers.' Sick, sick, sick.
to be made against you. M
1. 11111116
FREESOFTWARE!
n't forget that we're awardingsoftware prizes
or the best arcade game tips we print each
onth. In the last issue Paul Walsh's tips on
oiling Thunder earned him a free copy of
enegade for his Spectrum; you could be next!
ndyour gems,stating whichcomputer you
wn, to Arcade Tips, ACE, 4 QueenStreet, Bath,
AdvancedCernputerEntertainment 2 9
 Ini;Tos
6717
.

IPO W,C.Po ro
1.02
,O P L . I r
e6 •3a 7 , 0 8

1
1

AVAILABLE FOR SPECTRUM, AMSTRAD CPC & COMMODORE 64

Bobsleigh is a spectacular simulation of a fast and dangerous
Winter Olympic Sport.
Equip your team, set up your bob and go for the perfect run.
Practise on all major tracks with an unrivalled feeling of
1 speed and cornering until you are ready for the World Cup Watchmoor Trade Centre,
and Olympic Games. Watchmoor Road.
Camberley, Surrey
Join the Olympic team and go for gold! GUIS 3A.I
 Sampling
Safari
Mark Jenkins looks into the
world of sonic skullduggery...
Sound s ampling has dominat ed t he music
business over the last couple of years, insinu-
ated itself into the world of computers (both
for games and 'serious software) and looks
set to provide a healthy income for a whole
battery of legal t y pes i n t he near future.
Whars cooking?
First and foremost, s ampling is hot news
and that means big money. What were talk-
ing about is pinching real sounds and using
them for y our own applications - in music.
games o r business. A lit t le dis c ret ion i s
required. howev er - if t he original s ound
belonged to someone else for one reason or
another (say, if it's an entire snatch f rom a
song), t hen t he owner c ould iushfi ably b e
annoyed at your use of it
To 'sample' a sound you need, depend-
ing o n y our requirements a n d budget, t o
select your equipment from a whole range of
options, horn a cleverly programmed home
micro to a costly dedicated musical device,
or a whole computer-based k ey board sys-
tem wh i c h c o u l d s et y o u b a c k a r o u n d
E100,000. Well be looking at all three cate-
gories i n t h e c oming pages - wi t h t h e
emphasis firmly on the affordable end of the
market.
Casio'sSk2100 - 12 m em I swripies * * m g oplieris
Poraround11115. Sol w i n lamim Itie Nature
Sa m pling history
Sound sampling has been around ever since
the inv ent ion 01 t l V? gramophone rec ord
John Cage i n his 'I maginary Landscapes'
compositions h a d t h e mus ic ians mo v i n g
gramophone needles around on a disc years
before t h e mo d e m scratchin' t ec hniques
were invented in the States.
When magnetic tape bec ame c ommon
around t he time of the Second World War,
composers quic k ly s a w it s pot ent ial a n d
began to incorporate short t aped sounds or
long repeat ed loops int o classical av ant -
garde pieces Karlheinz Stockhausen, Edgar
Varese and Pierre Boulez were the main cul-
prits here, and most of the results were pretty
unlistenable,
This 'Musique concrete' (concrete music)
developed musicians' desires t o be able t o
use full, rich, nat ural sounds i n their more
experimental compositions A s w e k now,
electronic musical instruments have difficulty
In sounding nat ural and full, a n d it wasn't
long before some compromise was achieved.
This came in the form of the Mellotron, devel-
oped by a fi lm in Birmingham called Streetly
Ellectorucs This keyb:cud played long sets of
tape strips - one three-track tape under each
key. The tapes had been iciboriously record-
ed w i t h s et s o f ins t rument s s u c h a s
Cellos/fl ute/Choir, o r Brass/Organ/Violins.
so play ing the keys could result in enormous
orchestral sounds The Musicians' Union was
Immediately u p i n arms - t hey s a w t he
Mellotron replac ing wh o l e orchestras f o r
some jobs - and certainly early users such as
The Moody Blues, Tangerine Dream, Mi k e
° Afi eld a n d Kraf t werk w e r e a c h i e v i n g
effects wit h t he Menotion whic h a conven-
tional orc hes t ra
would be
hard-put to match.
But t he Me llotron h a d problems - t he
tapes s t ret c hed a n d s n a p p e d a n d t h e
mac hine as a whole ! ended t o go out of
tune. Shealy t ied to stabilise the instrument
but what was really needed was a reliable,
no-moving-parts eletronic met hod of record-
ing the sounds in the first place. Professionals
in t h e a u d i o t es t e q u i p me n t fi e l d h a d
already realised that it was possible to record
a sound in tiny sections - 'sample' it - and
store the results as a stream of numbers, but
the cost of memory at that time imposed seri-
' o u s limitations. At first, therefore, only short
sounds c ould b e stored, wh i c h ex c luded
choirs, flutes and strings What the memory
chips could manage, however, was a couple
of drums. That's wh y t he first c ommerc ial
sampled mus ic al ins t rument wa s a d r u m
mac hine - the Linn IM-1, The Linn is still In
use today, sounding ten times more authen-
tic t han t he dic k y -boom boxes previously
available, and its designer Roger Linn is still
around. now working for Akm.
Around t he s ame t ime as t he Linn. a n
Australian c o m p c m y c a l l e d F m r l i g h t
launched t h e C O (Computer Musi cal
Instrument) whi c h was c apable of longer
sampling times, allowed the user to capture
sounds himself, c ould arrange sounds int o
long sequences to compose tunes, a n d cost
around E18,000. The latest Series DI CM1 now
costs E55.000. Nex t u p was t he Emulator,
from the Americ an c ompany E-Mu. Lacking
most of t he Fairlight s c omplex facilities, i t
simply recorded one sound for the top half of
its keyboard. one sound for the bottom, a n d
a short sequence using one or both sounds, E-
Mu too are still around and now onto their
Senes III model.
M ic r o S a m pling
As micro computers became popular, some
manufacturers c reat ed s ampling add-ons,
but these were usually monophonic - play-
ing only one note at a time as opposed to six,
eight o r e v e n s ix t een. T h e Ens oniq
Mirage Key board smashed s ampling
price bamers - it doesn't hav e v ery
long sampling times but arranges the
orvalloble memory i n v ery efficient
ways. Then Ak af s range of budget
samplers, wh i c h don't h a v e a k ey -
bomd at all (they hav e to be controlled
from a k ey bc ard or c omput er v i a a MI DI
interface) came onto the scene, whic h takes
us more or less up to the present day.
The emphasis in the world of s ampling
nowadays is fourfold. longer sampling times,
higher play bac k quality, lower prices a n d
larger s a mp l e libraries. Th e f ac t i s t h a t
although sampling your own sounds is very
Knisfying, i t c a n b e time-consuming, a n d
hav ing hundreds of sounds already on disk
ready to be called up is practically vital for
the working scrmplencrut
Below we've looked at a f ew sound sam-
plers from a f ew pounds to a f ew thousand
pounds - the held is so busy nowaday s that
there's a sampler to match every need
Advanced Computer Entertainment 3 1

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come face to face with the f earSOMeDragon and watch
out for the Death Curse of the c o 11. d e s ,
acid puddles, forcefields and moving exits make
your progress all the more difficult, But there are
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your powers to repel the monsters. walk
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""IN

.( A ll toolanuo w a l e / a e o n gr iponk in 1
SCREENSHOTS FROM ATARI ST VERSION

ATARI ST
SPECTRUM 48/128K
E8.99TAPE E19.99DISK
AMSTRAD
CBM 64/128
0 0 E9.99TAPEE14.99D
 MUSI C I

SpecDrum/AmDrum Microvox 64
Cheetah Marketing Supersoft
These two units turn either your Spectrum or This MIDI-compatible unit for the C64 can be
Amstrad into a drum s ample play er (whic h play ed horn t he mic ro keyboard or f rom a
you can use to take your own samples if you synth or sequencer. It offers very high quality
buy an optional add-on) to arrange sampled and several additional features such as echo
sounds and play them back in long patterns. and pitch shifting The software, arranged in
Both packages come with large numbers Logical pages.. allows you to take a sample,
of sounds on disk or tape and are av ailable edit it t o length. store it a wa y on dislectnd
through Boots and other well-k nown comput- replay it in various ways Alt hough Microvox
er stockists The basic package comprises an c an only mak e one sound at a lime, it is pos-
Cheetahsampledtor the Spectrum
interlace whic h acts as a digital-to-analog sible to mak e up to 16 different sounds alter-
drum patterns, a n d c an play t hrough y our
convertor, t o t urn digits bac k int o audible micro monitor or hi-fi nate - so you can create complete drum pat-
sounds. The packages c an c ope wit h t wo terns as l o n g a s n o t wo sounds a r e pro-
In eac h CrICP you c an start by choosing
sounds simultaneously. wh i c h i s a l l y o u grammed to coincide
the sounds you want , mak ing up basic pat-
need f or v e r y c onv inc ing a n d powerf ul
terns, and storing t hem in memory. Patterns
can be composed in 'step time' (where every
beat is the scene length) or real time' (where
you play in the beats 'live and the computer
shows up even the slightest mistake in y our
lirrung
1 New kits of sounds for the SpecDrum and
).
AmDrum are being released r e g
-
there's even a Users Club You could try out
the
u l c'Latin
c r l y ,Kit aan d nEditor
d o r 'Electra Kit and
Editor whic h cost E3.99 and SA 99 respective
ly. The 'editor' section allows you to c ombine
sounds from different kits to create your own Mam e Or the CU- useful kit, usetul price
distinctive combination of drums. Supersoft have issued a sample library of
Playback qualit y is on a par wit h drum 123 (E29.95) sounds spread over five double-
machines costing around £300, so the pack- sided disks 'Orc hes t ral a n d Strings', W i n d
ages erm be highly recommended and Brass', Guitars and Basses'. Drums and
Percussion', 'Keyboards a n d Miscellaneous'
Sampling Optiona
Most of these are very impressive, and giv e
Editing lPattern Editing you all y ou c ould ev er want t o create f ull
Ease of Use Good
Cheelah's Aratirom turns the Amstrad into a sampled drum orchestral pieces in conjunction wit h a foul-
machine Price E24 95
track portastudio.
A c omplet e Mic rov ox system is around
S a m pling Glos s a r y E.200 but supplies are a little unev en now.
There are a f ew about on the second-hand
The world of sound sampling is lull of battling terminology - here it all is, explained as simply as pos- market and they can be highly recommend-
sible, so you'll find it easer to understand the sales talk - and follow the user's manual once you ,'ve ed for C64 users who want t o get int o sam-
made your choice, pling
Sample time Sampling 2s at 10kHZ
The longest sound the unit can play back, as determined by the amount of memory it has available. Editing Envelopes
On many samplers, the total available can be split up into two, four, or more shorter samples. MIDI assignment
Ease of Use Fair
There's a trade-off with Playback Bandwidth (see below) though - you can gel a longer playback
Price MOO
if you're happy with a lower bandwidth. For example - your Akabishi SM-1 Sampling Machine may
offer one second of playback with the same quality as a Compact Disc, but you'd get eight seconds if
you're willing to have a sample which sounds as if it's being transmitted over a telephone line.
SK2 100
Playback Bandwidth
Casio
Otherwise known as Frequency Response, and determined by the highest pitch (or audio frequency)
with which the sampler can cope. A sampler with 8kHz (eight thousand Hertz or cycles per second)
Casio. t h e people wh o c reat ed t he whole
bandwidth could sound fairly reasonable; 10kHz is bener, 16kHz or more is ideal, Anything with
around 4kHz will sound like a telephone ALL the time and shouldn't be considered for portable keyboard market, are also the peo-
semi-professional use ple wh o ma d e s ampling keyboards afford-
able. At the budget end of their range is the
Sampling Rate SK-1, whic h sells for only 9 9 - although lim-
ited in some ways, it will teach y ou all the
According to an obscure piece of physics called Nyquist's Law, a sound sampler has to look at an
basics of sampling technique.
incoming sound at least twice as often as the highest pitch it wants to reproduce_ So a sampler with
At t he t op of C a w s port able s ampler
an 8kHz bandwith should have a sampling rate of 17kHz (to be on the sate side). With low-quality
samplers you'll often see the Sampling Rate quoted instead of the Bandwith - it looks better' range i s t he SK2100 T h e 2100 has f our
octaves of full-sized keys, play s eight-note
Keyboard Node polyphonically, a n d i n t radit ional port able
keyboard style, features melody and pattern
Some polyphonic samplers such as the Akai S700 and S900 are also multi-timbral, meaning that
memones,20 aut o rhythms. 2 programmable
each voice can play a different sound simultaneously. This means that you can play back a whole
rhythms. single-fi nger chords, d r u m till-ins
composition on just one sampler. Other keyboard modes include Split la different sound on the otp
and synchro-start (so t hat ac c ompaniment
and bottom halves of the keyboard) and Layer (or Dual) where two sounds are played
simultaneously_ starts as soon as you hit a key)
On t h e s ampling side, t h e 2100 c a n
record a sound through its built-in mike, icop

SK AdvancedComputerEntertainment 3 3
 it, reverse it. transpose it to a new key, alter
its v olume envelope and store it ev en while
the power is off S a mp l e d sounds c an b e
play ed poly phonic ally and max imum Sam-
pie t ime is just over 3 seconds at 10.113kHz
sampling r a t e (about 5k Hz play bac k f re-
quency response)
You can spht up the sample memory into
tour shorter sections and use these as addi-
tional percussion sounds. The 2100 cdso fea-
tures 12 upper k ey board s y nt h sounds. 10
lower keyboard synth sounds. and four built-
in sampled sounds.
At £425 t he 2100 offers great v alue for
money and would be useful for home. ama-
teur, arid semi-professional applications. The
two main disadvantages are that y ou c ant
save sounds t o disk (y ou'd h a v e t o c arry
around a cassette tape of the original and re-
sample at on stage) and that there's no MIDI
input.
If y ou hav e less cash t o spend, t ry t he
SK200, s imilar but wit h miniat ure keys and
half t he s ample t ime f or £279. t h e SK 100
whic h has mono rather than stereo speakers
for £225. or the basic SK-1, a t iny low-not e
polyphonic hand-held sampler for lust £99
Sampling 3 2s at 5kHz
Editing Reverse loop
envelope
Ease of use Very good
Price Under E425
S900 System
Aka'
The S900, launc hed just over a year ago, is
still flavour of the month wit h many pro- and
semi-pro studios and musicians. You'll some-
times see it in a studio's effects rack because
it doesn't hav e a keyboard, t o play it, you'll
need a mi c r o wi t h s equenc ing s of t ware
and/ or a MIDI mother keybcccrd such as the
Akai AX73.
If you buy an S900, mak e sure you hav e
the latest Version 1.2 fi rmware whic h allows
you to use the mac hine more effectively for
replacing drum sounds, to ignore MIDI sound
change commands, t o respond t o MIDI vol-
ume d a t a a n d s o on. A l s o av ailable is
Software Version 59V2.0. whic h comes on an
optional disc at around S50. This adds t en
new functions whic h go by such arcane titles
as I mprov ed O n e Shot Mo d e . Dy nc t mic
Filtering wit h Attack, Adjus t able Crossfade
Time Skew. and Key Group Copy - to name
but a few.
me
AKA' Z e • - 5 0 0 the same rate they were s ampled I t s great
LI L i Lir L i L i L i
AIM'S S900 - 12-bit samplingfrom 7
, S hl l r t o
3 4 Advanced
4 0 k Computer
fl z . Entertainment
Sample Applications
At the basic level - such as the Music Sales C64 sampler - you'll be sound sampling mainly as a
novelty. Surprise and amuse your friends by pinching their dulcet tones arid playing them backwards.
sideways. or three octaves higher than normal_ Making someone sound like Pinky and Perky is a
great social leveller_
If you're an amateur musician, some of the more advanced packages such a the Microvox sam-
pler will be genuinely useful it you want bass guitar sounds, but can't play bass. or would like a whole
orchestra to perform in your front room.
On the other hand, you can still pay quite a lot of money (for instance, for some of the Atari ST
packages) for a sampler which is of no musical use at all, mainly because you can't control the pitch
of the sample in any musically meaningful way. So be warned.
With a little programming knowledge you should be able to incorporate sampled sounds into
micro games of your own devising, and of course being able to do-it-yourself is handy if your taste
runs to screams and explosions rather more blood-curdling than the software industry is currently will.
ing to provide. There are serious applications too - for speaking to the disabled or offering user feed-
badi in industrial control applications where its impossible to keep one eye on the micro's monitor.
The S900 offers eight-note polyphonic or Pro Sound Designer
multitimbra) s a mp l i n g a n d p l a y b a c k a t
Eidersoft Ltd
around lbicliz response. Samples can be edit-
ed cis regards tuning, audio envelope, a n d
(wit h t he n e w software) synth-like fi ltering. Unlike other samplers av ailable for t he ST,
the Sound Designer int erlac e gets plugged
and y ou c an save sounds to a built-in 3.5'
disc cinve; a large LCD display gives a lam into t he printer port A nine volt battery is
idea of what's going on. required as the printer port doesn't offer any
Max imum s ampling t ime a t t elephone power Imes. Two jacks are present on t he
sampler. One for input t he other f or output.
quality is around 19 seconds, so you can use
the S900 f or music. s ound effects, o r ev en Boot up the software and hold your breat h
Delightful graphics appear. The software not
entire pieces of vocals (this saves on hav ing
only looks good it also performs well.
the bac k ing singers d o t he c horus fi fteen
Insert a lead from the headphone socket
tunes - you just pay t hem to do it once. stun-
pie t hem, a n d t rigger it oft whenev er y ou
need it).
It t ak es around t hirt y seconds f or t h e
5900 to load a full disc of sounds (which may
have up to a dozen or more sounds arranged
in various different k ey board setups) but a
Hard Disc option whic h will load any one of
hundreds of sounds in seconds is on its way
For the drummer, the optional ASK-90 circuit
board turns the S900 into a percussion sam-
pier whic h can be play ed back from pads or
tape clicks.
5900. AK73 Mother Keyboard. ASK-90 for
the drummer a n d Version 2 software - at
Pro-Sound's not lust a pretty face - that straight line In the upper
around £3000, t his system represents t he
window glees a graphic mad-out ot thesample pattern
state of the samplers art today.
of your hi-fi to the input jack of the sampler.
Sampling is at 16kHz play your Motorhead record (or recordings of
63s al 3kliz your voice, t he scratching of fi nger against
Editing Envelopes. beard. i n fact, a n y sound) and wat c h the
tuning filters. wav ef orm jit t er a r i d j i v e o n t h e s c reen
MIDI assignment Sounds ma y be s ampled at rates bet ween
dynamic fillers l o p 3Khz a n d 30Khz. A t 30Khz reproduction is
Ease of use Fair near-perfect - little distortion and no hiss, but
Price E1800 you o n l y hav e 8 seconds bef ore memory
nms out (sample t ime is trebled if a 1040 is
used). Admirable playback can be achieved
wit h 8Khz samples (which can last a good 30
• seconds). Sounds needn't be played back at
tun to sample someone wit h a deep voice crt
10101z culd play it back at 15Khz or more
There are t wo sections: t he sound sam-
•••• • • • • • •
pler a n d the added bonus of a sound c hip
4 editor, Al l functions are selected by clicking
on i c o n s P r e o r pos t -s ampling opt ions
0 include reverse play bac k . cut. transparent
copy. block oopy, magnify, de-magnify. loop
1
f and alter record or playback speeds Clev er
use of t he edit ing (cut-and-paste) features
l can produc e startling effects. For example.

section. (it the sample may be transparently
copied (merged) whic h results in great echo
effects - unfortunately loss of v olume occurs
when merging Samples and sounds created
from the chip editor may be saved and load-
ed a l leisure Eidersoft als o a l l o w y o u t o
incorporate creations wit hin y our o wn pro-
grams and listings and examples are plenti-
ful in a variety of languages.
Both home enthusiasts and professionals
- es pec ially s inc e a M i d i s ampler a n d
sequencer package, Pro Midi at £16.95. for
use w it h PTO So 1111a LS ( M a ila b le - w i l l fi n d Pro
Sound appealing I t has ev ery t hing neces-
sary for qualit y s ound a n d effects produc-
tion
Sampling 30kHz 30s r:
5kHz
Editing Comprehensive
Ease of use Excellent
Price 159 95
Mart( Jenkins
Next month...
...a Christmas extravaganza as we check
out MIDI compatible keyboards_ What they
can do. how they sound, how much they
cost, and which one you should be asking
Santa for...
...PLUS the delayed final instalment of our
MIDI Made Simple course and t he intro-
duction of our MIDI Panel of Experts.
ChSiO'SC2101; in old MIDI tavourite with bop of third party
support. Does your Christmas stocking deserve it? Or should
you go tor one of the flashier new contenders on the market?
Check out next month's Buyers' Guide to Ind the right
weapon in the soured wars.
Michael Downey checks out
an unassuming looking piece
of kit that offers 32 note
polyphony,
eight sound patterns simulta-
neously, plus reverb —and all
in glorious stereo.
If you have been f ollowing the music section
in the last t wo issues of ACE you will k now
that, wit h the correct MIDI interface and soft-
ware, it is possible to compose music on you:
micro and play it back through up to sixteen
iepiercrte synthesisers simultarieously. T h i s
MU SIC
Conclusions
Coming up with some conclusions about the fast-moving world of sound sampling is pretty difficult as
some instrument or package is bound to be released every few weeks which could turn the whole
scene on its head. However_ depending on your exact needs, there are a few stand-out items around
at the moment.
Fun and Games
Best to check Out the Cheetah SpecDrum and AmDrum for drum enthusiasts. You could also hunt
around for a second-hand Music Sales Commodore Sound Sampler if you're keen on silly noises,
echo effects. and general horsing about. Right at the bottom of the scale you'll find a 11.99 package
called Micro-Rhythm from Firebird Silver for the C64. which plays back sampled drum sounds and
offers basic arrangement possibilities but not - hardly surprisingly at the price - the chance to do your
own sampling.
Playing With Music
Again, the Music Sales Sound Sampler for the C64 which will store and replay short sounds and also
offer echo and pitch shifting effects. It's great value for money at well under 1100. but the proposed
MIDI interface to make it more controllable never did appear.
Semi-Pro Music
There are a couple of sampler add-ons for micros which are just about usable for semi-pro music -
the monophonic Microvox for the C64 being one example. But your best bet here is to invest in a
MIDI interface for the C64, BBC, Amstrad of Spectrum (from EMR, XRI, Steinberg, Datel or others)
plus some sequencing software and a MIDI sampler such as the Akai S612 (6-note polyphonic, load
irig from Quick Discs). now at 1350 or so even less second-hand.
Audio Experimentation
A few sound samplers are set up more for audio demonstrations and experimentation than for mu m
Examples include the Barry Box for the BBC and Master Series, and to some extent the Eidersoft Pro
Sound Designer for the Atari ST.
Serious Music
Serious samplers benefit from being controlled by a micro computer with sequencing software and a
MIDI interface, Front runners are the Altai S900, the E-Mu Emax (16-note multaimbral, with or without
keyboard, 12500), the Sequential Prophet 2002 Plus, or any one of a number of pro instruments
available in keyboard or module form, Call Chromatix (01-229 2041) for more advice.
Tax Avoidance
Your accountant tells you that you've earned much too much money this year. It's March 31st - the
new tax year starts in the morning! Quick! You gotta offload some of that spare cash' Nip down to
Turnkey (Brent View Road. London NW(, 01-202 4366). Ask Dave Whittaker for a demo of the BIG
Synclavier sampling system - you know, the one with the keyboard, the monitor, the quadruple
Winchester hard disk drives, the built-in modem, the advanced music programming language, the
polyphonic sampling and stereo output options. Write out a cheque for 1100,000. Phew' That was a
close one!
take y ou long t o work out t hat t o gain 32
note poly phony you must use simple sounds
containing one partial only. The more com-
plex, arid interesting sounds can use up to 4
partials, reducing polyphony accordingly.
Also inc luded, f or good measure, a r e
thirty sampled percussion sounds and a digi-
may h a v e c apt iv at ed y o u r imaginat ion tal rev erb t o mak e t he whole t hing sound
enough to enquire about the cost of buy ing like you're play ing in a large (or small) hall
sixteen sythesisers (1 hope y ou were sitting All this for less then the cost of most modest
down at the time), prompt ly putting the idea synthesisers, E450 to be precise.
straight in the trash c an and nipping off to For your money you get an MT-32 power
your loc al software shop to console y o u r supply, o n e MI DI c able, t wo audio leads
in
s ea new game. Enter the Roland MT-32. (suitable f or c onnec t ion t o most hi-tit). a n
l f This unassuming lit t le blac k box c ould owner's manual, a plastic c ard whic h lists
be the most useful acquisition ever made for the 128 preset timbres and t wo useful lit t le
those wis hing to produc e more t han just a booklets; 'Guidebook to MIDI", for the novice,
few pops and squeaks from their micro. Th e and 'MT-32 MIDI Interpretation', for the pro-
MT-32 is multi-timbral and has the ability to grarnmer wh o wo u l d lik e t o c ommunic at e
act l i k e eight s eparat e synthesisers ov er more intimately wit h the MT-32's sound chip.
whic h a max imum of thirty-two notes can be Talking of sound chips, t he MT-32's uses the
play ed at a n y one time. Henc e the name same linec u arit hmet ic ( L A ) c h i p a s it s
The sounds (timbres) are made u p or 'par- famous big brother. t he Roland D-50 digit al
tials', of whic h there are 32, so that shouldnt synthesiser, whic h y ou may hav e heard on
AdvancedComputerEnter lament 35
 certain To p 40 records a n d numerous TV
adverts AB this means that the sound quali-
ty of the M1'-32 is very professional
The front panel contains a 20 character
back-lit L C D a n d remark ably f e w ( t e n )
switches a n d controls (well, c ont rol) f or a
mac hine t h a t c o n d o s o mu c h Th i s i s
because Roland have intended the MI -32 to
be used as a simple preset synth ex pander
wit h their home piano range of keyboards.
On the back panel are the two audio outputs
(stereo on the left and right), the power sup-
ply socket, t h e power on/ of f s wit c h and.
most important of all, the three MIDI connec-
tors (IN,011t,and THRU)
The front panel switches prov ide access
to the eight synthesiser parts, whic h are set
by default on MIDI channels 2 to 9. and the
rhythm part whic h is set on MIDI channel 10
The 30 percussion sounds wh i c h f orm t he
rhythm part are assigned t o different MI DI
note numbers (see diagram) and respond to
velocity f or a d d e d expression. Th e rot ary
control is multi-functional and allows you to
adjust the v olume of each part individually,
select one of t he 128 preset sounds t o be
used by each part, adjust the overall volume
(Or master volume), select one of 10 revert)
modes a n d t une t h e ov erall pit c h of t he
machine.
By connecting the MIDI I N of the MT-32
to the OUT of a MIDI interlace on your home
micro a n d n m n i n g s uit ably c ompet ent
sequencing software that allows you to enter
notes from the QWERTY keyboard or mouse.
you will be able to produce complete musi-
cal c ompos it ions wi t h v e r y h i g h q u a l i t y
C omplementar y
noises...
Although the Roland MT-32 is primarily aimed
at a different market it could become the
number one accessory for home micro users
aspinng to be musical. There are other units
on the market but none otter quite so much
for so little. One worthy of mention, however,
is the Yamaha TX811 Similarly priced at
E399, it will also produce eight separate synth
parts but only allows one note to be played at
a time by each part It uses Yamaha's
respected FM synthesis method but does not
contain any rhythm part or reverb The
sounds can, however, be programmed from
the front panel and it would serve as an
excellent complement to the MT-32 if more
than eight synth parts were required simulta-
neously.
Spot the box...
The MT32 is already getting on the road - think about it, for the price of a Roland D50 synth
you c ould get n o less t h a n t hree of t he blighters. A n y o n e f or 9 6 not e poly phony /
Roadmnner (pictured here) we obviously content wit h just one. for the moment. You can
see it nestling back there beside the trusty ST The band back up the Roland unit wit h an
Iconix sequencer and a Casio C2101. Graham Scoff, speaking for the b a n d says We play
mainly 50/60's Ma. but also more modem mat erial B y c ombining t he live sound of that
pencd wit h the modem technology of MIDI, we we able to produce a distinctive quality
live sound.' You can hear them at the Novotel computer show on the 21-23 November.
If you're stretching MIDI equipment to its limits on stage - or even lust in your basement -
ACE wants to hear f rom you. Send us a good b&w photo and t ell us all about yourselt.
Nothing like a spot of free publicity, eh chaps?
sounds, These could then be recorded direct- product a n d produc e some.. pretty quic k
The MT-32 warrant s some sort of c ombined
ly on to cassette wit h no further equipment
needed 11 y ou hav e even a basic k ey board sequencmg/sound edit ing s of t ware wh i c h
technique, t hen a MI DI k ey board might be
handy and can now be bought from as little Thank you letter
as £100 or so. The MT32 is selling so fast that even Roland
All of t he front panel's controls c an be weren't able to locate one in time f or this
overridden b y MI DI messages being s ent review. Our thanks therefore to Argents of
from a computer. This means that, wh e n a Denmark Street, London for the loan of afore-
song or sequence is play ed back. eac h part said instrument at very short notice.
can be programmed to revert t o its original
sound a n d v o l u me lev el wi t hi n t h e mi x should be released for all the popular borne
What's more, aspects of t he s ound c an b e computers Mec mwhile, for those wit h a thor-
altered t hat w e not possible f rom t he front ough grounding in basic MIDI programming
panel (such as adding vibrato and adjusting techniques, the 'MT-32 MIDI Implementcrhen
the stereo positioning of each pail). booklet will be of great v alue as it lists all the
This all leads up to t he subiect of MI DI v ariable paramet ers wi t h t heir respective
SysEx c ommands . I nex perienc ed program- SysEx codes
mers may have to be content to wait for suit-
able edit ing software before embark ing on
their own s y nt hes • Michael Downey
houses
i realise t he potential mark et f or this
s - l e t s
h o p e
t h e
s o f t
w a r e

liciancrsMT32 - small, unassuming, neat but bound to be a big nose in luture.

3 6 Advanced ComputerEntertainment
 OFTN
•

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jet
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gasped
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- he had entered
D
the Other World . "
E
t i 1 N
FIGH T TO survive
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4•••./
L
in a hostile alien
.
Y
world. Collect
,
energy-giving
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power pods as you

II
h
fly through eight
e
action-packed
levels, and seven
brilliant bonus
levels.

11
1 different
' weapons,
F including Quark
e Cannon,Wide
• a Beam and Lazer.
ltor Amstrad
u 'Smooth Scroll'.
r
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 GA MES GR A PH IC S S OU N D
Commodom Amigo The Arniga's custom sound hardware gives
The Amiga screen can be hardware-scrolled
PRICE (A500) enormous musical and game-sound power.
one pixel at a time either vertically or horizon-
£499 Inc VAT The four channels have fully definable wave-
tally. The system's dedicated graphics chips
TV modulator not included forms, and can be coupled so as to produce
also offer the games programmer eight 3-
colour hardware sprites, four 15-colour sprites amplitude- or frequency-modulated sounds -
or a mixture ot the two types. The Amiga's all this with very little processor effort. What's
ART GR A PH IC S 'Copper coprocessor lets you scroll separate
more the sound's stereo, with two channels
The Amiga offers the artist a range of 4096 screen windows in different directions, and each assigned to left and right.
colours. Typical art modes are: 320 dots wide
're-use' sprites so as to get many more than
x 200 lines high with 32 colours at once; 640
eight on screen at once.
dots x 200 lines with 16 colours at once; or
320 dots x 200 lines and all 4096 colours avail-
able at once (though with some restrictions) in
the Amiga's 'Hold-and-Modify' mode. A special
monitor will offer you 400 lines per screen
rather than the 200 above, and for video pur-
1poses you can extend the picture to the very
edges of the screen, eliminating the border
entirely_

PROCESSING POWER
As well as a 68000 central processor, every
Amiga has a built-in Witter. The blitter is a
chip designed to do repetitive, time consum-
ing jobs tar faster than the 68000 can: ifs par-
ticularly good at combining graphic images,
, drawing lines and filling shapes.

DISK C A P A C ITY
The Amiga's disk drive is double-sided as
standard, offering a hefty 880K formatted
capacity.

UPGRADESTAKES
3 8 AdvancedComputerEntertainment

A ta r i ST
PRICE ( 5 2 0 ST FM )
£ 2 9 9 Inc V A T
Plugs straight into TV
GA M ES GR A PH IC S
The ST has no hardware sprites. Vertical
scrolling is possible in hardware, but horizon-
tal scrolling has to be done in software - and
that uses an enormous amount of processing
power.
ART GR A PH IC S
The ST artist can choose from a range of 512
colours. 'Shifter, the ST's video chip, can only
manage two colour screen modes: 320 dots
wide x 200 lines high with 16 colours at once,
or 640 dots x 200 lines in 4 colours.
S OU N D
The sr s primitive sound chip is a close rela-
tive of the AY chip used In the Amstrad CPC
and Spectrum +2. Its three channels can only
produce square waves, so any fancy harmon-
ics, modulation etc have to be handled in soft-
ware - at considerable cost in processing
etfort. On the plus side, the ST has a built-in
MIDI interface making it a very attractive
machine for well-equipped musicians.
• Germany (an ST stronghold). the Ami ga
o on software availability - remember the
PR OC ESSIN G POWER
With a big (32K) screen to push around and
some rather unhelpful display hardware, the
STs 68000 is often left looking distinctly over-
worked. You can add a blitter to help out on
sprite operations and the like, but this lacks
the Amiga blitter's line and fill functions. Shore
seriously, because the blitter isn't built in
there's very little incentive for games pro-
grammers to use its extra power.
DISK C A P A C ITY
Double-sided ST drives can fit 720K onto a
disk, but an awful lot of STs only have smaller
360K single-sided drives. A 720K drive can
read a 360K disk but not vice versa, so com-
mercial software is sold on the smaller format.
Clearly you can't fit 520K of program on a
360K disk, so the situation's rather unsatisfac-
tory.
ore and more computer users
are u p g r a d i n g t o 1 6 - b i t
machines. Spectrum. Amstrad
and CO4 users are mov ing up
to At ari STs and Commodore
Amigos in droves, wi t h t he n e w Ac orn
Archimedes carrying others still further to
the duzying heights of 32-bit computing.
In t h e e a r l y d a y s o f t h e ST a n d
Amiga, a lot of the buyers were propellor-
heads' - t he land of techno-tiends wh o
buy mic ro-c hip kettles a n d t alk ing cars
out of a sheer love of gadgetry Propellor-
heads ar e nev er satisfied f or long, a n d
they've n o w mo v e d o n t o t he Arc hie
(Archimedes) wit h at least one eye on the
Next Big Thing (see box later in this arti-
cle). For the rest of us, however, upgrad-
ing is rapidly bec oming an essential con-
sideration for any one who wants to keep
abreast o f t he latest software dev elop-
ments, let alone the attraction of a more
powerful machine
Mc6t of us k now whars on offer, but
it's not enough to k now whic h of the new
machines y ou want - there t alway s the
nagging doubt as to whether you s hould
buy it For musicians or artists the choice
may be fairly clear, but for har dened
games players, or those of us wanting all-
round c om put e r enter tai nment, t h e
upgrade business is a good deal mor e
complicated. Will your ne w investment
be so much scrap plastic in a year's time?
Will software houses really come up with
the goods? Will there he lots of juicy add-
Ons tor it?
One thing's obvious - you don't want
to shell out a fortune for a machine and
find out that no-one else is buying it. But
it n o t just a question of which machine
sells well in the UK. Despite the great suc-
cess of t he ST i n Britaln, i n t he US t he
Amiga is now we ll ahead in sales. In
is also take an Increasing market share,
in Scandinavia, ST sales are rumoured to
be running at a poor fifth of the Amiga's.
So what7, you may say. but foreign
sales can have a strong long-term effect
Spectrum vs Commodore 64 battle, where
US imports of games slowly gave the 64
parity with the UK machine despite its
higher price? Even a high price in the UK
doesn't necessanly spell death for a micro
- t he BBC mac hine (in many way s a n
early equiv alent o f t h e Arc himedes )
attracted reasonable games sothvare sup-
port in the early days and an enormous
number of peripherals.
The fact is that bot h the Amiga and
ST are now fi rmly in place, and even the
pricey Arc himedes has a lot going for it
Certainly neit her t h e ST o r t h e n e w
Commodore is going to disappear tomor-
row, so you cuent going to be left with an
abandoned, unsupported or superceded
mac hine ii you take the plunge now. On
these pages you'll fi nd all the information
you n e e d t o help y ou ma k e t hat v it al
decision
AdvancedComputerEntertainment 3 9
 Flashoolnt Is not a quest to save the universe, or a mission to shoat everything in sight.
Flashpoint is a game; a game of strategy and speed enabling you to change both yours
and your opponents Mayfield in a 3-0 space-time contest.
A game of lightning action and re-action, you
decide where and when to do battle p o s i t i o n
quickly re - d e p l o y F a s t e r S c a n at speed.
New strategy for a new challenge F L A S H P 0 TNT!

d b Den t o n for ma xfolorn addiction and excitement.

 A r c him e de s
PRICE ( A 3 0 5 )
E804 inc V A T
Has mono video signal and RGB, but you'll
need a third-party modulator to use an Archie
with a standard TV

S OU N D
GAME GRAPHICS Although the Archie has sixteen sound chan-
nels arranged as eight stereo pairs, it takes a
The Archie has only one hardware sprite and \
no great deal of processor time and program-
e special games hardware as such. This real- ming effort to get any sort of sound out of
ly
, doesn't matter much, given the machine's
enormous processing power. them at all. The hardware also has a narrow
range - only six octaves - so this is definitely
Archie's weak spot.

1ART GRAPHICS
The Archie has a palette of 4096 colours. A
PR OC ESSIN G POWER
typical art mode would be 320 dots x 256 lines
with 256 colours on screen at once - much The Archie uses Acorn's very own ARM chip
as its central processor. The ARM can equal
more useful than the Amiga's restricted 'Hold-
the Amiga's blitter on any function you could
and-Modify mode - but you can get higher
name, beats it easily at most tasks and runs
resolution than that if your monitor's up to it.
rings round the poor old 68000.

DISK C A P A C ITY
The Archie comes with a double-sided drive
as standard, packing 800K onto a disk.

WHAT USE A R E TECH SPECS

Indus tr y O p i n i o n s A N Y WA Y ?

US GOLD: "All our major releases will go on to the ST. Were developing From t he diagrams y ou c a n see h o w t he
California Games and Gauntlet for the Amiga at the moment, but we're machines s hape u p technically, but this is
not converting everything. We'll see how sales go. We've no plans for only h a l l t h e story. Unles s y ou're a v ery
the Archimedes at pres ent , " heavy dut y programmer indeed, y ou'll b e
relying on the software y ou buy to use the
OCEAN Software Manager, Gary B r a c e r We are committing ourselves power of y our machine. The is a particular
A4 1 1 heavily to the 16-bit machines. The ST's our primary committment. but problem o n t he games side of things: t he
the Amiga will be getting about 80% of the stuff that the ST does. As f or Arniga's blitter and copper, for example, are
. 1 1
the Archimedes, it will need more of a market presence before we will no use to you at all if you can't find programs
- ) support it." that put t hem to work.
4 The main worry wit h t he Archimedes is
6 MIRRORSOFT Commercial Manager Bernard Grant:"You might say we whether there'll be very many games written
t o •l i f t R . pioneered 16-bit software in this country with product from Mindsacape, for it f ull stop. The A mi g a problem is more
and Spectrum Holobyle. We'll be putting everything on the ST and the
d Amiga. We've got no plans at the moment for the Archimedes."
subtle If you forget about its Ut t er, copper.
b scrolling and spntes, t he Amiga looks (to the
programmer) just like an ST The adjustments
. RAINBIRD spokesman Steve Perry was enthusiastic about t he new
needed to mak e an ST program run on an
•
‘e4„,..V machines and adamant that the company would NOT simply be porting
Amiga are very slight indeed, a n d f ew pro-
4 L I Z „ . ST conversions straight over to the Amiga. 'Dick Special was developed
a
on the Amiga and will be converted f or the ST. We also have plans for
grammers bother modif y ing their games dur-
ing conversion to use the Arrugas extra hard-
, the Archimedes, but of course it depends on the size of the market. We
expect it to behave a little like the Amiga did al first - starting slowly and
ware facilities

developing ov er a period of There's nowhere near the same problem

wit h art and music programs - one good art
tVIS,10 ACTIVISION ambassador Andy Wright "We'll be supporting the ST par- program c ould well be all you'll ever need,
ticularly t his Christmas, but of course we have lots of stuff f or the and y o u c ert mnly won' t b e buy i ng n e w
music s of t ware ev ery we e k - but f or t he
Amiga as well. We'd be looking to support the Archimedes, depending
on how it sells this Christmas. games p l a y e r it ' s i mp o r t a n t t o b u y a
mac hine that's going to get plenty of support
- a n d t hat means a mac hine lots of other
people are going to buy
THE NEXT B IG TH IN G Even more than the price. support is the
Let's lace it: if you want to impress your triends you'll need something a bit more impressive than an problem wit h t he Arc himedes as a games
ST or Amiga these days. The Archie's the hip machine with techno-freaks at the moment, but devotees machine. 01 course, y ou ma y prefer a f ew
of processor power are always on the look-out for newer, shinier technology. very Impressive games t o a whole load of
The problem is memory. the 16-bit boom has only been possible because of the drastic fall in the quite good ones after all, If you really want-
price of RAM chips, but cheap dynamic RAM (DRAM) is slow stuff. The Archie's ARM relies for speed ed a mac hine wit h great software support
or' some very clever fine-tuning of cheap DRAM, but the memory really can't be pushed much further. you'd buy a Spectmml
To get more processor power into a home micro, manufacturers will either have to find a faster The ST on the Other hand has price and
form of cheap memory - at current prices a 512K last-RAM machine would miss the E1000-and-under support o n its side. I n t he UK irs t he mcan
bracket by a mile - or break down conventional processortmemory barners. Atari certainly know which development mac hine for 16-bit games v ery
way they're going: next year they'll be bringing out an ST-compatible machine based around Inmos's tew software houses produce Amiga games
revolutionary Transputer, a chip which combines processing and RAM in one neat little package as any t hing other t han ST by-products, and
Transputers are the gateway to parallel processing - a group of processors working as a team, there's no sign of this c hanging in the imme-
with many times the processing power an individual chip could offer A single Transputer isn't the most diate future
powerful thing in the world, but put several of them together and you've got a machine with real clout. The Amiga s a sort of middle way: l i t h e
ST wins the sales battle then you can expect

AdvancedComputerEntertainment 4 1
r SPECIAL

games themselves Strict

these g a me s a r e b e i n g
The A C E U p g r a d e C he c k lis t dev eloped d i r e c t l y o n
Amigos and need to be of
Still stuck? Still can't decide whic h juicy bre-bas her to plump for? We can't mak e the deci-
arcade quality, those spe
sion for you, but we have come up with the following checklist that may help d a l h a r d w a r e f eat ures
All y ou have to do is run down through the list checking the different uses for your new should b e pushed t o their
computer. Wh e n y ou reac h one t hat appeals t o you, underline t he three numbers i n
columns opposite your choice, t hen continue down the list. Each c olumn relates to one of There's ev ery c hanc e
the machines featured in this article. that we l l see both arcade
When you've finished, work your way down each column in turn, adding up the num- machines a n d c h e a p e r
bers that are underlined until you have a total for each machine, whic h you should enter in
home computers based on
the space provided The machine wit h the highest total deserves your most serious consider- the Archie's own innara-;
ation N o w all you've got to do is work out whether you can afford At Whether A c o r n t h e m -
AtariST selves will come up wit h a
Archimedes Amiga mac hine pric ed f o r t l
Are you interested in: -
home market is still uncer-
htain
- t h e y t ried this wi t h
Buying more than four new games the BBC Mi c r o a n d t h e
0 4 6 resulting ma c h i n e - t h e 60k
titles per month:
Electron - was none t oo
successful B u t t h e rele-
Using your micro for educational
4 1 1 vant c hips are av ailable
purposes to ot her c ompanies rig!::
now. they're v ery power-
Impressing your friends with your 2 ful, and they're cheap too
new machine 6 4
Any s uc h spin-oft wo u l d
dramat ic ally i n c r e a s e
0 1 6 Archie's c hanc es of soft-
Using MIDI instruments
ware s upport , s o k e e p
Composing music using the computer's wat c hing the skies.
1 6 2
internal sound chip only

0 3 3
Adventure software

Arcade action software 1 4 5

6 3 1
Owning a state-of-the-art machine
6 3 1
Immense processing power
4 6 3
Paintbox art programs
i 2 4
Business software (exc. wprocessing)
1 3 2
Word processing
6 3 2
Programming in BASIC

TOTAL

an awf ul lot of unins pired conversions, but coin o p manuf ac t urers are t urning t o t he
that's a lot better t han nothing: if the Amiga Amiga as a cheap source of graphics power.
Mastertromc's n e w c o i n - o p s ubs ic lic z y
itself wins y ou should soon be seeing some
Arc adia is bas ed on mac hines whic h are,
very impressive g i me s indeed, a n d if t he
Archie wins - well, ev ery one will be rather internally. Amigos. Soon
surprised. Amiga owners wi l l b e
But there's anot her side t o t he A mi g a able t o p l a y n o t jus t
that the ST can't match, a n d it c ould prov e coin-op conversions but
decisive i n t he battle for support. Already . the a c t u a l o o i n - o p

POWERFUL STUFF
This green gives sonic idea of the relative power ot the new
machines. with a 4MHz 180 as used in the SpectrumV
son
e l oForr the
c otechnically
m p a minded:
r i - the figures show the theoretical
maximumsprite area in memory lams; that eachmachine can put
OPthe screeninoneITISMela hitch pi a second". The 'dumb'Archie
tigure includes loopingtime and is based on a very inefficient aigo-
attn. while all the other examplesassume dial loccinglime is new
ligible. The figures ignore DMA lime, and non-seduental access
delays on the Archie's ARM. (The Wrietwouldmakevery little differ.
'nee to the 'smart'example]
Spectrum (7)30) 1 7K Atori ST (68000)12 OK Amigo (ilitter)1 7.9K

4 2 AdvancedComputerEntertainment
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MONITOR MA STER G R A M ( from ShackSoft
Trot is the monitor watch that everyone has
been waillirg tor. allows you to change ra m
colour to mono at the press or a Ninon C o w l
connection to your stereo and I V dot ST s
k i t u s s r t - w t t h a built in TV modulator) as well Note that
some cheaper mon Sof switches do not have
• Synch swtch and ca n cause damage to
ycso soupme nt. N o powe r suppty • ro-
ot.'wed
£ 3 5 .0 0

UNISTAND
Now at last you know Where to pLi the paper;
directly unde r your printer! On e of those
simple but brillia nt I d e a l T h e Unista nd
comes In two size s the 4 0 0 imd 700, the
nurrbers being a rough guide to the amount
od Win g paper that can be staCked Under-
neath. Erthw size WO Ilt any printer.
S ize 4 0 0 £ 1 0 . 9 5
Size 7 0 0 C 1 1 . 9 5
HANDY KAP
A tough perspek cover that sits over your ST.
Protects against dust. dirt. coffee. Wong' that
go bump, tiny fingers and inqueitive cats. A
very sans ble aocesSory. much better than a
son dust cove r. custom built toe the ST .
Handy Ka p Inarally sucks the duel oil your
keyboard by static electricity.
£ 7 .9 5
MOUSEPATH Mous e Ma t.
Vow rroitmos a pie ce ot Otecraton hirdwa re but 4 le only as good u the surface a roils
on M oving a cross the surface ol the average desk ca n be lfra riding a bicycie over
oolklellOnes to a mouse. The Mousepath mouse mat warts a smooth loambackad nest
£6.95
Our ow n n e w gr a phi c s pr ogr a m f or Hi gh Re s ol ut i on Mono-
chr ome Moni tor s onl y.
A very fast and responsive art package containing a host of graphic
functions. PEN, LINE, PLOT, PIXEL editing, AIRBRUSH. TEXT. BOX.
BAR, CIRCLE, POLYGON, FILL, ELLIPSE, LASS00. TAKE CHUNK,
USE CHUNK, OUTLINE, MIRROR. SHEAR, ROTATE. SCALE, DIS-
TORT, WOBBLE, MIRROR, SCRAPE, USER DEFINED fillpattems and
more.
GRAM( has been written to outperform its rivals both in speed and ease
of use. Perspective and isometric drawings are supported by the PLINE
and AXILINE functions. An infinite number ol brush shapes, spray patterns
and erasers are available.
GRAFIX is 1 005'0 mouse driven and works on five screens. Images can be
copied Ireely from screen to screen. DEGAS and NEOCHROME format
images can be imported via a CONVERT utility which converts then to the
GRAFIX bit-image format Finished G RAM screens can be converted to
DEGAS format. This flexibility allows screens to be exported to applica-
tions like 1ST WORD PLUS.
G R A M will run on all ST's with mono monitors and is Butter compatible.
E16.50

ShackSoft

It's the biggest
show of the year —
and the big guns
were all there. ACE
graphics reporter
Brian Larkman
went along to see
what was on show
to set your
eyeballs a-tingling.
Won PaintNzoomsenona Digipic-produced portrait
C o m m o d o r e V illa ge -
C o m m o d o r e M us e um ?
A bit of a shock really; it was me up there,
frame-grabbed a n d digit is ed o n s c r e e n .
Walking round t he PCW s how at Oly mpia
there are so many mac hines fl ashing their
VDU eyes at you that after a while you have
to blot out those of little interest and concen-
trate on the choice material - but when the
visual banality is provided by your own face
- well you just have to take nobcel
Three of the sexier machines at the show
have n o w got t eal-t ime' f rame grabbers -
Amiga, Archimedes and Atari ST - and t h e
one on t he Precision stand (Digipic for t he
Amiga) had t he cheek t o b e digitising us
punters. I n a strange way this contributed to
the pec uliarly mus eum-lik e atmosphere of
Commodore Village. Walk ing into it remind-
ed me of nothing less than a childhood visit
to the Science Museum ChildrenS Section on
a week day morning, rev erent ial, almos t
hushed tones and Victorian museum embel-
lishments, b u t peppered wit h what were for
the t ime being only high-t ec h int erac t iv e
toys. T h i s f e e l i n g w a s h e l p e d b y
Commodores d i s p l a y o f t h e i r h i s t o r i c
machines - including an Amiga 1000 in a
cabinet. like a real museum piece.
PC1At
SHOW
Pictures a t cm Ex hibition
Flay-traced30 ACE logocreatedusing the the peeler of Sculpt3D
As well as Eric Graham 's Sculpt 3D (more
of this in a moment ) the enterprising Amiga
Centre Scotland (031-557-4242) import its pre-
vious incarnation Pay Tracer Th i s c an cre-
ate sphere-based (as opposed t o Sculpts tn.
cingulcrtect) 3D structures - lik e t he f amous
juggler - and t hen ray trace them. I f y ou
want to know who Pay Tracer is. lock in the
boid At E l l this must be the greatest Amiga
graphics bargain yet - though be warned, it
uses t he draggy CM rat her t han t he muc h
easier I nt uit ion int erf ac e That ' s w h y i t s
cheap.
Other interesting a n d relat iv ely n e w
releases a r e Digipc dnt f r o m Ne wI e c (S60
from Busbyte - s ee r e v i e w o n p a g e 47)
Videoscape Animator 3D (E200 from Busbyte
- a 3D modeller and arnimat or f rom Aegis),
Animat or Apprentice (E 195 f rom Busbyte - a
cartoon a:immortal). Forms in Flight (E60 from
Amiga Cent re - anot her 3 D modeller),
Express Paint (E58 A mi g a Centre - sort of
desktop graphic s wit h good t ex t handling
inc luding text fi le fi ll int o any area just like
pattern lilt) Butcher(E28 Amiga Centre - ver-
satile graphics utilities). AIWF (E55 Busbyte -
icon-driven g r a p h i c s p r o g r a mi n g ) a n d
Deluxe Video 1.2. (S90 Busbyte - full screen
high-res videos) Busbyte (0727 56005) were
GR A PH IC S
.,
also s howing t he interactive Genlock T h e
star of the showthough. had t o be Sculpt 3D
published by Byte by Byte.
Sculpt is an • • _interactive solid modelling
edit or I t provides a very comprehensive set
of tools f or c reat ing a n d manipulat ing 3D
object-orientated graphics Us i n g it you can
1
Most dtgitiserslor borne computers digitise an
image quite slowly. This allows the scan to
pick up the maximum amount of detail and
convert the analogue signal into a digitised
one. if it is to be in real colour three scans are
necessary - one each for the red, green and
blue components of the picture. This
inevitably takes some time. Probably the best
cheap system that uses this method is Digi-
View by NewIec for the Amiga. This can pro-
duce a full colour picture of great accuracy.
For the animation however, at least twenty
frames per second need to be sampled (digi-
tised) if the movement of the object is to be
smooth. Therefore, digitising has to be in real-
time vAthout any delay between the samples.
Real-time sampling has to be in black and
white because colour sampling takes
too long.
AdvancedComputerEnlenammenl 4 5
GR A PH IC S
Thy there eye appears in that there room by virtue of Nits Artisan. lookinglikety to be die fast craprice M i l a n
pecker meat* tar the Archimedes
construct a computer simulation of any com-
bination of objects from the editor's specs to
Leeds Town Hall. provided you have enough
memory. Wh a t makes Sculpt really special
howev er is t he r a y t rac ing s of t ware t hat
allows you to render the objects realistically
in f ull c olour f rom a n y postion a n d wi t h
whatever light ing y ou choose, using any of
the Arniga's modes.
The results are astonishing: images are
created t h a t a l l o wi n g f or resolution, a r e
c omparable wi t h t hos e produc ed b y t h e
really expensive, h i g h powered c omput er
graphics mdustry lender engines. I t can do
this because a) the Amiga can display 4096
colours at onc e a n d b) r a y t rac ing is t he
same met hc d us ed o n t he h i g h powered
machines - there is no functional difference
except cower and hence speed of renderirig.
Although Sculpt 3D Ls not in Itself c apa-
ble of animat ing an object t h e ("Nifty to use
batch processing of a series of previously set-
up scenes allows the long-vendeed ray-trac-
ing operations to be taken come of wit h the
• R a y Tr a c ing
No, ifs not the name of the artist - Ray
Traong is the method employed in Sculpt 3D
and the Juggler to create a a
-of the real world. I t is the best simulation pos-
esible
d i bbecause
le it reproduces what actually hap-
sperksi m u l real
in the a tworld.
i o n
Every object that you can see is visible
because of the light reflected or radiated from
it. Imagine the fight radiated from a lamp at
one side of this magazine onto the page. The
individual rays of light reflect from the page in
al directions but some pass into your eye and
are detected. What you see depends on the
brightness of the light and your distance from
it and the page. Ray Tracing works in the
same way, except that the computer calcu-
lates the colour and brightness of each ray as
it hits the computer screen 'from inside', so to
speak. Each pixel represents one ray from a
simulated light source reflected from a simu-
lated object and both have a know position,
colour and brightness. I t is a relatively simple
(but very long-winded) job to calculate a n
a l and brightness value for each one. - m
colour
q.
4 6 Advanced Computer Entertainmeet
i - *is time e very pretty rural scene, we the wre Kane inset
computer unattended or multi-tasking mot h-
er applic at ion. Th i s me a n s t h a t lot s o f
detailed f rames of a n animat ion c a n b e
drawn one af t er t he other. aut omat ic ally .
These c an later be delta compressed, stored
in a f rame buf f er a n d d i s p l a y e d as a n
crnimation by screen-switching - the met hod
used for Juggler.
Sculpt 3D represents a n import ant step
for t h e A mi g a t o wa r d really professional
image creation in a f orm of whic h no other
unex pended PC is capable. A n d its only
E69t
U nde r ne a t h t he A r c hie s
In ti me Acorn's Archimedes will pr obabl y
hav e similar software, but at present there is
not muc h in the wa y of a n ordinary paint -
box av ailable Clc z es (0606 48511) will prob-
ably b e be first wi t h its A r t i s a n program,
weighing in at £39.95. I t was on show at the
Acorn stand right next to the Zarch demo -
so i t was pretty difficult to get close. But
what was visible looked very promising. A s
well as t he usual features it c an switch the
brush colours to produce stencils and - if it
c an be made to fit into 5I2K - should be able
to fi ll an irregular shape wit h a rectangular
brush, i.e distort a rectangular piece cut from
the screen into any shape. This would result
in a reasOnable simulation of - for ex ample
- a fiat image wrapped round a sphere.
AMS ar e wor ki ng on Finesse Paint a nd
though the version at the show was rudimen-
tary, what t hey hav e looked v ery s mo o t h
acting. Un l i k e Delux e Paint 2 for instance,
brush rotation is in real time: a n d though its
a bit of a gimmic k I als o lik e t he f ading
menus. You Archie owners will probably see
it early in '88 (Both of you.)
Hopefully, there will also be some mi me -
bon p a c k a g e s a v a i l a b l e i n ' 8 8 a l a
Animat or o r Delux e Video. N o s ign a t
Oly mpia though.
What Archie did have at the show was a
Watford digitiser. I t will work in real-time -
50 frames per second - and play back at 20
Only B & W of course but pres umably wit h
the right s of t ware a n d RGB fi lters c olour
wouk i b e possible, a n d wi t h Archie's 256
colours and high resolution nice things could
result 11 NewTec can make a good pmntbox
out of t he Arragas a wk wa r d HA M mo d e
something really good c ould be done wit h
the Archimedes
Atari M a r k e t
Yet more digit is ing a t Start Systems (0304
369364) with the Silicon Animation Machine
(SAM) f or t he At ari ST. L i k e Dicripic a n d
Watford. SAM provides real t ime digitising,
capturing images form most video sources at
25 frames per second. O n a 4 meg ST. 122
frames can be stored allowing detailed am-
mated sequences up to 8 seconds long to be
play ed bac k a n d mix ed int o other anima-
tions. Only in B&W though. Also from Silicon
Solutions was the GI NE professional Genlock
providing mu c h t he s ame facilities as t he
Interactive one mentioned above.
Eidersoft (0706 852647) were showing on
exciting piec e of s of t ware i n At c m World
called Q u a n t u m Paint box (S19.95). W i t h
this, 4096 c olours c a n b e generat ed o n
screen at once - well, 3375 on an Atari mom-
tor. It works by cleating 8 palettes which can
be positioned to control any horizontal slice
of the screen - quite how is not yet clear A l l
I c an say n o w is t hat it is amaz ing t o see
more than 16 colours on an ST. The software
seems t o hav e most of t he us ual drawing
functions p l u s c olour c y c ling wi t h eac h
palette independently, colourising of B & W
images and it will accept most ST files (.NE0
and .pic) for colour enchcrncement I t also
includes a • _Delta compression f r a m e
buffer. al l l owi ng hundreds of frames to be
stored on a 1040..' Now if all the features of
this sortwme could be used in conjunction
with a cligiriser....! Ful l review comi ng real
soon now
Once a ga i n, a s i n t h e Commodor e
Village, the most exciting offering i n Atari
World was a 3D solid rr-odelling editor and
animator, s h o wn b y Elec t ric Distribution
(0954 61258). Cy ber Studio by Antic (S89 95)
is based on CAD-3D, an earlier three dimen-
sional design program for the ST. I t provides
mcmy of the facilities of Sculpt 3D but without
ray tracing as a final means or rendering the
image Instead, the package offers on excel-
lent r a n g e o f a n i ma t i o n f ac ilit ies v i a a
 GR A P H IC S I

motion-control desk accessory a n d a c om-

plete animat ion-c ont rol l a n g u a g e c a l l e d
Cybermate. Us ing these it is possible to ani-
mate a CAD-3D object in front of Degas or
Neochrome images c omplet e wi t h s ound
PAINT
BOXING
effects. Objects can be dissolved in and out
and mix ed. delta-compressed a n d play ed
back in real time. and v iewed wit h SteroTek
glasses. A v ery impressive product. Als o
avallble a r e 'parts dis k s f or Arc hit ec t ural
design (house bits), Fut ure Design (rockets
and robots). 3 D Fonts a n d - amaz ingly -
Human Design!
DELUXE PA IN T 2 a n d D IGIPA IN T - friends or foe s ? Brian
Oly m pia Let D o w n Larkman ma ke s th e m p l a y to g e th e r
Overall this year's s how was a lit t le disap-
pointing I was expecting muc h more new "heaven is free from
graphics hard- and software f rom the At ari
c amp a n d l o t s m o r e ex c it ement f r o m clouds, but of all
Commodore A mi g a . Nev ert heles s . A t a r i colours seems to be..."
World certainly had lots going for it T h a t
area felt a bit like the first Novotel Amstrad
show. a market place wit h lots of people try-
ing t o sell t heir little bits of software int o a
Lord Byron
niche in the market. A good ex ample of this
was Animat ic from Soft Bits (01 836 2533), a Byron in a computer
nice little graphic s ut ilit y des igned t o pro-
duce small crnimated frames with Fast Basic
mag! But he's right,
But there is not doubt that graphic ally muc h you know — for a graph-
of t h e c urrent innov at ion i s g o i n g i n t o
games. Th i s i s a great pit y as t he ST cmd
ic artist, the range of
especially the Mega ST hav e great pot ent al colours available on
- Q u a n t u m Paint box a n d Cy b e r St udio
prove
the Amiga is heavenly. Someof Tie amazing egos yeti car get try corrOring 3Paint D9oat1
Having had to make do &XI a coiour clirset

8 Bits Mis s ing t he futur e ?

The biggest suprise of the show was the total
lack of support for 8 bit machines. Only AMS
seemed t o h a v e any t hing ot her t han t he
sexy 16 bitters running graphic s software
and absolutely no-one h a d any t hing new.
Looks like Adv anc ed Art Studio is t he best
that the Spectrum,C64 and CPC owners can
hope for in the future!
And speaking of the future, what comes
next? I wi l l stick m y nec k Out here a n d
declare an interest in video. A l l the compo-
nents are there for a s imple a n i ma t i o n on
video - Desktop Video if y ou like. A huge
with a palette of 2 or 4 programs and is at its best when used in con-
from a range of 8,16 or function wit h Deluxe mi n t 2 and a digitiser.
at best 27 colours on To s how of f Digipamt s unique features
the 8 bit machines I had and t he wa y t he t wo D-Paints.. Digi- a n d
Deluxe. 'mesh' together I shall describe t he
been using, the chance process inv olv ed i n produc ing t he illustra-
tions.
of 32 from the stagger- The first stage in produc ing any piece of
ing 4000 hues that artwork i s t h e background Di g i p a a n t i s
c apable o f produc ing t h e mos t ex quis it e
Deluxe Paint 2 on the graduat ed s hading, giv ing t he effect of a
Amiga offers has landscape lading i n t o t h e distance, but it

proportion o f c o mp u t e r o w n e r s a l s o indeed been bliss. Now

own/rent a VCR.. mo s t people h a v e a n
art/perintbox p r o g r a m a n d A n i ma t i o n
Software is readily av ailable a n d eas y t o
operate... Reallame digit is ers a r e r a p i d l y
dropping in price B & W video oar mos are
quite c heap t o mak e. E v e n o n 0. 5 me g
machines. compression allows lots of digi-
tised frames to be stored and play ed back
Modulators are av ailable for most machines
so connection t o video should be straighfor-
ward_
All it needs is an Ak in Sugar to put all
this together int o a simple-to-operate pack-
age wit h one lead and coherent mark et ng
strategy for. say. £300. a n d home desktop
video is born.
to make me even more
ecstatic NewTek have
provided Digipaint,
allowing all 4000 to be
on screen at once
using the Amig's HAM
—hold and modify —
mode.
Digipicant is one of the first a a new genera-
tion of 'pcontbore programs for the Amiga. I t
provides the full pallete of 4096 colours and
a range of facilities normally o n l y found on
dedicated graphics workstations costing 100
times as muc h Nevertheless, there are some
limitations t o Digipc ant - mostly res ult ing
from t he nat ure of t he H A M mo d e itself.
Any one expecting drawing and transforma-
tion functions similar to those in Deluxe Paint
will b e disappointed, b u t as we s hall see
Digipaint is very different from other drawing
Out put
There is one big problem with graphics work
at the kind described here; what you do with it
when you've finished work on the screen.
How do you output your masterpiece? This is
a problem that could inhibit the development
of fully featured software for the current gen-
eration of graphics-oriented machines. I n
conversation with the designer of the new
AMS Finesse paint package for the
Archimedes discovered that they were plan-
ning to provide only 1 6 colours even though
256 on-screen were possible - because of the
problem of how to output the result. Hopefully
they have changed their minds but you can
see their point. Apart from taking photograph-
ic screen-shots Often a rather hit or miss
affair) there is still no cheap and easy way to
reproduce properly all of the subleties that are
now possible on screen. Until the image dis-
play technology catches up with the image
production technology in terms of price,
VCRs are going to fill the gap What we need
now is a really cheap VHS editing suite!

Advanced Computer Enteitainmen 4 7

r GR A PH IC S
Tocreate the folded chequetboard:
1.Make a simplechock pattern
l•Give it perspective toreshorieningandthen dislorbon in
Deluxe Paint using2 colours horn32
3To enhance the perspective, batister the whole picture into
Digipaint sexedas a brush, thenpaste it downwithShaded
Modeselected
4A gradual lraintion hoot the brushcolour to the background
colour ineither or all directionsITDMa 'highliga is possible by
selechngwitha simple gadel
cannot rival Deluxe P when it comes to cre-
ating perspective patterns and fills, or trans-
formations and distortions of shape.
To cr eate t he fol ded chequer boar d I
made a simple check pattern gave it per
spective foreshortening a nd then distorted it
in Del uxe P - al l this usi ng a mer e two
colours from 32 C. To enhance the perspec-
tive I transfened the whole picture into Digi P
saved as a brush then p a ste d it down with
Shaded Mode Selected. This mode allows
4000 Colours on Screen!
The basis of this apparent magic is the ability
of the Amiga to produce HAM -'hold and mod-
ity screens. As a HAM display is produced.
each pixel may be held momentarily and the
value of one of its three primary colours
changed. other words each pixel can be a
different colour from its neighbour and from
all other pixels, up to the maximum of 4096
hues on screen at once. The potential for
highly coloured screens provided by this abili-
ty to modify colours is really great, but until
recently only those who could afford a digitis-
er or understand the Amiga ROM Kernel
Reference Manuals had any chance of creat-
ing their own HAM screens.
4 8 Advanced Computer Entertainment
you to produce a gradual transition from the together would make a remarkable package
brush col our to the backgr ound colour i n providing facilities unobtai nabl e o n a n y
either direction or i n al l directions from a other PC. The weaknesses of Deluxe Paint 2
'highlight selected with a simple gadget cue the strengths of Di gi pamt, a nd vice-
The Shaded Mode works wi th most of versa
Digiporint's tools a nd functions a nd allows
some ver y del i cate effects, i ncl udi ng t he
clouds (with the airbrush) and the balls/bub-
bles (with the circle-fill). For more complex P hoto-m ontage
shapes. however, De l ux e P is much more The process of computerised photo-montage
versatile. allowing rotation. bending. stretch• on the Amiga is really simple using Digipaint,
ing etc. Flasir unshaded elements produced but very versatile because of the way that the
this way can then be transferred to Digipotint. Modes work with other functions, Any image
The bubbles utilise another mode - Blend on screen can be copied to a Swap storage
- which gives the effect of transparency by area, which is in effect a screen behind the
averaging the colour of a brush wi th the visible one. Any new image can now be load-
colour of the area beneath rt. I n a similar ed onto the front screen. Using any ready-
way (with practice) it is possible to use the made or captured brush, the front screen can
other Modes to produce a whol e r ange of be "rubbed through'
effects including colourismg black and white .
below. U Blend or Tint or Shading is in opera-
images like the digitised picture of the model r e (or
boo v eany
a lMode)
i n g these will affect the quality
above. t the
of h image
e that is revealed. With this tech-
Because Diglipaint uses all of the Amigors pnique
i some
c t quite
u remarkably sophisticated
r e
photo-montage is possible.
palette it is possible to have several Deluxe
Paint pictures or digitised Screen-grabs' on
screen at once, even if they have different
palettes. The boys bedroom' is made up of a DIGIPAINT £59.95
number of images, some from ful l -col our - ew T ek
digitised i m a ge s , some Del uxe Paintings, Distributors: H i- Vo lt ag e.
and some obiects produced using Sculpt 3D, 59 High Street, Cro yd o n ,
all manipulated to give the illusion of depth. rrey
To be of any real use to a graphic artist a 01- 681 3 0 2 2
paint prcgrom must be able to mix together
images from a r ange of sources like this to u XE PAINT 2 E.459.95
produce what is known as Photo-montage: ,
Digipaint is the first to allow this on a relative- c
Langley Business Cen t re,
ly cheap PC. Langley.
t Bucks,
Deluxe Paint 2, Digipaint and Di gi -Vi ew Tel. 0 7 5 3 - 4 9 4 4 2
r
(NewTek's inexpensive digitiser s y s t e m )
o
n
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JO/ • CAPTAIN ANDIKA AND INE OrSTINCTIVII IIIIINESS IM M O!

 SCREEN TEST

SCREEN SCREEN TEST

INDEX

TEST
52 OGRE Origin
Systems/Mic roprose
53 INDIANA JONES US Gold
55 ADDICTABALL Alligata
56 ENLIGHTENMENT Firebird
58 PRO SKI SIMULATOR Code
Masters
61 ZARCH Superior Software
62 THUNDERCATS Elite
64 JACK THE NIPPER 2 Gremlin
66 IMPLOSION Cascade
68 XECUTOR Ace
The P I C c h a r t e x p l a i n e d 69 TRANTOR Go!
A new system takes a bit of getting used to, so we've cooked up some ratings for 70 GRAND SLAM
a fictional game, Standard Issue Scrolling C o i n Eidersoft/Infinity
-
along. You know the kind of thing, good scrolling, fast and noisy 73 SPORE Bulldog
up
O pextra C weapons.
o n v eNow r s check
i o nout the ACE treatment this 74 YOGI BEAR Piranha
t o h e l p 74 CAPTAIN AMERICA Go!
y 77 PHM PEGASUS Electronic
O
- e C Arts
S
P 78 TERRORPODS Psygnosis
°
I ? - t 81 ANGLE BALL Mostertronic
S S e
81 FRUIT MACHINE Code
S Masters
t 1:1-.
81 DIABLO Diamond
o $
l
oNI 2° . 81 CLEAN UP SERVICE Players
8
2 i t tt'e 1
•
1
V
VI What does the game look like? The
E
mo R
whi he S
tG y e h , ,s amean vjerky ae turned 1
I
41 s 1
9 1 O
ig
ed m"i t 1 1 0 1gi t s o ‘ , t N‘ EST CURVE, or PIC for
a e
. give an instant idea of the
P h U e higher the curve, the
r s W
P the game holds at any
i e box means total
t
D
q
AUDIO: How A :O . P :0 3 \ CS :0 3 0 . t I t e g , L O O S 2 0 1 0 0 0 A CI tom means complete
t r does game sew_ iP ..... t i r n u r fictional shoot-
In-game
a effects
u mi boonis anuplercint; T mean you'll be
screeches,
t t hor just p ' E e. You're even
an
c LP of the
a title mum blips? Do youn, n t 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 .
pair
o of earplugs? Does
W,cluld y S those nice
e V ic k . • e sudden
say
l "Missile
r e launched" o il S . 1 p r e t t
by the end
"Ngisslye
o glauged"? lack of
u s a month
10
r FACTOR;
a How much thou

N4'
game
game
c demand?
t Is it an epic of a t e gi c plan but
ning,
l or a m
mindless shoot-em-up? A loot rat. ou'll
a here doesn't
ing e mean the game'sVd - but
s
don't expectha it to tax your grey mailm too
much.

sf-
vox'•
h t
,s
FUN FACTOR: h Is it playable, amusing,
able? Does v it make you feel like you wa the
'just one more go'? And then another? C 10 0 0 0 , 0 1 1 1 -:
1 •1• fp Cu o u s l y , the high-
you go into a darkened room and have a %
good lime with this game? If so, then it's go 11 t h e game. Gamese a
0
r9
v
o
d
lyhot
a high Fun Factor. Expect higher ratings for * Thundercats or Zarch for exam-
pure arcade action than for games based on t1
theology books; but games requiring Ii
thought can still do well here. S1 AdvancedConputeiEntertainment 5 1
k
/
r S
C

OGRE
R
then the battle commences. The Ogre makes
E its appearance at the bottom of the map and
E works Its wa y upwards t oward t he player's
N Command Post. t ak ing into account the dis-
tribution of the def ending forces and the ter-
T
rain. O n c e t he Ogre has mov ed, t h e fi re
E phase i s init iat ed a n d i f a n y def ending
S pieces are wit hin range. the Ogre attacks.
T Then the play er gets to mov e his forces and

ORIGIN SYSTEMS g o t o w a r attempts to make a strike against the Ogre

the play er has any Ground Effect Vehicles
then he gets an addit ional chance to mov e
right hand strip s howing any relevant infor- the G.E.Vs at the end of the firing phase.
s L I p l a y e r wargc rme i s c m adapt at ion mat ion Th e play er controls the sequence of Facilities to enable the picryer t o design
e play by means of menus that appear in this the bat t lefi elds a n d c hoos e t h e ef f ec t iv e
from the board game by Steve Jackson (he
T Aut oduel fame.) The play er takes charge
of column. while the actual mov ement and fir- strength of t he Ogre o d d dept h t o what is
i the def ending forces and attempts to stop
of ing of the pieces is selected and corned out essentially a wargarrie f or beginners. Th e
nthe monster war machine. t he Ogre on the play ing area. game is limited though because in the single
t The game display consists of the play ing The Ogre is controlled by the computer in
harea (made up of a 15x2I hex agonal map) the single play er option and its prime obiec-
etaking up the majority of the screen wit h a tive is t o des t roy t he def ending play er's B U L L W H I P S amost
r e apeople
l l v e r y wo
weul lld, b
likuet
2
something a bit meaner against venomous
1 snakes and hordes of kill-crazy cultists Not
s• O g r e ! h i d e yourself. You'll needstrong lacks to prolecl
4CommandPost swashbuckling a r c ha e ol ogi s t I n d i a n a
t Arun weakeningforces
' The Ogre Jones though he l l bel t his w a y thr ough
c
almost a ny t hi ng t o wr est t h e sacr ed
e Scmkara Stone from the hands of the ba d
n
guys. Just a s wel l really, because wi th
t things the way they are he'll have to.
•
u The bad guys in question are thuggees
r - worshippers of the death goddess Kali -
y and they're a nasty lot. They've enslaved
, local children to work their mines for gems,
t
so you (as Indy) spend the first of the game's
h three levels freeing kids. The action here
i takes place in a maze of platforms, ladders
s
o
•• and conveyor belts displayed i n a rather

n •• / • • tricky 3D. You can get around using the lad-

ders and conveyors, take short cuts by using
e
o • i e ‘ your whi p to swing across gaps. or l eap
down onto l ower platforms once you've
r
t
- • y • learned the layout of the place.

;
w
. RELEASE B O X
o
-
t .• 0.99cs,E14.99dk REVIEWED
-1
-
SPE ES99cs NOV81
• : AM E9.99es.C14g9dk REVIEWED
ATARI E24.99dk NOV87

Command Post. The idea is for the player to

VISUAL EFFECTS MIENIME to utilise his limit ed forces i n c m at t empt t o
defend his Co mma n d Post Ch o o s i n g t he When y ou fi nd the c age where each of
Simple representation at pieces
forces is of t he utmost import anc e t o t he the kids is held. a quick crack of your whip
A U D IO Em o 0 1 1 1 will smash the padlock and set them free.
player as it determines t h e picryer's tactics
Sparse ellects add little to atmosphere The same treatment will also stun thuggee
for t he game Sev eral armoured pieces are
I Q FA C TOR NOMMEN!' av ailable howitzers h a v e the longest range guards and kill snakes, but be warned you
It's a tough game io win and a high attack strength but onc e posi- need to be pretty accurate to stun guards
FUN FA C TOR limmEmoilit honed a r e i mmo v a b l e . G r o u n d Ef f ec t properly, a nd they don't stay out for long
Vehicles a r e h i g h l y mc moeuv reable b u t anyway
Engrossing - and very user-friendly
hav e a lower attack strength. If you can free all eight kids without run-
Once the pieces hav e been deploy ec ; ning out of lives - guards. snakes and large
drops all kill you, as do the level's maraud-
ing bats a nd the occasional fireballs that
RELEASE B O X thuggee priests fire at you - you have to
dash to the exit, where you can leap into a
El995ck REVIEWED mine car a nd go on to level 2. After the
MPC E24.95c1 REVIEWED usual delays for disk access or tape loading,
youll fi nd yourself tr undl i ng dow n t he
min I
, I
I mm I eino
w o o l k AMIGA E24.95dk REVIEWED mine's railway system towards the Temple
Grips from the start and keeps you at it
I
e n o M ATARIST E24.95clk IMMINENT of Doom itself
ACE R AT I N G 8 1 3
m
I
. The action here's largely down to fight-
y
m
a
ing off thuggee-filled mine COTS with your

5 2 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 SCREEN TE S T
I

player option the chance to play the part of

the Ogre is denied The fact that there is only IB M P C V e r s i o n
ever one enemy piece (formidable as it may
be) on the b o o r t will leav e the competent
Very s imilar t o t he ot her versions. des pit e
strategist wi t h t he f eeling t hat his t ac t ic al the colour limitations of the PC. Cursor con-
abilities are not being stretched, a n d he will
trol is jerky but not enough to detract from
soon get bored wit h it
the game. Th e g a me runs as fast i f not
• Andy Smith
faster than the Amiga version

K ill-by -num be r s
Ogre comes very close to putting a board C64 Ve r s ion
wargame into your computer. The display, the
playing area and the sequence of phases all
combine to give the player the feeling that the Surprisingly s imilar
computer is handling all the tedious parts of a -witth omostt oh f e
t h e ma i n features present.
board wargame while allowing the player 10 Slower
A m and i gnota as colourful as t he A mi g a
concentrate on the tactical side of things. Your chance tostrike beck. moveyour tomes into posibonsodhope vversion
e rbut slusti as play able

INDIANAJONES
your combinedtirepCnVelwill slow the Ogre o n ,

ANDTHETEMPLEOFDOOM
US G O L D f o l l o w I n d y u n d e r g r o u n d
whip and keeping your car on the rolls The strange forced perspective here takes a bit of easy - and a day s play should s how y ou
ers harder t han it sounds y ou'll hav e to getting used to, but this shouldn't cause too roast of the variety the game has to offer
lean to one side or the other to many gameplay problems . Of ' Andy Witton
change tracks at junctions so as course; y ou only hav e the lives
to av oid dead ends or brok en you've brought through from the
rails S o me r a p i d c hanges o f earlier s t ages s o ex plorat ion
direction are needed in places, takes a great d e a l of loading CPC Ve r s ion
but a little t rial a n d error wi l l time O n c e y o u ' v e g o t t h e
soon get you safely to the end of S a n k = you'll have to go round
the run and into the Temple the t hree lev els t wic e more t o Fewer colours and iollers t c rt ing sprites
After yet more loading y ou get its c ompanion stones, before mak e the CPC graphics look a little rough,
finally c a t c h u p w i t h t h a t tackling the game finale. and t h e s c rolling is n't perf ec t either. It's
Scmkara Stone. t hough there's more wh i p Overall its appealing stuff with chunky, muc h harder t o stun t huggees wit h y our
work o n snakes, guards a n d s ome v ery pleasant graphics, but the gameplay's a bit whip, but this is more a frustration t han a
tricky gaps before you can get hold of it. The light weight in parts - level 2 is particularly challenge.

VISUAL EFFECTS Innommes

Chunky, but quite appealing
A U D IO Enumanam
music soon Mons lo grOto
IQ FA C TOR O n s e e • •
Some cave layouts to memorise
FUN FA C TOR • o • m o l l
Easy to get stuck in

rron
k:,
I hou I Cl e l • I loombea

Yields its treasures a bit too easi

ly
I Il

tie" SgRig I
ACE R AT I N G 7 7 6

AdvancedComputerEntertainment 5 3
 GARYLINEKERPRESENTSTWOOFTHE
GREATESTSOCCERGAMESEVERDEVISED!
:rra.
6
T fri tk

I A b A &

V .•.••
. . . O . • 6 G A . 0.740611. • 0 6 0 • l i pb
,

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V
I
1
r
l
"
n
e
e Available from
t all good toy
t
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f sports shops.
i
l
l
W
a
t
m

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 SCREEN TEST

B r ic k v a l u e s
Skull brick - will knock holes in your Writer, Must Pretty pictures at the tempts the bricks make, all
be disburse basedon the theme of die lowt Skulls take out bncks from your
barrier
' Replenis hes ammo
• R e b u i l d s holes in your barrier
Traps ball on bat
Extra life
p . Fuel for your thrust popwer
Halts scrolling - very useful in tight
spots
Gets yout that essential firepower
Thrust unit
- Alters ball speed - when it's whizzing
11111 you can really clean up a screen.
7
ti 1 you are the ones Tying you ammo, and the
skull bricks - if you miss these they'll take out
chunks of your barrier when they scroll down
4j • t V 411 -
* N . orwm o r
to it. A constant bot her throughout are t he
firedrop6 released when your ball strikes cer-
lager 1 !11 in ir Plage' tcdn t andomly -plac ed bricks (whic h unfortu-
f
11:11:135301: - 1 -
nately hav e no special features t o identify
them), t he fuedrops also take out bricks from
) L I your barrier. Destroy t hem by bumping them
L . Barrier - bounces ball beck: try to keep it intact. wit h y our bat You c an gain swift access to
No the cutesy theme - this one's basedon the cir- higher sections of a level or different levels
Ammolevel F u e l level

ADDICTABALL
altogether by dropping y our ball inside the

ALLIGATA'S b o u n c i n g b a t - a n d - b a l l g a m e .
bricks y o u mu s t des t roy mo v i n g d o w n hyperspace transporters - but this is easier
N ban a n d bric k superclone? Ca n it towards y ou Beneat h y our bat is a s ingle said than done.
O
possibly be worth getting" Yes is the answer line of bricks, so you don't even have to ping Most troublesome of all t hough are the
T all three questions, because Addidaball -
to the ball t o stay aliv e - it c an just bounc e aliens contained in certain bricks. These little
a
despite its deriv at iv e nat ure - really does mound a d inhnitum. But if t ha• rascals b u z z m o u n d m o s t
g
have the elements that make you stick at it. thin line of bricks is pierc ed annoy ingly and must be termi- •, •. • MY •a l e .

o The gcmie's note of originalit y is largely and there are plent y of reason! No.§,.. nated wi t h ex t reme prejudice,
l
due to the fact that it scrolls vertically, wit h why t hat might happen - you: just mak e sure you've got lots of
" A A 01014,1• 1• 111N ,

= d"'
n
your bat at the bottom of the screen and the ball can disappear to lose you c ammo. 4 1 • 1 1 1 1 1 .1 1 .1 • 4 1 .e

.•••,- wadiomow••••• we ..
l life. ••••• mme
Addic laball ma y not be t he
0 0 .
••••••• . 1 1 • • • • • • •
....0.100.0.11• 001.k

Y Since t he g a me scrolls yot. • • • • • • 11.

wre.eotpeopsioar
most original thing since Space
eVISUAL EFFECTS ESEMIIMB don't g e t s eparat e screens o r IR M O *
V R MIP •
Invaders, b u t i t h a s e n o u g h
• • • • • • • • • • . ••••••! .
t Alot of thought's gone Into the screen distil such: instead. Addic t aball often fl avour to mak e it worth consid-
a levels of around 10 screens
AUDI O no• m una ering even if you've already got
n size each level wit h bricks arranged around Arkartord or Impact. I t 's every bit as addic-
Pings, pongs, and some jaunty intro music
o a different theme. The theme for Level 1. for tive as those two, and has an excellent bal-
t IQ FA C TOR • • • m i s i s e Instance, is transport, the pattern of the bricks ance between fustration and compulsion
h You'll have to Mir* on your feet in light spots is not instantly obvious, but t he pretty little • Peter Connor
e FUN FA C TOR mommome motorcyclelcar/stearn train going back and
r Highly addictive - but can be very frustrating forth as y ou reac h crucial areas makes the
B point pretty clearly. Blast the thing wit h your
r ball several times until it disappears and you 0 X
e can progress through the level.
a Your bort is slightly different f rom other E6.95cs,E7.95clk •IAM
k games i n the genre: y ou need laser power
EC N A DEC
o and thrust (allowing y ou t o mov e u p a n d
u I. down) throughout. Thrust may sound unnec- ARIST 14.85dk REVIEW
t essary, but It can come in useful for hopping SCPC N A DEC87
b I ri m I hems I d ap I i ,,, i vo w
over indestmclible bricks and getting out of
a Eventually you'll Mew solve it ot get stuck tricky situations.
GA T O BEDECIDED
t As in other Breakout derivatives, certain •95cs
, ACE R AT I N G 8 2 6 bncks wi l l giv e pain or pleasure wh e n hit
(see box), Particularly import ant targets for

AitcancecComputerEntertainment 5 5
SCREEN TEST

space in his spell book he may collect a spell

H E R E the more populccr Gauhrier clones by standing over the icon and pressing the +
r uld a n d 2
w e game looks very similar to its predeces-
The key. The spells are quite v aried in their use:
h awitvh t he s ame old druid character run-
sor r those of you who already have Druid
effects range from lighting up a dark area of
e land t o obliterating all the monsters on the question of Enlightenment justifying
ning around a colourful scrolling maze/room o
t khground w h i l e b e i n g c h a s e d a n d
bac screen
e t The hordes of new spells do add new
attacked by lots of energy -draining nasties„ Rushing mo u n d blas t ing monsters a n d
s yeou soon discover that t he game play h'sts
. to the old plot, but on the whole
But grabbing s pells i s ex haus t ing s t uf f a n d
q been
u eme-play remains very similar. Its a
has souped up considerably. though t he druid corn cast spells t o protect
e Ifl you need an excuse to play the game, r se thing, but unless you enjoyed the
himself f rom hits a n d driv e a wa y his foes
t scenario is as follows; it's been 103 years tginai enough to consider yourself a
the these h a v e v e r y s hort durat ions Des pit e
o e id fanatic £10 may just be a little too
since A c a n a n t o r wa s ex pelled f r o m t h e replenishing your energy wit h Banquet spells
D n
land o f Belom Has rinoorx t h e d r u i d h a s (looking like a Colonel Sanders chicken leg)
s

ENLIGHTENMENT
r
u m
i a
d c
, k
o e
n r
e o
o o
f n
i
D o e s FIREBIRD's w i z a r d r y lift t h e g l o o m ? e
s
i
Enlightenment has a big play area and
n assortment of spells and foes A l l this
a large
D a nge r ous D r u i d d o i n g s s
odds up to a difficult enpycible challenge -
t
HAMM and his taithlui elemental. a Golan belle thew way through WOW ot zombies JIM a kite twitter to go beton he but games of this sort are bec oming v ery
ruches anew spill. a
c ommon and, though good, Druid 2 is begin-
n
Hasnnau - the of DruidNmsetl ning to wear thin the old Gauntlet theme
Zombw5 E l e m e n t a l - this lune ifs the Golem t
- Dealth doom dealers i E b r t h l • AndySmith
l
y
a
I icon - watt over 11 to lind r
is

,
•
a!r
.
S 1 :3 6
,

grown older and wiser wit h many new spells
at his fingertips, and now the time has come
to use them. Ac amant or has returned more
powerful t han ev er and this t ime ex pelling
him is not t he answer. A s one of t he last
great druids y ou must fi nd and kill the ev il
Sorcerer.
Enlightenment is rather more of a magic-
based g a me t h a n t he original a n d y o u r
druid now has ac rom to 32 different spells,
though he may only hav e eight in his spell
book at any one time Spells are represented
as icons and we distributed throughout all of
Enbghtenments 15 lands. If the druid has a
PEC E7.95c s
'PA
I
Another landandanew elemental. The ctruidsends his
1011mm/tater elemental) todeal wetdeath to somedastardly
demons But be careful - slimemonsters are gathewngl
you soon fi nd your strength s apped b y the
relentless onslaught But fear not - your druid
has help on hand in the f orm of the Conjure VISUAL EFFECTS • o n m e n n
element al spell. Almost identical to Druid
Four types of elemental can be conjured A U D I O ME MO I R'S
to fi ght on the druids behalf: Golem, Wisp,
Title tune and average blast noises
Pheonix and Kraken representing Earth, Air,
Fire a n d Wat er respectivley. T h . o c an be I Q FA C TOR N •m m e n' ,
controlled by the computer or v ia a second Not too demanding - but it helps to map II
loystick - effectively mak ing Enbght enment FUN FA C TOR M E M E l l •
a two player game Jolly enough - especially in 2-player mode
If t he c omput er controls t he element al
you are giv en a choice of three mov ement
commands: follow the druid send in a direc-
tion or wait This limit ed choice makes t he
elemental a lit t le unwieldy b u t s t ill w e l l
wort h the conjuring
Each realm whic h the druid must travel
through is largly dominat ed by one type of
element a n d it is this t hat det ermines t he 1MOI 1 how I CNN I a. . I 1

MSCPC E8,95cs, 04.9&Ic power of y our element al. For ex ample, t he

,
Once you solve it your unlikely to return
10
,0 ,
/AMIGA Kraken is strong in the watery marshland but
weak in the desert, so it helps to keep at least ACE R AT I N G 721
one conjuring spell in reserve

5 6 AdvancedComputerEntertainment
SCREEN TEST

PROFESSO
I NAL
SKISIMULATOR
G o s n o w b l i n d w i t h C O D E MASTERS

ly i n t he footsteps of Codemas t ers greats The play er starts the game at the top of the
S including Grand Prix and B.M.X. Simulator. slope a n d uses t hree k ey s (left-right a n d
Hflight t o Aus t ria f or Co d e Masters lat es t Pro. Ski Sim, is for one or t wo players thrust) t o guide his on screen sprite t oward
Ogame. Professional Ski Simulator follows firm- and contains seven authentic slalom slopes. the bot t om, t a k i n g c a r e t o w e a v e i n
U bet ween a l l t he gates on t he wa y down.
L Each slope has its t ar share of dips and flats
D and the play er has to use the thrust' key to
E pump his poles and propel himself along the
R flat sections Ho l d i n g t he thrust k ey d o wn
Y while the character descends a small steep
O section results in t he character adopt ing a
U crouched position that increases his speed
I Each course has t he play er rac ing not
s only t he clock - y ou get less t ime for each
a course - but also struggling to remain on the
n screen. You v iew the game through a large
k on-screen wi n d o w t hat c ont inually scrolls
i down, and should y ou hang around for too
sSeely at Ite bonorn of the course Mow lor the aores-slo Arnsfrard version. Pis is 3: snow here is Ode as ...snow long your character disappears off the top
d
g
i
c
a
t
c
h
c
m
t
h
e
n
e
x
t

ELECTRIC DREAMS
S O F T W A R E

Mail Order Activision(UK) Ltd, Units 3 & 4 Lloyds Close,

linedonRoadIndustrial Estate, Wellingborough,
NorthamptonNN84SR. Tel: (0933) 76768
Copyright1986SegaEnterprises Inc, (USA). All rights reserved.
Electric Dreams Software, AuthorisedUser.
Commodore 64,128 Cassette (E9.99) and Disk (E12.99)
ZIX Spectrum 48k/1215ki-l- (E9.99)
Amstrad CPC Cassette (E9.99) and Disk (E1419)
Amiga Disk (534.99)
 SCREEN TEST

VISUAL EFFECTS • • • • •
Blue all o'er
A U D IO • • • n s *
Listen to thal crispy arm
IQ FACTOR E no a a al
Learn the slopes

FUN FA C TOR • • • • •
Addictive and thoroughly playabie
PHE I C TED
IN E RE S T

Ail

Jo
20
10

I ,n in I how 1 cj av 1 . A n I fr011itio y e l 7

ACE RATING 727

Pine 2 itor piste read slope} oe the Spectrum version: those lumps are tough to negoltale

II that happens then you have to refer to

Amstrad Ve r s ion
Incredible b u t t r u e - t h e s n o w i n t h e
Amstrad version is white. t he players are in
red and the game plays exactly t he s ame
(but slightly slower) than the Spectrum ver-
sion. Just as addic t iv e a n d just as muc h
tun,
the r a d a r s t rip t o t he right of t he screen
tri order to navigate. This giv es a very s im-
ple aerial v iew of the slope and only shows
the gates a n d t he players, not t he surface
features.
Initially, t h e g a me p l a y i s t ough a n d recognise the t errain features I f y o u c a n
takes a fair while to get used to. The screen get to grips wit h the controls and learn the
design is colourful, (blue snow?) but it takes
layout of the slopes you're in for a lot of fun
time bef ore t h e p l a y e r c a n c onfi dent ly • Andy Smith

UW4®
You are one of the elite parachuting alone behind enemy AIRBORNE RANGER.Achallenging combination or clanger
lines. The enemy controls the terrain, hidden in bunkers and and suspense. Available for the Commodore 64/128k.
machine gun nests ...you may be surrounded. The action is Cassette £14.95 Disk £19.95.
fierce as you control one .soldier's battle against over-
whelming odds. You'll need skill and strategy to out- a a • ~ M k OIL
manoeuvre your enemy, plus courage and some luck to U
M M I F I M E = E N ' • 111
make your escape. Airborne Ranger is an exciting fast- a l EN V E l 1 • 1 1 Eim M =
M EW'
paced simulation with 12 desperate missions in 3 different S I M U L A T I O N • S O F T W A R E
regions of the world. The possibilities are endless!
Please send c o p y / i e s of Airborne Ranger CBM 64/128 E Cassette £14.95 0 Disk £19.95 0 Further details.
Name (block capitals) A d d r e s s
Post Code
I enclose L i n c l u d i n g 55p P-I-P. Cheques payable to MicroProse Software Ltci,
I
or debit my Access/Visa card. Expiry date N o
 SCREEN TEST

E r t foliage? Mut at ed trees? I t

I N F E C I c v m u s t be those unscrupulous
aliens again, s pray ing t he lcmdsoape wit h
their nasty red virus. There's nothing for it but
to get in your hoverplcme, t ak e to the skies
and shoot t hem d o wn That's Zarch in a nut-
shell - calor l i
l t j u s t to you. prepare to be surprised
shoot-em-up
s oThere
u nare the graphics to start with. True
ZARC
perspective
d s 3D - even solid 3D. as here - is SUPERIOR's h i g h class s h o o t - e r n - u p
lnothing
i knew, but Zarch's unusual v iewpoint
gives
e it a completely different feel a r c h is
a a night simulator rather than offering the
not - R, D i ; 1 1
pilots-eye
b o v i e w o f g a me s l i k e Ot t e a n d
Mercenary,
r i it takes y ou out of t he cockpit gtou i e r ' s
and
n shows g you your hoverplcme from a dis- luugh-- 1
tcmce,
o keeping the view level no matter how
you
l turn or roll
You're the *lite blip L s c a n n e r , and he's the
d Zarchs fl y ing controls are unus ual t oo
Diu. one.
The g'ame's mous e only : pressing t he left-
hand mouse button gives you a short blast
or b u m on the ships engine A t first this lifts
you straight up off the landing pad, but by
moving t he mous e y ou c an t ilt t he hover- These missiles and smart bombs could save your
plane in the direction you want to go - and neck in a light spot
a quick burn will hav e y ou on y our wa y
The bit-bum-tilt-bum fl y ing style these c on-
trols lead to is rather reminiscent of Thrust,
but being in 3D it t h a t muc h trickier, a n d
thats before you even start to think of com-
bat,
In fl ight t he hov erplane s wings f reely
about its midpoint as if the nose was weight-
ed, so as to point in the direction of tilt. This
gives you effective control over whic h wa y
the hoverplarie (and therefore its laser can-
non) laces, b u t means t hat t h e plc:me is
always nose down - so you must be above a
craft to shoot it That's no problem if you're
after t h e s low, low-fl y ing seeders wh i c h
—sm
RELEASE
ug BO
El9,95dk R E V I E W E D
AMIGA UNDERDEVELOPEMENT
ATARISTUNDERDEVELOPEMENT
NO8-BITVERSIONSPLANN I
Y
o
spray t he lands c ape wit h virus. Just t rac k u
them d o wn on y our scanner, s piral d o wn Aside tram running out of fuel or loss of r
and spray them wit h bullets. One hit finishes control, t h e best wa y t o lose one of y our h VISUAL EFFECTS E • I I M • • •
their pollution c areer - a n d t hey don't fi re three lives in Zarch is by mid-air collision. It's o Poelry in motion
back! easy to crash into opponents while you jostle v A U D IO n e o n '
Combat height is more of a problem wit h for a height advantage, a n d t o mak e mat - e
Weak effects and not many of them
the aliens ' drones a n d mut ant s . Thes e ters wo r s e t h e a l i e n s s e n d o u t l i t t l e y
hunter-killers work along the s ome lines as karnkikaze pests which will try to ram you. p I Q FA C TOR M a n g a n *
your hoverplcme, but t heir weak er engine II y ou succeed i n wi p i n g out a l l y our l Never mind the depth.
power and lower rate of fire should win you 014 a FUN FA C TOR lomonmon
the d a y one-on-one F o r mas s ed at t ac k s .you'll g e t a h e f t y bonus bas ed o n t h e n feel the rdayabdity
you'll need to spray bullets wildly, or resort to n
amount of lands c ape still unpolluted. Then e
MIN 1 1 1 3 1 1 1
more serious weapons: eit her horning mis -
siles - use t hem wis ely because y ou c an't
oyou're faced wit h a new wav e of aliens more
pnumerous t han t he last, wi t h nastier types
m•
o •
i l- r1 g 1
1
eGLY
replace the three y ou start wit h - or smart p fi ghters a n d bombers addi ng t o y our
like v • -
1,
bombs The latter not only kill any bad guys o
troubles. An extra smart bomb and life every e 1 I7 ,
in the area, but even reduce nearby trees to n
5000 point s wi l l h e l p k e e p y o u blas t ing s P
cisheg e
away , but you'll need a lot of practice to get i
20
In P
Enemy hits wonl destroy the hoverplane even
n that far. n P
immediately y our shields will deflect bullets, t Sound effects are poor - little more t han f -
I hout I d o , I • • • o k I mie fill• I

but this costs you fuel, The heavy thrusting of s afterthought really - but Zarch's graphic
an o Master the controls and you're hooked
comb-it takes its toll here too, so you'll need
to refill your tanks at home base on long or
-
perfection
play
o
a n d timelessly addic t iv e game-
make it an instant classic.
r
t
ACE R AT I N G 9 7 9
violent missions. n h
• Andy Winon
l e
y k AdvancedComputer Entertain
SC
R

THUNDERCATS
EE
N

THELOs. DI Jr 1
11 i j N i o
Feline fury from ELITE

p u lAd meaning this Xmas, as the fruits of

chance to catch up, so you'll need to work on
tum-and-slash mov es if y o u wa n t t o liv e
each of t hem - lose a hie and you're straight
on to the next level, wit h no second chance

a
tElites
c Munderc at s h e - u p h i t t h e wort hy lot that hefty rescue bonus To further v ary
long You'll also hav e t o keep mov i ng run
i out at time, and Mumm-Ra himself will polish the pace of the game, levels 4 to 7 c an be
chemists a n d thouscrnds of ot her software
ndealers. Elit e a r e produc ing t hree games you off very quickly indeed. taken in any order you wont Fi n d the right
B Tokens along the way can be picked up order a n d you'll mak e things a great deal
based on the hit TV senes/comic/plastic toy,
othis fi rst o n e writ t en b y s of t ware hous e for ex t ra lives, a r i d als o lot a c hange of easier for yourself, but work ing that strategy
oGargoyle. weapon. Learn whic h ones do what - some out will take you plenty of tune.
t of t hem c an be distinctly unhelpf ul - a n d The pace of the game never lets up, and
II the ment ion of their name puts you in
smind of Gargoyle sideways-scrolling games you'll s oon b e blas t ing
tLike Mas port or Dun Ectrach, then the took of your opponents instead
aMundercats wont c ome as a surprise: its a of hac k ing t hem There
kside-on view scroller wit h all the graphic flair are v ehic les y o u c a n
eof old Don't expect complex arcade adven- use too (if y ou c an fi nd
sturing though: that Elite influence has given them) to help beat those
othe g a me buckets of good honest arc ade time limits, not t o men-
nplayability instead tion those bad guys
a As well as recover-
The Ey e o f Thundera. s ourc e o f t h e
wThundercats' power, has been stolen by the ing t he Ey e itself, y o u
hevil Mumrn-Rds henchmen arid somebody's can fescue impris oned
ogot logo and get it back - you. As that hero- comrades on y our mis-
l ic rnc ggie Lion-a y ou'll hav e t o fi ght y our sion. T h e g a m e h a s
eway int o Mumm-Ra's stronghold, hac k ing three rescue levels, but
nand blasting hordes of noshes and leaping you only get one shot at
eacross lethal gaps which block your path.
w Each of the games 14 levels is a straight-
hne dash f rom start t o finish Though there Level 3's bonus frisson. rescue Tygni, 2 1 1 1 . 1 1 1 1 1 1 ' , ' 1 1 1 1 1
are obstacles to leap over and platforms to
run across, there's no real choice of route.
Just cover the distance wit hin sixty seconds, e C a t s Whiskers
killing or dodging a n y nasties y ou c ome
across, a n d it's onward to another, tougher
level.
You start off armed with a broadsword to
fend off the foe. Its a tncky weapon to 11%
t, iming is cntical, a n d y ou'll need t o duc k
:
while us ing it t o hit opponents below (or
shorter than) you. Lion-o stops running to use
his sword, giv ing a n y purs uing noshes a

A m str ad Ve r s ion

Not one version but two: 4 6 4

.
fewer digitised graphics, and only 1 1 game
/ 6 6 4 On
levels u the
s e6128
r s y oullget alf 14, but
geither
e wayt the game looks great and plays
better.

C 6 4 Ve r s ion - a taster

Gargoyle have always tended to specialise

m Spectrum and Amstrad games, so a major Me tints
C64 release is something of a departure for - t e b
them. The C64 Thundercats is some way off ling
being finished, wit h work still in progress on I w ?
the crucial difficulty tuning, .
5
6 2 Advanced Computer Entertainment N I
 lj

f
a
t
IC ,
VI
CI
' L.
4
•;Jnole short term cunt — get to the finishing It's graphic ally impressive t oo screens a n d t h e l i k e , a l o n g w i t h a n
1
fine before the time runs out - combines wit h mation
- t ish stylish
e aand
n the
i - scrolling impecca- enhanced soundtrack for Rob Hubbard devo-
the toughness of t he opposition t o mak e it ble. wi t h digitised backdrops adding enor- tees, but even wit h only 48K you'll still have
'
fiendishly addic t iv e. Th e g a me demands
your full concentration, and gets it too. More
mously t o t h e g a m e at mos phere T h e
enlarged I28K version uses the extra memo-
a good-look ing, c ompul s i v el y p l a y a b l e
game for y our money.
than Green Beret. Ghosts and Goblins or any-
2
thing else in th,•_s style. Mundermt s goes the
distance
ry to store further digitised graphics for bonus • Andy Wilton.

1
o
n
O n e d o w n , t wo to g o
Of the two Thundercats games yet to see the
1
light of day, ones being developed in house at
Elite, and so is pretty much under wraps. The
1
other's a four way scroller with an exploration
element to it, but as with Lost Eye of Thundera
the accent's on arcade action rather than strate-
1
gy. It should be ready real soon now, but the Pir t r r 4 0 , t ' "
title's still undecided, obviously Elite will have to
1
go to considerable lengths to avoid confusion, if
more than one of the games is out at once.
1
1
RELEA
0 128 E9.95cs. E14.95dh

1 7SMIS E8.95c s • E14.95dk REVIEWED

1 PE
1 CE
1 1.VISUAL EFFECTS • • • • • • • Great animation lovely thgnising

1 95 A U D I O . . . B i l e Wl
126
-
1 os I Q FA C TOR wit A ,,,, s
te Eggheads need not apply
FUN FA C TOR • • • • • • •
6 rr
if
ic
Magnificent!, obsessive

1 .
4
IN E REST
P R E URI •T
8
0 n
o
T
tIC
TED

1 n
e
t

b I min I
,
s0 0 h
I
how I
o am

Placability
i r d) e l t h
I

with
st

legs

r ACE R AT I N G 9 3 1
1 + 2 b i
a
•-1vetsion Mi s hi ts evil be redraw Wore release, but hissboutd ghe yea,
•t ot whattoexpect.
d

o e
i Advanced Conputer Entertainment 6 3
SCREEN TEST

JACKTHENIPPER2:
COCONUTCAPERS
Mischief in t h e jungle with GREMLIN
G i v i n g Ta r za n th•
_41 4 , ••• -
HAUGHTY0r I VT;
- ilomM
Before: Thai apemanis just milkinglot a dunking, but how do
youget tain011dial vine?
S E Q U E L s aifr ey big
o u news
h a v at
e nthe
' t bmoment:
ought
Enlightenment ( D r u i d I I ) i t s p r o b a b l y
because y ou' re s a v i n g y o u r mo n e y f o r
Gauntlet 1.1, Impossible Mission II, Mc it c hday
or some such follow-up N o w here's anoth-
er contender for that cash Coc onut Capers,
being the further adventures of that trouble-
some tot Jack the Nipper.
After h i s o u t r a g e o u s l y n a u g h t y
behaviour in the original game, so the sce-
nano goes, Jack Is arrested a n d shoved on
the first plane to Australia. He bails out en
route however, arid parachutes into the jun-
gle below. No w y ou t ak e control of Jack,
dodging or fi ght ing the jungle's many dan-
gerous oc c upant s - w i l d animals , w i l d
natives, wi l d parent s a n d t he lik e - a n d
indulging in various naughty deeds.
These f amiliar objec t iv es m a y ma k e
Jack I I s ound l i k e it s s imply a t ropic al
reworking of t he original Jack, but not hing
could b e further f rom t he truth. Co c o n u t
Capers doesn't h a v e t h e rashometer. t h e
breakability or the unusual 3D of its prede-
cessor I ns t ead it has gaps t o j u mp ropes
and ladders to c limb, a n d a whole load of
instantly lethal creatures. objects and drops
to avoid I t has t iming problems wit h alliga-
tors and fl oating logs, it has vines to s wing
on, it has rope-bridges arid tree-houses in the
be minor frustrations howev er, but t he fact
that J a c k 17 is largely a plat f orm game.
I p
There's a huge mapping task to get on with -
192 screens, a n d no names to identify them
by - a n d those naught y deeds are pretty
• tricky even when you know what you're sup-
posed t o b e doing. b u t t h e gamept c pt is
dated to say the least Graphic ally it's a treat,
colour clashes to one side, and the game's lit-
tle musical jokes - a bit of the Stingray theme
tune if y ou f all in the water, or a snatch of
Agadoo when y ou pick up the pineapple -
give it audio appeal too. If irs a dinosaur in
gameplay terms it's a slick a n d v ery well-
presented dinosaur, but you'd be hard put to
call it an advance on the original.
• d
• Andy Witon
- .
1
1
Mar: Tarlaa'a Winta dip and your whigfilyomekes gone up Am st rad Version
i
e bit Easy whenyouknow hike!
l
l
I The CPC Jack ifs v ery well drawn, but the
I
plentiful weapons let y ou shoot y our wa y use of four colours rather than sixteen lets it
T
through some 1 problems - but it is mostly a
down a bit graphically. Good sound is the
matter of judging
) gaps and getting your lim- only other difference from the Spectrum ver-
ing right. Thei naughty deeds involve fi nding sion.
l
useful objectsl - grease, pineapples or toffee
for example :- whic h you can take elsewhere
i
RELEASE B O W
and wreak havoc with. Usually the object is
quite s ome distance f rom t he loc at ion y ou '128 E 999cs. 1499dk
need it in, so without good platform skills you EC E 99cs R E VIEWE(
probably wont mak e it Of course, you could
cover t hat distance only t o fi nd you've got
E999cs.E 149
the wrong object: some of the puzzles can be 9
R E V I 1
pretty obscure. to say the least, and you can
only carry one object at a time. E W
Ob)ects aren't the only things to pick up VISUAL EFFECTS • • • • n n u
in the jungle There are also dummies, whic h Great cattoorry graphics, but some bad clashes
give y ou an extra life if you've lost some of
A U D IO • • • • E r ,
the n i n e y o u s t at ed wit h; nat iv e shields,
Witty snatches of tunes
whic h g i v e y o u prot ec t ion agains t mos t
forms o f d e a t h f o r a l i mi t e d t ime, a n d I Q FA C TOR • m • • s is r s
weapons, not ably coconuts whic h y ou c an Lots to map
throw at jungle nasties A s wit h t he objects FUN FA C TOR mosissess
used in naught y deeds, y ou c an only carry Moods perserverance
one weapon at a time.
Other game features like slippery slopes.
lav a and s wamp pools. impassable fires and E I O N I M . 0 1 1 : 7 E
I ndiana Jones-style mine ccas all add variety
to the proceedings, but the game does have
its problems. The nasties are reset every time
you leav e a screen, ev en if y ou only do so
moment arily i n mid-jump, a n d Jack's s o
•

I.
SUM
jungle c o p y t o leap bet ween. I t is - in small he c an die repeat edly while hidden -en 1 I dev I O . . I n o e l'
, 1 V • 0 3
(Yl from v iew behind tree-trunks or t he lik e - Takes time and effort to get in to
c
form game both of these adding to the considerable frus-
t Its not just a platform game mind you - tration any platform game has to offer. ACE R AT I N G 7 0 9
h
there are those naught y deeds t o do. a n d The real problem for most people won't
e
64 Advanced
p ComputerEntertainment
 ••••-

"r1"
A C -Z Y
7 ZZ
Z AZ
- Z
e17
,7
1
1
g t m E 11•911011161

Knights in
fling armour
certainly are
not, • r e like black
hearted ,
marauding trio run ariot
l r through
ks couutless
edieval landscapilltlaying ato waste
s r t r essfter
fortress, castle after castle. y o u t
y o
expect to have it all your own way. th I i a n c e
u r
from the peasants and gentlefelk and g e
masters but let that not deter three e e d
rogues on a path of demolition and destruction.
Compu f a s t moving action thati t keep
rig you ba e time t i m e .
AMSTRAD R U M
TO/
s e /meoe m o DI
,
im o cI isi1 development NOM rtnure concept& Copyright ft
r SCREEN TEST

1 -tu re.
Aroy the tour power Cells before hndmgthe eel
The power cell that needs destroymg
and contact wit h an alien reduces your ener-
gy. Locating the power cells is achieved by
consulting y o u r short r a n g e scanner, dis -
play ed in t he bottom portion of t he screen.
Energy-suckingaliens Benefits are av ailable in the shape of pods
scattered throughout the grid. Shooting a pod
releases s ev eral s ma l l c aps ules t hat -
caught - c a n grac e y our s hip wi t h such
goodies as Smolt Bombs , ex t ra liv es a n d
extra energy.
Control o f t h e s pac ec raf t i s v e r y
tfrichumish, y ou fl ip over to change direction
or to fly under the grids in the chase for your
benefits. The spaceship stays central to the

Your remairi,rig l e v e l Your shisrt s c a nne r appears here during Pity

IMPLOSION
screen and everything else scrolls around it.
Imploslorfs graphics are v ery g o o d t he
grids are all varied and colourful and really
do convey the impression of some vast alien
structure. Th e screen howev er is curiously
designed; t he top portion i s your overhead
v iew of the action while the bottom portion is
a c oc k pit v i e w o f y o u r instruments T h e
game grabs y ou because it strikes that c m-
cial b a l a n c e bet ween addic hv enes s a n d
CASCAIDE's interstellar cell d e s t r u c t o r frustration, a n d t hos e eight lev els s hould
keep you going for some time
Andy Smrlh
power cells, y ou t hen hav e to fl y y our ship
P E S K again. This time they've only gom towards an ex panding and contracting hole
ELEASE B O
Y built an artifi cial planet around a White
an that looks lik e a camera's aperture Position
a l i e star
Dwarf n and sent the planet on a collision your s hip ov er t he hole, hit t he space bat C64,128 E 9.95cs,E14.95dk REVIEWED
s !
course with Earth! Wo u l d you credit It? and you are transported to the next level.
T himplowon puts the play er in control of a You start the game wit h three lives, and SPEC E 8.95cs I M M N E N T
e y '
spaceship fl ying over the surface of a planet a limit ed amount of energy f or eac h life.
r e up of eight levels of grids The obiect
made Small aliens fl y around t he grids i n packs
u
to destroy a number of power cells - wit h
p
your front•fmng g u n - t hat h o l d t he grids
ttogether.
o Hav ing destroyed t h e s et a mo u n t o f
t
h VISUAL EFFECTS MONNE
e Varied and colourful backgrounds
i
A U D IO m om oge s
r
Lively spot effects
o
l I Q FA C TOR N ogg- ga s
d Won't strain the old grey matter
t FUN FA C TOR m • • • • s s
n You can get straight in to the action
c
PRE I C T E D
k IN E RE S T
s UrivE

nrol I ho. I d ay v . . .

With 8 levels you won't comptete it in a hurry

ACE R AT I N G 7 0 2

6 6 AdvancedComputerEntertainment
THE FUTURE

e complete range and information on

, w r i t e to
M A Reranley 1987
1/49 Station Road, Langley, Becks SL3 8YX, England
SCREEN TEST

TRANTOR you've overcome this initial t amer you'll fi nd

c omplet ing t he game f ar t oo easy for it t o
provide anything like a lasting challenge

RELEASE B O X
• Andy Smith

Yo u n g g u n s G O ! f o r it, • M i l 28 £ 9 . 9 9 , E14.99di IMMINENT

ABANDON OnTrontore tni E
D counts down from 90 to zero. Each tunnel has
his wa y t o f reedom i n . this arc ade ac t ion
game Y o u control Trcmtoro s a n d must guide
him on his quest t o collect
t o the 8 letters of a
code word that he needsl in order to escape.
The sideways-on v iewfi ofgthis alien plan-
et takes y ou t hrough several
h t levels of t un-
nels, wh i c h Trcmtor mus t negot iat e i n his
search-and-destroy quest for eight letters of a
mole word needed to m a p e the planet
At the top of the screen is a timer whic h
1A0
,
Met crippling
A lime limitmeans you've got to think onyour lest tor
SPEC EEI.99cs R E V I E W E D
at least one t erminal c ont aining a letter for AMS £999, f14.99dk IMMINENT
the code word, and 'rrantor has to reach this
before the t ime runs out - more t han a f ew
shades of Impossible Mission.
There's a fl ame-thrower to aid Trcmtor in VISUAL EFFECTS ENE11011m
his fi ght agains t t h e various fl y ing aliens, CrispC0101,101.11 and smooth
contact wit h whic h will reduce your energy A U D IO moonto
level. A n energy top-up is av ailable in t he Lively title tune but mediocre (Meets
shape of hamburgers, found in lockers on the
vcrrious levels. Other goodies include devices
I Q FA C TOR E M M , ) * * *
to set the timer bock to 90 and f u e l replen- Needs a bit ot mapping
ishments for the flamethrower. FUN FA C TOR 111•001a
Trcmlor has some very crisp and colourful Frequent deaths Out you oil to start with
graphics, wh i c h wh e n c ombined wi t h t he
smooth animat ion ac id at mos phere t o t he
game, but this is mimed by weak and unin-
spired sound. Tr a i t o r also lets itself d o wn
simply because the aliens are almost impos-
sible t o destroy, at least if y ou still hope to
reach a terminal in the alloted time The ran-
dom distribution of the goodies in the lockers
1•110 1 1 0
means t hat ev en i f y o u k n o w y our w a y ,
10
around its very muc h left to chance whether Initial frustration gives way to short-lived enjoyment
,
1 0
y oull get a hamburger in time or not.
Frustration w i t h ov er-f requent d e a t h s
ACE R AT I N G 5 1 7
0
0
I
0

thisgamew m
may put y ou off t o begin wit h, b u t onc e e

l e
k
A 1
r
w n
o
l r
l
h

Areqouhorribleenough
logoonthe
 SCREEN TEST1

XECUTOR may we l l reappear i n a n instantly let hal

position This can cut games extremely short
and could easily have been avoided,
Not t remendous stuff t hen f or a s ingle
player. b u t s wit c hing t o t wo-play er mc d e
transforms the game. You can play a combo
H a v e a b l a s t o n THE EDGE game competitively, but wit h the aforemen-
tioned problems y ou won't get too f ar t hat
vertically s c rolling shoot- way. Co-operate Instead, and you'll soon get
A N O T H F P em-up? Anot her l o a d o f RELEASE B O X the fi repower t o really trash those aliens -
blasting. c ollec t ing weapons, a n d blasting and have a lot of fun along the way.
some more' C64/128 E 8 99cs,E12_99dit DECEMEIE • AndyWilton
)
Xecutot off immediat ely SPEC E7.99cs R E V I E W E D '
.W eIt'sl clolourf ul f or o n e t hing, i n a fi eld
,
which is (on the Spectrum at any rate) most- VISUAL EFFECTS • • • • •
ly
y drab
e or just plain monoc hrome It's also Colour and scrolling ate Very c
s a t remendous c ombo opt ion t hat has
got cashing int o the scenery. At t ac k ing nasties
A U D IO o n o
- descend in waves, four at a time, fi ring verti-
Nice enough tune but effects are sparse
b c ally d o wn a t y o u wh i l e def ens iv e g u n
u emplacements c ling to the scenery and tire I Q FA C TOR O e n
t horizontally. Destroy an emplac ement or a Customising strategies to oL
d o wav e of bad guys. and a custorrusing token FUN FA C TOR Elm ow
n ' appears in the debris.
, Dreary tor one bui great for two
t When a t ok en appears y o u h a v e a Ina
.0
w choice - shoot it , o r pic k it up. Shoot ing ma

r tokens stores them away to earn you bigger.

6/3
i more impressive features while picking one
t up cashes in any you've stored and adds the .63

e appropriate feature t o y our ship. Increased

20

Aeve of ahem dives towards yot, Shoal them sit collect a token speed, wit hering firepower and a handy pro- la

tective shield ccm all be yours. A

horsMe debris ;did you'll incraise your rate of fire.
So tar so good, but your initial fi repower I nom, I fl o w V dor I .0 0 0 I alan il• I V I C,

both players on screen at once, c ompet ing and speed are v ery puny indeed a n d this Evenfor two. the fun doesn't lost
(unwise) or co-operatng (much better) makes t he g a me rat her t ough t o get int o
The object of t he game is t o blast t he Worse still, the gameplay has senseless flaws A C E R AT I N G 7 5 7
(Thetis, wit hout get t ing blas t ed yourself or in it: in particular, if you lose a life your craft

TM

N(oull crlo\N soon enougni

Rampage, corning to \our tiorne ACT I V I S I O N
computer screen, December. , ENTERTAINMENT S OFTWA RE
, TM 840987 Relty Midway MFGOO
All rights reserved. Activision Inc. Authorised User
 r SCREEN TEST

GRANDSLAM These factors a r e wh a t ma k e G r a n d

Sim] an interesting game: y ou c an even, if
you wis h, ques t ion a line-c all i n Mc Enroe
fashion. The game has good but not brilliant
graphics and a f ew digitised sound effects.
such as line calls a n d net cords. I t doesn't

A l l - c o u r t a c t i o n f r o m EIDERSOFT win by straight sets, but it puts u p a pretty

good show • Pete Connor

tennis p r o g r a m g i v e s y o u t h e mouse, t hen pressing the button t o execute

the shot Different shots c an be play ed wit h
RELEASE B
chance to hav e a go at one of the
biggest achievements i n sport, t he G r a n d the aid of the numeric keypad; 8 gives y ou REVIEVOE
GA £
Slam of French. Americ an. Wimbledon and slice. 9 a bit of that old Nom Borg topspin, 6
2RIST
9 . 29.956 DEC87
Australian titles. It's a t ough old objective, a spectacular smash.
The problem, of course, is the opposition. 95d
but t he game is lust about good enough to
tempt you to practice enough to give it a go. There are four opponents. ranging f rom t h e k
Grand Sk ims set aggressive to t he slug-
up is v ery s imilar t o gish. Each one plays in VISUAL EFFECTS N • E • • n a
tennis g a m e s t h a t a different style. so you Nice movement and neat backdrops
appeared o n 8 - b i t must change your own AUDI O E • overne
machines s ome t ime tactics a c c o r d i n g l y .
Some cute digitised speech
ago: y o u get a v iew You then hav e to take
up t h e c o u r t f r o m in t o account t he k ind IQ FACTOR sum m on'
of surface you're play - Acertain amount ot strategy requited
behind y o u r play er.
and c a n m o v e ing o n , t h e we a t h e r FUN FACTOR nuommEtto
around a n d h i t t h e conditions a n d e v e n Very playable and quite demanding
ball i n a v ariet y of the stringing and t y pe
ways. of racquet you're using.
This v c met y o f s hot One c o mmo n •'•
and t h e n u mb e r o f With y problem i p c omput er
factors you must take attempt o u r to outplay the aggressive Demon • World No. 1 • tennis games - and one
into consideration are sonpthe last and luscious grass ot Wimbledon that Grand Slam has nl 1.

what mak e the game a r k solved - is t hat of let -

interesting For instance,l ithe n surfaces play ed ting you k now where the ball is in relation to
on inc lude clay, grass g and hcadcourt; eac h your rac quet ; s omet imes y o u hit t h e b a l l I osass I taSta I de w I wawa I wawa?. 1 WOCP

one giv es a different w k i n d of g a me a n d when y o u t hink y o u shouldn't, sometimes Will maintain long-term interest

1 requires more or less subtle

your style.
You control y our play
h i adjustments in
t
e er by mov ing the
you miss when y ou think you're on the spot.
This isn't necessarily a huge problem. but it
ACE R AT I N G 7 7 5
can mak e play a little frustrating sometimes.

L
s
a

ROYALC
n
w d
oindulge in the solitaryg vice of solitaire?
Contrary n t o expectations. r Solit aire Roy ale
was we e
d l l wort h programming, a n d is well
worth e playing a
s
Forr a start, the PC graphics are excellent:
even wi o t h t he h u mb l ey CG A adapt or t he Solitary f u n f r o m IRRORSOFT

i
cards appear
f v ery c ris b p a n d clear, wh i l e
wit h t h1 e E G A t h e mult l i-c olour ef f ec t i s
superb6Then you get t oa p l a y e i g h t dif f er ent games as well as a number of children's
- c solitaire games. VISUAL EFFECTS osmoses
k The games you can play range from the Excellent definition on court CM*
h
a h f amilim Pat ienc e g a m e - h e r e c a l l e d AUDI O unm anl y
c a Klondike - to the rather more complex Reno OK if you like a quiet game
o i and Calculation
r The program is v ery easy t o use a n d
IQ FACTOR mammon
m
There's mote to Patience than you might thmk
p y operated either by mouse or by cursor keys,

t
u o pull-down menus are av ailable at any time FUN FACTOR m • • • o n o
u by pressing the ESC key, and give help, gen- Surprisingly entertaining
t
i eral I nf o or access t o a n e w g a me T h e
n smooth presentation and helpful explanatory LI

g booklet mak e Solitaire Roya)e a classy and •

•
j entertaining product. P e t e Connor
u
s 41111, •
t 1
RELEASE B O X
t I mon 1 KoLa I d ay I kwa• a 1 m o rw, I yam
o IBMPC E 20.00dk R E V I E W E D Not over-exciting - but keeps you at il
OTHERVERSIONSTOBEDECIDED
ACE R AT I N G 7 6 0
ii
Tr-11#5,7..F.
A g r n s 1 0 1 1 1 1 r i n the game of Klondike
7 0 AdvancedComputerEntertainment
ACTION • EXCITEMENT NDESTRUCTION
I T IS THE WAY OF THE

6 e e KONAMI
COMMODORE D I S C C14-95
COMMODORE CASSETTE C8-95
SPECTRUM CASSETTE C7
A M S T R A D DISC C14-95
-
A M S T R A D CASSETTE C8-95
95
ATARI DISC C14-95
ATA R I CASSETTE C9
-
95

GREY Q U I N T
IhAPbalmof-
D KONAMI
E
Amother
c grippykgArcade
DISTRIBUTED BY: N.M.C. LTD., 2 IFFLEY ROAD, LONDON W6 OPA. TEL: 01-846 9701
K
For subscription details please send a S.A.E. to:
KONAMI SOFTWARE A CLUB K O N A M I HELPLINE
Bank Building, Bank Street, Newton Abbot, Devon -
 Preview The Future!
PROJECT: STEALTH FIGHTER

Stealth Fighter.. .the hottest topic of conversation in aviation PROJECT: STEALTH FIGHTER. Another brillant simulation
circles today. Space Age technology and engineering make from MicroProse. Available for the Commodore 64/128K.
these aircraft virtually undetectable b y enemy radar. Cassette L14•95. Disk £19.95.
Stealth Fighters are believed to be in operation, flying the a a • 0101111
most sensitive missions, flown by a superior class of piloefou EMI ' S L A I N M I
can experience that thrill of flying a revolutionary aircraft. WM ME i•Eur • •
dim S W i n WM 1 bA IM P IE I M I l h A I M P
NB I n " N W 1• 1 m l i E l y
previewing the edge of the future. A RE
S I M U L A T I O N • S OF T

Please send c o p y / i e s of Project: Stealth Fighter COM 64/128 El Cassette £14.95 D Disk 119.95 El Further details.
Name (block capitals) Address
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I enclose i n c l u d i n g 55p P i
-or debit my Access/Visa card. Expiry date No 1I I 1
P. C h e q u e s
 SCREEN TE S T
I"

PISPORE little e n e r g y - as s uming y o u h a d t h e

manoeuv ring room to run away.
In practice Spore isn't so easily beaten. In
tight comers, agains t ov erwhelming odds
you'll need to think a n d act wit h light ning
speed. It's not just a matter of blasting skills
(though these help) b u t als o of strategy
You'll have to plan the removal of the beams
carefully so as to release the spores in a con-
BULLDOG pull o u t t h e p trolled fashion, and the reflectors make this a
very tricky business at times.
Your imt ial allowanc e o f 500 energy
craft. Desperate blasting isnt enough here, if units won't get you very far, so it's essential to
GENETI CALLYa you want to avoid the massed spores serious- pick u p t he energy flasks o n eac h level.
n tames lets face it, but when they overrun
of ly draining your energy: you need tactics. You'll also fi nd t he repellants useful - pick
i t ebase
the r e c i where you keep your SlOCIcs of pes- Spores are only really dangerous when them up, t rigger t hem in moment s of clue
c e you've obviously got to act las t To be
ticide they attack y ou from several sides at once. need (hit t he spacebar) a n d wat c h as t he
s p o you've got to steer your ship around
precise so the trick is to get them corning at you from spores fall over each other in the rush to
c i tbeleaguered complex collecting the bm-
the one direction only I f you release spores, run avoid you. This repulsion only lasts 10 sec-
r e of pesticide. blasting aggressive spores
rels away t rom them and then turn to lire you'll onds a n d t h e n t hey 're af t er y o u r b l o o d
t
and wrec k ing the ubiquitous spore genera- fi nd t heir homi ng instincts hav e left t hem again, but y ou c an get a long wa y in that
tors
s before they can produce more of the lit- strung out in your wake, chasing y ou for all time if you know what you're doing.
tle
h eblighters: not a p b for the faint-hearted they're worth. Shoot t hem before t hey c an It would lake an enormous playing effort
a r The game's 50 levels only take up one reach y ou. shoot t heir generators before a to get t hrough a l l 50 screens of t he game
screen
b apiece, b u t eac h one is positively whole load more are produced and you've without a large dose of hacking. but even if
bulging
e wi t h walls , security b e a m guns , cleared out that area of the screen wit h very you ma n a g e it there's still more t o do A n
reflectors
es and spore generators - not to men- extra 2 0 user-defi ned screens offer t ough
tion
a pesticide barrels. repellants and energy challenges in their default states. and unlim-
flasks,
t To complete a level y ou just hav e to VISUAL EFFECTS immin•o ited difficulty once you start altering them to
collect all the baTrels on it. but this simple- Slick. polished and your taste wit h t he built•in editor. This and
sounding task wi l l t ak e y ou int o t he most A U D IO m • • • • the Minter-esque loading g a me are lov ely
dangerous, spore-infested c omers of eac h Great power drainage effect. good music touches, b u t t h e wi n n i n g c ombinat ion o f
layout.
I Q FA C TOR • n o • • strategy, frenzied blasting and great graph-
Higher levels demand careful thou:n• ics would mak e Spores a wort hy full-price
RELEASE B O X release any way - and what a bargain it is at
FUN FA C TOR m i m o s a El 99!
Terrific blitating'
C64•128 E l 99cs REVIEWED I And' Witor
SPEC El99cs I M M I N E N T
You're the little yellow Starfish' c the middle of thescreen. Below
AIRS E1 . 9 9 c s I M M I N E N T youis a securitybeam gunismell grey bloCkl
,beS
amhofte and
e t Men 0 dash
1 1Mit5toavoidthe escapingspores.
t o t u r n
t h e
To gel all those barrels y oull need t o
Imcck out the security beams that cordon off
large chunks of each level (Shoot the guns), I own I Mo. I clo y w o o . 1 monim 1 yo l v

or redirect t hem by turning the mirrors that Compulsion grabs you and the depth holds on
bounce t h e m a r o u n d t h e s c reen (s hoot
them). As you dismantle the beams, hordes ACE R AT I N G 9 1 9
of trapped spores wi l l surge t owards y our

ores

-
•
1 - l e 11.

Thesporespour out toaback yottstringegthemselves out andsomakinga convenient target Turn Your leirte•blast tactics dealtwiththose spores wer 1,1a,1 SC 1100
andlirelikecrazy. before the little blightersDVelfrUnyou erators
. y i 0Ismail
6 ored r biock.0
t e fbeforew theylbuild
i too
s man
h yrepacements.
o f t t h e
g e n - AdvancedComputerEntertainment 73
"
S
C
R
E
E
CAPTAINAMERICA
Super heroes a r e G O !
N
being attacked by various droids. The player
T C A P T A I N Americ
aped sa. pect himen
a t ov
o erdev
f h o mel-
o cart def end hims elf b y fl inging t he Caps RELEASE B O X
sapiens. is leaping ont o t he screens in a n shield around the plat f orm and bounc ing it
E attempt to save the good ollI S of A from the off t he droids. There are t wo different plat - C64/128 9 . 9 9 c s , E11.99dk REVIEWED
_
evil Dr, Megalomann who is threatemng to forms to each level, and each level has vary- SPEC E B99,:s I M M I N E N T
S launch a missile c ont aining a v ery nasty ing levels of virus infestation.
ANS E g.99cs.E14.9gdk IMMINENT
genetic virus. Not a nice thing to do. so the The first plat f orm has Capt ain Americ a
T President has called in the Captain turns. elf to ATARIST E19.99dk I M M I N E N T
son it out
VISUAL E F F E C T S . . . . .
Heroic de e ds d o n e dirt Wel•drawn and colourful sprites

c he a p. AUDIO • o • m o d a dodging two droids that mov e f rom the top

Atmospheric title tune with great effects of the screen to the bottom throwing a toxic
bomb between t hem I f the Capt ain gets hit
I Q FA C TOR N•Emounn by the bomb it reduc es his immunity levels.
Some tricky puzzles
The s e c o n d p l a t f o r m c o n t a i n s s e v e r a l
FUN FA C TOR E m m a u s ground-based droicts whic h wizz around fir-
Tough to gel in to but has its odd magic moments ing more toxic bombs Destroy these and a
large &it ' d appears dealing deat h t o any -
thing that gets in the way of its shots Th i s
large droid has to be destroyed before t he
player gets the code word whic h is needed
for the final conflict with the Doc.
CaptainAmerica grins to uve his nation in the tKe ot ping Its not easy to get straight into Capt ain
intKbaff Americ a b u t it is very easy to ctie - which is
Doc Megaiomann has built hims elf a frustrating, to say the least. This is not a tem-
base - c alled the Doom Tube - under t he I limn I twx, I ilo w I Ennirk I mn44,1 I ' win
ble gczme, but its far from outstanding a n d
The puzzles revive your waning interest - for a while its certainly not the ideal game for Gc4 to be
Matcrve desert. The player controls Captain
America as he tries t o penetrate t he fi v e
1
ACE R AT I N G 6 5 3 launching as an introduction to the label.
• A--71••• S-ith
- 71 A - -

YO3REA
1 Ai - bu by
1 o n lecling ic forge
7 a campe
- s m Gr
T
a l sphere
i which is r
l
d Bear wi:1
D i
Pi
e
n
H A
a t give you the b e a r facts players b u t
old-timers tco
l t c
: Park. t h e A m e n c c m
e
home of the 'smart c ar-
OK, B oo- B oo
v
toon
e bear, is the setting for Pircmhces latest
venture int o licensed software Th e play er
l VISUAL EFFECTS E N • • ORt
controls
s Yogi in his quest for poor or Boo-Boo
Cutesy and well-animated
who's
o been beamapped and locked into a
cage by a nasty hunt er A U D IO • i • n o w *
f
Atmospheric tunes throughout
t The game scrolls f rom left t o right as
Yogi heads on his wa y to rescue Boo-Boo, a
h I Q FA C TOR Em s onna l
counter at t he base at t he screen counting Bear-brains should be Kite to cope
e
down from 202 to zero to indicate proximity
b FUN FA C TOR mommogis
as Yogi closes in. There are various caves
a More playable than the average game'
scattered along the route that can send Yogi
s
nearer o r f urt her a w a y h o r n h i s b u d d y
e
depending o n whic h one y ou happen t o
. 1 1 1
enter. PPP' -1
E M
Auaggravatedcamper is in hot pursuit of our furry chum. 1
a I
c RELEASE B O X 1
M E
h 1
g u p ev e g
lC64128 E 9.95cs,E14.95dkREVIEWED 1
bolince Yogi back or forward a step - if you min i how c l o y I IE.* I niln I
e
SPEC E 9.95cs I M M I N E N T E
happen to be stood next to a hole or a lake Gels more involving the further you explore
v
AMS E 9,95cs.E14.95dk IMMINENT then it c an hav e Yogi losing one of his fi ve
e
lives. A picture of Yogi at t he base of t he ACE R AT I N G 7 5 2
screen slowly disintegrates as he loses ener-

74 edCo
-/ m . j oi m peni m pr-
pLAybs.

PLAY
'
-1:
• ••••••
11 AND
••••••• - •

11
:1• • =• • • • • •

1if , ' • •0)111 I a m b ; Corp 198b Pry/ ,• '

71COmmbdate by imagine •%,..•

MILANI
-
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! SPECTRUM C OM M OD OR E
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P- SPECTRUM A M S T R A D
-% : •WAN •'• • • • NOE COMMODORE A M S T R A D
1
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12•95 I4•95
In the knife-edge world of the 4 vigilante there is no placeto rest, notime D I S K D E S K M E L,.

-111-1 .
411
• itillt man on earth who dares to throw down the gauntlet in their path -the Renegade.
4,
ik
t oe n a m e A breathtaking conversion of the arcade hit by Taito now for your home computer.
- - 2 5 W i t h all the original play features. PLAY RENEGADE... PLAY MEAN!
t h
' D r t he g a m e ,
itionamonowr
NIGEL MANSELe S

"NIGEL MANSELL'S GRAND P R IX Just over half the race completed and you're lying second to your
main rival - O. seconds ahead of you.
take
- i syourand e your
a d computer
y t into
o the fast lane of game
excitement. As well as capturing the speed and
adrenalin pumping danger of the worlds greatest
sporting spectacle, the game is the first racing
simulation to reflect some of the enormous advances in
car design and technology that have taken place recently.
And yet the game still offers an excellent opportunity
for even the most inexperienced novice to blast round
the track at excessive speeds with the turbo on
maximum boost and not a care in the world for fuel
consumption. tyre wear or racing line. However, for
those who know, or want to know a little more, there is
an opportunity to race a selection of the world's greatest
circuits in the quest for valuable championship points.
The red lights are on - you snap into gear.
The engine roars- your grip tightens on the steering wheel.
The crowd goes wild as the lights Hash to green. Your pit crew arc Correct gear
in constant contact selection is vital.
900 brake horsepower is suddenly unleashed and the
Williams hurtles to the first bend. with you throughout
the race.
Ahead of you lies 31 weeks of the world's most
gruelling and spectacular sporting championship.
— U s e your Mi tt° for This panel Wing mirrors. No —
'Technical Consulianrs extra power - sign of the third
gives you vital
Mansell, Peter Windsor, but watch that fuel. information on your place car yet!
Williams Grand Prix Engineering Ltd. race performance.

Nigel Mansell celebrating

victory.

411.111••••

A111, 1108 1

Spectrum 4 8 / 1 2 1 1
Commodore
11 64/128
Martech Is the registered trade mark of Martech Games
Amstrad CPC
Martech House, Ray Terrace, Pevensey Ray, East Sussex
TRADE ENQUIRIES WE LCOME . PHONE (0323) 768456 T E L E X : 878373 Marley G
 SCREEN TE S T
I

sties, a n d y our v ery o wn Exocet missiles

P A I Rv i . fast t orpedo boat s t hat s k im Strangely you can't fue missiles at anything
n
across t the surface of t he wat er wit h hydro- that's on your side but you can blow them up
H y attached
foils d to their hulls. As c ommander wit h the cannon
rof oone f such omit - The Pegasus - its y our The objec t iv e for each mission varies: it
o
task i lto successfully complete eight missions. can inc lude s ink ing a l l ehemy terrorists or
M
which i can be attempted in any order just escaping f rom a war zone wit h as little
s sTwo s c reen displays c an be c hanged damage as possible. Each mission has a time
i l e at the touch of a button. The first is
between limit of any t hing from 2 to 48 hours, depend-
cyour r operations map s howing your present ing u p o n t h e ma i n objec t iv e Thank f ully ,
a
positiont t relative to the surrounding shoreline. PHM Pegasus features a t i me compressor
a
which vanes depending upon your mission. whic h ccm speed time along up to 128 times
rThis ma p also shows a circle around y our faster than normal.
Ire operations mapvaries tor eachscenano: it lets youkeep

PHM
e
ship(s) indic at ing t he radar range of y our Again depending upon your scenario imeye on all your forces andshows their radar ranges
svessel.
u The second dis play is t he ma i n control
p
screen, oc c upy ing t he bottom 2/3mis of the
e
screen. Tthis dis play is split horizontally i n
rtwo wit h t he bot t om half being t ak en u p
-with your weapons on t he right, a radar in
the mi d d l e (t he r a n g e of wh i c h c a n b e

EGASUS
altered f rom 2.5 miles up to 40 miles) and
two elevations o f y our boat eac h div ided
into boxes whic h t urn red if y ou're hit i n
order to show the damaged areas.
The top part of this display shows the sea
stretching out ahead of y ou. The very t o p
third of the screen only becomes fi lled when
you press the T (for target) key; any nearby
likely targets (ships or helicopters) appear in
a t hrough t h e binoc ulars ' v i e w wi t h a n
arrow indic at ing the direction in whic h y ou H y d r o - f o i l i n g terrorists w i t h EL ECT RO NI C ARTS
need to move to be directly In front of them
If y o u s hould dec ide t o at t ac k t h e
enemy t h e n pressing the space I rm takes you might have the odd of a number of other screen l a y o u t i s we l l des igned: b u t t h e
you out of manoeuvre mode and puts you in PHMs or helicopters whic h you can send on emphasis is c ert ainly o n action, a n d v ery
aiming mo d e A c ros s -hall s ight o f t h e search missions independent ly of y our own hectic it can get at times Simulator fans may
enemy appears on the binocular view: posi- craft fi nd it s a s midgeon too simplistic t o satisfy
tion this sight and Me The game has some really good graphics t hem but for action fans it's a real treat
Your choice of weapons includes a can- (shells ex ploding i n t h e wat er s ending a • Andy Smith
non, chaff rockets fired to decoy enemy mis geyser-like fountain up into the air) and the

RELEA 0 on t he o c e a n w a v e
hrefrom eterny vessels youhave tomanoesivve bats witheither cannonfareOfmissile alta
C64128 E9.95rs, E14.95• REVIEWED
SPEC E8.95c s , N O V B7
ANS E8 . 9 5 c s , E14.95dlt N O V 87

VISUAL EFFECTS N IMES,

Good screen design with well-drawn vessels
A U D IO S o o n g
Droning engines, but good gunfire
IQ FA C TOR m o n o l t n e
Strategy called tor at toes
FUN FA C TOR • • • • N
Emphasis more on action than simulation

I man I tarns I e tat I * l ab 1 mo n .

, 1 y a m

Blasting good lull tor quite some time

ACE R AT I N G 8 3 1

Advanced Computer Entertainment 7 7

r SCREEN TEST
CO L I A , o n e s intestines, is actually a
Nmineral-rich asteroid stuck on t he edge of
dSystem
e s 7p - wherever that is - whic h has fall-
ient i e
n t o t h e hands o f s ome rat her nas t y
saliens.
o u c ollec t iv ely k n o wn as The Empire.
nThese
d aliens
i are us ing t he manuf ac t uring
nplants
g on the anterold to build their terrifying
TERRORPODS
l
i
k
e
p
a
r
t
o
f The shuttles keepthe various installetions supplied%laththe
Tripod t r o u b l e f r o m PSYGNOSIS
war mac hines k n o wn a s Tenorpods. Y o u
were sent t o the asteroid to foil their plans,
but unfortunately you were discovered (you
nerd) and so The Empire are now using the
Terrorpocis t o destroy t he installations a n d
small mechanical devices k nown as Spoilers
to drain t he installations of their v it al c om-
modities.
The object of the game is to trade wit h
the v arious installations i n a n at t empt t o
gain s ix v it al port s of Terrorpod t hat a r e
under construction I f you manage to get all
six t hen y ou c an build yourself y our v ery
own Tenorpod wi t h whic h you can attempt
to destroy all the other Terrorpods.
Trading wit h installations involves using
your surface Drover - a small buggy - that is
controlled f r o m t he k ey board a n d c t imed
towards an installation Hav ing reached an
installation y ou c an t hen select to trade for
RELEASE BOX
ATARIST E 24•95dk R E V I E W E D
A E 2 4 950 I M M I N E N T
D ie te r r or poc i!
The missile bring gaga, ire tough tokeepthe moldering don indicatorsOntarget
Your fuel kw* D e l o o l l e rermining.
Countdownto missilestrike The driftmclicalors T h e manufacturingInstallations.
7 8 ActvancedComputerEntertainment
one o f s i x c omc dit ies . Th e s e i n c l u d e
Detonite, wh i c h i s us ed t o b l o w u p t h e
Tenorpods, Aluma. whi c h is y our means of
buy ing the Tenorpod components, Fuel Rods.
whic h y o u n e e d t o p o we r y o u r D. S V.
(Defense Strategy Vehicle) whic h is what car-
ries you around the surface of the asteroid
In order for t he c omplex manulac t unng
neccessaryresources sothey canproduce the all important
Terrorpodpieces.
chain to continue mak ing the vital Tenorpod
paTts, you have to ensure that no link is miss- S hoot-ern-up?
i n g A mc mf ac hmng p l a n t c an' t operat e
Terrorpod's trading elements are complicated
without fuel and they can't get fuel if the fuel
and absorbing, but the blasting side at things
mines hav e been destroyed. Also, t he price
of the resources %routes and this is where your is slightly unusual - manic action fiends
should ponder before they buy. You have two
t rading abilities are put to the test. The idea is
weapons at your disposal: lasers and mis-
to b u y a n d s e l l c omodit ies a n d m a k e
siles. Lasers can be let oft at any time and
enough profit to ensure you never run out of
are aimed with cross-hair sights controlled by
resources
the cursors. The problem with lasers. though,
Terrorpods boasts some v ery impressive
is that they don't actually destroy anything -
graphics a n d s ound effects. The explosions
are colourful a n d v iv id and t he scrolling is except your own installations, if you're foolish
enough to shoot them. If you laser a
very well achieved, wit h smooth animat ion
The screeches when y ou fire your lasers are Terrorpod it merely folds itself up and nips
back to the mother ship. only to return a little
piercing Terrorpc ds is a n impressive g a me
later. To definitively waste anything you need
that will keep the play er involved for a long
to use your missiles.
time, but there are some annoy ing points -
These are tricky things; you have to
guiding a missile is unnecessarily d iffi cu lt
press E to load your warhead, then A to sum-
and it's initially v ery hard to get y our bear-
mon the guidance screen, the SPACE to
ings. If you like your strategy spiced wit h the
launch the missile and then use the cursors
chance t o b l a s t t h e c a d a l i e n t h e n
to keep the 'drift indicators' within the sights.
Terrorpods could be wort h a look: if you pre-
Sounds complicated? It is, and even playing
fer your blasting spiced wit h the odd chance
for quite some time is unlikely to make you in
to think t hen y ou c ould well get frustrated
to a hotshot. Bear in mind, 100. that both
and, eventually, bored.
lasers and missiles use up Detonite - so
• Ardy Smith
don't go gun crazy.
VISUAL EFFECTS
Will certainly impress
AUDI O Enommoks
Some stunning atmospheric effects
IQ FACTOR Eme•EmE
Rake plans if you want to survive
FUN FACTOR Emoule lit
Tough to get in to but proves to be enjoyable
-, , I No w 1 d ay I wo o . 1 mard h I ye w
Grap
hic
ACE R AT I N G 7 5 2
br i
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Knightmorethecomputergameuniquelycombinesthebest
elementsoftraditionaladventuringwithsomehotarcadeaction
andprovidespunksandriddlesof avaryingnaturenotfound
beforeincomputergames.

Moil Order:Activision(UK) lid, Units 3 & 4LloydsClose,

11151• H i r t CO I L S ' , M tn
hnecionRoadIndustrialEstate,Wellingborough,
0 . 5 5 (1 1 1 E ( O U P ,
I (1 0
O ri t t e i •
, NorthamptonNN84SR.Tel: (0933) 76768 1
I t E C t rO t H ) : ; N C O r e f a

1 ,
C E 0
) I . 4
P ; i Commodore 64428 Cassette (19.99) and Disk (112 99) J
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Y
a Spectrum 4810128ki -4- (099) AmstradCPC • t
t
U Cassette (0.99) and Disk (B4.99) Atari SI (04.99).
' S
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'
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ACTIVISION:
Copyright1981AngliaTelevisionGamecopyright931
 SCREEN TEST UPDATES

t here are t wo play ers ; b u t c ompet it ion is

When you want to find out if those 'real soon still a s hot a s o n t h e Spec c y . Graphic s
now' games have finally made it on to your a n d s ound hav e been i mp r o v e d t hough
t he t rac k s n o w l o a d i n t wo sets of f our,
machine, this is the place to look. The ACE but t his is o n l y a mi n o r irrit at ion a n d
doesn't affect its addic hv enes s
Updates pages bring news, mini-reviews and rat-
ings of the latest conversions — and if we've
reviewed the game on another machine you'll
find a reference to the issue and the earlier rat-
ing. Don't be caught out by a duff changeover;
consult these pages before you break the bank.

SPF( TRUM to b e just as p l a y a b l e a n d just as mu c h

fun. Th e g r a p h i c s w e s u p e r b a n d t h e
gameplc z y is c ompelling. RED L E D. c er-
t ainly deserves the onginal high rat ing.
MERCENARY * ACE RATING 917
ACE RATING 910
Novagen S9,95cs
Finally t he old At ari a n d 064 classic hits
the Spec t rum. T h e g a m e d e l i v e r s n o
GRAND PRIX ATARI ST
supnses but still has a l l t he fast, s moot h
wire-f rame g r a p h i c a c t i o n t h a t m a d e
SIMULATOR
the original such a winner. Co d e Masters S1.99cs RANARAMA
This g a m e wi l l h a v e y o u g l u e d t o
the screen as y o u fl y a r o u n d t he c it y or
Hewson V9 . 9 5 d k
The Oliv er t wins Mi d a s t ouc h is b o u n d t o
ex plore t h e mo mp o f pas s ages u n d e r - misfi re oc c as ionally , a n d here's a case in
ground a n d wo u l d f orm a wo r t h y addi- Of a l l t h e Gaunt let -is h o v e r h e a d v i e w
point A v i e we d - f r o m- a b o v e r a c i n g
tion t o a n y Spec t rum Owner's s of t ware game. GPS suffers f rom s mall b l o b b y c ar ma g i c a l s hoot -em-ups , t h i s w a s mo s t
collection. people's 8-bit f av ourit e - a n d right ly so.
sprites a n d v e r y unrealis t ic c ornering.
No w ST owners c a n join i n t he f rog•f ea-
Cars c rab des perat ely round bends , giv -
t ured f r e n z y . b l a s t i n g ma s h e s a n d
i n g t h e g a m e a d i s t i n c t l y Thrus t -is h
wres t ling w a r l o c k s t h r o u g h e v e n
fl av our ( n o t t o me n t i o n a n a i r o f s illi-
bright er a n d bet t er-look ing d u n g e o n s .
ness). B r i g h t e n o u g h a n d q u i t e e n j o y -
Very addic t iv e, a n d c ripplingly diffi cult.
a b l e i n its wa y , b u t e v e n a t fi v e t imes
t he pric e Super Sprints still wort h a look
• ACE RATING 890
.:---- a c i i a
-1.: •
[ all I. F-15 STRIKE EAGLE
1
W Microprose E.24 95dk
'
*if ACE RATING 870
"
Wit h s olid 3D graphic s a n d a g l o wi n g l y
beaut if ul t i t l e s c reen. S T St rik e E a g l e
eas ily out s hines i t s 8 • b i t c o u n t e r p a r t s
a n d a r g u a b l y wins t he ST c ombat s imu-
RED LED. lat ion c r o wn - for t he t ime being. at any
rate. Polit ic s as ide, t h e gcrme's graphic s
Starlight S8.99cs are o n t h e s l o w s i d e n o w a n d c o u l d
Commodore version reviewed Issue 2 - ACE ACE RATING 732 look, p e r h a p s . v e r y p e d e s t r i a n i n s i x
Rating 910 mont hs ' t ime.

The wo n d e r f u l M a r b l e Madnes s c lone

that wa s r e v i e we d o n t he C64 i n A C E • ACE RATING 815
issue 2. Th e Spec t rum v ers ion t urns out
C64/128
SUPER SPRINT
Activision i9•99cs
Spectrum version reviewed Issue 2 - ACE
Rating 907

Super Sprint has lost none of its play abili-

ty i n c onv ers ion t o t h e C64. Th e r e a r e
only t hree cars in t he rac e this t ime a n d
t hat me a n s o n l y o n e c o mp u t e r o a r i f

AdvancedComputerEntertainment 8 1
r SCREEN TEST SHORTS
DIABLO
DIAM OND ke e p
t h e b a l l r o llin g
OLD game ideas return to haunt
new machines: here, y ou shuffle
a screenful of bloc k s round so
that t he track sections on t hem
f orm a continuous pat h tor t he
rolling ball. The t rac k sections
dis appear as t he b a l l passes
over t hem, s o there's less a n d
less margin for error as the game
progresses. Keep the ball roiling
RELEASE BO X
AMIGA 0 9 1 5 0 REVIEWED
ATARIST Meet* tamENT
M I X tleScs.E 99511 111A
ANNEHT
-011111111.1116t
,
ANGLEBALL
, the next snot
Crazy p o o l fr o m
MAST ERT RONIC
PLAYED on a hex agonal t able
wit h six pockets, this basic pool
game has the play er competing
against the computer or a friend
in an attempt to win 20 different
frames
The computer opponent has
three skill levels, o n t he easiest
level he rarely manages to pot a
shot but on t he t hud lev el h e
rarely misses. When you line up
for a shot y ou get the chance to
use a v ariet y of spins on y our
cue ball in on attempt to line up
8 2 Advanced Computer Entertainment
increasingly dirty - and, there-
fore. difficult - levels, starting in
the entrance hail and working
up to the haunted attic.
On e a c h l e v e l y o u mu s t
av oid t he mobile garbage and
mak e it t o a box c ont aining a
number of items to help you get
the job done. The k ey objects
are dustbin lids, whic h will pen
in t he fi lt h, b u t y o u c a n als o
ma k e us e of s t un g u n s a n d
brooms to flatten the dirt, as well
as ot her c lev er gadget s . Th e
game has a pretty old-fashioned
f eel t o it , b u t is g r a p h i c a l l y
ac c omplis hed a n d deliv ers its
fun ins t ant ly a n d in suffi cient
until all the track is used up and
you get more of the same, only
the ball moves faster.
doses t o mak e It we l l wort h a
gander
• Pete Connor
you never play ed this type
of g a me first t ime round y ou'll
fi nd it pushes your ment al agility RELEASE BO X
quite hard - but that's more than
it does to the Amiga
CLEANUP C434128 9 9 c s R E V I E W E D
VI SUAL EFFECTS
• Andy Wilton
Ma m m a s
SERVICE VI SUAL EFFECTS •••••
AUDI O ••••••• AUDI O •••••
I Q FACTOR M E M O G o o d cle a n fun I Q FACTOR • I N
FUN FACTOR N M , nor FUN FACTOR m ono
f r o m PLAYERS
FILTH eradication is t he name of
7
he game in this c ut e and v ery
play able one or t wo player bud-
get title You play either Otto or
•••••
' N O M
Bobban. mole-like creatures who
1• • • • •
AbKiliNng D. 1 0 0 1
hav e been g i v e n t h e i r b i g
Varycomyeble l a s t o
chance as cleaners by the man-
ACE RATI NG 715 ACE RATI NG 6 0 4
ager of t he dis gus t ingly fi lt hy
A d d l e Hot el. Th e r e are e i g h t
ionwoommoto
As a v ariant on a c lapped FRUT
I
out t heme A n g i e Ball is not at
all bad, it's different enough t o MACHINE
keep y o u p l a y i n g f or a s hort
while at least SIMULATOR
• Andy Smith
Ca n CODE
RELEASE BO X
MASTERS h o l d
RELEASE BO X
CE4120 E l 9)cs IMMINENT your plums?
C64128 E l 90cs A O / V
SPEC E l S9:s NEVINS
NUMMI THEY'RE a l l t here, t he f amiliar SPEC E I 99cs R E V E v i E D
ANS E l s9es
ANS E i 99cs f t e i 07
11SX E l 59es I M M I N E N T features t hat are lov ed b y t he
fans of this sort of coin-op - the
Cash Box, t he Nudge features,
the Feature Holds etc
VI SUAL EFFECTS W • * *
VI SUAL EFFECTS • E M Its v e r y well put together.
AUDI O M a m m a
AUDI O wit h t he s pinning reels b e i n g I Q F A C T O R Mi l i m a nne
I Q FACTO R • l i n a n i n very well animat ed and colour. FUN FACTOR I I • E n t i
FUN FACTOR 11•11111Esip, ful. For up to four players, Fruit
Mac hine Simulat or c o u l d pro-
vide you wit h a lot at entertain-
ment i f y o u ' r e a r e a l f r u i t
mac hine freak • just think. y ou
• don't have to put any money in!
•
I I , Of course, y ou nev er wi n a n y •.km" I a n • •••
I
kw
— al iimmt itist i otol in mo n e y e i t h e r s o y o u w o u l d AWNS p I P U N I ku ity oddct
ACE RATI NG 4 6 8 have to be a real.
ACE RATI NG 2 8 3
• Andy Smith
 ASHCO M
0M
•
52057-FM Keyboard 1 Mouse I
ATARI HARDWARE
.5meg drive ......... 2 5 9 95
PBM. AVA L O N
P 4 3 9 95

FREE
I040ST-F Keyboard Mouse/ 1 meg drive
5 1 9 95
1040ST-F Keyboard / Mouse' I meg drive I mono monitor 799,95
10405T.T Keyboard Mouse / I meg drive / colour monitor
Mega ST 2 meg Ram/Mouse mono monitor 854.95
Phone or write for prices of periplsorait
COMMODORE HARDWARE The chronicles of the 'Knights o f the Avalon', is a new
Amiga A500 + Modulator + Offer pack. 4 3 5 . 9 5 100 player computer moderated Fantasy Play By Mail
A1010disc dnve 2 4 9 . 9 5
Plume or writs for prices of peripherals not 1111111
game fr o m JADE Games. Startup i s FR EE, w i th
All hardware fully guaranteed further turns costing 70p, players outside o f the U K
discs DSDD guaranteed (packedK1 ID) 1 2 . 0 0 1.00. The game features, 1000s o f player armies and
25bulk packed 3.5 inch discs CISCO guaranteed 2 5 . 0 0
fleets constantly involved in conquest. a playing area of
ATARI SOFTWARE
1,250,000 sq miles w i th o ve r 100,000 locations. A
Phone for details of special software pock RRP Our Price
69.50
highly developed class system of squires. knights, lords
FastBasic 8 9 . 9 0
Gauntlet 2 4 . 9 5 18.50 etc fighting to become emperor. An economic trade
Barbaron 2 4 . 9 5 18.50
First Word Plus 7 9 . 9 5 62.95 system with I 000+ trade items, merchant and political
GSTC Compiler 5 9 . 9 5 49.95
15.40
banks, stock markets and tra d e treaties. Religions
Knight OK 1 9 . 9 5
Wordwriter ST 7 9 . 9 5 62.95 based o n a planet w i d e n e tw o rk o f temples and
AMIGA SOFTWARE monasteries. Players having th e choice o f accepting
Fey,. Tale Adventure _ 4 9 . 9 5 18.50 one of the twenty existing gods or creating their own
Balance of Power 2 9 , 9 5 22_50
Fire Power (New) ....... ........ 2 4 . 9 5 18_50 god and religion. A hierarchy of gods capable of direct
6 5 1 9 5 54.95
Delux Paint11
8.50 interaction w i th players. Alliances o f trade, religion,
Sp
ac AMI G A OFFER PACK politics and military might. + MUCH MUCH MORE,
Arens Brataceas 3 4 . 9 9 Total RRP Offer Price
e games limited only by the players imagination.
Strip Poker 2 4 . 9 9 94.97 2 9 . 9 5
R
r,ngs Quest111 1 4 . 9 9
aNew software and hardware is constantly being added to our list at massive discounts so if
Fo r a F R E E s t a rt u p w r i t e to:
tt you do riot see what you want call us for latest products and prices.
l All prices include V AT ,n 15% and P&P on UK Mainland JADE Games, FREEPOST, Southsea,
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ASHCOM. 10 The Green, Ashby de la Zouch
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s Le i c e s te r s hi r e ,
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L E 6
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5 1 1 1

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• NOW AVAILABLE t h e official Spectrum Upgrade!
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HOW TO ORDER BY MAIL
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the official Spectrum Upgrade Kit. The Jpgrade has everything you 1 If you require uS tO Oo the upgra de for y o1
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leaflet in the kit gives clear, step by Step instructions. If you're not sure about doing it 0 . 5 0 p
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s Upgrade Dept.140 High Street West, Glossop Derbyshire SKI38HJ
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Tel: 04574•66555/67761 Head Office&access orders
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 ACE
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r e. m it in pounds Ste.-long by ba nk dr a ft or inte r na tiona l m one y or de r and send a r nount quote d Buyer's Guide describing the
which
9 will be exclusive of V A T but include additsonal pos ta ge . W r i te for quote in arty othe r
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ACE all-time top 50 games.
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5 A C C E S V M A S TE R C A R D J E U R OC A R D N IS A accepted. C R E D IT C A R D OR D E R LIN E -
O M 09509
• Large, colour reviews of XOR,
24 H OU R S A D A Y , D A Y S A WE E K - V A T Or P ,P I N C . N O H I D D E N E X TR A S - Bubble Bobble, Ouedex, Impact,
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 BUYERS' GU ID E I

II here c
every g a me play
when he looks at his co
lection o f a r c a d e a n
adventure g a me s .
-1
.
beyond
*
ort c a n b r i n g a

t h e a v e r a g e s earc h-
and-destroy
Centcmn
o
mis s ion t o A l p h a
Fed up with mindless
blasting? Want an
'ooks on the shelves of the
software shop. and he asks
sell • Do I really wont t o s
f Are y o u u p t o t h e c hat -
i
nge? Lets face it. any one can
n aliens. The sort y ou c ome
shoot
opponent worthy of
mother 10 q u i d o n t he
horizontally-scrolling s hoot -e
v
across in games haven't exactly
goto muc h i n t he brains depart-
your skills? The
up
1 It doesn't happen to all of us,
but
l
ment Ho w would you mak e out
d yvour opponents started show- chance to develop your
' . those who have endured this
penod of transition k n o w t hat
either t he c omput er has t o b e
inge a bit of init iat iv e' I magine
m response if a run-of-the-mill
your
e
space invader suddenly stopped
own campaigns for
slung t o t h e b o t t o m o f t h e
wardrobe and or else y ou hav e
n
dropping
ment
bombs, sent a detach-
t round to the bottom of the conquest and
to start looking for an alternative
rings of game that will prov ide
the s ort o f c h a l l e n g e y ou' r e
and
f
screen,

r
surrender
neut ralis ed y o u r laser,
a demanded your immediat e
Wo u l d y o u h a v e a
colonisation? Andy
secretly craving Enter the strate-
gy game.
response? Co u l d y o u c u t t h e
crumpet against a real invading
Smith presents 15
Most c omput er games a r e
more c onc erned w i t h t ac t ic s
army, its generals, its c omman-
der-in-chief? Now's your chance
to find out...
games that will really
test your mettle on the
than strategy 11 you're unc lear
what t h e difi erenc e is. tactics
0
involves t h e dev elopment o f
appropriate responses t o t h e
oppositions manoeuv res during
0
ANNALS
0 OF ROME
battlefield.
battle. whereas strategy is t he PSS
process of developing a plan for Spectrum E12.95 cs
securing overall victory. I n your 064128 E12.95 cs E17.95 dk kUPEL I0';
typical s hoot -em-up. t a c t i c a l Amstrad E12.95 cs E17.95 dk firronfo;
operations are t he order of t he Atari ST £24.95 dk vusys A
vaso 4 S
clay as you learn how to dodge g R on
and des t roy t h e oppos it ion A b r a g * this one. It starts in the 1
Strategy is unnecessary f or t he year 273 B C a n d can continue 07 MAINS o t ,
simple reason t hat t he e n e my indefi nitely as the play er strug- Hau l m A
has no strategy - they rust keep gles to keep his ever-expanding , woo;
coming. a n d thus all y ou need empire t oget her whi l s t u n d e r 1 rRIAU;
S I M M S 1C
to do is keep blasting. threat from up to 13 hostile pow- 4 SLOW% 4 C
1 CCASSVC
Things a r e v e r y dif f erent . ers. Eac h g a me t urn covers a
however, w h e n y o u ' r e u p period from one to 25 years and KUM 2 ;
against someone lik e Napoleon is composed of several sub-sec- 1 DECO k S
H DZIRUIUS SS
at Wortenco. o r a n ingenious tons whic h allow t he play er t o
PORPEIUS SC
alien c ommander w h o under- make s t rat egic decisions c on- T COUR 1 C
stands lust what you're alter and cerning ec onomic s , pers onnel F/IRUS
is exercising every ounce of your assignments and foreign or civil
I SCIPIO I C
micro's CPU to bring about your wars O C440 .
downfall. I n games lik e these. There i s s o mu c h t o t his S..
strategic t hink ing i s es s ent ial game that it will take you a long O0 C
S erEntertainment 8 5
AdvancedComput
_
r
B
U
Y time to get to grips wit h it
E , we
is b ul l twortih tpersevering wi t h
because t h e amount of av ail-
R able opt ions ma k e s i t v e r y
S involving t o p l a y a n d n o t wo
G games wi l l ev er be exactly the
U same. For the solo wc z gamer it's
a must, but prepare yourself for
I long i n v o l v e d s e s s i o n s
D Thankfully t h e S A V E G A M E
E option is available at the start of
each t urn. so you c an carry on
with t h e carripcogn whenev er
you have the lime to spare
OPPOSI TI ON Nonammott
DI SPLAY Nmewiam•
EASE OF USE E n n • n s •
G AME DEPTH E a r n e d
ACE RATING 850
ARNHEM
ccs
Spectrum E8.95 cs
Amstrad E9.95 cs
C64128 E9.95 cs
This one, t wo or three player tac-
tical wargc rme is based on t he
'Market G a r d e n ' operat ion o f
1944. Montgomery's plan was to
nd Holland o f t h e Naz is a n d
open t he door t o Berlin. Three
allied airborne div is ions we r e
dropped b e h i n d e n e my lines
and at t empt ed t o c apt ure a
series of bndges for the advanc-
ing allies.
The game contains fi ve sep-
arate scenarios, eac h lasting a
fixed number of turns Each day
of the c ampaign is made up of
three turns(morning, af t ernoon
and night ) a n d e a c h t u r n i s
div ided int o three phases. Th e
lust is the mechctrucal phase in
which motorised units can mov e
and engage in combat. The sec-
ond phase is wh e n ot her units
can mov e, and the third phase
is another mechanical phase
Despite it s a g e A r n h e m is
still o n e of t he toughest, mos t
atmospheric a n d i n v o l v i n g
wargames y o u c ould wis h t o
own, a n d i t s e t i t s a u t h o r
R T.Smith o n t he i c a d t o f ame
arid - who knows? - fortune.
8 6 Advanced Computer Entertainment
OPPOSI TI ON m i n i o n (whic h ever colour y ou happen BATTLE OF BRITAIN
DI S P LAY l i • s e l l o n to be play ing. ) Its complex, it s PSS
EASE OF USE al l oMi nse involving, it s certainly thought-
G A M E DE P TH m i l i gnel l at provoking a n d i t s dif fi c ult t o Spectrum 0. 95 cs
play in t en minut e sessions. Set C64,128 19.95 cs 04. 95 dk
ACE RATING 910 aside a lot of time and you'll get Amstrad 0. 95 cs 04. 95 dk
a l o t o f e n p y me n t f r o m t h e
game. Absorbing slut that gives
Take c o n t r o l o f F i g h t e r
BALANCE OF POWER an insight into the devious world Command during WW2 i n this
Mindscape of Geopolilics solo wa r g a me f eat uring t hree
separate scenarios Th e comput-
Amiga E 2 9 95 dk O P P O S I TI O N MO ME • • a er assumes the role of the opera-
Atari ST E 2 9 . 9 5 dk DI SPLAY mmillemile
EASE OF USE ilmmommo tions r o o m a s t h e p l a y e r
G AME DEPTH ami no attempts t o stop the invasion of
For 16-bitters. Balanc e of Power Ilitcrin by the Germcm Luftwaffe.
is t he defi nitive strategy game. A C E R A TIN G 9 5 0 You h a v e t o c ons ider s ev eral
The play er takes the role of one factors w h e n d e c i d i n g u p o n
of the Superpowers while either whic h c ours e o f a c t i o n y o u
the c omput er or a f riend takes should follow. inc luding corstnp
control of t he other. Then it s a availability, a mmu mt i o n levels
case of trying to win friends and and fl y i n g t imes . A g a i n PSS
infl uence people o n a g l o b a l hav e i n c l u d e d a n o p t i o n a l
scale. This can be achieved in a
arcade s equenc e wh i c h put s
number of way s inc luding sup- you into the cockpit of a Spitfire
ply ing arms and fi nancial aid to so y ou ccm dog-fi ght wit h Jerry
radical factions i n t he hope of over the Channel
toppling a gov ernment t hat is While the game boasts three
not receptive to either the great scenarios, t h e fi rs t i s me a n t
Americ an o r Rus s ian d r e a m merely as an introduction to the
game f or t h e play er t o f amil-
iarise hims elf wi t h t he games '
mechanics and t he second is a
Strategic scores- simulation of a n all-out at t ac k
M P
ire c om e up w i t h a speci al r a t i ng s y s t e m f or thi s
secti on t o make sur e y ou c a n c hoos e y our str ategy
, game wi th c onfi de nc e . Her e•s how we s or t the ne a t
fr om t he na t l . , .
OPPOSITION
This is of utmost importance - to solo strategists especially, It is an
ssment of just how intelligently the computer reacts to any moves you
ke during the course of the game. It also takes into account how well
computer handles its forces in an attempt to win the game The addi-
n of varying levels of play will win a game pains in this category only if - by t he Luftwaffe B u t t he t hird
scenario covers 30 day s of t he
computer appears to adopt a actual battle and is as historical-
le ly accumte as is possible within
m DISPLAY the constraints of game play
v ethe packaging, this category deals with how well designed the on- An enjoyable challenge that
Forget
reeno r display is. As is often the case with strategy games, you're going should be on your shopping list,
sitting
t in front of the screen for a considerable amount of time and a especially as it's now av ailable
rlye designed screen with minute text or glanng colours can win an otli on t he O r mi c Conficts label for
se s .enjoyable game. The manner in which information is displayed can a fraction of the original price
a g gpoints
earn r e s sini vthis
e category - well-designed maps and status scree
OPPOSI TI ON mmENNNE
a canl thelp i at playeru dew
d ese more effective strategic policies. DI SPLAY m i m e o
o n EASE OF USE mme••sal
t h e EASE OF USE G AME DEPTH M e •
Shis a directi g
reflection h on the game's operating system and how user-
e it is.
endly r If the player has to wade through a whole senes of game A C E R A TIN G 8 3 0
ses to change a single order, then it can becomeextremely tedious
ow easy the player is able to follow what exactly is happening in the
game is also considered in this category. BATTLEFIELD GERMANY
PSS
GAME DEPTH
major consideration here is just how far the game strives to involve Spectrum £12.95 cs
player and provide for varied challenge. The ability to alter a game's C64.128 E12.95cs E17. 950
Amstrad E12.95 cs E17.95 dk
parameters or the addition of 'what Fr options can turn an otherwise wom• .
game into an exciting challenge full of new opportunities. The packag-
-is included in this category as scene setting can help to give the game This one or two player wargame
°sphere - and the addition of historical notes, photographs and dia- is set just in the future and simu-
ms all help to transport the player from the armchair to the battlefield. lates a confi ct bet ween NATO
and the Warsaw Pact in Western
Etuope. Sounds like another PSS
game? Well yes, t he scencmo

the same as the other PSS great
Theatre Europe, but t his g a me
differs in a multitude of ways.
Played o n a m a p div ided
into hexagonals, t he play alter-
nates w i t h e a c h g a m e t u r n
being r o u g h l y d i v i d e d i n t o
three. The first phase of the turn
is the Supply Phase wh e n t he
computer calculates the amount
at supplies that y our forces c an
redeye. I t t ak es int o ac c ount
whether a c lear l i n e c a n b e
drawn back to the supply points
- i f t hat l i n e passes t hrough
enemy held t errit ory t hen t h e
supplies just wo n t arriv e T h e
next p h a s e i s t h e o p t i o n a l
Nuclear phase. whic h gives the
player the chance to use nucle-
ar warheads o n a t ac t ic al o r
strategic lev el Ne x t comes t he
crtion phase, this c an b e sub-
divided int o three Minor phases
including mov ement , airborne
movement a n d t h e a t t a c k
phase Th e indroduc t ion of t he
hexes b r i n g s a r e a l b o a r d
wcagame f eel to the computer,
and a s s uc h i t is v ery good.
Stretches y our tactical pic aming
ability wh i l s t r e ma i n i n g t hor-
oughly playable
OPPOSI TI ON W O M E N
DI SPLAY s i o • n • m
EASE OF USE m o m
G AME DEPTH taM••sual
ACE R A TIN G 8 2 0
DESERT RATS
ccs
Spectrum E9 95 cs
Amstrad E9 95 cs
The follow-up to the ever popu-
Ica Arnhem. also written by R T.
Smith. Desert Rats is a one or two
player wmg a me c ov ering t h e
campaign in the western desert
from t he arriv al of Rommel i n
BUYERS' GU ID E
IP JOHNNY REB 2
Lothionen
. S etti n g t h e s c e n e . . . .
Spectrum E9,95 cs
It you always thought a strategy game is a strategy game is a strateg
C64.128 E9,95 cs
game then you could not be more mistaken. Scenahos vary widely.
Amstrad E9.95 cs
oes the quality with which they are implemented. Some games attem
er too much ground and consequently leave the player with the tee
at he is not really in control ol events while others concentrate too much This one or t wo player wargame
nit-picking details that can impair a player's strategic thinking. The g makes a greater attempt to cap-
ture the flavour of the Amenc an
strategy game will strike a balance between the two.
Ideally, you should be able to make as few or as many decisions i Civil war, rather than accurately
game as you wish - a good example of this is Balance of Power, Ma re-create a battle. The play er is
allowed to alter a variety of the
games strive toward this ideal and will allow the player to choose the
apons used. the arnval point of reinforcements, the amount of amm games paramet ers i n c l u d i n g
lion available and so on. This is the level of involvement you should whic h s ide y o u c ont rol, wh e n
reinforcements should arrive, the
looking for.
Finding a game with the correct level of detail is difficult - hence th berttlefield terrain and more.
guide - and even Men you'll find great variation in the designs of differ° Johnny Rob II is defi nitely a
programs. The usual format is to have the player controlling one for wort hy successor to the original
With all orders issued to the vanous units before a button is pressed. Lothlorien game and Is certainly
deserving of a closer ex amina-
mputer then calculates the results of the actions, moves the symbols on
the screen and calculates the outcome of any ensuing combat. Then tion
there's a pause while the computer makes its move, after which it's you , • OPPOSI TI ON smash
turn again. Examples of this sort of game include Vulcan. Napoleon at DI SPLAY ••nons •
War, and Yankee. EASE OF USE MONNE
A lot of games have seperate phases (for example. a 'supply' and' G AME DEPTH l i al l •s••
'attack phaseI: these are dealt with in a set order and they go together to
form the game 'turn. Theatre Europe and Bat&freld Germany both take
ACE RATING 840
is approach. Otter games will deal with the units one by one, with all the
moves and combat for that particular unit being dealt with before the play-
er moves onto the next unit. Rebelslar is a good example of this latter cat-
LORDS OF MIDNIGHT
Beyond
egory. There are advantages and disadvantages to each system. and a lot
depends on the particular players own personal preference. You'll soon
Spectrum E 9 . 9 5 c s
fjt fi n d the system that best suits your own style of playing. C64128 E 9 . 9 5 c s El 1 95dk
Ammo& A fantasy wcagarne that can be
play ed either as a wargame or
Tripoli t o t he fi nal bat t le f or El Lords of Midnight. but the game
as a g r a p h i c adv ent ure. Th e
Alamein. was great ly enhanc ed b y t he
best way to play the game is to
The s ame ordering system addition of several warring fac-
c ombine t he t wo separate ele-
that was used in Arnhem is used tions. f rom whic h the player has
ments and play as one epic.
again in Desert Rats, a n d wh y to rec ruit his armies. Alt hough
The wa r g a me aspect is by
not? I t is simple, ef t ic ent a n d you c ould see a lot of Lords of
far t he most testing and enjoy-
very easy to work wit h Des ert Midnight in the game mec han-
Rats is a tough game to win and ics. Doomdcirk's Rev enge play s able. It involves the player con-
you're sure to spend a long time completely differently and is cer- trolling f our characters (at t he
t y ing tainly a wort hy successor A l l start) independently. They must
that r e ma i n s n o w i s t o s e e scour the lands of Midnight and
OPPOSI TI ON M e w try to recruit the various lords in
DI SPLAY M o w whether M i k e Singlet on c a n
ever fi nd t he t ime to wnt e that an at t empt t o f o r m a l a r g e
EASE OF USE
G A M E DEPTH l i o n a l l i • n promised third part of the tnlogy enough army t o defeat the evil
Eye of the Mccn Doomdcuk, who is resident in the
A C E R A TIN G 9 0 8 Citadel of Ushgcacik
OPPOSI TI ON 1011111•11•11 This i s wh e n t h e strategy
DI SPLAY
EASE OF USE M a n g e comes i n t o p l a y , a s ;attrition
DOOMDARK'S REVENGE G AME DEPTH EISOOOME plays a major part in reduc ing
Beyond an a r my s fi ght ing abilit y a n d
A C E R A TIN G 9 4 0 the p l a y e r mus t s ee t hat hi s
E9.95cs forces are kept in fi ghting order
Spectrum
C64 128 E9.95cs before planning the final tactical
assault o n t h e
Amstrad E9.95cs
t t it ? L t h i t t (MI NS 7itudel. One of t he
te 1 ) L o :was t o r
tqoaste; t o o k 1 most inv olv ing and
The sequel t o the classic Lords
!ft
n cGrss t t o t h t V o n t ne s 5 atmospheric f ant a-
of Micinohl, written by the sarne o lu t t lo
author - Mike Singleton. sy wargc t mes y o u
Following t h e d e f e a t o f could hope to play,
Doomdark, h i s d a u g h t e r and unus ual i n its
(Shmeth the Heartstealer) threat- use of landscaping'
ened t o i n v a d e t h e peac ef ul - a met hod of pre-
lands of Midnight. Luxor set forth senting a v i e w of
to t he lands of t he lc emark t o the t errain i n a l l
rescue h i s s o n Mo r k i n a n d directions, g i v i n g
defeat t h e e v i l Sharet h. T h e the p l a y e r 3 2 0 0 0
ordering system and game con- possible p a n o r c a
cept i s t h e s ame as us ed i n -
chsplayS
mc
AdvancedComputerEnteriainment 8 7
 d. 0 A .
AA W •

NI
,
44
Allb•
d

Igi mmi l l
E ME N E E MW • •

1 . 1 1 1 • 1 • = 1 P r 1111111111111V

TAA, 1,0vidA1:usw.Lt Stratql aalivva

SPECTRUM CBM 64 A M S T R A D CPC
Swords & Sorcery Falklands '82 Swords & Sorcery
Falklands '82 I w o Jima Battle for M i d w a y
I w o Jima B a t t l e for M i d w a y Battle of Britain
Battle for M i d w a y B a t t l e of Britain T h e a t r e Europe
B a t t l e of Britain T h e a t r e Europe To b r u k
T h e a t r e Europe To b r u k A n n a l s of Rome
To b r u k Bismarck B a t t l e fi e l d G e r m a n y
Bismarck A n n a l s of Rome P e g a s u s Bridge
A n n a l s of Rome B a t t l e fi e l d G e r m a n y Sorcerer Lord
B a t t l e fi e l d G e r m a n y Pegasus Bridge F i r e z o n e
Pegasus Bridge Sorcerer Lord C o n fl i c t s 1
Sorcerer Lord Firezone
Confl icts 1 Fortress A m e r i c a ATA R I ST
Confl icts 2 Final Frontier A n n a l s of Rome
Confl icts 1 Fortress A m e r i c a
APPLE I I Confl icts 2 Final Frontier
Theatre Europe P o w e r Struggle B a t t l e fi e l d Germany
I B M PC Okinawa
A n n a l s of Rome

For a catalogue of all products call (0203) 667556,or write to:

PSS 452 S TO N E Y S TA N T O N RD, C O V E N T RY, CV6 5DGIU.K.

 BUYERS G U I D E

character to the left or right

O P P O S I TI O N O••••N•
Dark S cep tr e DI SPLAY gnome cost tar f ewer action points than
EASE OF USE ••••••E an aimed shot at a target will. SC
G AME DEPTH s om • • om how you spend each character's
Mike Singleton of Lords of Midnight fame has just completed his latest
game. Dark Sceptre. Like most of his previous releases, it lakes several action point s e a c h t u r n c a n
ACE RATING 950 become v ery t ric k y indeed A
strategy elements and gives them a new twist to produce a promising
game with a tremendous display and complex gameplay. simple g a me t o p l a y but o n e
The Dark Sceptre has been stolen, and as a nobel Thane (leader) that is very hard to put down -
you must retrieve it by issuing orders to your retainers and allying with REBELSTAR or WITI
Firebird.
other Thanes within the game. There are six different character types.
Thrall; Reaper: Assassin: Fool: Mystic; Savage: Thane; and Herald. Each
type has its particular abilities and characteristics, and each individual Spectrum E1.99 cs SHADOWFIRE
C64.128 El 99 cs Beyond
character has a set of eight attributes.
Amstrad El 99 cs
There are three pnnapal display modes - a map of the land: the cone
Spectrum E9 95cs
mends menu; and a display of the current location. The latter shows a
OngInertly released b y Red-Shet C6C1128 E9 95cs El 1 9 5 6
horizontally scrolling landscape with the ligure(s) present depicted in very
as Rebelstcrr Raiders. Firebird Amstrad E9 95cs E14 95dk
large, smoothly animated sprites.
During the game you select characters and issue them with orders, bought t h e g a m e . r e -
which they will then proceed to carry out to the best of their abilities while v amped it a n d re-released
it a s R e b e l s = bef ore i t
you get on with organising the others. Fights are frequent and good use
of sound is made to indicate that a fight has begun (in which case you achieved t he success it Sc.
have an option to view it) or that an enemy or neutral character has joined richly deserved.
your side. The p l a y e r t a i c e s
Some characters can accept up to three orders at once, which the/ charge of t en or so raiders
will execute in succession (if they are up to it), so you could, for example. in an attempt to destroy the
tell an Assassin to: GO TO CYMRILS FORK: KILL ENEMY THANE: Isaac computer at the heart
WAIT and he would then go about his business. There are approximately of Mc ont as e Delt a. Eit her
60 independent characters within the game, and getting to know their the c omput er o r a f riend
strengths and weaknesses as well as carefully orchestrating their can b e chosen t o play the
manoeuvres is essential for success- There is no random element part of t he defenders Th e
involved; so success or failure is entirely up to you. play ing system is very easy
to use a n d involves selecting a This strategy game was ,
member of your t eam who has a the
o r i efi rs to icf on-driv en s t rat egy
certain amount of Action points: games a n d is still o n e of t he
these a r e us ed u p depending best. The player takes charge of
upon what y ou wa n t the char- six c h a r a c t e r s c o l l e c t i v e l y
acter to do. Simply mov ing your k nown a s t h e E n i g ma Forc e,
and uses t hem in an attempt to
rescue t he ambas s ador Knpux
OPPOSI TI ON m o m who is being held on board the
DI SPLAY • E E I H• no
EASE OF USE Emma. spaceship Z o t f 5 b y t h a t
G AME DEPTH nom m a t scoundrel General Zoff
. Each c harac t er i s ordered
ACE RATING 900 separately b y means of ic ons
from various menus that c an be

The location display screen. Sprites move slowty, but the animation is good and colour
clash on the Spectrum is avoided by giving each sprite a black border.

There ore approximately 30 difierent command. which can be given to any character
and which can be mode to involve any third party The only important exception we
magical commands, which can only be carried out by a Mystic.

AdvancedComputerEntertainment 8 9
 r BUYERS' GU ID E
called up. L e t h e bat t le menu
allows t he play er t o choose t o
attack. detend, retreat etc a n d
the movement icon lets the play-
er decide in whic h direction the
character should move. The var-
ious characters all have different
characteristics that are pec uliar
to t hem and t he play er has t o
use each t eam member's special
ability at key points in the game
in o r d e r t o s urv iv e. P l a y e d
against a very tough t ime limit,
Shadowlire requires t he play er
to reac t s wif t ly under pressure
and employ all his tactical abili-
ty. A great game to play that is
a real challenge I t is a pity that
the sequel, Enigma Force, is a
completely di f f er ent s o r t o f
game whic h is not as hall as
enjoyable as Shadowhre
OPPOSI TI ON •••••••
DI SPLAY omens
EASE OF USE mown,
G AME DEPTH •••••••
ACE RATING 890
VULCAN
cCS
Spectrum t 9 95 cs
Amstrad E9 95 es
The latest game f rom R.T Smith,
following fi rmly i n t he footsteps
of Desert Rats. Vulc an covers the
Tunisian c a m p a i g n f r o m
Nov ember 1942 t o t he e n d of
May 1943. A g a i n t h e s a me
ordering s y s t em i s employ ed,
but t his g a me beasts a mu c h
larger p l a y i n g a r e a t h a n t h e
other t w o g a me s , a l l o w i n g
greater s c ope f or t h e play er.
Also, a n air at t ac k phas e has
been added t o dnv e home t he
' tumty f or t he play er t o
6 enter a n a r c a d e s t y le
1A% A S 4 • 1 0 , t
5 • 4 •
4 1
. is a l l v e r y w e l l a n d
' ;
1 !
' •
0
i4 SUt sc
1
'
4 -
f o
I 4 -
9 0 Advanced Computer Entertainment
- o
importance t h a t c u r c o v e r od o f w a r g a m i n g t h e n arcade element should not be a
play ed d u r i n g t h e r e a l c a m- Naiooleon at War is a must, and prime reas on f o r b u y i n g t h e
paign. Wit h t he c omput er or a even if y ou're not t hen it's still game
friend play ing one s ide (eit her well worth a good hood look At i t s n e w k n a c k d o w n
Allied or Axis) t he g a me is n o price, Theatre Europe is a gift. It
pushover a n d w i l l k e e p y o u OPPOSI TI ON onomm
comes frighteningly close to pre-
DI SPLAY na • m om •
absorbed for a long t ime EASE O F USE ••••••• dicting t h e f ut ure f o r Europe
G AME DEPTH a m m o should the unthinkrthle happen
OPPOSI TI ON E m • • •
DI SPLAY m o m O P P O S I TI O N m o w s
EASE OF USE E nnom • E ACE RATING 920 DI SPLAY moose
G AME DEPTH ••••••• EASE OF USE Emonoun
G AME DEPTH •••••••
ACE RATING 930 THEATRE EUROPE
PSS ACE RATING 915
NAPOLEON AT WAR Spectrum E9.95 cs
ccs C64.128 E9.95 cs E14. 95 dk YANKEE
Amstrad E9.95 cs E l 4.95 dk ccs
Spectrum E 8 95 cs
This wa r g a me is set just in t he Spectrum E 9 . 9 5 cs
A o n e play er wargarne bas ed future a n d covers t h e fi rst 3 0
on t h e Napoleonic b a t t l e o f days fi g h t i n g b e t w e e n t h e This single play er wargame set
Eykru• The play er takes c harge during t he Americ an Civ il War
of t he Frenc h forces wh i l e t he of the I 860's comes with two sce-
computer play s t he part of t he narios t ak en f rom t he war. The
Russians and Prussians. first and most famous is the bat-
The play er controls the bat- tle o f Get t y s burg wh e r e t h e
tle by issuing orders either direct- Union t r o o p s r e p e l l e d t h e
ly to the units indiv idually or to Confederate attack a n d won a
the Corp Commcmders. who will decisive victory. The second s r-
either c a n nano f eat ures t h e b a t t l e a t
the
- letter or will act on thier own Chic k amauga (Georgia) where
y o u t Eac h g a me t urn is
initiative. the Confederates ma n a g e d t o
y o u into t wo - the issuing of
divided defeat t he Union troops after a
orders
r a n d t he mov ement a n d NATO allianc e and the Wars aw long and bloody battle. T h e
combat
o r t hat is a result of those Pact. Should you decide to play sequence of p l a y inv olv es t he
orders.
d e If you're a tan of this pen- as s u p r e me c o mma n d e r o f player issuing orders eit her t o
r s NATO y our objective is t o pre-
t vent t h e i n v a s i o n o f We s t a—
o Germany - a t a l l c o s t s z,t "e*
Obviously, should you decide to
play supreme commander of the
Warsaw Pact t hen y our objec -
tive is to cccupy West Germany
•••a7.•
*
There are four basic phases 3
to the game: mov ement phase.
attack p h a t e . res upply phas e
and t h e cur phas e. Bef ore a n
attack is made t he play er also
indiv idual units or t o the Corps
has t h e opt ion t o us e
Commanders, wh o c an, if y ou
tactical c h e m i c a l
desire, a c t o n t heir o wn init ia-
weapons in attacks. The
tive A v e r y w e l l des igned
air p h a s e a l l o ws t h e
screen dis play ma k e s f o r a n
player to control a limit-
enjoyable g a me t hat is also a
ed oar force and struggle
testing challenge
for a i r s uperiorit y b y
dec iding w h e r e a n d OPPOSI TI ON m e m o
when t o m a k e a n DI SPLAY •••••••
attack b e h i n d e n e my EASE OF USE •••••••
lines. G AME DEPTH M O M .
As i s u s u a l w i t h PSS
games, there is the opor-
ACE RATING 895
i l l game, whic h means the
player can actively par-
ticipate in a battle. This
good if that's what y ou
want, b u t f r a n k l y t h e
game is just as good if
you nev er opt t o t ak e
part i n one of t he bat -
tles C e r t a i n l y t h e
 BUYERS G U I D E 9

UNIVERSAL
MILITARY
SIMULATOR
his new offering from Rainbirc looks like being a universal military - ir Z o o e l - I r . i ,••
success, a game that marks a giant step in war-gaming and strategy
uri_dul 1,
and which promises to bring this area of gameplaying to the notice of
a far wider public.
Programmed by a dedicated American wargamer who spends
lois till Carps)
StreRs0 2 2 5 i
1
most of his spare time wandering across the sites of historic battlefields, pon- !
Tvpe___Jitavy Infantrl III all —
, ;
dering the fate and fortunes of armies past and present, UMS is notable for
the total control it gives the player. Not only can you re-run five classic con- ifficipPt$,___Aterage
-
-
g
flicts, ranging from the battle of Arbela in 331 BC through Marston Moor 144vs WES
(1644) to Waterloo (1815), but you can also define your own armies, units, 125fish 4.,• • • 0

5 l iF WV? FILLII! z
weapons. and even the terrain across which they face each other.
The pre-set battles each feature 3-D grid-scapes based on contempo-
a
R
a
rary maps, giving an added dimension of realism to the conflicts. This sort of e t f
i
attention to detail is apparent throughout the program, giving you the ability to V •-•-••••
e
manipulate almost every conceivable element of battle. Time-scales. morale, !
r
injuries, armament, numerical 1
h e Lie tafts:41 t o t a l strew/tie' 44't: force, terrain, and map design 1
9
1:1211 all have a bearing on the out-
come of the battle, and all can
,:•rr be altered at any time before, leser"fl i t M
1st linision Ortillerv_ *tuck Wend
ilrtr S t f t - - - 5 5 1 St!•9til_ _ I P during, or after the confrontation
7 4 •h(ilif - - 4 c n v e !Lee ( !.,)
by the user.
t1f : tev: g___ her
Item iltw filt! lq!irt!S • • _ , Of course you don't have to
loste.._
1 • f kr! 1 The Issuing Or CINS screen, where the player issues orders to an individual unit, tatting into
lake the historic battle approach
I ! account the surrounding terrain and the opposing locces.
too seriously. I f lif e wit h t he
_ , Jones' is really becoming t oo
F J
t much to bear, why not plot out a io.rene:oon- : : -
i 30 representation of their gar-
e
i den a n d launc h a n all-out
;- . ; o n s
3
r Strike? First person to capture -
4
s
k the opponent's dog and feed it ,
t to the lions is the winner. Or
i Army sei-up screen allows you to determine
!
The you could stage a battle on a
the
i exact specification ot your fighting force; far-off planet, or whatever else s
I
takes your fancy. Seven years in the making. the program has the flexibility t
r
necessary to make this possible.
t a
Throughout a battle the program displays sectors of the maps, showing
r
the movement of different units and reporting on the outcome of any engage-
ments. Naturally the pre-set battles run strictly according to history - until g
YOU start altering the parameters, and find Out what would have happened if 1
Napoleon hadn't had to march up that ridge, or if Wellington had been face to ;
lace with Harold at Hastings!
1
For the serious strategist, the ability to cancel or edit any command
instruction to any unit at any time during the battle is invaluable lor instant 1
'what-if' investigations. In this respect the program rises out of the realms of r
entertainment and into the realm of true education - and not only for you and C
me, since rumour has it that the CIA are touting for a copy for use in their • 1 1
o
training department ,
P facility, allowing you to get a close-up visual
Display options include a multiple zooming
The program will be released with an BO-page booklet giving details of : - of any area from any direction.
display The green are represent woods. other leatures
the pre-set scenarios and a 30-page machine-specific manual. It will also be Include ridges, hills, and landmarks.o There's even a facility for defining a randomised map
•
for use when you run out of ideas.
the subject of a full-scale feature in next month's ACE. a
•
n
1 AdvancedComputerEntertainment91
r
• •
 SOFTWARE SUPERSAVERS
To order and receive u p to date list o f available stock * PLEASE ORDER EARLY*
please send cheque/postal order payable t o Software The prices shown in this advert are set at a special low
Supersavers. All orders will be sent by 1 St class mail in level as an introductory offer and will be valid for ONE
high quality packaging. Please be careful to quote your MONTH only from date of publication.
full name and address, th e make and model o f your
computer, and to use block capitals for your order to Access & Barclaycard welcome
avoid confusion. P&P Inc UK. Please add E1.00 per tape
overseas. Telephone 0277 211702

SPECTRUM Lore Ammo r 3 Disc 14)541 World Gamns 00 900 Space PPOI 250 R 600 ID DC
M eg 5.50 650 1050
RCA Of % y e s Solaro 40 16.50 Sherd 6.A.0011020 600 10.00
El ,CailCcraa
Arcec For 7.00 - asal Mouse Dein:hoe 550 Magmracn 600 900 Semi Sanwa 16 50 Game s 600 10.00
Armacerdeon Mar 9.50 Ccrnbal S hoo 550 Shoo! Err, Up Corn* d 1000 ISO) Scleeall 13.50 K 500 1000
ta l i Charlet Cemplin
ACE 350 F0OrN S0ark 550 GalaCII0 Games 550 1050 Snt 16,50 1
Gauntlet II 600 10.00
ACc11148K: 5.50 WOW 000 5.50 Super Hang On 650 1050 Spam Guest 16.50 S010
0 G010 600 10130
,
ACE II 1128A, 6.50 ,,
Waf0W011 an London 650 ;l a r v a /0 600 603 Slap Fir 13.50 720 603 1000
Stude:0481Si TO011) Gan, Lor ne Soazer 500 Fee Trap 650 10 50 B
Shop Poiret 12 50 Imp assab le Palneon II 600 1000
AcheArl Stu01011213K 19130 AternahveWorlti Games 5,00 Eye 700 1X a t 20.50 Qul Ad a 600 1000
Suspacl
Sal Breaker 700 Corncendern 500 tSure:W.0Pa
l 20.50 J owls or Darkness 1000 1500
Bards Tale 703 B OW Warier 500 ST Tar
e Ceti 16,50 54100n Dreams 15.!X
Brayastat 500 Star Wars 700 Transco, 13,00 1003 1500
S Slangliger
B a ta a n 650 Tibet , Voter r nle S tow Sul) 550 10.00 1500
Ach•arce0 An 5 1 1650 Tar Pan 1350 M o w Sr310111
eatersheas 523 Ackhchbal rTee Do Goo 150 7200
Bubble ElObtas son CBM64C , 10.00 AChr W P C Syatacn
A0lorkrei 13 50 .Tna Boertp 7,50 Ad Shale! 14 00
Sane Guadalcanal 640 4 1 0 Foe
Ards 1600 .T a r a . 1550 Add Art Studio 1500
ElargkOk 1 0 520 Aulcckmi 15 00 Tenesmal Encostmle/ 5.011 G 14 00
Ace 2 1500
Brae
, Vol 2 650 ACE 2 6-50 10.50 & ball 16.50 TNT 1350 Elea
u 600 900
Caplan A m ar a 500 Alierratrer Games 6.50 1 0 50 Arkarocl 16.50 Sierinel 600 900
0 0 1 S Chapin 13 50 Terrapoda a
Clone 500 AdvMuS0511_010 29.00 TT Racer 18.5.0 600 10 00
All Dorecior 1500 Gary Lowther Soccer
CallOrna Garnes 500 AnShako 900 1 7 5 0 g
Allernai0e Garn0s 600 1000
ArenaDrallacuS 2150 Tomei Pursol i3.50
Compuly PrI0 4 650 Acre A l Sludo 171)0 l a m Ta o Times o
Gw y n n :k w 600 16.00
Aansal Trrlogr 1650 10.50
Dead 500 ' polo a 1450 Blue War 1200 Tenth Frame s6.50 Blood
r 600 10,00
Drier
- 990 Archc Fos 500 1 1 00 Red
T Led
1900 Time Blast 750 630 ' to o
Druid Hanghch Kr-Kira
NY S / 253 Aubome Ranger 10.0015.00 Bravest& 12130 TraolblatM 15.50 Sopa/spin* 650 10.50
Drug 50 h
1 1 s611,:Eregreanrnenti Big a Ed 650 6 5 0 60rbanarts 1650 M a u l Warz 12.00 Buttalt Bobbie 600 ROO
Elia Pak 650 Btarer 650 10.50 i
Game SotMarloh 650 13.00
Bards Tale 2000 World Games 16-50
Elae6Paik II 660 04rco:1 VOW, 650 1 0 50 720 12.00 6e 600 10.00
Elobt1e Bettee 1300
Elae Trio Pak 500 Bravest. 600 4 0 0 Silent Seeace 700 11.00
- Baiance at Power 2050 aor tal Manger 13.00 ,v
Enduro Racer 650 Subbae Elobtae 600 1 0 0 0 F areenhea 451 0.50 Pap arb o y 650 11130
Backlash 1350 0 e
Esolon 500 Bamnshops 650 10.00 Et,olect 600 1103
But & Wow., 2050 Petry Madan 9.50
E v er 520 Bards Tale 800 1 2 00 Hades Nebula 15 00 IJana
s Hype, it 650 1100
Etarly0co 2050
Elea 650 Bad & S a d a 813312.00 Nine Prricas ,r1 Amber 950 f a p .n
T 650 1100
- Elcoderdash Coos Set 1350
650
m15Shoha Eagle Bangkok K nipts 650 1 0 00 Bridge Player 2000 1350 Luning Hcero 21)50 Stone
s 703 1151)
.
Fregity Hardest 520 CAuca Yea9acs F11 T 703 12.50 Charke D WI.° 1200 Staler Cycle 165.0 Vctory Road 650 1050
3 s ta 2
Forestry 500 Compenciont 630 10.50
, Chassmastar 21300 20 00 PlrateS Ot Barbary Ceilat 950 inrly JOneS Temple
,
Football Manage 2 Calecerea Games 600 9 0 0 ol Doom 650 1000
a m e t t Amersa Caplam Anktmca 1200
Gauress 5.00 Caplan 600 8 0 0 101111
,
&aurae*
5 Charrponslyp Wresling 1650 AMIGA Flyng Shark 6 E0
SOO Chy le Chapin 600 9 0 0 DaSandor Ci tha Crown 2050 Lore Ammo (5 Gamest 650 1050
0
Gas reel Duty DungecnS 100 Drue II :Erilighlenntenll 550 8 5 0 20.00
GauPaet , 3 1DrScl SOO De/ender of Croon Degas Ache ConftUdion Sal 1750
11 0 0
Gunsirger 550 Ewenirg Slar 600 9 0 0 oRp Vu 2051) Arsir Fog 1703 SEGA GAMES
Deal! Sink e 1000 Arenalkatacols 2300
Gey Zer 5.00 Elie B Pak 650 1 0 00 Deep Spac0 24.50 Ou1Pads I 860
Game Sal Match 8.50 Elle 6 P A II 650 1 0 0 3 Fight Seretialcu II 3600 Arl Pales!! 8.00 Kuhor•sron. 0503
Game Sel March • 1 Dom 12 00 Eno 900 1 3 00 42.00
Fan DA M & 42.00 Bards Tale 22.00 b o t P r eto
N o g nr Thews 10.00 Enna(' 550 9 0 0 30 Glasses 1500
Ecoball odunes 16 50 Barba/ran 18.00 , w t hSloch
Gunshp 6.50 Fir m Shark 550 9 0 0 1450 Cor ed 11.00
Gunrunrer 300 F15 Strike eagle Balance ol POWIX 23 00 C a r .
GameSel klatch 900 1 3 00 Gauclel 2 12.00 13.00
Harobal 4,00 Gunboat CtiesSMASON 2030 22.00 kay H e f t
600 1 0 00 GATO 7050 GbO al HOLIEW 1300
head over Hoem 500 Gauntel 600 9 0 0 c allty nd Games 18,00 1320
Gold c/ Thieves 16.50 Delncote cd Me Crown 2300 Tartly Soy
HYskod 550 Gary Undoes Smoot 650 1 0 50 Tdansbot 13133
Golden Path 13.50 Dew Vu 23.00
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ThismonththePiIgembraces
IngridBottomlow,challengesthe
polsinYes,PrimeMinister,and
previewsJinxter,TheWhite
Wizardalsomakesa(small)con-
tribution...
GNOMERANGER
LEVEL 9 l a u n c h I n g r id B o t t o m l o w _
THIS.nethwernsetc:ndga c har
and things are definitely
i t looking
o up. Knight
Orc failed to stir the Ng's
n a cblood
t e r to any great
extent, though it was s- sby most comporues'
standards - a good enough i program. There
were an awf ul lot of unnecesscrry
; computer-
controlled character' i n e the game and this -
in contunction wit h the rtack s of inf ormat ion
about what was really going y on - 1101 one
found rather unsettling t e
However, L e v e l 9 ' se n e w Ma n a g i n g
Director. I ngrid Bottomlow, h a s obv ious ly
m
been t hrowing her weight around because
i
Gnome Ranger puts nght9 a lot of things that
were wrong wit h Knight s Orc, a n d does it
with a sense of humour a n d s ome c lev er
Some t ime ago. Pete Aus t in of Level 9
told the Pilgrim that the only way forward for
adventures (he believ ed) was i n t he con-
structon of multi-character puzzles. The days
when you could lust fi nd a rod and wav e it
over a chasm were past and for there to be
any real originality in an adventure the puz-
Older times.. .Older magik
We mentioned Level 9's new Ti me a n d
Magik release last month. Seems like it won't
be ready now for at least another few weeks.
One thing we didn't mention however, is that
the 16•)4 versions are going to feature a lot
more text than the originals. That's encourag-
ing. because the Rig recently played a pre-
release version and was dismayed by the
brevity of the descriptions. Bytes were tight in
those days, fellow Pigs, but upgraders can
look forward to a textual feast with the new
versions - or so I am assured by Pete Austin.
lho
, e l pm 611 • 9•11•11•11
zles were going t o hav e t o inv olv e ot her
NPCs (non-player characters)
Look at most of the successful games of
recent months and you'll see that there's a lot
of truth in this. Characters pop up in games
with greater frequency than ever, and more
often than not you'll have to cooperate wit h
them. or recmit t hem in some way to gain
your obectives.
Knight Orc implemented this policy wit h
a vengeance, and one of the games prob-
lems was t hat it went too far. Some of t he
puzzles require several characters to solve,
and some of them are VERY difficult indeed.
Enter Gnome Ranger
The plot o f t he g a me is really pret t y
basic. Young Ms Bottomlow stoats the game
a l o n g w a y f r o m h o me , h a v i n g b e e n
whisked away 110M her f amily by a 'faulty'
teleport scroll There Is just the faintest sug-
gestion that the affair was a deliberate ploy
on behalf of her f amily to get rid of her, but
well let that pass arid it doesn't seem to have
any bearing on the gameplayt
The game is i n t hree parts a n d unlik e
Knight Orc y ou c an't mo v e bet ween t he
parts at will - each part is a separate game
unto itself a n d y ou hav e t o solve t hem in
order, gaining access t o t he nex t episode
only when you hav e completed the current
one
In the fast port you find yourself outside a
shop, surrounded by a grassy plain. One of
the Prigs criticisms of Knight Orc was t hat
there were a lot of locations which served no
useful purpose. OK. s o y ou c an GO TO i n
Level 9's n e w system. b u t wh y bot her t o
include a location if you're just going to pass
through it on your way to somewhere els e
No problems lik e t hat i n Gnome Ranger.
there aren't that many locations in each sec-
tion and you can easily move about them at
the Stall get t ing your bearings before using
the GO TO c ommand later.
In pa r tne r s hip
Al] t he puzzles i n t he fast p a r t of t he
game inv olv e ot her characters. Y o u c a n
make v ery lit t le headway wit hout , a t t he
very least, recruiting the gny mph, and y ou
will also encounter a rather c harming s wa m
of dogs wh o reminded the N g of the latest
ADVENTURE
Winalot advert. A n d t hen there's the llama
(who doesn't s eem port c ularly important),
the eagle (who is), the unicorn. the centaur.
and so on Eac h of these characters has cer-
tain attributes that will enable y ou to suc-
ceed in your initial quest, whic h is to destroy
the power of a wicked witch who has devel-
oped a wo r l d - wi d e c ommerc ial e mp i r e
based on stone gnomes
RELEASE B a r
'ons should be available by the tint
read this. A word of warning to graph
however - 8-bit cassette versions will
-only. This doesn't worry the Rig unduly
:.ill be playing my Spectrum version. pics
pies
128 E9.95cs,E9.95cl1
C9.95cs
APIST E14,95dk
!GA E14.95ck:,
PC Elit•g
E14.95dk
E9.95csE14•95dk
,..
If y ou b r e r s • J A J t he witch's
wand a n d s hat t ering h e r power, y ou' re
through t o t he second part of t he g a me
Whereas t h e fast part centres exclusively
around character puzzles and co-operaton,
the second part involves manipulat ing t he
ingredients for a series of magic al potions.
For Ingrid to continue on her journey home,
she mus t first resurrect t he Alchemists t ea
plant, whic h for some reason shrivels up at
the beginning of the game when Ingrid inno-
cently picks a leaf from it t o brew a pot of
char for the old gent. The answer. of course.
is a fertilising potion, but the ingredients (or
one of them, at least) are extremely difficult
to come by.
The potion system in part t wo deserves a
mention Eac h mixture requires four ingredi-
ents, a n d eac h ingredient is classified b y
nature, colour, smell/taste, and texture. Thus
if you hav e a leaf, a y ellow berry, a sweet
fruit, and a hoary berry y ou could brew up
AdvancedComputerEnlerlainmen
, 9 3
r ADVENTURE

Popular residences...

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The s cottage in Gnome Ranger. A desirable A shot trom Jimrter No compromise here, lust sheer Jautter again_ Frankly, if the geme's as good as these
r o "
residence, complete with a unique collection ol stone pixel perfection. Only kicky tenants should apply. screen-shots then we all might as well order II now..
•
*
gnomes,
1 dog kennel, and sitting tenant. 1
7
:
the
= same potion as you could wit h a leaf. a Gnome Ranger has improved on Knight
:

yellow
s fruit, a sweet berry. and a hairy cater- Orc in t he puz de stakes (more logic al a n d
I
. SYSTEM • • • • • •
o :
pillar. The recipes for different potions are not Highlevel commandsinclude FINDandFOLLOW'
f enjoyable), t he atmosphere (mote enioyable -

difficult
v to find. though some are rat her cryp- and less contusing), t he plot (more compre- CHARACTERS g n o m o n
o
tically
q
expressed. hensible), and the characters (more interest- Beller implementedthan Arighi Orc
t Once y ou'v e resurrected t he tea-plant, ing). You can't ask for muc h more than that,
. CHALLENGE onomolige
you're on your way to part three and the final except t hat perhaps Lev el 9's nex t g a me Many logical puzzles involving other characters
stretch A t this stage y ou wi l l fi nd yourself could giv e us more of the some I t would be
sorting out peoples problems in a world domi- LANDSCAPE m i n i m iP
good t o see a slightly bigger goalie, in terms
Easytoexplore but not thatmanyoutstanding Mew
nated b y mineral themes, t hus c omplet ing of locations a n d puzzles, b u t f or t he t ime
,
the 'anunal,vegetable, mineral' s equenc e being this will do gnicely.
-
Penguins, yetis, a n d wa r bet ween t he fi re Animprovementon Arigel arc thatpromiseswell for the !LIMO
people and the ice people will be your chief
concerns before finally arriving home. VERDICT 9 1 5

YESPRIMEMINIS&11111
MO SAIC giv e y ou t h e keys to N u m b e r 10
number of possible alternatives. Depending place in five parts, each part being a day in
T H O S E o f y ou probab s of on your choice. the plot then proceeds in var- a working week of Britain's Number One. The
Eton
ly r e collars,
o v et her war, Clement Attlee, a n d ious different directions a n d n e w situations display shows you the intenor of your office,
the
r e day
m e when
m b eMosaic
r first announc ed that develop complete wit h t wo phones, t wo drawers, an
they
s would
o be launc hing this game. OK, so The storyline of Yes, Prime Minister takes 'ideas box', a t elex mac hine, a c loc k a n
the Pilg exaggerates a teensy bit. but lets
Somehow the time always manages to slip past Scroll this-a-way fOl the suggestions box and the
face it, this game has been a very long time your next appointment while you're looking a t poll ratings.).
in t h e mak ing. N o w i t s wa i t i n g o n t h e another part of the screen.
shelves for you, c lamourmg f or y our v ot e
and your money. .does it deserve either/
No, unfortunately it doesn't. I n fact, this
game, based on the humourous TV show of
the some name, goes down in the RI O book
as one of the biggest missed opportunities of
the year Lets see what went wrong

RELEASE B O X
C64 E14.95cs,E19.95dh
,SPEC Eld95cs
IIBMPC E24.95Ok
28
AMS, E14.95csE19.,95dk

Fast, the game uses the same t a w prin

c.
9/Mosaic
- This means that rather than move
.p
about from location to location the program Bloner—compbete with a short memo from dearest Scroll this-a-way to find the teletype and the inter-
Bernard.
l e you a story. 93 to speak, and pauses al
tells com, but while you're over there remember that
opportune
o moments for you to select from a time is still licking by on the clock.-e
f
94 Advanced
t ComputerEntertamment
h

intercom, and a blotter.
Gameplay is as f ollows Y o u h a v e a
symbol (it varies from mac hine to machine.
but is bas ic ally a point er o f s ome k ind)
which you can mov e about the screen using
the cursor keys or a joystick. As you mov e it.
new areas of your office scroll into v iew (on
the Commodore and Ams t rad versions, t he
screen nil% on the Spectrum). By 'choking' on
an object, you select it and may, occasional-
ly, be able to interact with it...
For ex ample. y o u start t h e g a me o n
Monday arid scroll the screen to show your
clock, whic h says 9.00am. The minutes tick
by pret t y rapidly , s o y ou s hould fi nd out
what y our appoint ment s are f or t he day .
This is done b y c lic k ing o n t he left h a n d
drawer of your desk, whic h causes a diary
for the day in question to be displayed. The
most you'll hav e in a day is three appoint-
ments - sometimes there will be none Your
appointments s c hedule does n o t c hange
from game to game, though what happens
in between meetings does.
SYSTEM o n o n so l t
EasytousewiMnovel graphics interface tail still veryhm led
CHARACTERS • • • • •
Excellentteat maintainsessence otTVpersc%
CHALLENGE moans
Enjoyable anal and error, but not much else
LANDSCAPE ow ww •
Repetitive scenariolimits scope ot thegamic
PACSgamesheed201Abytes and%Mils towinvotes
VERDICT 5 9 5
While you're doing this, y ou may hav e
heard a plaintive beeping. Scroll the screen
around y our desk and y ou will notice t he
phone fl ashing Clic k on it, a n d the screen
changes to text mode, wit h the callers mes-
sage displayed There's nothing for you to do
except read what he has to say. t hen read
what y ou say in response, and occasionally
select one of several speech options at criti-
cal moments
Whether it's the intercom beeping, or the
other phone, t he procedure is identical To
liven things up a bit, a memo will occasion-
ally appear on y our desk, whic h y ou c an
read by clicking on it, and which will proba-
bly c o n t a i n s o me d r o l l mes s age f r o m
Bernard Woolley, your private secretary. You
can also read inc oming messages o n t he
teletype (usually giv ing notice of some for-
eign disaster) and some rather urunteresting
political platitudes that spring from the 'ideas
box'
As the clock flicks through the day, y ou
will find yourself attending meetings in near-
by offices. To get to these you click on your
door and then choose the appropnate desti-
nation f rom t he list presented. You nev er
actually s ee anot her location, b u t s imply
read on-screen an account of what happens
there. Th a t ac c ount , c is wi t h almos t a l l
'events' wit hin the game. will be composed
almost entirely of dialogue between yourself,
Bernard, a n d Sir Humphrey Appleby . t h e
Cabinet Secretary
ADVENTUREI
P olit ic a l a i m s the fl ow of your own side of the conversation
Your obiec t iv e i n t he g a me is t o stay i n among the somewhat limited alternatives.
power a n d boast y our rat ing i n t he polls, Desptte t he s light I llogic alit y of b e i n g
whic h y ou c an c hec k b y c lic k ing o n t he able to direct all sides of an argument, this
Union Jack in y our office, t o rev eal a sale actually adds a little to t he garrieplory and
behind it. Clicking on the safe gives you an makes things more interesting. I n fact, t he
up-to-date poll report - y ou start t he game text of t he dialogues is really very wit t y in
wit h 50% a n d mus t obv ious ly at t empt t o parts and every bit as good as the I V series.
improve on that figure as the days roll by So what went wrong?
The manner in whic h y ou achieve that The biggest problem lies in the repetitive
objective lies in the way you select the vari- nature of the game-play. There is a basic sto-
ous options during the games. For example, ryline whic h does not alt er f rom g a me t o
suppose you have a meeting at 9 3Com wit h game, a n d on t op of this various 'random
Sir Humphrey . Prov iding y o u aren't bus y scenarios' wi l l oc c ur. E a c h me e t i n g y o u
answering the phone or reading a memo at attend c an lead you, depending on whic h
the time indicated, y ou will be able to click options you choose, into different sequences.
on the door. select Sir Humphreys office, and The trouble arises when you have played the
enter into dialogue with the nit-picking ol d game about liv e times (and it doesn't take
busy-body. long t o brush. either). Despite t he fact t hat
Sir Humphrey. for example, may wish to new scenarios occasionally crop up. the vari-
discuss with you your plans for setting up a ety steadily grows stale, and the bulk of the
Ministry for Women. Do you not think, Prime game becomes depressingly familiar. What
Minister', he might say, 'that this will offend: you e n d u p wit h is a n init ially enioy able
(a) your loyal male supporters (b) your loyal game, that turns out to be a disappointment.
female supporters'. The program then waits Mosaic reckon you'll want t o return to it in
for y ou to click on one of these choices. much the same way as you would return to
which I s Somewhat str ange since it's Sir a book you've already read The Pilg is not
Humphrey speaking and not you Even more convinced, a n d I suspect t hat this sort of
strange, i f y ou make hi m say something game needs a mas s iv e text-database, a
inappropriate (such as (b) above), he will 2Dmeg hoed disc, a nd Mor e intelligence to
start getti ng crotchettyl You then reply to succeed.
him and have a similar opportunity to direct
Variety show
e White Wizard ponders on multiple choice games...
mbly beg to submit that the Pug has missed the point with Yes Prime Minister_ I would argue that
'pure Multiple-Choice Scenario can never be a good game' Here is my case...
Mathematics. For an MCS to work well, it needs enough plot variations to be able to give the
yer the impression that his decisions are radically effecting the game storyline. What does this
ply? Imagine you have three choices at each 'junction'. You start the game. and make your first
choice. The computer needs to store three different scenarios - one for each choice, and you find
yourself in one of these. But each of these secondary scenarios requires three further scenarios, and
after making ten decisions in the game, you would have to be in one of nearly sixty thousand'
. ible alternative story-lines. Memory chips ain't that cheap, my wizardlings.
So you do one of two thingsYou _ compromise, and keep steering the reader back to the main
' line. This was the approach in the Level 91Mosaic Adnan Mole games. Level 9 realised that to
e this sort of game work, you need to provide tots of text and as many different routes for the
,ne to follow as possible The Austins managed to achieve their aims, to a certain extent, by
_ y efficient text-compression routines and keeping the rest of the program as simple as possi
I usl the display presented nothing but a rudimentary graphic at the lop of the screen, leaving all
on. .
oc essing poorer for the retrieval and selection of the appropnate texts.
. A :dAlternatively
d y ou compromise i n
ii ic t s
another way, abandon the pure MCS for-
.o mat and add more command features.
,f
Wizards wit h v ery long beards may
p remember
r t he game f rom which t he
o screenshot
g below is taken - Flight from
r the a Dark, based o n t he role-playing
mbooks by Joe Dever and Gary Chalk, and
min turn
i derivative of the original Fighting
n..-, g
. Fantasy book s o f Jackson a n d
sri 4141.1'5. fi
t Livingston. This game not Only had multi-
s 1ix is esd 4 v451 c i oue i of b l a c k
13,;
r ple choice options, but also a limited
p r o x i i cr datto-ds stvoar Jowls arid
l eathdr
e command structure using a keyboard
,et outf the triortastdr9•
e_Overlay rather like Lords of Midnight. I t a r e
ps o t
it 8 pretty lace. a
nr Neither of these compromises appeals to the Wizr overmuch, o but he reckons that the second is
ou ler the most promising. Yes Prime Minister has tried t a bit of both, but hasn't really succeeded on
tc t
count. But then given the MCS format, I'm not surprised e Can anyone prove me wrong?
r r
gt
i
eu
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Commodore Screens

They called International Karate the best beat-em-up so far. And who are we to argue?
But Archer Maclean has come up with a stunner: A Third Fighter.
Amazing animated background. New moves. Re-mixed music.
And Balls!
Commodore 64/128 Cassette (r9.99) and Disk (E12 99) Coming soon tor Spectrum and Amstrad home computers.

Mail Order: Activision (UK) Lid, Units 3 & 4 Lloyds Close, Finedon Road Industrial Estate, Wellingborough, Northampton NN8 4FR Tel: (0933) 76768
Access, Visa and American Express Cards welcome
 Hands up Gringos!
Justice waits on the old
Iron Horse express.
Capture the thrills and spills of
the old prairie. The action is
dynamite as bandits attack
the train you guard.

COMMODORE DISC E1 4 .9 5
COMMODORE CASSETTE E 8 .9 5
SPECTRUM CASSETTE E 7 .9 5
AMSTRAD DISC E1 4 .9 5
AMSTRAD CASSETTE E 8 .9 5

Incitergripping-';
II

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 A D V E N TU R E
.'

Nig All the fun of the fair...

Is it the Ptignm's imagination, or have Magnetic Scrolls adopted a slightly OTT approach to the loca

Preview lions in this game? OTT meaning, of course, Outrageous Textual Titillation. Here's what the VDU
has to say when you start explonng the fairground in Jinxier

Jinxter
Magnetic Scrolls
First, T h e Pawn. g r e a t graphic s . s h a me
about the game. but still a highly significant
release for British adventurers. second, Guild
ol Thieves, g r e a t pos , g o o d game; t hud.
Jinxter, stunning pos. and - by the look of a
pre-release version - an excellent peregrina-
tion throughout t he slightly eccentric world
of Magnetic Scrollery,
Life is t ough behind these pixel-perfect
porticryals of Aquit c mian tourist spots. Th e
,
O
How v i v i d l y p a i n t e d t h i s c a r o u s e l i s , w i t h i t s g o ld e n dom ed r o o f a n d p i n k a n d w h i t e
cnu r l i n g p i l l a r s . T h e t r a v e l l e r w i l l m o st c e r t a i n l y e n ) c y a r i d e o n o n e o f t h e s p l e n d i d
at n im a ls b r i d l e d a n d w a i t i n g , b e i t t h e r e a r i n g u n i c o r n , t h e fi e r y d ra g o n o r t h e s t a t e l y
h
p e l i c a n . O r s h o u l d h e s h y a w a y f r o m t h e s e p a i n t e d m o n st e rs? Pe r h a p s a c r i m s o n fi r e
e
e n g in e o r a r e p l i c a o f t h e Aq u i t a n i a n S t a t e c a r r i a g e d ra w n b y s i x b lu e - b e a r d e d w a lr u se s
C
wo u ld b e n o r e a p p r o p r ia t e ? j r t h e m i d d l e s t a n d s a l a r g e j u k e b o x w a i t i n g t o b l a r e o u t
a
m a je s t ic b a n d m u s ic t o a cco m p a n y y o u o n y o u r j o u r n e y . Sh o u l d y o u n o t f e e l d r a w n b y a _
r
t h i s sp le n d o u r t h e n b e o n y o u r w a y! N o r t h e a s t w i l l t a k e y o u b a c k i n t o t h e d r e a r y f a ' ,
o
ground w h i l s t so u t h w e st t a k e s y o u t o w a r d s a c lo c k m a k e r s sh o p ,
u
s
e
l
land is t hreat ened b y t he powers of ev il. Jinxter is a slightly s maller g a me t han
notably a wit c h by the name of Jannedor. Guild, wi t h about 9 0 locations, b u t M a g
and to restore law and order you must locate Scrolls are emphatic that the reduction in the
Cr number of luc k y charms and reassemble si7e of the ma p was a deliberate attempt to
the Bracelet of Turani puck mo r e int o eac h 'room' Cert ainly t he
Pilg found that there were puzzles galore dur-
ing his brief excursion int o t he game, a n d
some were every bit as wit t y and inventive

Pat's Patch as the my nah bird in Guild You'll experience

problems wi t h int ox ic at or', operat ing t he-
atres, t rain-root rides a n d t unnels , k i l l er
buses, a n d bulls , t o ment ion b u t a f ew.
Pat Winstanley's regular column for OUILLing, GACIng, There's even a chance to earn a liv ing as a
and PA King adventurers. This month Pat looks at pro- musician, or t o go scuba div ing Cert ainly
viding automatic exit printing... enough to keep you going..
There i s o n e part ic ularly int eres t ing
aspect of this game The company have tried
Both GAC and PAW provide the facility for checking the connection table and finding out where the
to address the 'puzzle progress problem'. Put
player can move to in a particular direction. Using these we can set up a system whereby each
briefly, this problem Ls as follows y ou need to
available exit will be printed after the room description each time the player 'looks or revisits a room.
put puzzles in a game that are sufficient t o
The system won't work for 'conditional' exits, but these can be handled by an extra message as
giv e the adventure lasting interest and pre-
long as you don't have too many of them. But it the vast majority of your exits are conditional you
sent a real challenge: at the same time, how-
may as well forget these routines, as the result will be very messy.
This month we'll see how to implement the routine on GAC, as the method is fairly straightfor- ever, y ou must also allow t he play er suffi-
cient f reedom t o ex plore t he g a me i n t he
ward and easy to follow. PAW users will get their turn in the next issue.
early stages, otherwise his/her interest ma y
slacken o f f H o w c a n y o u c ompromis e
Enter in High Priority
between these two requirements?
1. IF ( SET? 0 ) MESS 'visible exits' END
Magnet ic Scrolls hav e done it b y intro-
2. IF ( CONN 1 0 AND SET? 0) MESS 'north' END
duc ing a figure called The Guardian His pot-
3. IF ( CONN 2 0 AND SET? 0) MESS 'south' END
bellied appearanc e. c omplet e wi t h out-of-
4. IF ( CONN 3 0 AND SET? 0 ) MESS 'east' END
5. IF ( CONN 4 0 AND SET? 0 ) MESS 'west END fashion hemngbone overcoat. slightly belies
6. IF ( ( CONN 1 + CONN 2 + CONN 3 +CONN 4) • 0 AND SET? 0) MESS 'none' this g r a n d t it le, b u t t hen we' v e c ome t o
7. IF I SET? 0 ) RESE 0 END expect t h a t s ort o f t h i n g wi t h Magnet ic
Scrolls, haven't we? His function is, quite sim-
GAC notes ply, t o e n a b l e t h e ingenuous p l a y e r t o
bypass t he puzzles his limit ed ex perienc e
Line 1. We only want the routine to work when a room description is printed, not every turn the play-
cannot solve.
er remains in the room, so SET? 0 is used to check this, and line 7 resets the marker until this or
another room is described again, For ex ample, t here y ou are i n a fi eld,
Lines 2 to 5. Again we check marker 0, and for each possible direction, the connection table is when suddenly a large bull decides to butt
checked for the current room_ Thus CONN 3 finds out which room is east of the current room. If a you int o the life hereafter. Instead of hav ing
connection exists, the number of that room will be returned. If no connection exists the result will be to start again, The Guardian CISSIStS in y our
O. Each of these conditions will suceed if a connection is found (i.e. CONN x 0 ) , the relevant mes- resurrection a n d y o u c a n c ont inue f r o m
where you left off Th e rutty-gritty, however.
sage will be displayed, then the next condition will be considered. If the condition fails ( i.e. CONN x
Is that by-passing puzzles in this way doesn't
0) no message will be printed.
Line 6. This covers the situation where there are no exits at all! earn y ou any points, so there is still a lot of
incentive t o t ak e t hem b y t he horns a n d
Graphics cause problems with long text descriptions,so if you find the text scrolling off, here's
earn your spurs the proper way.
an alternative to automatic printing-..! Simply set the above conditions as low priority, with a com-
Jimder has some great text, in pan writ-
mand such as EXITS to be typed by the player. You'll also need another marker, set when EXITS is
ten b y Georgina Sinclair. sister of t he inf a-
typed.checked in each line of the routine.and reset on the last line. Otherwise you'll get the exits
mous Anit a Sinclair f rom Mu g Scrolls, wit h
printing every time the Low Priority table is accessed.
additions f r o m ot her quarters. There's n o
doubt t hat t he programmers and designers
Pat's address, it you wish to write in with a query or any other matter concern-
at t h e c ompany h a v e p u t a lot int o t he
ing adventure writing, is Pat's Patch, c o Advanced Computer Entertainment, 4 adventure, and the Pug looks forward to giv-
QueenSt, BATH,BA1 1EJ. ing i t t h e us ual in-dept h t reat ment nex t
mont h I t c ould well be their most popular
release yet

Advanced CompulerEntertainmeni 9 9
I ADVENTURE
The Traveller's Times
Edited by: The Pilgrim
INFOCOM
MADNESS
There was a t ime when Infocom
titles were few arid far between, anx-
iously awaited by addicts across the
globe. No w suddenly we r e faced
with no less than three major releas-
es, each in its own way quite differ-
ent from what has gone before.
Readers will already know about
Plundered Hearts, which we hoped
to review this issue but arrived just a
traction too late. However, while the
White Wizard's beard was trembling
with passion at the sight of pirate
captain Jamison's handsome visage,
he was completely bowled over by
the prospect of eight short stories on
a disk. under t he collective title
Nord and Bert Couldn't Make Head
or Tad of It (see story on page 12 of
this issue).
But it's Beyond Zork that really
has the both the Wiz and the PiIgnm
panting with excitement. While the
other two releases simply show dif-
ferent styles of adventuring. Beyond
Zork introduces a whole new ele-
ment - role-playing.
The game allows you to create
your o w n c harac t er wi t h s i x
attnbutes= strength, endurance, corn-
passion, tuck, intelligence, and dex-
terity. Your status is displayed by bar
charts during the game and other
screen windows show your location
(or you inventory). There's also an
on-screen map.
This is a completely new depar-
ture for Intocom, and - as far as
adventure addicts are concerned -
one of great importance. Will there
be, for the first lime, a role playing
game that also features a high-quali-
ty parser and superb game design?
Watch this space..,
1 0 0 Advanced COn1puter Entertainment
Honorary Editor: The White Wizard P ublis hed by: Far-Future Publishing
Price: Free with every copy of ACE
8TH DAY IN
HOLLYWOOD
Eighth Day Software, purveyors of
numerous budget titles for over three
years now, are touting Ronnie Goes
To Hollywood. For E3,99 this little
number gives Spectrum owners the
chance to run world events from the
White House, avoid impeachment.
and maintain a good rating in the
polls. Check out the mini-review next
month.
SMIRKING
HORROR?
Fergus McNeill of Boggit and Robin
of Sherlock fame has set up a new
software development company with
his fiancee, Anna Popkess. Called
Abstract Concepts, the company will
oe developing titles f or Activision.
while Della 4 will continue to source
product t or CRL and others. A s
usual, some of the plans Fergus and
Anna have for future releases are
wickedly satincal pokes at estab-
lished adventure traditions.
During a quick tour of the ACE
offices, where Fergus and Anna
were entertained b y t h e Whit e
Wizard on one of his flying visits to
Bath, the young couple spoke of a
possible co-operation with Level 9
and a range of humorous releases in
the horror v ein - titles such as
Smirking Horror and Nightmare on
Sesame Street are not a million
miles from Fergus' evilly inventive
mind.
Most important of all, however,
is the new adventure system being
used t o produce these titles. Most
readers will know that earlier Della 4
packages. s u c h a s Ro b i n o f
Sherlock. were Quill-derivative pro
grams using multi-load (pioneered
by Fergus) and speech options. Two
imminent releases, Enchanteress
(released via CAL) and Mond lighter
BUBBLEBUSTRILOGY
Curse of the Crown is the first of a
three game series launched b y
Bubble Bus. The company have
never releas ed a n adv ent ure
before, s o let's give them a big
cheer for entering the market,
The program i s a graphics
adventure set in Leith's Kingdom,
where all and sundry are under the
(Activision) s how a very different
technical approach.
The n e w s y s t em, s pec ially
developed for Fergus and Anna by a
third part y software development
team, allows for a multitude of fea-
tures. These include icon dnven sys-
tem c ommands (including RA M-
SAVE, SCRI PT, a n d STATUS),
character attributes t h a t inc lude
emotional as well as physical char-
actenstics. real time action, variable
weather patterns t hat affect t h e
gameplay, full input editing, clock
arid calendar, combat routines and,
of course, interactive characters.
Mindfighter puts t he player in
post-holocaust Southampton. a n d
sets you the task of saving the world
as you journey back in time to alter
history and prevent the nuclear con-
flict from breaking out. The scenario
involves the Gulf conflict and t he
player takes the identity of a young
boy with the ability to see (and even
travel) into past and future - which is
how you found yourself in the ruined
city in the first place. The game is in
four sections, two set in the future
and two in the present day.
Enchanteress rings the changes
by having a n all-female cast (f or
once) and throws a young girl into a
revenge crusade after s he loses
both h e r p a r e n t s . B o t h
Enchanteress a n d Mi n d fi g h t e r
should b e o n y our s helv es i n
January.
STSOUNDS OFF
Mortvolle Manor is a French game for
the ST that takes adventure sound
effects into a whole new dimension.
Remember the digitised screams on
CRL's horror numbers? MM gives
you howling wolves, ghostly foot-
steps, pop music and more, com-
bined wit h a n icon-driven system
featuring excellent graphics.
There's one big problem, how-
ever. Much of the action is relayed
evil rule of the sorcerer Rathoe.
Available for the Spectrum only to
start with, t he program features
type ahead, ramsave. interactive
characters, choice of text sizes.
and other goodies including multi-
ple commands plus 'all' and it. To
be reviewed in ACE next month, so
watch out for it...
via synthesised speech f rom t he
main characters. Since this is often
incomprehensible, and there is no
text option, how can you possibly fin-
ish the game? We'll be reviewing It
next mont h - k eep y our fingers
crossed that our exhaustive game
testers find a solution in time. Could
be the first game where you need a
pack of Cotton Buds to complete it...
MortviIle Manor
Next month...
The White Wizard spills the
beans about the adventure
column pla nne d f o r t h e
ACE Christmas Cracker,
due out on December 3rd.
Yessir. the PiIg and I have got
some real treats for next month
Just wait and see what happens
when the two of us really start to
DUII together'
First. y o u ' r e get t ing a n
Intocom Bonanza - exhaustive
reviews o f t hree n e w games
Plundered Hearts. Nord t Berl
and Beyond Zork) plus a retro-
spective review of Suspect.
Then while you're still reel-
ing from the shock. youll be treat-
ed to a No Problem! tips column.
featuring dozens of tips on the
latest and most popular games
Plus...new mi ni -r evi ews
including s o m e h o m e brew
games. more news from Shades.
Pats Patch and a wealth of com-
ment from the Bearded One...by
which I mean myself, since the
-
Rig Is on holiday and Ill be help
mg Out a little more than usual.
You'll also be treated to the final
instalment o f t h e Pilgrt m' s
Players Guide to Hitchhikers.
You were meant t o gel it this
month. b u t f ollowers o f t h e
Pilgrim wi l l k n o w ! hal h e i s
always over-writing, running out
of space. and having to put things
off till the next issue Fear not' My
presence on the magazine will
ensure that this doesn't happen
again. otherwise I 'll s how t he
Cloaked Corpuscle where he can
shove his rod and staffSee you
next month.
 From NC Games, Britain's leading PBM CO SHEKHANA COMPUTER SERVICES
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Visitors welcome in showroom, send SAE for price list
Biggest selection of ST and Amiga software in North West
r
P
L
A
Y
-
B
Y
POSTALORDERS Instead of the usual CB 00 I t is a deactlined
Fancy discovering the North
game (see box), whic h means y oull have to
- Pole? Or winning World War return y o u r orders bef ore a specifi c dat e
M Ill? Challenges like these are (y oull be told on your sheet exactly when)

persuading more and more

A Everything you ever wanted to know about PBM's but
people to sample the delights
I of Play-By-Mail games, or didn't have the stamp to ask...
L PBMs. ANDY SMITH checks 1.What do I need to play PBM's?
out what's on offer— A pen plus of course some money to pay for the turns A 'phone can help but is not essential Cunning a viwo
imagination and some spare time are essential however

Interest in PBMs has grown dramat ic ally in 2.How much does It cost?
the past few years From the two-player skir- Depends entirely upon which game you play - charges vary from as little as 25p per turn to over E5 per turn
mishes of postal chess to games specifically Average turn price is between El and E2 But beware - although some PBMs have a fixed turn cost extra charges
designed to involve several hundred players may be made if you wish to de something in the game that requires extra work on the part of the GM
simultaneously in the conquest of a fantasy
universe, t he PBM bandwagon has grown 3. What can I actually do In the game?
Almost anything you wish - you are often only limited by your imagination The turn sheets can have you wnang
and grown.
detailed descnotions of how you intend to rob a bank or wanckSitig through the crypt of some vast aSen cathedral
Nowaday s t h e b a s i c P B M f o r m a t
Or again you could be juggling statistics in an attempt to deplog•
involves a bas e where the umpue or Game -
Moderator - GM - processes the game, a n d 4. Howflong
y our o r do
c ePElkEs
s alast?
g a i n s t
it is to this address that the players send in aSome games
n have ia setn number
c o of turns
m i andn at theg end of those turns a winner is decided upon and announced
their orders (usually collect turns') Other
n ugamesc can lcontinue
e indehnitely
a r liar as long as people are still paying to play Ma o Av erage game time is
In mos t mo d e m games , t h e scenmics abetweent six mOnth5
t toa two years
c k •
are extremely c omplex and the t urn' forms
5. Who wins Pell's?
you fill in giv e you dozens of options for con-
Some games have no winners as such while others have definite winners who have managed to satisfy venous
trolling y o u r f orc es , ma n i p u l a t i n g y o u r
conditions Winning conditions are always made clear to the player before the start
resources, a n d ally ing wi t h ot her players.
Each game has its own obiectives. For exam- 6. Whal it I loin a game but soon find I don't like it?
ple in Stcuglote your objective is to become Simple - don't play it any more Write to the GM politely saying you no longer wish to play - tor whatever reason •
the Lord of Monde - whic h means, inciden- and request that any remaining credit be returned to you Most PBMs are able to cope with the inevitable 'drop outs
tally, that you get to play tor tree until you're that occur donng a game However it can ruin some Scenarios and so the GM's recpuest you to read their rule books
deposed as we l l as enjoy ing ot her g a me horoughly before asking to loin a game
privileges: i n Eart hwood t he objective is to
capture t h e ot her play ers ' c it ies , eit her 7. Can I contact other players in the game?
Sometimes Game Moderators will keep your name and address conlidenkal and will not pass it on to other players
through alliances, corruption, or downright
Most games however have an internal posting system which allows one player to contact another through the GM
aggression.
II you contact another player outside the game !which is sometimes frowned upon' then passing on any copyrighted
Most of these games hav e scenarios so material is a criminal offence so beware
complex (although remainmg easy to play )
that it is no longer possible for t hem t o be 11. How frequent are the game turns?
processed by hand The computer-moderat- Some games have a 'fired deadline' That is all the turns are posted to the players at around the same time and the
ed g a m e h a s bec ome t h e norm, wh i c h player has to return the completed formai before a staled dale These deadlines vary from game to game and can
makes life easier for t he GMs and has also be anything from a fortnight to a month per turn Some deadened games will run the same game but with chtterent
enabled g a me s t o dev elop i n SIZe a n d deadlines in which case you will be asked it you wish to play with a two week, three weqk or four week deadline
Whichever you choose you can rest assured that the other players are governed by the same deadline A different
depth.
class of games ,
Over t he next f ew months, ACE will be
: c alled
reviewing, c omment ing on, a n d ev aluat ing 9.
' oWhatp eIt I nmiss the stan of a game?
PBMs of ma n y different shapes, sizes, a n d e n companies
Most d e have plenty of room in existing games and new scenarios are being launched all the time The
scenarios Furt hermore, m a n y o f t h e s e d '
malonly of companies will run the same game tor many different players so if you decide to loin a game that only
games will be av ailable with special otters to g
allowsa 15 players
m and all places are filled then another game is created
ACE readers, enabling y ou t o save money e s '
while you play a l 1
This mo n t h w e r e j o i n i n g w i t h K J C l
ACE/KJC o EARTHWOOD INTRODUCTORY OFFER
games, who have just launc hed Earth wood w Complete this coupon and send it to:
- The Sea Kings, a 25 player game of explo- y
KJC Games, P.O.Box 1
o
ration a n d conquest Th e play er takes t he ),
u
role of an Island King and attempts to con-
tC l e v e l e y s ,
NAME ADDRESS
quer all the other islands on t he map (once
oB l a c k p
they are all owned by either a play er or a
so o ul _ (POSTCODE)
player alliance then the game is won). If you bF mY
would lik e t o t ak e part y o u c an us e t he Please
i5 tfind enclosed a E5 cheque or postal order (made out to KJC Games) which entitles me to my Mart-
coupon below to order the registration dccu- tin),
2 rulebook, U and first live turns in the game EARTHWOOD - THE SEA KINGS.
ments, the rulebook and FIVE tree turns (sub- Otter
uL is limited to one application per person. and is only valid as long as KJC Games receive this coupon
sequent t urns cost E1.50.) f or o n l y E5. 00 -r NO photocopies • on or before 31 at December 1987.
n
s
1 0 2 Advanced Computer Entertain Ment a
 VAST,EXPANDINGUNIVERSE ME
CIPILLENGEISSURVIVAL a g l z TN

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I

THESINCLAIR ZX SPECTRUM+3 WITH 6 FREE GAMESAND A JOYSTICK.

ADVANTAGE. ZX SPECTRUM+3. E199

The new Sinclair ZX Spec tr um +3 is a real hero - bec aus e it helps

y ou to be one.
While y ou're a dar ing motor bik e rider or the all- c onquer ing
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handling c omputer s .
Loading games is quic k and easy with the built-in disk-drive.
You'll b e in the thic k of the ac tion in s ec onds . And the fantas tic
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But t h e r eal h e r o is t h e per s on w h o b u y s it. F or t h e
ZX Spec tr um +3 is only E199, s o they 'v e really s av ed the earth.

ZX SPECTRUM+2. E139

The amazing ZX Spec trum +2 has a built-in datac order - to save you
the bother of tape recorders and leads. The adv anc ed128K memory
helps y ou get the mos t from the vast universe of games available.
Every model c o me s c o mp le t e with six fr ee games to start
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With the adv anc ed Sinc lair tec hnology you c an afford to let
y our imagination go wild. Bec aus e at £139. only your enemies pay
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BEWHOYOU WANT TO BE.

A v ailable at Allders . Boots , Cly des dale, C o r n e t Connec t , Curry s , Dix ons , J ohn Lewis ,
J o h n M e n z ie s , L a s k y 's . Ta n d y , \ A / H. S m i t h . V is io n h ire . W ig t a lls , a n d a l l g o o d
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, e c o m m e n d e d r etail p r i c e S ir c lair ZX S p e c i r u m -1- 2 £139 inc luding VAT & ti d a l , S gadettum I 3 L1E19 .n c i ta l n g VAT
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at 11087 PTICOn S . b
arn
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113- 0 t o
c h a n g e
w r e e tell m e
Pleas mo re about t he SINCLAIR ZX S p e c t ru m S-2 fl z x S pec t rum 1-3 E
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M E G A B Y T E
s c o T L A N D S PREMIER CO MPUT ER CENTRE
PR O U D L Y PRESENT
A line up of computer and peripheral pr oduct to suit the taste and
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dith
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srecTilum R RAP O OUR 55PECTRUI4 R A P O U R COM M ODORE 444178 CASS DIS K OUR AMSTRAD 4128.414 C A B S DIS K
450 FF. i 5 Eagle 9 9 5 1 2 5 S orrento Soccer 7 . 2 5 11.95 14.95
SpareHartaw 7 7,95 5550 SSspa mut Stacerer 7 95 6 50 Leaterboard 7 2 5 I I 95 1515 t 2 5 7 1 1 95
725 SSlew . 8.99 6 95 A A World Cows - . 7 1395 6 a Mohan]12) 7 . 1 . 5 1 I 95
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550 SSoler/ears
ll N oKeyo .k. . . • Knight Ore _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 24 9$ IS 9S ,Renegsde . . . . . 650 11 15 9
Rettesede 7 7 9$ $$SO CC. .e r o u t o n s Stasbattle 2 4 99 15 99 Te-Pan 4 1 1 ) I I 95
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Arkanad 5 595 5550 RRed k LE 0w 8 9 9 6 9 5 hunk y 7 . 2 5 I I 95 Eagles Nest 2 4 9 5 1595 Gana Owe
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Laakerbowd . 9 9 5 77 25 FFood:oiler Yr 7 or 2 1 4 . 9 5 19 ta Coaunuat i or 2 A S O 7 1 I 95
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II 95 SS 9 3 8 5 .
x urto. 9 9 6.50 c iiiiti. Orc 1 1 9 5 1195 GiNan G c b t 2 4 95 5 9 5 5Netoses ol M olar _____ 615
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1195 S CO h o w s One . 495 1195 RoadRomer 2 4 . 9 5 15 95 2
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Frown 0 . 9 5 4 464) R50 5
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Kix . . . . . . _ _ 715 55.50 9p9Kowy a
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 TRICKS ' N TA C TIC S I

TRICKS 'N' Check out ACE's

red-hot tips on this
month's

TACTICS
toughest assignments.
Cheat modes, tactical
advice, strategic
directives — everything
you need to make this
your highest scoring

RED L.E.D. month yet on games like

Dizzy, Road Runner,
Boulderdash,
Skuildiggery, and many
Hints for that slippery game — straight from the horse's mouth more.

Sucess in this game depends
on knowing the properties of
the three droids and on know-
ing some intimate detail about
the maps. Who better to reveal
the inside knowledge than
'Tag'—Anthony Taglioni—one
of those responsible for the
design and programming of
this 900# rated masterpiece?
The D r olds
FANG s t ic k s t o slopes.
He's v ery useful f or t he
centre ( r e d ) h e x a g o n
and also for the top-right
and bot t om-lef t g r e e n
hexagons, but is uncontrol
table o n ac id lak es - ev en
when they are ice. Tak e him
in t o a n ac id wo r l d at y our
Pell/
HOVER fl oat s ov er t h e surface a n d s o is
immune t o acid. Not 90
manoeuv rable as FANG
or BALL but is a lot safer
until y o u l e a r n
where t h e i c e
switches are. V e r y
useful f o r b o t t o m
right a n d t o p l e f t
green h e x a g o n s a n d
many others. A very handy droxl.
BALL doesn't h a v e t h e abilit ies o f eit her
FANG o r HOVER b u t c a n
manoeuvre any where i f
the acid doesn't kill him.
Also he doesn't t ak e as
much damage f rom the
noshes t r y i n g t o e n d
your g a me as t he ot her
two cirolds. A good c hoic e
for mos t o f t h e 'dry ' l a n d -
scapes and us ually safe any -
where else once you fi nd the ice switches.
The M a p s next t o the exit for a massive 28.000 points
Learn the maps. E a c h of the hexagons will and seven v ery handy minutes. Dec ide on
alway s go t o t he Kane landscape a n d on your favourites and save them for that S
level one there are fourteen time-plus cap-
sules. E v e r needed a n ex t ra 7 0 minutes? The Sm a r t B om b
You'll fi nd a c ouple of handy ones i n t he The smart bomb really comes into its own on
hexagon rust below centre. Just mak e sure grids t rom 2 onwards A f t e r lev el one the
you can tell the dif f erenc e between the paid- enemy droids really go for you after you col-
live and negat iv e ones. Its a good idea t o lect y o u r las t e n e r g y p o d
have a route CICTOSS the hex agon grid Try to mak e the last one
whic h takes y ou t hrough as ma n y you c ollec t t h e o n e
lcmdscapes as possible wit h t ime- nearest t h e e x i t
plus capsules i n a n d y o u c a n (and r e m e m b e r
alway s just dive in and grab the that h a v i n g a
others. Dont b e airedd of abort- smart b o m b o n
ing a level if it doesn't harm your board c an ma k e
route. I t c an be wort h going in all t he difference
just t o get s ome t ime or t o get as y o u d a s h f o r
some energy for a weak drold on a that exit). A l w a y s
level y ou k now a sale spot in where leave the last pod until
you can sit and defend yourself. Alway s after y ou hav e collected
try t o enter the next gnd level wit h all t he any t hing else y ou want t o col-
time you can get your hands on lect on the level. A gcod trick on
a f e w landscapes is t o shoot all
The Bonus generators you meet and then carry a
The bonus is a ontical part of play ing Red smart b o mb to the exit where there is bot h
LED. Sometimes even that extra 70 minutes another generator a n d y our last pod. F i r e
is not enough A n ex t ra bonus let t er is the s mart b o mb a n d y ou're all alone a n d
awarded every 10,000 points, prov ided y ou sale as houses.
picked up the last one Only one is given for
each hexagon. Learn where the bonus letter Freeze de v ic e s
appears so y ou c an t ak e it as soon as its Droid freeze devices are a handy breather at
there and get out for the next one. A l wa y s any t ime but, lik e smart bombs, c an be a
try t o collect t he 8 on t he t op and bot t om real drord-saver on higher grids if y ou c an
1 leave them until just before collecting the lost
- pod. A g a r n , l e a r n where t hey
1 are.
1
: Learn thos e m a ps !
e FE say it again - n u k e sure y ou
h learn t he maps A lot of land-
e scapes hav e short cuts ov er t he
x edge of cliffs whic h can mak e the
a difference between a good bonus
g and a poor bonus a n d bet ween
o hie a n d deat h as y our las t ic e
n freepe is rurming out. The teleport
a network c an also save a n awf ul
s lot 01 r u n n i n g a r o u n d b u t isn't
t alway s the quickest route - a pod
h that is three or four teleports away
e may be just over the edge of that
b cliff you're standing next to.
o
n Advanced Computer Entertainment
u
TR IC K S'N 'TA C TIC S

ROAD
RUNNER
How to gain an invaluable
extra life on the ST version of
the cartoon capers
First get to level 2 and lose any remaining lives.
Then when you restart the game you'll notice the
short cut is open. Don't take the shortcut, but let
the Coyote catch you. No w every time you take
the short cut you'll be awarded an extra life and
you'll restart from the beginning.
T. CARTER. Birmingham

ZZY
Playing tips on Code Masters'
cute Spectrum arcade
adventure.
Grease gun - oils the cart and can be found in
the room to the left of the first. Drop it next to the
cart in the mine shaft.
Graveyard k ey - opens t he graveyard door
which is situated at the tar right from the start_
Can be toond in the mine shalt.
Plastic raincoat - stops the rain droplets from
getting t o you. Can be found in the Haunted
Chimney.
Ghost buster gun - fall onto the ghost in the
Haunted Chimney with this and y oull destroy
him. Found in the diamond mine.
liners ' hard hal - protects you from falling
apples and stalactites. Found in the room to the
right of the Haunted Chimney.
Purse of gold - drop this onto the bucket next to
the hermit's house and you can then enter. Found
in the room that is to the right and down of the
Haunted Chimney.
e fa
4 ; L
I S' a g e
tWrmwece
41—
f-
3 in 1 oil - drop t his on the winch next to the
drawbndge and it will open. It's found in the secret
caves
Bird seed - kills the while birds. Found in the
mine shaft.
Crow bar - opens the trapdoor which is under the
spider at the bottom of the cliffs.
Emerald - tound on top of the Crystal cliffs, it
should be put in the eye of the one-eyed statue in
the graveyard.
Clove of Garlic - kills all the red bats and is
found under the trap door (that you used the crow
bar to open)
Flaming Torch d r o p this next to the cauldron at
the start of the game and the fire underneath it
Dry ice - found on the Crystal Cliffs, it freezes the
waterfall in the Mushroom Cave.
Protective Amulet - protects you from Zak's
spells and is found past the frozen lake.
Insecticide - found in the graveyard, il kills the
spiders.
Duck Feathers - found next to the drawbridge.
they should be dropped in the cauldron.
Troll brew - found in Zak's castle. Drop it in the
cauldron.
Broken heart - also found in the castle. It should
be given t o the broken-hearted woman in the
Graveyard.
Wig - drop in the cauldron.
Clouds Silver Lining - drop it in the cauldron.
Empty bot t le f o u n d in the screen with the
4
1
)
•••
' O r A d .

f will be lit. Found in the room to the right of the

i start.
. Spade f o u n d at the top of the tall tree, it should Haunted Forset message, i t should also be
be dropped in the middle of the room with the hol- dropped in the pot
E
low-sounding ground. The Full Bottle is what you end up with having
L 416 Mushroom Trowel - found in the hole the spade dropped the Wig, Silver line, Feather and Brew
T made, you should drop it on the mushroom that's into the pot, and this should be dropped next to
, on the left of the hole. Zak in his cage.
1 Bolt Cutters - cut the rusty chain which is hold-
ing the raft AL and RIC, Pirlon
4
X
N
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r
T
R The rocky, jewel-encrusted classic is back on
I the shelves o n the cheap. At a mere £2.99
you'd have to be stark, staring bunkers not to
C get hold of a copy. For those already hooked
- and those about to be hooked - we present
K this p l a y i n g guide_ But we're not going t o
make it too easy f or you - we're only giving
S you the first 6 caves this month.
' Here you go - but remember that y ou may
I have to alter y our tactics as y ou mov e up
through the games five levels. Check out the
T tactics box for details of different game-play
techniques
T
horn chasing you. This moans you can take
your t ime and do the same thing on the bot-
tom row, as is required on the higher levels.
It y ou prefer a safer met hod d o t he s ame
thing, but starling from the right of each row
of dens. You mov e left through the bottom of
the d e n wh i l e t he fi refl y is mo v i n g right
along the top of the den.
FI REFLY DENS On the lower levels its possi-
ble to do this cave by blasting each firefly in
turn. B u t there is a more elegant method.
Basically y ou create a c lear c irc ular p a t h
(clearing a space at the bottom to start wit h
may help) whic h is completed by releasing
all IOW fireflies crt once, in a dash from A to B.
As they mak e their wa y off round the circle
double back and follow them, collecting the
jewels. mak e your way to G. wit h a boulder.
Then create another loop, mak ing sure y ou
block your pat h wit h a boulder. Then create
another loop, mak ing your way to H before
dashing u p t o G a n d t hen c oming bac k
clown to collect the jewels and go to the exit
The main t hing t o ensure Ls t hat t he loops
you create are not bloc k ed by boulders, or
the fireflies° will double back and cause you
problems.

BOULDERDASH
KI NTRO Onc e you're used to the gameplay

A it dment pose serious problems on any level.

But y ou should mak e it a matter of pride to
C collect every iewel

T &ROOMS A g a i n , easy on t he lower levels.

On 4 and 5 there are a lot of fireflies around.
I You must deal wit h them by blocking, blast-
-
=
--
M 1111,

61: •I L I
•I E linvkf . = E 1 ; : e .

C ing, bambooz ling or lust dodging A t least

the cave is near enough to the start for it t o .I I I
•-
m
I
••••••• 1 . 1

4•'&167....MEI• • ;&• A n
M
S be easy to practise on.
ME I

C.MAZE Time limit can be a problem on this

i•._
1%•.... -rekt;
••,,rkt..... Iom•
- 6-4
•Eit
one. Y o u need to work out an efficient route
to take y ou f rom the start at t op left t o t he
6
,1•, NIP Zel 4 V
,iI7; e i r i M
exit at bottom right, collectmg every single
jewel on the way . O n most levels the best
- .31
V Ct0
lIt71&
7I g .
. • MM

l1 , A r
way is to start by mov ing down to the bot- irE.. v i t r.r 47,:r '
tom of t he cave, t hen right, t hen u p again i..,: 1 1 u
1 1 g

through the middle of t he cave, t hen right. WV —

i-C.. .i i
i t. :m41 g.i ri i :L-Col • 1
then bac k down. Look out for boulders top- :•V :.I L .i • • • -
,7- L 0 I
• E l = M . 1 M

pling oft walls. ,

min i n
iifl I I ' M I •
•
IMO1 - T iV
i t . I M . 1
l1
". a
m i . 1
.
. 1 1 1
I
,, 6 1 1 1• 1 .1 .1 :,. . I • , . . . . . , •

-,
olle I n
D,BLITTERILIES T h i s o n e f a i r l y e a s y ,
: 1
l ; 1
ille r 1. _
o
- A l i %W, .
1W
:.. i•i
m . . ,
.Position yourself within one square of the first
F t L
deVo -- • iT
a
- ,- I M.--ii
E l I L 1 i
n I t
butterfly den, a n d on the same vertical line iIP i ,
7 1 1 1 I ' o l

as a boulder. Choos ing your moment care- ,•M

.
. ;
M P
1 M O P M1 L
P. l I N I W i l l =o
M P I M P 4 O K IMP f f M NM M P

4CaveF C I F e ie r ml •
fully, button free the piece of earth separat-
ing you from the butterfly and then immedi- 1
gn I
711
P
I
M

.
.

. 1-: W- . -:4a-1 i
M
1-i
E

. - e
'P E r i
ately mov e up to the boulder and out of the
way, so that it fells on the pursuing butterfly.
"'Block-bustingE - t Ci r i o tachcs.
I ,m -tF
V need to v e imr ; ydm
e d n

• 7 • g• t hI•,ie fact
'Before you can get any where -you'll t h e differ-
Collect t he jewels a n d repeat for t he other
three dens. Remember, your start point c an FKI • 71V•1; behave:
v o n * elements - thatofir w a ya. si .l n s . while butter-
turn right the fact that boulders . willi topple l l t% off otheri , jewels or walls, but not
either be immediat ely abov e the den, or a
a • • 0 r
atf a piece of earth Y o u should develop to a fine cut the tfollowing techniques
c

full square away on either side. •: .A

. - o

liV • 7 1 0 m

EGUARDS L o t s of different way s of doing

BLASTING The thoroughly L
1 • , _
-
enjoyable. action of blowing up , a firefly or butterfly, normally by

this one. Th i s is the quickest and clawest,

letting it chase - r' -
you upward through Earth until you reach • a boulder, when you move left or

o
right allowing it fall on the pursuing • enemy
.

albeit slightly risky. Wait to the left of the first

den. W h e n t he fi refl y just reaches the t op
• m•. • -
left comer, mov e right straight t hrough t he o
BAMBOOZLING Another satisfying way of dealing wit h fireflies. Create a rectangular pat h
in the Earth mov - a1ing in an anti-clockwise directions:is the firefly chases you, then make your
r
A G v." •
••••
i - • or mi r running
escape I t ' ll be left
r - n in circles.
§ .
BLISTERING The orr Csomewhat dangerous art of deliberately mov ing down past a pile of boul-
tro d
ders. causing t hem to topple after you, but mak ing sure you mov e out of the way right or
i left before they • MihitI you No r ma l l y to clear earth next to a pile of boulders its safer to start at
•••
r
Blistering is an- essential
•. technique both in time-saving and in reaching otherwise inaccessi-
tr • • • 0 0 o n o , 11
IRE w
•.• • •
, ble jewels.
z- .
BUTTONING •The use
;
F or "k or k .1 J . 7 . areo numerous
I entenng it There
nfire-button t o 'cuffed' a neighbouring square without actually
of the
occasions when this will mak e your life much safer. As well
rfi t: as collecting m • way, you can also use it to dig earth or push boulders I n additon,
jewels this
'r E
Cale h all the great 4Boulder Dash players use this technique to go through the caves' flashing exits
•l
den collecting t he jewels. D o w r STOP just e This has no play ing value but is definitely the classy way to do it.
e
keep mov ing through the next three dens. If
A
b 1
your t iming is right, you'll go straight through o BLOCKING Anot her importcmt wa y of s lay ing aliv e when being chased by enemies -
r
unharmed. What's more the last firefly is left t move i t a ,l l y under a boulder, allowing it to fall and block the path betung you.
e t
barnbeozled and actually blocks the others
e
t
o
m
-
e
11 0 Advanced CeMputer Entertainment a
o

Skulldiggery
Check out the following tips for selected screens
up to 23, plus some useful cheats for boosting
your score...
2) Labyrinth. Work through systematically and
don't waste time back-tracking.
3) Sultan's Maze. The creeping vine is
introduced f or t he fi rst t ime o n t his
screen. Collect all of the diamonds, then suffo-
cate the vine by positioning the player s o that
there is no more room for it to grow. The vine will
not harm you.
4) Blast in. Dig up from the top of the brick box
towards the skull, so that it falls and settles on top
of the wall. Next, eat the extra life cup cake at the
top of the screen - doing this will guarantee you
another attempt at the screen should you fail.
Carry on to the bottom of the screen, release the
bat and run quickly towards the brick box. Run up
the nght hand side of the box dislodging
the skull which will fall on top of the
following bat, thus blasting a hole
in the wall which surrounds the
healthy crop of diamonds.
6) J umble. Set up the skulls
into piles above the sections of
bnck wall, then drop each pile
through quickly one after t h e
other. Don't forget t o dig some
space underneath each wall so that
the diamonds have somewhere to set-
tie
8) Bas ement . To access the lower left hand
room, dig earth and push skulls to leave a clear
area near the entrance.
9) The Legacy. Eat the cup cake first (in the top
right hand region of the cave), then clear a path
from the bottom of the screen up to where the
vine is growing b u t do not suffocate
it too early. When the vine starts to
leave its box, release the ghost at the
bottom of the screen, so that he runs
into the vine and explodes, freezing
the enclosed ghost which will als o
contact the vine and explode. Completing
this screen relies upon making good use of
the vine in the early stages
11) Down In One. Eat the cup cake at the top of
the screen, then dig along the next tunnel down
towards the right hand side of the screen. Collect
the diamond above you, then run straight down to
the bottom of the screen without stopping.
12) Luc k y Drop. Roll the skulls down step
by step until they sit on t he bottom brick
C heat s
ra lives...
the player goes through the escape d
s and hold the LEFT SHIFT, CONTR
ALTERNATE keys until t he door
ped creaking. This will give the player
life
Extra points...
the high score table, press and
for a few seconds the SHIFT and
I SQUARE BRACKET k e y s .
will cause each square of earth
to yield 1 point This is useful if
are trying to reach a high maxi-
score, and also helps you to reach
r 5000 point extra life bonuses earlier.
igh scores,
igher levels
high score table can be saved
pressing CONTROLS, and
re-loaded by press-
ing CONTROL-L.
It i s pos s ible t o
jump directly to some of
later screens by pressing
from the high score table. T
starts the game at a ra
screen between about 10
40.
TRICKS'N'TACTICS
square, wail f or the ghost t o come along and
move out of the way so that the skulls fall on top
of him. Don't drop them too early, because if the
ghost sees the skulls falling, he will jump over
them.
13) Tubes. Stand
to t he s ide at
the bottom of
each tube and
collect the dia-
monds b y
pressing the fire
button and pushing
the joystick left or nght
Running u p and down t he
tubes is faster but more dan-
gerous.
14) Cha s e . Work your way
towards the centre of the cave with-
out hesitating on corners.
15) Laz y Lines. Kill the bat by let-
ting him Out and running up the
right hand tunnel to dislodge the
skull at the top. which will fall
onto the bat who will be in dose
pursuit.
18) P us h and Drop. Push the
skulls along until they are all sit
ting above the wall with one
line of earth below them. Then
blast int o t he box, c lear a
space below t he wall, a n d
drop the skulls through.
19) Dr op the Lid. Drop a row of
skulls o n t op of each cell.
While t he vine is growing,
clear a space below without
unplugging each cell, then collect
the diamonds digging from left to right - ending up
near the exit box.
20) Wizard. Find out which walls are diamantiler-
ous, and pile up the skulls before Inggehng the
wall. At the end of this screen you should have
about 1 5000 points_
22) Rac er. Avoid the falling skull as you move
down the shaft, When you have safely
reached the bottom, push the skull into
the cubby hole at the left hand side
The rest of this screen involves a sim
pie but close chase back up to the top.
23) Ultimate Greed. There are hun
dreds of diamonds and about 5 extra
life cup cakes to be had on this screen
so when you tackle screen 24, you
should have about 17000 points, with
many spare lives in reserve.
AdvancedComputerEntertainment 1 1 1
' T
R
I
MuRif ace 1
C
K
S Pokes for Spectrum
' Top tips from the coin-op front line
N
' S I D E W I Z E Poke 36890,0 (for
T infinite lives)
A Destroy the 8th guardian
C W I Z B A L L Poke 36831,58 (for
T Before attempting to destroy this final nasty
invincibility)
I Poke 37052,0 (for infinite lives)
C and several green 'babies' flying around. If you
S CHRIS WILD, Shaw, Lancashire
BUBBLE
BOBBLE
Cheat for the C64
In one player mode, as soon as you've lost your
last life, hit the SPACE bar before the 'Game
Over' legend appears and 'Bub' will appear (he's
the player two character t press player two's lire
button and you'll be graced with an extra three
lives_ The same thing can be achieved in two
player mode by pressing any tire button at the
correct time
DAVID WOOLLISCROFT, Long
Eaton, Notts.
BLUE MAX
That tree gill from the first issue of ACE pro-
duced this extremely useful poke; it gives you just
about everything you could ever want_
Type LOAD. Then when READY appears type:
POKE 1011. 248: POKE 1012,252: RUN
The next piece of code will load in and the
READY prompt will appear again. Then type
POKE 17925,173 (for infinite fuel)
POKE 25584,173 (for infinite bombs)
POKE 17438,0 (invulnerable to flak)
Then type SYS 32768 to start the game.
JASON ALLEN, Birkenhead
11 2 AdvarIcedCOmpOlerEntertainment
IN THE ARCADES
R-TYPE RYGAR
The weapons, and what
they do...
1. The Star will increase your finng range.
you'll need a shield. On screen with the
2. The Crown gives extra power to each of your
guardian are an indestructible spinning disc
shots and allows you to kill more than one mon-
ster with one shot.
position yourself in the bottom left corner the
disc and the babies will not kill you_ 3. The Tiger's Head enables you to kill mon-
sters by jumping on their heads.
4. The Shield provides you with about 30 sec-
onds of invulnerability_
5. The Sun allows you to kill flying monsters.
6. Shoot the red stone to turn it into a shield.
7. A scroll with a cross on it means a shield lies
ahead.
8 The floating red head can be avoided by
jumping it when it reaches its lowest position.
STEPHEN OTLEWELL, Derby
The disc revolves five times in a figure-01
eight pattern, then the guardian's mouth opens
and spits Out another disc. Move in as t he
mouth opens and send a plasma boll into it -
after another live disc revolutions the mouth
opens again and spits Out another disc. Keep
finng during the revolutions and keep your ship
moving clockwise in a figure of-eight pattern.
After a couple more plasma bolts the guardian
evaporates and you've completed the game.
JAMES CABBETT, Weston-Super-
Mare
DOUBLE DRAGON
1, An effective method of despatching the baddies is to turn your back to them and use your elbow
as much as possible.
2. Don't walk off ledges - jump off
3. The whip will enable you to attack a baddie whilst remaining out of their range,
4. When you come to a door, wail by the left hand side and elbow the baddies as they come Out.
5. Baseball bats are very useful when it comes to despatching baddies
6. Beware the men with knives! Remember that you can pick them up and throw them back.
7. On level two - the forest - lake special care when you come to the bridge: a well timed jump is
needed to clear it.
8. When the baddies start falling out of the trees, headbutt them on their way down
9 On level three t h e mountain - don't get on the conveyor belt! When the green man nses up on
the hit, dash in quickly and use your elbow.
10_ Level four - the base - jump oft the high ledge to get into the baddies hide-out.
11. Once inside, watch out tor the pillars that emerge from the walls Jump onto the first one. and
keep jumping across.
12. Watch out tor the moving spear, and as soon as it lunges for you, jump and keep jumping.
13 When you confront the chap with the gun. keep moving up and down the screen, it will take
patience and accurate timing to finally dispose of him with flying kicks or your baseball bat Having
killed him, rush next to the temple doors arid elbow the last few ba0clies as they come rushing out.
Easy when you know how!
DEANO SCHOFIELD, Tamworth, Staffs and NEIL LEWCOCK,
Hampton Hill, Middlesex.
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r TRICKS ' N T A C T I C S

AUTODUEL TAI PAN

ST version
Maps and tips for two towns - GHENZHEN and
This is the ultimate poke; it gives you stacks of GUANGZHOU
money, prestige, driving skill, marksmanship,
mechanic ability health and body armour. Run the Guangzhou is where you start. Go to a restaurant and refuse a meal_ A man will take you in to a back
poke if you die: it will revive you. room and lend you $300,000. Go to the bank and buy a ship, then buy weapons from the armoury.
To enter the poke double-click on the food from supplies and cargo from the warehouse. Don't buy the crew from the inn. Find a club and
BASIC.PRG file ifound on your language disk). hit passers-by on the head. Your son will take them to your ship, When you have about eight crew,
Enter the poke exactly as you see it below. Save po
it by typing S A V E ADRIAN BETTS, rt Tamworth
Run.
- and then follow the on-screen prompts. G
adpoke.bas• h
i n e
d i r e c n
10 3 f ,d 3a tca , 0 0 , 0 1 . 2 f . 3 c , f f . f f
t 20 f f ,d fa tf a, 2 f , 3 c , f f , f f , f f . f f u
m 3 0 3o1 ,d 3a dtca , 0 0 , 0 5 , 4 e , 4 e , d e . f c m
da ta
e 45 00 .00 00 d, , a00t a9c ,, 44 80 , . 74 a1 , ,050 c, ,d 8e f, ,3 31 f, 03 cc i
6 0 0 0 .d0a t1a . 4 0 , 4 1 , 5 4 0 3 f , 3 t , 3 c s
7 0 0 0 .d 0a t1a . 3 f . 3 c , 0 0 , 0 0 , 3 t , 3 c
8 0 0 0 .d 2a t4a , 3 f , 3 c , 0 0 . 0 3 , 3 f , 3 c t
9.0 0 0 ,d0a t0a . 4 2 , a 7 p 2 f , 3 c , 0 0 , 0 2 h
100 0 4d,a 0t a0 , 3 f , 3 c . 0 0 0 8 , 4 e , 4 e
e
110 d f d. af tca . 0 0 . 0 0 . 0 0 0 . 4 , 2 1 , 3 c
1 2 0 0 0d,a 0t a2 , 0 4 , 0 0 , 3 f 0 c . 0 0 . 0 9 n
1 3 0 4 0d,a4t a1 , 5 c , 8 f , 4 8 , 7 a , 0 1 , 1 8 e
1 4 0 3 f d, a3t ac . 0 0 . 0 9 . 4 • , 4 1 , 5 c , 8 f
150 1 da 3 t a, f c a
1 6 0 0 0 d, a6t a3 , 0 0 , 0 2 , 0 4 , 1 0 , 1 3 . 1 c r
1 7 0 0 0d,a6t a3 , 0 0 , 0 2 , 0 4 , 1 1 , 1 3 , f c
1 8 0 0 0 d0a 6 t a3 0 0 , 0 2 , 0 4 , 1 2 , 1 3 , 1 c e
G ANG Z
1 9 0 0 0d,a6t a3 , 0 0 , 0 2 , 0 4 , 1 3 , 1 3 , f c s
2 0 0 0 0d,a6t a3 . 0 0 , 0 2 . 0 4 , 1 4 , 1 3 , f c ,
t
2 1 0 0 0d0a 6 t a3 . 0 0 , 0 2 , 0 4 , 1 5 , 1 3 , f c I ou
2 2 0 0 0d,a6t a3 , 0 0 , 0 2 , 0 4 , 1 6 , 1 3 , f c p
2 3 0 0 0d.a8t a0 , 0 0 , 0 2 , 0 4 , 1 7 , 1 3 , f c a
2 4 0 0 0 d, a6t a3 , 0 0 , 0 2 . 0 4 . 1 0 , 1 3 , 1 c
2 5 0 0 0d.a6t a3 , 0 0 , 0 2 , 0 4 , 2 2 . 3 f , 3 c r
2 6 0 0 0d,a0t a1 , 3 4 p 3 c 0 0 , 0 0 , 3 f , 3 c t
2 7 0 0 0d .a 2t a4 , 3 f 0 c , 0 0 , 0 3 , 3 f , 3 c
2 8 0 0 0 d,a0t a0 . 4 2 , a 7 , 2 f , 3 c , 0 0 , 0 2
t
2 9 0 0 4d,a 0t a0 , 3 f 0 c , 0 0 , 0 9 , 4 e . 4 0 o
3 0 0 d df a t a t
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040 , 06 e0 , 7 3 , 6 5 , 7 2 . 7 4 . 2 0 , 4 1 , 7 5 e
3 5 0 7 4d .a6t a1 . 2 0 . 4 4 . 7 5 . 6 5 . 6
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1 4 , 4d a t a
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8580 , / 6 a9d .a 7t a6 . 6 5 . 2 0 . 4 1 , 2 e 0 d , 0 6 s
0
590 4 dd. a6t a1 . 6 b , 6 5 , 2 0 , 7 3 , 7 5 , 7 2 l
4 0 0 6 5 d, a2t a0 , 7 4 , 6 8 . 6 1 , 7 4 , 2 0 , 7 4 GREteHEN
o
410 d a t a 6 8 , 6 5 , 7 0 , 7 7 , 7 2 , 6 9 , 7 4 , 6 5
420 d a t a 2 d , 7 0 , 7 2 .6 f .7 4 , 6 5 , 6 3 , 7 4 t
430 d a t a 2 0 , 7 4 , 6 1 , 6 2 , 2 0 , 6 9 , 7 3 , 2 0 G
440 d a t a 6 f , 6 6 , 6 6 , 2 ., 0 d , 0 b , 0 d , O t o
450 d a t a 5 0 .7 2 , 6 5 , 7 3 .7 3 , 2 0 , 6 1 , 6 e "DT TIPS...HOT PRIZES!
i
460 d a t a 7 9 , 2 0 , 6 h , 6 5 , 7 9 , 2 0 .7 4 .6 f v
470 d a t e 2 0 , 6 3 , 6 f , 6 0 , 7 4 , 6 9 , 6 e , 7 5
480 d a t a 6 5 . 2 •
a of getting something for nOth-
1:5 not a Question not forgetting to inciude esentai info s..icn as
990 d a t a 0 'd , 0 6 , 0 7 , 0 0 , 2 0 , 6 9 , 7 3 , 2 0
4 n
ing on these pages if we print your tip. map or your name. address and the computer you own
25 000 , d2 ae t, a0 d6 7, , 6 5 , 6 9 , 6 e , 6 7 , 2 0 , 7 5 , 7 0 g
5 poke then you stand a very good chance inoeed
0 110 5d, a0 tda, 06 40 , 6 1 , 7 4 , 6 5 , 6 4 , 2 e , 2 e , 2 e
520 d a t a O d , 0 b , O d , 0 6 , 0 7 , 0 0 , 0 d , 0 6 z
of winning the latest aria best games Wa nt e d
530 d a t a 5 0 .6 c, 6 5 , 6 1 , 7 3 , 6 5 , 2 0 , 6 9 This monthh Al and Ric - authors of the If you're floundering in a sea of indecision as
540 d a t a 6 0 , 7 3 , 6 5 , 7 2 , 7 4 , 2 0 , 4 1 , 7 5
550 d a t a 7 4 , 6 1 , 2 0 , 4 4 , 7 5 , 6 5 , 6 c . 2 0 Dizzy tips - areo Our Tip of the Month winners to which games you should write tips for here's
560 d a t a 2 8 , 6 4 , 6 9 , 7 3 , 6 0 , 2 0 , 4 1 .2 9 That means that u they'll soon have for their a list Of stuff we reckon many players are going
570 d a t a 2 0 . 6 9 , 6 0 , 7 4 , 6 f , 2 0 , 6 4 , / 2
SpectrJrh tile six top•rated games ir this issue of to need help win Thundercats,
580 d a t a 6 9 , 7 6 .6 5 .2 0 .4 1 .2 0 .0 d , O b
590 d a t a 5 0 , 7 2 , 6 5 , 7 3 , 7 3 , 2 0 , 7 4 , 6 8 ACE Mercenary. Thundercats. Red LLD.. Hysteria. Super Sprint. Anarchy. Moonstrike.
600 d a t a 6 5 .2 0 , 7 7 .6 5 , 7 3 , 6 5 , 7 4 , 2 0
Jack the Nipper 2. Xecutor ana Pro•Ski Addictaball T ps on tnese a n d any other
610 d a t a 6 0 , 6 5 , 7 9 .2 0 .7 4 , 6 f , 2 0 , 6 3
620 d a t a 6 1 , 6 0 , 7 4 , 6 9 , 6 e , 7 5 , 6 5 , 2 e Simulator. No: - games you've got the lowdown on - will be g.ven
630 d a t a 2 e , 2 0 , 0 d .0 6 , 0 d , 0 5 , 5 2 , 7 0 a l t And
b that's
a o r a l • ve other tipsters get free a very warm welcome.
640 d a t a 4 d . 0 0
650 d e f s e g . es tor the n mac" es , This month Philip
,6 6 0 r e a d a e l6 a va 1 ( "4 , H "4 - a 4 ) Kelly vy II get Thundercats for his Spectrum. A P CC1 Ci e s . "
-6 17 0: f po o
r k e 1 6 H 2 0 0 0 0 .a 0 :4 4 c0 - 0 :n e xt Don't forget the coin•ops your tips can save lives
T. Carter will savour Me pleasures of
a6 8 0= i . f 1 q < > 3 4 9 3 1 t h e n 7 0 0
t6 9 0 c o4 1 4 2 0 0 0 0 i c o 1 l c Addictabali on his ST. M Georgiades too will be and lots of money in those coir-hungry arcades
5700 o 0r i n t ' E r r o r i n D AT A"z e n d oreakoutng with Addictaball. while Jason Alien Ihks month's Arcade tip winner s Deano
0 and David Wooliscraft will both be burning rub- Schofield whose Double Dragon lips earn him
oe a copy of Starglider for ris Spectrum -2 Next
, So don't oe a nerd send your nos in to month it cOu d pa you - b,.it only if you get think-
w Tricks 're Tactics ing, writing and senoing
RICHARD MONTEIRO, Yeovil i ACE Coirt•ops like SDI. Rastan Saga. After
t 4, Queen Street Burner. Darius, Road Blasters ail need tips
h Bath BAI lEJ Out don't be I mi To by those tWeS
S
u
1 1 6 Advanced Coq:ruler Entertainment
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rtal T h is
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uen

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tite r sale . su p p o rt will be e nough ha me ld you b u y ro w Abe l obripe riont hoot S i l k. Shop IF h o w . . .
Vote i t swroothoig you onto so m o c h a . , e nd you hod one cd o u r co mp e tito rs °tie rin g it • t • We e r p ace ,
Well p i e t a co n tact o o r We e d e p artme n t, p ro wl i n g I S W M O w co mb wIllO r• n . M M . * an d tO
ide phme numbe r I I o u r co mp e tito r h as the goods to sto ck, we writ n o rmally M itch * * to tte r a n • tam e
Po tio n sam e porw' l i a . ) and d e p o w . you with r m a l b4 1 Maro o ry 0 4 . neotioe P al wo ws not of
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*011**3 be a n a l . to Cu r a f a r o d a a r e . . in clu d in g ire e n e we e tte n * f t te otwiluat Support, T h e pW
we nn on, once me tal e ntwine M e w ape cte l. i o n t ai n g you WO r o t e . O NLY F RO M SIL ICA e le d e al
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▪ y o u to go anywhe re e ta fo r yo u r Alan products. So d ap at S e e k ithe Ull'e No t H an S p e c . . . _ A
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S I DCI I P (es Mail Order) 0 1 - 3 0 9 1111 g1
1-4 The Mews, Hatherley Road, Sidcup, Kent, DA14 40X i0
LO NDO N 0 1 - 5 8 0 4830 t40

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Lion House (1st floor), 227 Tottenham Court Ad, London, M P OFiX s
LO NDO N 0 1 - 5 2 9 1 2 3 4 ext 3914 t
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 17 E V E RS LE Y R O A D B E X H I L L E S US S E X (0424) 221031
BYTEBIICK
SPECIALIST COMPUTER DEALERS FOR ST & AMIGA
TH E ATARI ST SPECIALIST
Alan 520STI M A m y A500 • Modulator
E279.95 Paint • 3 To Ga m e s £479.95
Atari 520811M. Phillips GAMES O N LY O NLY
8833 Colour E549 95 Amiga A500 • 1061 Monitor
• Paint • 3 le o Games E749,95 Impact 1 SD Galax 1 4 . 5 0
Cumana 1 Meg Dmie E134.95 £134.95 Rings of Zilfi n 18.50 Trivial Pursuit ............... _______ 14.50
Cumana 1 Meg Drive 1
Phiiiips 8833 Mud Res COICKI Hollywood Poker ...... .........I 1.00
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,MOritor * Cable £274.95
Montor • Cable C7 /4 95 5 Strike Eagle ......... - ...... ________ 18.50 Terrorpods 1 8 . 5 0
Star NL I 0 Pnnter • Cable E219.95 Indiana Jones 5
14.50
Star NI 10 Printer C219 95 Skullduggery ........... . . . . 14.50
POONE F a r l MOUI Addictaball ... 11.00
0 Airball Construction 1 1 . 0 0
SiGA Games Console C99 95
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Sentinel ......... ....... 14.00 Phantasie 2 or 3 ...... 1 8 . 5 0
S T S O FTW ARE AMIGA SOFTWARE Tracker . 18.50 Battlezone 2 2 _ 5 0
Advanced Art Sluctio 17.95 Aegis Anirru'Img 99 95 Road Runner 18.50 TNT. 4.50
Axball 17.95 AChenture Cons Set 22 50 Deathstrike II 00 4.50
Balance a l Power 22.50 liaiance ot power 22 50
Bartanan 17.95 Skylox ............ (8.50 8.50
Bartianan 17 91
35.50 Bards Tale Barbarian 18,50 Airball . 8.50
F l i g h t S 4 M Ul ai n f 2 22.50
-
Gauntlet 17.95 DOle rider of The Crown ,21,95 Sub Battle Simulator 18.50 Prohibition 4.50
Guild al Thieves 11.95 Deluxe klaSC COns 49.95 Leaderboard .......... .......... i 8.50 8.50
Hitchhikers Guide 22,50 Deluxe Paint 7 59.95
Karate 160 2 17.95 * Tournament disk 7.50 Arka n o id 1.00
Fear? Tale Adventure 36.95 14.50 4.50
leaderboard 17,95 Strip Poker Super Huey
Roaa Runner Flight Sarnoator 2 37.50 Turbo GT
17.95 Goldrunner 17.96 12.00 3D Chess 8.50
s o .' 22.50 Guild 0 Thieves Techaute Chess 14.50 Plutos 1.00
Silent Service 17.95 17.95
17.95 Hinchhikers Guide 22.50 Nev i Mission ... Silent Service 8.50
Staiglider 14,99 Strike Force Harrier _
Tai-Pan 14.99 Hollywood Strip Poker .., 18 SO Metro Cross 8.50
Te rro rs Knght Orcs 14,99
7 18.50
17.95 Starglider Road War 2000 8.50
The Pawn 17.95 Marble Madness 21.95
Mean le Golf Colonial Co n q u e st • 22-50
GFA Basic 34.95 22.95 . 37.50
34.95 Silent Service 17.95 light Simulator 2 Timeblast . 7.50
(WA COmpar
GFA Draft (GAD) 74.95 22.50 * Scenery Disks 7 & 11 _ _ _ _ _ _5 18.50 Balance of Power .........................22. 50
latliceC 304 74.95 Sinbad 22.50 0
K Spread 2 59 95 Stargider 11.96 ADV E NTURE S O NLY O NLY
Superbase Personal 69.95 Superbase Personal /4.95
PLUS MANY MC RF I errorpods 17.9'3 Nord and Burt 22.50 Plundered Hearts 2 2 . 5 0
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Sidewalk .................. .... 14.50
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S r Cheques
R I of 1 1 6 4
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ORDER B Y PHONE E.
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t a i despatched
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maximum 0114 clays Beaurocracy . , 26.00 Alternate Reality1 8 . 5 0
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WA it
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UTI LI TI E S O NLY O NLY

Superbase Personal 79 SO Publishing Partner 1 2 7 . 5 0
Interested in computer wargames f o r C64, R am Di S W5 9 0 0 0 1 Cr 19.50 Trimbase 7 1 . 5 0
VIP Professional 183.00
Spectrum, At ari, Amstrad? ST Doctor 15.50
Megafont ST 2 3 . 5 0

Signum 184,00
Then we have a catalogue detailing all games STuff
1 19.50 Zoomracks 2 5 5 . 5 0
Pro. Sound Designer . 45.00 First Word Plus __________ ..... 63.50
available in th e UK today. From names such Saved 23.50 Back Pack 3 9 . 0 0
asPSS,CCS, SSI, Lothlonin and including many
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detailed reviews. K -Switch 23.50
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We offer a first class service with most goods Timeworks Trio Special Offer! ( RRP 259 85) 1 4 5 . 0 0
being despatched within 3 days to anywhere Word Writer, SwitchCalc. Data Manager, &Aline Support Service!
in the world. LANG UAG E S O NLY O NLY
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FOR A FREE CATALOGUE Fast Basic (Disk) .. 36.00 Fast Basic (Rom) 7 1 . 5 0
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CALL 0203-667556 K-Seka 39.00
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MCC Pascal ........... _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 71.50

or write to:
HARDW ARE O NLY O NLY
WARGAMES DIRECT (DEPT ACE) Locking Disk Box (80) 12.00 Furry Mouse Cover ______ ................. 7.00
452 STONEY STANTON ROAD Locking Disk Box (40) 9.00 Mouse Mat . ............. _.. ........ ...........____ 9.00
3.5* Disks SS/OD ( x 10) ______ 12.00 Keyboard cover 8 0 0
COVENTRY CV6 506 Arcade Microswitch joystick ___ 17.00 Quickshot Turbo 1 3 . 0 0
Joystick/Mouse extension ______ 5.75 Quickshot II . . . .
. . 8 . 0 0

BYTEBACK Dept. ACE

6 MUMBY CLOSE.
NEWARK. NO TTS NG 2 4 IJE
 SUBSCRIPTIONSI

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5
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0O
SO sightedness as to take out a 12-month subscription to Advanced
SO
Computer Entertainment....

FOLLY
SO

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Do
SO
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DO
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...then we the gullible and over-generous publishers are crazy enough
SO to offer you...

MONEY
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0
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-
ware featured on the following two pages,

SEX
00
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00
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00 HOW THE SUBSCRIPTION OFFER WORKS

• First make your selection of software items from the following two pages.
LY • Then use the FREE POST Reader Offers card attached to the outside of the magazine to make your order.
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hot off the press.
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Advarced ComputerEntortamment 11 9
GAME SET and GARY LINEKER'S SOLID GOLD.
MATCH* SUPERSTAR US Gold
A collection of five fantastic titles:
Ocean SOCCER* Infiltrator, Leaderboard, Gauntlet,
A massive compilation of 10 Ace of Aces and Winter Games.
Gremlin
complete sports games - including Hours and hours of entertainment.
Konami's HyperSports, Ping Pang Blockbuster title combining football
Vents 111 ACOm N o col
and Tennis, Daley Thompson's management skills with exciting
action. Spectrum cass 9 . 91 9 7.95 Al22SC
Super-Tesl, World Series Baseball, CBM 64 cass 9 . 9 9 7.95 Al22CC
Pool, Championship Basketball, CBM 64 disk 14.99 11.95 Al22C0
view PRP ACE m Orestads Amstrad cass9 . 9 9 7,95 Al22AC
Barry McGuigarfs Boxing, Super Spectrum cass 7 . 9 9 6_25 Al 21SC
Soccer and more. Incredible value! Amstrad disk 19.99 15.95 Al22AD
CAM 64 cass 9 . 9 9 7,95 Al21CC
CAM 64 disk 14.99 11_95 Al 21C0
Venal
Spectrum cass
REit ACEpits
12.95
, 9.95
Ordered&
Al 20se
Amstrad cass 9 . 9 9
Amstrad disk 14.99
7,95
11.95
Al 21AC
Al21AD
MASK
CAM 64 cass 12 95 9.95 Al2OCC Atari ST disk 19.99 15.95 Al21ST Gremlin
CAM 64 disk ......_17.95 13.95 Al20CD Addictive gameplay based on the
Amstrad cass ..... 95 9,95 Al20AC TV cartoon.
Amstrad disk ..... _17.95 13_95 Al20AD W Only mil
ACEFilm
Speclrum cass 7 . 9 9 6.25 A101SC
CBM 64 cass 9 . 9 9 7_95 A101CC
CBM 64 disk 14.99 11.95 A101C0
WIZBALL Amstrad Cass 9.99 7_95 AlalAC
Amstrad disk 14.99 11.95 AlalAD
Ocean
Use the combined powers of the
bouncing Wizball and Cataball to
collect magic water drops. Original
and addictive.
Versa Rif ACEvice Omerrots
Spectrum cass 7 . 9 5 6.25 A109SC
CBM 64 cass 8.95 6.95 A109CC
CAM 64 disk 12 95 10.95 A109CD
Amstrad Gass 8_95 7.95 A109AC
Amstrad disk 14,95 11.95 A109AD D TAIPAN
Ocean
Advanced strategy game based on
the James Clavell novel.
Vffece E P P ACE pits Otter rote
Spectrum cass 7 . 9 5 6 . 2 5 A l 13SC
Alan ST disk 1 9 95 15.95 A l 1 3 S T
XOR
LO gotr on
Ingenious maze game, packed with
mind • bending puzzles. Original and
very compulsive. Ace Rated 927_
*km NRP ACE Fa Wreak
Spectrum cass 7.95 6.25 A119SC
CBM 64 cass 9 . 9 5 7.95 Al 19CC
CBM 64 disk 12.95 10.95 Al 19CD
Amstrad cass 9 . 9 5 7.95 Al 19AC
Amstrad disk 14.95 11.95 Al 19AD

TOP GUN GAME OVER

Ocean
Imagine
You've seen the movie, now plan Exciting shoot-am-up featuring
your own dogfights One and two- huge, evil guardians at the end of
player action.
Sotto f f ACEpice Ordercede
BALANCE OF each level.
V entri 111 ACEpro Ottercads
Spectrum cass7 . 9 5 6.25 A114SC
895 6.95 Al 14AC
POWER Spectrum cass 7 . 9, 5 6.25 AllOSC
Amstrad cass
Mirrors of t CAM 64 cass 8.95 6.95 Al lOCC
Amstrad disk 14.95 11.95 Al 14AD
CAM 64 disk 12 95 10.95 Al 10CD
IBM compatible A 9,95 15.95 A1l4PC A demanding game of strategy. Amstrad cass8 . 9 5 6.95 Al 10AC
Atari ST disk 19,95 15.95 Al 14ST V ert& REP ACEsem OrdercoSe Amstrad disk 14 95 11_95 A1 IOAD
Atari ST disk 29.95 24.95 41l 7 S T
Amiga disk 29,95 24.95 Al 1 7AM

STRIKE FORCE
HARRIER
Mirrorsoft
All action flight simulator and shoot-
em up
A Version
Spectrum OEMS
RN Clerics Omer cede
.9 95 7 . 9 5 A l 1 5SC
CAM 64 cass 9.95 7 . 9 5 A l 1 5CC

l CAM 64 disk
Amstrad cass
Amstrad disk
14.95 11.95 A l l 5C0
9 . 9 5 7 . 9 5 A l 15AC
14.95 11.95 A l l 5AD
Atari ST disk 24.95 19.95 A l 1 5ST
o SOLOMON'S KEY
EPYX EPICS
p
US Gold/Epyx
US Gold
Wizard coon-op game packed with
puzzles and invention.
Collection of four stunning classics:
.
Summer Games, Impossible
Mission, Breakdance, Pitstop
hnkix
Spectrum cass 8
CE3M 64 cass
RPP ACEsres Ordercoo
. 9 9 6.95 A104SC
9.99 7.95 4104CC
Versos RRP ACEpies Cedercols CAM 64 disk 14_99 11.95 Al 04C0
CAM 64 cass 9 . 9 9 7.95 A105CC Amstrad cass 9 . 9 9 7.95 A104AC
CBM 64 disk 14.99 11.95 A105CD Amstrad disk 14.99 11.95 A104AD
 1111EF
WORLD GAMES MA IL OR D E R
USGold/Epyx "'
FIN great s ports : c liff div ing, lo g
niting, bull fighting, weight-hiding,
som skiintl sumo wrestling, barrel
11 nping and caber tossing!
eke knit A l f ACE Woe M r code

ACE MAIL ORDER

25C ;kactruall cass 8 9 9 6 . 9 5 A l 08SC
CEIM64 cass 9 . 9 9 7 . 9 5 A 1 0 8 CC
?CD CBM64 disk 9 9 11.95 A 1 0 8 CD
) datstrad cass 9 . 9 9 7 . 9 5 A 1 0 8 A C
k
e
knstrad disk ...... ..1 4 99 11.95 A 1 0 8 A D
k r ST disk 2 4 . 9 9 19.95 A 108ST
Ainga disk , , 24 99 19.95 A 1 08A M
• Fast delivery
IBM c ompatible 24 99 19,95 A 1 08PC
• Friendly service
S.D.! • Fat discounts
emit Mirrorsoft
I SC
I CC Strategic Defence initiative: action
1CD plus strategy.
I AC
I AD
twin N P K t pro Ordw node
Atari ST disk 2 9 95 24.95 A l l 6S1 HOW TO ORDER
Arniga disk 2 9 . 9 5 24.95 A l 16AM Just mak e a note of the details of
the items you want, inc luding the
order code. Then fi ll these in on
DEFENDER OF THE the freepost card mark ed 'ACE
READER OFFERS attac hed to the
CROWN
outside of the magazine.
MirrorsoftiMindscape You c an either post this as it is
Strategy and combat backed by with your credit card details, or
graphics you would not believe!
Mei a f f MX prce Ordercode put it inside another env elope
CBM 64 disk 1 4 . 9 5 11_95 A l 06CD (addressed the same way ) with a
Arniga disk 2 9 . 9 5 24.95 A106AM cheque. Either w ay y ou need pay
no postage.
Alternativ ely ring 0458 74011
and ask for ACE Credit Card
ARKANOID Orders.
Ocean
Really enjoyable Breakout clone PLEASE NOTE
th with 32 levels_
I • All items are despatched by
REF ACE wee Order code first class mail.
Spec
cede C
▪BM64 cass 8 . 9 5 6. 95 A l 12CC 2. We hav e tried to list only those
11C C8la 64 disk . 1 2 9 5 10.95 A l 12CD versions of software whic h are
tr
ICC Amstrad cass 8 . 9 5 6. 95 A l 12AC av ailable NOW.
u
OC,D Amstrad drsk 1 4 . 9 5 11.95 A 1 1 2 A D
m 3. All prices inc lude VAT, postage
kC flAt compatible 19_95 15.95 A l 12PC
1kD c ST disk 1 9 . 9 5
Atari 15,95 A I 12ST and packing.
a 4. You will nor mally receive
s software within 7 days of
s ordering. But please allow 2-3
7 weeks in case of temporary
. shortages.
9
5
xde 6
;C .
CC
CD 2 SUBSCRIPTION
5
LAC
tAD A
I
OFFER
1 If y ou want an ev en better deal,
2 turn back one page and hav e a
S look at our subscription offer. a l l
STAR GAMES 2
C save y ou another Z10!
Gremlin
A compilation of superb titles
including Ball Blazer, Eidolon,
Knight Games, Highway Encounter.
and Trail Blazer. Stunning value. CREDIT CARD HOTLINE
'km I * ACEprig Ordercode
Spectrum cass 7 . 9 9
CM 64 cass
CM 64 disk
6.25
9.99 7.95
14 99 11.95
A1 02SC
A I 02CC
A102CD
© 0458 74011
Postrad cass 9 . 9 9 7.95 A I 02AC
knstrad disk 14 99 11_95 A102AD

code
IS c
I 7,•C
l • These are new titles due tor release by
ICkC the time this magazine goes on sale
DAD
r
B

THEBUTTEREND...
L
R e a d e r Survey
I Rewards
T The following lucky readers scoop up a free soft-
T ware package for their machines
,/- Leac h, Fareharn; M a r k Willis . Enfi eld;
E Steven Burk e, Hunt ingdon; Mat t hew Binns,
Rippondon; Andrew Magnay
R Thouscmds of you do/ Entries to our s r mega-competition fl ooded in f rom over 6000 users in a 9 C !hanks
Many o w b to
r ialld ofg you
e . who sent in the surveys
bid to walk away with one of the 3 ST systems on offer Congratulations to Mr J Thompson. who - they will help us to bring you exactly the sort of
E ocrrnes oft first prize of an Atari 520 ST-FM plus colour monitor, and to Philip Konozak and David magazine you want to read.
Wink:Inns who walk away wit h two 520 ST-FMs plus mono monitors.
N
Oops
D 2ast mont's correcbon of the Impact ACE Rating
L
was in tact...incorrect The correct correction wood
have been 955 Just goes to show that al the people
can't be right a l the time, and some ot the people
can't be right sorne ol the time, and...er
While we're on the sublect of boobs, we'd
le point out that Red LEO is in fact pubfished by
Starlight Software and not by Reaktor, as we stated
in the review last month. Both these are Anolasolt
labels, a company that seems to have almost as
many labels as products, so in this case we plead
palatable boobery.

Not a j o k e
Just after the release of Yes Prime Minister ACE
received a letter from NMA Communications Ltd.
PR Consultants for Mosaic Publishing. The letter
reads: 'Hereby find enclosed one Yes Prime Min-
ister disk. This disk is intended for review purpos-
es only. Please sign and return immediately the
enclosed copy letter t o NMA Communications.
Should the disk not be in full working order or
incompatible with your machine, do not sign this
letter and return the dish to NMA.•
Naturally, ACE staff members felt this to be a
Alancompetitionentries by the thousand - the straincit countingthem begins to wit on poor oldPete. grand joke to promote the game, taking the rack-
ey out of bureaucracy and red tape. We rang to
Runner-upPhilipKoncrae congratulate NMA on t heir sense o f humour.
nglirl)withbrother Gareth not a joke; actually', replied the hap-
mowing to dogooddeeds
emthe Cues Youcantell less NMA spokesperson. it's just our standard let-
P hi s chuffedwithhis pets ter. You see, you have to return the product to us
rim ecstatic!'he wrotO, but when you've finished with it.' 'But it doesn't say
Garethisn't too upset either anything about returning it in the letterr, 'Ah..well
- he's getting Philip's cast-
oMSpectrum. it should do...'...Hmm, certainly no-one could
accuse NMA of not entering into the spirit of
things. •

Dew Williams, runner-up. a
staunchAlan tanand a fire-
manin Congleton 'Atom are
the only computers Ihave
ever ownedii boughtmy first
First core winner lk Thompson: Tye newer wona competition belort, Alan400 in1980) andI
apartfrom thepeemium bonds at the age of 1. whenmyparents spent wouldn't change.'The
themoney on nappies We're not eeactly sure what it says on the piece rewards of loyalty. eh,
ofpaperm the pl a n butwe hope is legal. Dane
Next month...
...the ACE Christmas Cracker
explodes. Wer e playing our cards
close to our chest for now, but watch
out for a joint venture with Her
Majesty's Armed Forces, the ACE
Which Compilation? Buyers' Guide
AND a special Christmas gift on the
cover...Donl miss it!

Activision 1 6-17,58-59,68-69,04,96-97 Electronic Arts 10-11,13 PSS — 88, 118

Amstrad 1 0 4 1 0 5 Gremlin Shekhana — — — 101
Ariolasoft 2 2 , 5 7 Incentive S O Silica Shop . • • • • • • • • • • • . 4 I

Ashcom 8 3 Jade 83 Sound N Vision l l

— 1 0 1
Audiogenic • • • • • • I B C 101 Stort Soft , , , — 8 0
Bath Comp. Shack 4 4 K on ami 71,98 Telegames . ,,-, go
ayeettack 1 1 8 Martech ••••• 7 6 Trybridge 92
CBS • • • • • 118 Megabyte 106 US Gold 19,32,50,65,103,114,115
C P S l • - • • • • • • • 1 0 6 Microprose 6,49,60,72 Verran — — 4 3
CRL 6 7 Mirrors olt 2 6 Video Vault 18,83
Compumart • • • • • 1 0 9 106
rD
V
ER
T
J
I0
R Digital Integration 3 0 , 1 1 3
Nov agen
OBC,27,40,75,79
Ocean/Imagine

1 2 2 Advanced Computer Entertainment

 0
0
It playslike1adreamm
butseemslikeaNIGHTMARE!
TRAPPED- in a 1970
coloured
1 bricks. Powerfully addictive, with 200k of digitized sound, IMPACT has 80 built in
screens
s a r plusc a48 d that
e you can design yourself—as hard, as simple, as much fun as you like.
Hidden
m a on c each
h iscreen
n are special tokens— catch them if you can. Use them to buy one of nine
powerful weapons, or keep them until the end of the screen to score a bonus.
e !
E v e
r y
e s c
a p e
r o
•••••

u
Available t price 114.95 for Amiga (512k min.) and Atari ST (requires 512k, mouse and colour monitor or TV).
now,
e RELEASED for CBM64, Spectrum and BBC (specifications vary)
JUST M E •

•••

i
Audiogenic Software Ltd., Winchester House, Canning Road, Wealdstone,
Harrow Middlesex HA3 751 V SA d r
 T E ARCADES-A TIGRESS!
Her mission, to enter the last world and
slay its evil guardian, but the last world
is seven worlds away on a long and
dangerous journey through the worlds of
forest, cavern, sky, sea, labyrinth and hell,
each having its own formidable guardian
which must be overpowered and slain.
Collect armour and weapons but beware
the energy sapping poison for which only a
secret medicine is the cure. Superlative
graphics and arcade style action game play
add up to a great package for the coin-op
kings.
SPECTRUM ,E7.95 COMMODORE E8.95
AMSTRAD £8.95
MI 6 mr.:HULTIStraiompb • •

Athena isn't finished yet

Physco Soldier, the sequel, is
another world. Athena has
changed and she has a
friend. She is Physco Soldier
with a thirst for action and
adventure and when her
mission is complete you just
won't believe the ending — a
surprise you can't afford to
miss! A great game, tipped
for the top, from the SNK
arcade label.
SPECTRUM £7.95
COMMODORE E8.95
AM,STRAD E8.95