t Vol. VI, # 6 June, 1989 $2.50 Best Quest of the Month Prophecy: The Fall of Trinadon In this quest you take the part comfortable village is overrun en dungeon levels. I was par- games with pretty impressive of a lowly marketing execu- by empire soldiers. ticularly pleased to find that weapons lists, but I do know tive from the Sony corpora- Alas, while dreaming you could move back and that Prophecy has some of the tion. Your career depends on about these events, you awak- forth between most original discovering why the compa- en to the screams of your several of the items I've seen ny's share in the television family and friends as they are dungeons, in a long time. market has dropped since Syl- ruthlessly butchered by em- which is Besides the tra- vania released the black ma- pire troops. Quickly you don handy if you ditional array of trix picture tube. What's that? gloves and shield. You are realize you've swords, knifes, Oh, that's Trinitron ... wrong unarmed but determined, one reached one axes and bows quest-this is the one about way or another, to obliterate level without of varying lev- Trinadon. the threat of Kre11ane in re- obtaining a els, there are The central character in turn for the slaughter of your necessary item also items that Trinadon is practically the father. Your adventure has from another are not so obvi- only person without a name, begun! one. ous, such as simple blue pow- so I'll just call him Steve. For . . Prophecy claims to have der and the enigmatic Earth years, Steve, his family and Sword Swzngzng and the largest inventory of weap- Pole. My personal favorite friends have lived in fear of a Varlet Vanquishing ons and magical items of any was the Wraith Dagger. vast and inhumane empire Prophecy is an action- current game. I'm not so sure ruled by a tyrant called packed role-playing adven- of that, since SSI has a few Continued on page twelve Krellane. ture similar in style to ORI------­ GIN's Times of Lore. The I Left My Heart in overhead view of the play­ II CrissCross field looks down into the Quest for Clues Once a benevolent ruler, mazes of the empire. In the QB subscribers who order book should be in the stores Krellane was corrupted long center, your on screen persona Quest for Clues II directly by August, but you'll get the ago by three demons with is controlled by the keyboard from us will automatically get three free issues only if you whom he had made a pact or joystick in the traditional Your father and his fellows manner. With keyboard con- three free issues added to their order it from QB fought a trols, all sub when the order is placed Games covered: 7 Spirits (two for Canada and Adven­ of Ra, 2400 A.D., A D &D: running bat­ eight di- tle with the r-----Type: Fantasy.....------RPG .. rectional ture Express, one for over­ Pool of Radiance, Alien Mind, evil forces Systems: mM (512K re- keys are seas). That means you won't Azarok's Tomb, Bard's Tale before final­ quired; CGA, EGA, MCGA, functional, have to rip the coupon out of III, Beyond Zork, The Colo­ ly disap­ VGA and Tandy 16-color and others your book, something a lot of ny, Dark Lord, Deja Vu, Don­ pearing into graphics, no monochrome lets you people complained about with dra, Dr. Dumont's Wild P. A. the forests, stop or the first book. It also means R. T.!., Dream Zone, Eternal where they support) back up. you'll be among the fIrSt peo­ Dagger, Faery Tale Adven­ founded the Conversions planned: None Joystick ple on the planet to get the ture, Guild of Thieves, Jinx­ village of owners book, since we'll get them di­ ter, King's Quest IV, Leisure CrissCross. As you slowly must use the keyboard to en­ rectly from ORIGIN and Suit Larry I & II, Manhunter, grew to adulthood in the in­ ter auxiliary commands, such won't have to wait for copies tervening years, your father as T for Talk or G for Get To Maniac Mansion, Plundered trained you to use a wide mix allow saving, loading and oth­ to go to a distributor first Ho/ts, Police Quest I, Quar­ of weapons and enchantments er higher level functions, a ORIGIN expects Quest for terstaff, Questron II, Return to in preparation for the day the second level of commands is Clues II to ship in July, so Atlantis, Sherlock Holmes (In­ evil empire finds your haven accessible with the control we're taking advance orders facom), Space Quest I & II, in CrissCross. The only hope key. There are also a few now-orderby July 31,1989, Star Command, Talisman, is that the hero described in a short-cuts. Instead of Open­ and you'll get $1.00 off the Tangled Tales, Times of Lore, local prophecy will arise and ing a chest and then Getting $24.95 price (shipping & Tower of Myraglen, Twilight destroy Krellane' s power be­ the contents, you can simply handling charges: $3 US/ Zone, Ultima V, Uninvited, fore you are found and your walk forward and touch it. . APO, $6 Canada, $12 over­ Wasteland, Willow, Wizardry There are 28 different fully seas-US funds only). The IV and Zak McKracken. By Stephen King animated characters and sev- Letters . .. Adventure Hotline to the ~ ebeq ~ Editor 26z Every Picture Tells a Story Ultima VI: Ready by ... Dear QuestBusters: (Don't== It?) the Next Decade! In the Swap Shop section you don't men­ Several of Infocom 's new graphic games Lord British says Ultima VI should be tion that selling a game and sending or pulled into town in late May. Dave Le­ ready by this fall, but-due to ORIGIN's keeping a copy is illegal (except for pub­ bling collaborated on Shogun with au­ new policy of doing simultaneous releas­ lic domain software). For some program­ thor James Clavell, and it's out for es of upcoming products-won't ship till mers, the game is their only income. You Amiga and Mac, with 128K Apple and early next year. They also want to con­ should be willing to use some space to IBM versions planned later this year. The centrate on the four other games they're make your subscribers better people. Amiga versions of Zork Zero and Battle­ releasing for Christmas. Nadia Madden Tech (C 64 too on this one) also arrived. New Department: Kobold Komer "No pirated software"-a reminder ap­ More New Adventures Have you ever strongly disagreed with pears in that section each month-pretty Tangled Tales: The Misadventures of a one of our reviewers' reviews? Kobold well sums it up, don't you think? After Wizard's Apprentice is out for C 64 and Korner (see page eleven) will be devoted all, this is QuestBusters, not the Software IBM (256K). The Scoop (128K Apple, to such "readers' rebuttals," though it Police. We are, however, concerned that IDM), set in London during the 30's, is won't necessarily run in every issue. We our subscribers become better people, so an illustrated Agatha Christie mystery can't promise to publish them all, and we're sending everyone a copy of Dianet­ featuring over 30 animated characters. they may be edited for space. ics and Shirley McClaine's new video, Mindscape's Indiana Jones and the Tem­ Inner Workout. ple of Doom, an adaptation of the arcade Dragon Fodder game (Amiga, C 64, ST and Nintendo) is Interplay's Dragon Wars, set for summer out; Apple II, GS and IDM versions "will Dear QuestBusters: release for Apple, fall for C 64, will sup­ Please publish the cost of back issues. ship soon." Space Quest III came in for port characters from Bartl s Tale I-III. IDM, with a soundtrack by a member of I'm sure there are other people who'd British rock group Supertramp. also like this information. Affiliates Leave Activision Mary Lunn New World Computing signed up with A Convergence of Conversions Electronic Arts after their Activision con­ The C 64 Magic Candle shipped in May tract ran out, so EA will ship IDM and 64 We send a list of back issues' contents to each person with their first issue, but if (an Amiga version may happen); so did versions of M & MIl. Lucasfilm Games the $12.95 cluebook. A C 64 The Last moved to MicroProse. Activision says you didn't get one-or want an updated Ninja II is out. SSI released Demon's they now have enough original games, so on~just write. Winter for the Amiga, ST, IDM and C the affIliate program is being cut back. 64. Broderbund moved Where in the Both affIliates also wanted to go their Dear QuestBusters: World is Carmen Sandiego over to the own way. Rainbird, who imported Eng­ What happened to my Swap Shop ad? I Amiga, and First Row did the same with land's Magnetic Scrolls games, was sued asked for it to run for three issues. Twilight Zone. MicroProse says an ST by an American lawn sprinkler company Fred Schmidt Pirateswas planned for May, so it may be of the same name and put out of action on the shelves. Mars Saga conversions for months. They shut down US opera­ We put new ads at the top of each sec­ for the Apple and IBM have been can­ tions in May; now British TeleComm has tion, cut old ones from the bottom, so an celled. Star Flight should blast off for the Rainbird up for sale; even so, their games ad mayor may not run more than once. C 64 in September, for Amiga. Mac and will no longer be sold here. Triton, Acti­ ST by the end of the swnmer. Look for vision's mail order outfit, sells some of Star Flight II for IDM for Christmas. them, and a few are still in stores. How Far is Hillsfar? Inten>lay's New Software ... as far as your nearest software store. Excliange Policy Hillsfar (C 64) is SSI's latest in the AD Got a new computer? You can swap your Editor: Shay Addams & D series. It's an action adventure-but old copies of Interplay's Neuromancer, News Editor: Nuyu doesn't employ the Heroes of the Lance Battle Chess and future independent re­ Contributing Editors: Ken St. Andre, Tim game system (which SSI calls an "action leases by sending in the originals with Snider, Stephen King, Brian Smith, Bob strategy game," not an action adventure). $15 (plus $3.50 for shipping). Guerra, William E. Carte, Charles Don Instead, you have only one character to Hall, Mike Bagnall, Tracie Forman carry out a series of quests, which are Bugs in C 64 Demon's Winter Hines, Steven Payne, Russ Ceccola, Matt modified according to your character's Watch out with those cursed weapons: Hillman, A. Bruce Lotts class. Surviving party members from Bonnie Barber reported getting an "illegal Pool ofRadiance and Azure Bonds (as quantity error" that dwnped the game into QuestBusters is published monthly by yet unreleased) can be used, and experi­ BASIC when she tried to sell a cursed Moby Dick, Inc. Annual subs, $18. Cana­ ence, gold and other items can be trans­ weapon that had been exorcised in the C da. $24, Int'l, $32, Intergalactic, 324 ferred back (with the character) into 64 version. Another problem looks like a ziirgz. Textual contents Copyright Shay either game. IBM should be out by now. design flaw rather than a bug, and proba­ Addams, 1989, All Rights Reserved. bly applies to all versions. Once you take Copying without exress permission is prohibited and punishable by reducing Continued on page seven your computer's RAM to 2K. Lancelot:an adventure game that lacks a lot Stop me if you've heard this plot before: Holy Grail; good behavior will gain the pecially getting them to perform repeated once upon a time, a noble squire made his indispensable assistance of Galahad, actions, is poorly explained in the docu- way to Camelot, where he met King Ar­ Lancelot's own son. Actually, the open- mentation. Since the program is so spar- thur, fell in love at first sight with Guene­ ing scene in Lancelot allows the player to ing with clues, you are often left vere the Queen, and was sent off to go directly to this quest for the grail, if wondering whether your attempted solu- rescue the other knights of the Round Ta­ you don't want to be bothered with the tion to a puzzle is misguided, or whether ble, before he could find the Holy .... first two sections of you simply haven't yet found Oh, you've heard that one already? the game. a word the parser will accept. Okay, okay, I admit it. Like the recent There is a graphics I imagine this is why the Grail Quest (Artworx, Mac), Lance/ot is window that can be game comes with such a another of your basic "Arthurian legend" raised or lowered like comprehensive clue book. graphic adventures. Like others, it tries a venetian blind if Without a nudge in the right hard to be reasonably faithful to the origi­ you want to see more direction, I never would have nal sources, especially Thomas Malory's of the text On my tried such unlikely com- Le Mort d' Arthur (at least according to Mac SE, of course, mands as "Lamorak, wait the authors). Unfortunately, this turns out the pictures were in then hold panel" or "Lamo- to be one of its fatal flaws. ~~~ ~~~~~ The game package comes with a manu­ ~~~ ~~~~~~ al (containing instructions for all ver­ shots I've seen from other ma- C 64 version then wait then wait then turn sions), a map of medieval England, and a chines look spectacular in color. winch." Nor would I have guessed 20-page clue book (with maps). But the where to sleep the first night, when to packaging is also a little misleading: the A Hard Day's Knight heed warnings and when to ignore them, game's tone is much more serious and I have to say right off that I found or which gifts to accept and which to de­ less humorous than one would guess from Lance/ot virtually unplayable. The text is cline; the program just doesn't give you the box cover, which shows a photo of a in a miniscule font, white on black (isn't many hints, and the right answers (to a costumed knight and lady (looking like this what I got a Mac to avoid?), very dif­ non-Arthurian) often seem arbitrary. True, yuppies on the way to a Georgetown Hal­ ficult to read and impossible to modify. Lance/ot has a very forgiving "Undo" loween party), standing next to an upend­ The descriptions of most locations are command that allows you to go back quite ed and skewered inflatable dinosaur lengthy, but rarely of any importance for a few steps in the game, and if you hit a doubling as a dragon, above the caption solving major puzzles or fmishing the complete dead end, Merlin will usually "Get Into Some Heavy Metal." game. And while there are hundreds of lo­ appear to the rescue. Still, after I got tired The cations, there are only of constantly wrestling with the parser, I game is di­ r"T-y-p-e-: -G-r-ap-h-i-c-A-d-v-e-n-tur.....e---- ..... about 20 to 30 separate eventually found myself simply walking vided into graphics, so that the through the whole game with the clue­ Systems: e 64, Mac, IBM (512K re- same pictures pop up three parts, book in hand. over and over. in all of quired, supports eGA and Hercules which you Planned Conversions: Amiga, ST Almost all the out- Continued on page fifteen play the ti­ Version reviewed: Mac door scenes are the tle charac­ ....------.,....,;,...---- ... same, for example, as ter. The first part is very brief. On the are the scenes in town. Most castles are Inventory road to Camelot, you meet Arthur (dis­ identical as well. The same picture of a stone-walled room with table and chair is guised as a black knight), who tests your 1 valor, then invites you to his castle the used for prison cells, an antechapel and Propfiecy ...... following day; after spending the night the deck of a ship (those ~tone-walled LanceCOt ...... 3 with Merlin and receiving some advice, ships never were very seaworthy!). All of you enter the castle throne room, meet this makes it very difficult to keep track Journey ...... 4 your true love Guenevere and are sent out of where you are; you can't tell by look­ yoU 1(usfi ...... 6 again by Arthur to rescue the imprisoned ing at the pictures, and you could go blind knights who can fill the empty places at trying to read the text. Wa{l(jfiru: the Round Table. The parser poses special problems of 1Jeja O/U 11...... 8 The second part is by far the longest, its own, sometimes seeming to get baffled as you travel Logris in the company of by the simplest commands. For example, Project ~irestart ...... 10 the Lady Maledisant, gradually rescuing a ordinarily if you typed the command Scavengers ...... 11 total of seventeen knights, some of whom "Lamorak, go north," your companion will tag along and assist you in freeing Lamorak would do just that; if you try the 'l(p6oU'l(prner ...... ll others. Once all the knights are safely same command in the trackless marsh, Waiting for 1Juffy ...... 13 back in Camelot, Guenevere herself will however, you'll get the response "Lance­ run off and be captured; saving her will lot lost his bearings ... He had not been lJV-ys to tfie 1(jngtfoms ... 14 also win you a night in her arms. able to complete Lancelot's commands." Swap Sfiop ...... 15 In the third part, you must fmd the Sometimes the program will say it doesn't recognize the verb in a command that it has just carried out! And the whole By Steven Payne method for interacting with characters, es- JOUTIley: Infocom.'s first "role-play chronicle"

What's a "role-play chronicle," you ask? which I imagine must be shaped like a ra­ "floating menus," but Michael Berlyn When I saw this label on the package, so dial tire), you visit Astrix again for the (who did Oo-topos and Tass Times) re­ did I. It took a few days on the road to next mission-to fmd the Two-much the cently told me the appropriate term is fmd out: it's like role-playing, for your way you return to a wizard in many RPGs "context-sensitive button - interface" character leads a party of adventurers on a to learn of your next quest This makes it (which explains why he's writing adven­ mighty quest, but emphasizes the story­ a three-stage game, one whose puzzles ture games and I'm writing about them). courtesy of a treasure trove of prose grow increasingly more difficult After This implementation of such an increas­ penned by Marc Blank~ver the usual getting your hands on The Two, you'll fi­ ingly common interface functions focus on hit points, skills and combat An­ nally go after The One. (Rumors say an- smoother than many I've used. other wrinkle lies ..._____ -. .'.~""~' '' .,~, ______... other stone was in an abundance of dropped from the The Essence of Magic alternative game because it Spellcasting reminded me of the Ulti- conclusions. would have logically rna magic system, for it involves mixing Your party con­ been called The Zero, the four essences of air, fire, earth and sists of Praxis the but Infocom already water in different combinations to cast Wizard, a physi­ had a game called flare, glow, blaze, lightning, mud, eleva- cian named Escher Zork Zero.) tion, tremor, rain and wind. As the story and the leader, a Other characters progresses, you'll discover new reagents carpenter called .~ -" . ' ". " will offer to join your that arm Praxis with more spells. Only the Bergon. Your group. Just outside spells for which you have the necessary character is Tag 1.._..:.__ .....10 ______.:.._....;.... Lavos, I let Minar en- essences will appear in the "magic" menu (who may be re­ Mac II version list, and his knowl- when you punch "cast" on Praxis' menu. named), a mere apprentice food edge of the area allowed my The essences are mixed automatically if merchant through whose journal this tale party to avoid a bandit attack that had you have enough of the right ones. unfolds. killed a member of my original group. One nice touch is that if combat ends There's no character generator, for Sometimes these NPCs get killed or lost, before a selected spell is cast, it won't be there are no attribute or skill points, no ex­ and you can't always be sure whether wasted, which happens with most com- perience points-in fact, there are no that's good or bad. If you don't lose Mi- bat/magic systems. However, you can't points of any kind, not even for solving nar, there's no room for Hurth to come rely on magic to get out of every predica- puzzles. (Certain characters do possess ex­ aboard, and without this Dwarf you'll ment Praxis, after you tell him to cast a clusive skills, however, that come into have a tough time reading the runes that spell, may be prevented from doing so if play in pertinent situations.) mark hidden rooms and other surprises. Bergon deems it a poor move at that From the town of Lavos, your party As you reach specific places or meet stage. strikes out to fmd Astrix (at least my first the right people, the option to "Tell Story" The drawback to a button interface, as party struck out!). According to the story, or "Tell Legend" becomes available to always, is the way it restricts your free- Astrix is the last wizard in the land-an some characters. Hurth the Dwarf, for in- dom to manipulate objects. You can't di- interesting situation, since Praxis is also a stance, reveals the background of the four rectly "get" or "use" things in your wizard. (A call to Blank revealed that Dwarf Gates leading to various parts of inventory. If you choose the proper op- Astrix is the last of the "true wizards," the outer world: Bern i- tion and hundreds of years older than Praxis, a de­ Lav to the plain of La- r------"'------.. possess the scendant of this clan.) But only Astrix can vos, another to the for- Type: Role-play Chronicle right item t({ll you how to to halt the five-year series est of Elves, and a third Systems: Amiga (5I2K and ROB (such as a of plagues, disease and famine caused by to the mountains. The monitor required); Mac (5I2K; color rope) in the the Dread Lord (who, luckily, didn't know fourth gateway is the on Mac II) proper situ- the spells that would cause holes in the mysterious one through Planned Conversions: I28K Apple ation, the ozone layer or devastating oil spills.) which the Dwarves (set for May), IBM (June) text de- hope to someday depart Version reviewed: Amiga scribes how The Mythology for their home world. ....-----_----~;...-----I you then When you manage to find Astrix in his Other legends and tales cover Orcs, Elves, use that tower atop Sunrise Mountain, he tells the the Sun Towers and various elements of item. You don't have to eat or sleep, ei- story of the Seven Stones. Created long this land's intriguing mythos. ther, for these are handled similarly. ago, they contain the "very strength and Unlike Zork Zero, there is no parser for Combat is usually a matter of choosing a essence of our world." The elves, entering commands. Instead, you click on tactic (flank, etc.) and maybe a spell, then dwarves, nymphs and wizards were each menu choices in several boxes along the jabbing the "combat" option. entrusted with one of The Four. To stop bottom of the screen. Some commands the Dread Lord, you must first reunite the apply to the game, others to the party, and Puzzled Again ... Four. yet others to individuals. As you enter Most puzzles take the form of tradi­ After finding three of the Four (it turns new rooms or situations, the menu options tional text adventure logic problems, such out Astrix already has the Firestone, may change to reflect the capabilities of as the two-step solution to crossing a chasm, which involves casting two spells party members. I used to refer to this as By Shay Addams in the correct order. This is to be expected

4 QuestBusters from Blank (one of the Founding Zork­ went astray. On my frrst outing, I was un­ amount of free memory, which may be Masters of the Known and Yet to be able to fmd Minar after he disappeared in necessary if running the game while mul­ Mapped Universe). Your choice of lying the lake. When my party fmally failed in ti-tasking among it and other programs; or telling the truth to people may also af­ its mission, one of the Musings suggested otherwise, it might hang up, or access the fect the course of future events. that I should have searched the lake area disk more often. In some cases, you get no second more thoroughly, which led to Minar's Conclusions: I started to call this this chances. Upon fmding the rune-marked rescue. Musings usually just point you in the most literate role-playing game yet, entrance to a prison, you'll see the "en­ the right direction rather than provide but still feel funny calling it a role­ ter" option in the frrst menu. But "pro­ outright answers, and do so in a style that playing game-it feels more like an illus­ ceed" past this point, then go "back" to makes them part of the story instead of trated text adventure with a button inter­ that location, and the option to enter the an intrusion. Another plus: Musings are face, one with only minimal role-playing prison has vanished. So whenever new available only for puzzles you failed to aspects. Even so, Journey plays like a menu options, such as "Parley" or solve, so you can't race through all the page out of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings "Get Advice" appear, or when "Exam­ ine" is an option for more than one char­ acter, always save the game before Marc Blank on the "Role-Play Chronicle" examining everything and exploring "The name wasn't mine, it came from Infocom's marketing department. I wanted to those new options. Most people should call it 'role-playing fiction.' They came back with Role-Play Chronicle, and I said, like the alternative solutions that are 'What does that mean?" They said, Well, it's like a chronicle,' and I said, 'Yeah, it available for some puzzles. sort of is, because it's told in the past tense.' So they just sort of invented a phrase-­ The frrst two "mazes" are rather sim­ it's not my favorite, either, but it's passable, and I don't think Journey will stand or ple. You can figure out how to get to fallon what category you put it in. There are a lot of games that are called this type Astrix's tower by looking at a map or that, but what really matters is what people think of them. bought in Lavos. (A magic spell may illu­ '·'{n a way I look at Journey as I did at Deadline, in that it's an experiment. Until minate this puzzle's solution for some.) Deadline, most games were fantasies like Zork and Wizard and the Princess. We But the maze inside the cave near the tried to go into a different genre with Deadline. It's sort of the same thing with lake is more ingenious. With each step, Journey, because we've learned a lot about interactive storytelling, but it's been sort you get the "you're lost in a winding pas­ of clunky and not directed. I thought it would be interesting to design a story in sage" type of message always associated which you really couldn't get stuck ... the choices you have to make are more tied with mazes in text games like Zork. In a into the story than into the minutia of manipulating objects. That really led to the take-off on the way those were best whole style of telling the story and the interface: all that came out of the desire to solved-by dropping a series of objects try something like that." to determine when you've entered the same location again-Blank frees you clues and spoil the game for yourself, a (actually, with "around 70,000 words" of from the maze the instant you drop drawback to other on-line clue schemes. text, it's really more like several chap­ something. ters). I was fascinated with the quirks and A Computer Art Gallery Dozens of No-death Endings history of the Elves, Dwarves and other The graphics perfectly complement inhabitants of this fantasy land. Hard­ The manual says there are "virtually Blank's eloquent descriptions of the local no dead-ends ... any action you take ad­ core Ore-slayers may fmd the pace a bit myths and monsters. You don't see a new slow, but it's not really slow-Journey vances the story toward one of its many one in every location, but there are over endings," only one of which is deemed just has a different rhythm than a typical 120 unique illustrations. Done by Donald RPG or adventure. Adventurers seeking a best I asked Blank about this, and even Langosey (who also illustrated Shogun), he couldn't determine the exact number fantasy land with a convincing mythos they represent some of the few game and an absorbing story will fmd the end of alternative endings: ..... there are doz­ graphics that truly qualify as computer ens of them. The game can end at certain of the rainbow in Journey. Blank's contri­ art. The dungeon scenes are particularly bution to adventure gaming, which he de­ points if you haven't got certain things striking, an example of how a talented (such as stones), or if you lose too many scribes as "a true melding of the two artist can enhance the atmosphere con­ game types, interactive fiction and role­ party members ... there are very few plac­ jured up by imaginati','e prose. Unfortu­ es where you get killed." playing," marks another bold move for nately, there are no sound effects or Infocom, introducing a new style of illus­ So far none of the endings have led to music, even during the title screen. my character's death (though Astrix trated adventuring that I prefer over Zork An unlimited number of games can be Zero. And I found it more satisfying than flipped out once and jumped from the saved, and you can name them. A handy tower). In a typical adventure, most Beyond Zork, which attempted to window facilitates saving and restoring combine elements of role-playing with "alternative conclusions" turn out to be by allowing you to scroll through a list of nothing but different ways to die. In Jour­ the text adventure. It delivers equally en­ saves and click one to open it. It supports grossing entertaining, and when playing ney, however, an unsuccessful ending a second drive or hard disk and a printer might see the group give up and return to Journey I felt more like I was participat­ (for the text, as in Infocom's all-text ing in a real story. (The sequel, we hear, its starting point, upon which you read games). The packaging includes a fold­ the final entry in the journal. will be called Sentimental Journey.) out, color map, and YOIl even get a little Rather than offer on-line clues as in velvet bag with a genuine quartz crystal some Infocom games, Journey waits till Skill Level: Advanced (lnfocom's frrst New Age trinket). Protection: In Packaging the end to present you with a list of The Amiga reference card says garners "Musings" related to various places you Price: $49.95 with more than 512K can change the Company: Infocom/Activision Gold Rush Go west, young (or old) adventurers!

Games have always been a way for the boat trip south around cape hom, or the Knowing this ahead of time, I antici­ common man (or woman) to briefly es­ shorter, but possibly even more danger­ pated being disappointed by the graphics cape the humdrum of daily existence. The ous trip to Panama and across the and sound-but was pleasantly surprised. earliest ones were often games of con­ isthmus. Even though the game was created with quest, but as technology thrusts us into If you elect to take the overland route, AGI, Sierra had constantly enhanced this the future, games are becoming more so­ careful timing is required to ensure there older system until it reached its maxi­ phisticated. These days they are often will be plenty of grass on the plains to mum potential. The effects in this game concerned with romantic themes, and feed your animals. Hazards include Indi­ are a far cry from Kings Quest I. there were few things as steeped in ro­ ans, steep mountainous terrain, long treks Though the resolution is clearly no manticism as the California Gold Rush. through desert, and alkaline streams. match for SCI, the graphics are still quite In January of 1848, a carpenter named The ocean trips take less personal plan­ good. Of course, Hercules and CGA James Marshall accidentally found a ning, but you may be graphics are support­ small nugget of gold worth a mere 50 overcome by disease "'I!-I~ ed, but any of the cents. At that time, California was an al­ or storm as you sail the I .~~;':':" more advanced most completely uncivilized wilderness, world's most menacing graphic standards, in­ sparsely populated by Indians. Only a waters. You may even cluding VGA, handful of white men could be found face food and water MCGA,EGAor within a thousand miles. Before the end shortages before the Tandy will give you of 1849, hundreds of thousands of immi­ long voyage is over. the full 16-color grants would strike out from their home­ If you decide on the spectrum. lands hoping to strike it rich; shorter trip through There is an almost Panama, there are na­ excessive amount of The Rush is On! tives and wild animals IBM version spot animation, such Gold Rush tries to capture the hardship to worry about, not to mention as people and carts making and adventure of those fIrst two years. quicksand and cholera. The choice of their daily rounds in your home town, You take the part of Jerrod Wilson, an travel modes makes Gold Rush almost and the bustle of the little bitsy people East Coast city slicker seeking fame and three completely different adventures in when you reach Sacramento. Keep an eye fortune. With your parents dead and one. Most people will probably take a open for other miners as you head out brother missing, you spend the early part shot at all of them so they can experience from Sutter's Fort, for they hang claim of the game selling the joy of dying jumpers out there. your Brooklyn ------.....------in all its myriad It was a minor disappointment not to home and prepar­ Type: Animated Graphic Adventure forms. hear the enhanced sound of the Roland or ing to head west Systems: IBM (256K required, sup- One way or AdLib expansion boards, but the mM A bit of poetic ports Hercules, eGA, EGA, VGA), the other, your one-channel and Tandy three-channel license has been Apple (128K), ST travels should sound drivers were acceptable. Each time taken here. Several Planned Conversions: GS, Mac, end at John Sut- your score advances, a few bars of "Oh clues during the ST, Amiga ter's fort, which Susannah" are played, and you will hear course of the game Version reviewed: IBM (on a is so authentic "Anchors Away" as you pull out of port. eventually lead Tandy) that you'll be There were a couple of other musical in­ you to your long­ .....______------.... able to recog- terludes and several effects, but sound is lost brother, who is nize it if you've generally rare. using the pseudonym "James Marshall". ever seen a picture. Once you reach the Since Marshall is such a prominent his­ fort, you can search for clues to your Are We There Yet, Daddy? torical fIgure, I can only assume it is the brother's whereabouts, picking up gold Gold Rush does have some serious same person. Although in real life he died along the way. weaknesses. The first is the tedious na­ penniless, hopefully your game will have ture of all three of the trips to the West a kinder, gentler ending for Jerrod, the fa­ Affecting the Effects Coast. There is an attempt to spice it up a ther of the gold rush. This is probably the last Sierra adven­ bit by breaking each of these long auto­ ture you will see that was developed with mated sequences into smaller segments, Three Modes of Travel the old AGI system. Since the release of and by giving a running narrative of the There were three ways to get from the King's Quest N, we have seen the fruits hazards of the trip. Each of these seg­ East Coast to the West in 1848, each with of SCI ( Sierra Creative Interpreter), Sier­ ments is separated by mini-adventures its own set of perils. In the fIrst fourteen ra's new 3-D game interpreter that sports that you have to actually control, but they minutes of Gold Rush, you have to de­ double-resolution graphics and enhanced are short and few. This would make an cide if you will attempt to make the sound and music, in all their other animat­ excellent educational exercise, especially treacherous journey overland, the long ed adventures. But Gold Rush had been in for school kids that are studying this era. development for a long time, so apparent­ Unfortunately, there is no getting ·around By Stephen King ly it didn't make economic sense to go it any cross country trip is tedious, even back and redo it with the new system. if you happen to have a jet plane. That

6 QuestBusters comes across here-maybe too well. an eye on Jerrod. The calibration of ana­ to move. And don't enter a test room if When I actually got to California and log joysticks is so precarious, he might the related character is bound in chains, started panning for gold, the same feeling suddenly stop walking without warning, or he can't take the test or exit, forcing seemed to carry over. Gold is found an even if you're not touching the stick. In you to shut down and reboot. SSI also ounce at a time, and there are 50 ounces the case where you're following the mule forgot to put the data card with special in­ to fmd, with the closest being at least (through 32 different screens!) this can structions for the Commodore version. nine miles (screens) away from the fort. make you lose him completely if you're You can write them for the card, but the This seemed like a ponderous undertak­ not careful. For this reason alone, I main thing you need to know is to ing until I realized two things: you only suggest saving often. make a copy of the game disks need a few hundred in gold to buy some Aside from the usual parapher­ before you play it Finally, some supplies (the rest is there for extra points nalia included in the box, there is options shown on-screen and re­ and for people who enjoy the thrill of dis­ a 90-page historical text called ferred to in the card are covery), and that some screens offer up to "California Gold." The pri­ /7j~i1I' not really available on five gold strikes, which speeds up the mary reason for this is copy the Commodore process quite a bit and emulates life, protection. When the game is version. since gold wasn't lying just everywhere first run you'll be asked a A New Wizardry for the taking (even if it seemed like it). question and pointed to the Contest My second major criticism is that the section of the book where the :'))1.1 You don't even have to solve weird layout of some areas is very con­ answer can be found. Copy a Wizardry to win this fusing, making this a tough mapping pro­ protection is always a pain in one-just write an es­ ject for all but experts. Even though I had the posterior, but in this case it say (maximum 2,000 a map of Fort Sutter, I still eventually is almost palatable because words) on what you like gave up trying to navigate inside it. I fi­ the question and answer is or dislike about the Wi­ nally decided to make for the nearest exit almost always interesting. zardry series or a particu­ and come into the fort from another di­ As usual, the Sierra sense of lar scenario, include a section rection whenever I wanted to go humor is never far away: answer this on what you'd like to see in the next one, somewhere. question wrong and you'll be presented and get it to Sir-Tech by September 30, The problem is that you might walk with the hangman's noose. 1989. Prizes range from free games to off the screen going north-but when the You don't have to read this text to play Wizardry jackets and other promotional new one is displayed, you fmd yourself the game, but it conceals a couple of items. And all entries receive a Wizardry going south, or maybe east. This was ob­ small hints that might make things easier. certificate. viously done to increase the number of It is, however, very interesting reading locations that could be squeezed into the and increases the educational value of the Coming Soon from fort: unfortunately, the cost is too high to game considerably. Electronic Arts justify it. You would think north should Conclusions: Avid players of Sierra's Kief the Thief, a humorous intro-level always be north. Possibly if Fort Sutter 3-D adventure series will not want to RPG, is set for the GS, IBM and Amiga were nearer to one of the poles (like Ban­ miss this one. Graphics and sound are by September. It's from the Dream Zone cek maybe) I could buy it, but it would more than adequate, though the intense team. An IBM Legacy shipped in May, still be very confusing. use of animation slows you down to a but has CGA graphics only. Wasteland II While reviewing Gold Rush, I was crawl in several places. As an educational may be out by the end of the year. also checking over a walkthru to make value it is a clear success, even though it sure it was accurate and easy to under­ can be frustrating and tedious in places. Accolade Advances to stand. Even so, it took me several days Adventures Michael Berlyn (Tass Times,Oo-topos) and many false starts before I fmally Skill Level: Advanced is now at Accolade, where another former completed the game. All in all, I found Protection: Keyword EA RPG producer, Shelly sarrr, moved· Price: $39.95 this to be the most frustrating of all the last year, and Accolade plans to release Sierra adventures. Company: Sierra their frrst RPGs and adventures soon. Down to BASICS E~yx's new Omnicron and the Gold Rush comes with five 5.25" flop­ Adventure Hotline Continued from page two IBM Blacksilver Conversion pies and two 3.5" micros. It supports both Hugh Bowen from Epyx showed up at keyboard and joystick control. Usually I something, the program clears it from the QB cave last month to show off the prefer the joystick, but since Jerrod has to your disk. That means this predicament IBM versions of Legend of Blacksilver walk for many miles in a straight line, I might arise: after entering the Crystal and The Omnicron Conspiracy. found the keyboard worked better. It was Cave to fmd the Icicle, all your party Blacksilver will be out by summer for easier to start him walking and not have members might get the icicle but die as a IBM and 128K Apple. It introduces some to touch anything for ten or fIfteen result of the battle with the bear. But even new outdoor scenes, such as mountains in screens than to constantly maintain pres­ if you reload a game saved before enter­ . the background, etc.; all the graphics are sure on the stick. This might also give ing the cave, the icicle won't be there. highly detailed and profit from a rich col­ you an idea how monotonous these trips The solution: use your original dungeon or scheme, and people and monsters are can be: just imagine having to walk disk to go into cave and get the item, or well-animated. Omnicron Conspiracy, through 22 screens (from Fort Sutter to use a second copy of the dungeon disk. originally set for release last year, has un­ the hotel in Coloma) several times-with Also be wary in the south part of the Am­ dergone many improvements. Lots of next to nothing happening on any of ber Ruins, where a syntax error message neat little animation, like the nurse droid them. ("formula too complex") crashed the a that floats in and out of a room and hov- If you choose keyboard control, keep game when a lone, possessed Mage tried Continued on page thirteen QuestBusters 7 Walkthrough-Deja Vu II: Lost in Las Vegas

General Advice Once you have enough money, head The Solution Take and -Near the pants and trenchcoat directly for the train station. Do not wan­ Bathroom immediately, since the bedroom door der around the Las Vegas desert, or you Take pants. Wear pants (operate pants on will lock behind you. Also, from time to will be bitten by snakes; you should only self). Take trenchcoat. Operate trench­ time one of Malone's thugs will appear travel east and west from the entrance to coat on self. Open door. N. to warn you how little time you have the Lucky Dice HoteVCasino. You will left; take one of the cigar rings he drops. need to travel to and from Chicago by Bedroom Before going outside, visit the casino train; boarding trains for other destina­ Take cigar ring. Take train schedule and play blackjack at the table of your tions will get you killed. from dresser. Open hotel room door. Exit former sparring partner. To play black­ In Chicago, you can travel to different bedroom. jack, select all of your chips (with the locations by cab but will have to show shift-click method if using a mouse), addresses to the cabbie, since he cannot Corridor then click on "operate" and the table. hear you. Wear the police uniform only Open casino doors. Go casino doors (en­ Your friend will then deal the cards. If for the morgue, and change back to your tering Lobby). Examine picture. W. your card total is close to 21, click on regular clothes before leaving Chicago. "Hit" and then the table; otherwise, click In places where you must wait, make Cashier's Room (First Time) on "Hit" and then the "Self' button. Or­ time pass by double-clicking on objects Open pants. Open wallet. Operate $10 dinarily your former partner will let you (to examine them). bill on cashier. Take chips. W (4). win. When he is replaced, use "shift­ Ignore the bag lady near Joe's Bar, as click" to select all your chips and drag well as all food, bottles and the referenc­ Blackjack them to your inventory immediately. es to cigarettes, since these are not con­ Examine dealer. Operate gbefe Otherwise the new dealer may confIscate nected with winning the game. Turn your dmjqqjoh on dealer (he recognizes you your chips. It's not shown on the maps, printer on before the fmale. and will let you win). Play blackjack un­ but going south from desert-related loca­ til dealer is replaced. Take chips. East tions often leads to getting lost in a (4). ,...desert______maze. By Steven Payne .., Cashier's Room (Sec- ond Time) Operate chips on cashier. Take money. East (to Lob­ Deja Vu II by). Open outside doors. South (to Casino Entryway). E.

Train Station (Las Vegas) Las Vegas Open door into train station. Enter train station. East to Black­ p Baggage Claim Department jack Examine "Departqres" sign. Go to track indicated for next train to Chicago. (Wait for train, if necessary). To To Desert Desert Riding Train (to Chicago) Enter train. Operate $20 on conductor. Take back any change offered. Wait. (Once underway, the train will de­ Bed- B roan posit you on a platform in Chicago.) U/D Elev Chicago Train Station South (from platform to -- Laundry A Train Station). Operate quar­ Room ter (from wallet) on news­ stand clerk. Take newspaper. Open outside doors. S. Your Apartment Enter taxi. Operate drivers license on Gabby the cabbie. Exit taxi. Open N GM front door of apartment building. En­ ~ 8 I ter apartment building. Operate Ifz in qbout on door to Apartment IA. 0 Open door to IA. Enter Apartment 8 IA. Take flashlight and cigar ring. Open junk drawer. Take penknife r:!:Jr;:l and small brass key. Open overcoat ~ Take money from overcoat Exit Chicago apartment. (For amusement, you can operate the small brass key on the L K J nearest mailbox, open the mailbox and examine your mail; it has no bearing on the game's solution, 8--8-_ though.) Drop brass key. ~T· ~ Joe's Bar: Siegel's Office I Enter taxi. Operate sfdfou dmjqqjoh about Nvsefs on Gabby the cabbie. Exit taxi. NW into Alley. Up to Fire Escape. Operate the M cpbset on the cpbset (opening the boarded-up window). Enter window. ISUgU"l-~ApL ~ Open qipof. Take unusually shaped key. Exit window. D.

Joe's Bar: Back Alley Entrance Go further up alley (to Back Alley). Open qfolojgf. Operate qfolojgf on door. Open door. Operate flash- light (on flashlight). Enter door. Open Close drawer #5. Exit freezer. Operate self). Enter elevator. door to Bar. Enter Bar Room. Open door upf ubh on morgue clerk. Open box. to Wine Cellar. Down to Wine Cellar. Take Bondwell's wallet from box. Exit Elevator and Third Floor Operate single bottle (halfway up the morgue. (You can visit the burnt-out Operate (on itself) the button for floor #3. right side of the wine rack) on itself. W. ruins of Bondwell's house by operating Exit elevator. Open laundry hamper. Go Open round door. W. Operate the drivers license in Bondwell's wallet hamper. Close hamper. Wait. vovtvbmmz tibqfe Ifz on right slot on Gabby, though this is not crucial to machine. Open right slot machine. Take the game.) Reliant Laundry: Laundry Room diary and Sugar Shack's card. E. E. Up Operate spqft on crate. Up stairs. Open (to Bar Room). S (to Hall). S (to Back Chicago Train Station front door. Down stairs. Go hamper. Wait Alley). Return to taxi. Enter taxi. Drag uniform to inside of taxi. (until you hear thugs leave). Exit hamper. Take pants and trenchcoat Operate pants Up stairs. Open counter. Open office Sugar Shack's Apartment and trenchcoat on self. Operate train door. Enter office. Open desk. Open card­ Enter taxi. Operate Sugar Shack's card on schedule on Gabby. Exit taxi. Enter train board box. Take unmarked brass key and Gabby. Exit taxi. Operate qfolojgf on station. Examine "Departures" sign. Go small magnet Exit office. Exit front door. door to basement apartment. Open door to track indicated for next train to Las E (3). Enter Lucky Dice. Enter corridor. to basement apartment Enter Sugar's Vegas. (Wait for train, if necessary). En­ Operate elevator button on itself. Apartment Open wardrobe. Take uni­ ter train. Operate $20 on conductor. Wait form. Open wbdvvn dmfbofs. Operate (once underway, the train will deposit Fifth Floor of Lucky Dice qfolojgf on wbdvvn dmfbofs bag. you on platform in Las Vegas station). Enter elevator. Operate tnbmm nbhofu Take envelope. Open envelope. Examine on elevator panel. Exit elevator. Open McMurphy's letter. Exit apartment Las Vegas Station (Second Time) door to Ventini's Office. Enter Ventini's S (from platform). East to Baggage Claim Office. Open desk ornament. Take dart Morgue Department. Operate cbhhbhf dmbjn Exit Ventini' s Office. Open elevator Enter taxi. Drag pants and trenchcoat to ujdlfu (from Bondwell's wallet) on at­ doors. Enter elevator. Take nbhofu. Op­ inside of taxi. Operate uniform on self. tendent. Open suitcase. Open dirty erate button for Lobby (on itself). Exit el­ Operate ofxtqbqfs on Gabby. Exit taxi. clothes. Take picture and envelope from evator. Enter Lobby. Exit Luck Dice. W Open doors to morgue. Enter morgue. dirty clothes. Open envelope. Read Bond­ (3). Open gate. Open freezer door. Enter well's letter. W. Exit train station. W. En­ freezer. Open drawer #5. Take upf ubh ter Lucky Dice (to the north). Enter Continued on page thirteen from corpse of Thomas S. Bondwell. corridor. Operate elevator button (on it-

QuestBusters 9 Project Firestart: Alien strikes again When I first looked at the Project Fire­ clock and count-down timer. There's also tually you'll learn to move around with­ start package and press release, I knew I an area for text, where you can read vari­ out the map, but will still need it to locate was in for a treat: pictures of mangled, ous messages and check inventory. two valuable objects: frrst aid kits and la­ bloody bodies and ugly green monsters While exploring the Prometheus, ser guns. covered the box, and the release said the you'll occasionally see another screen game combined "science fiction with pop up to show a close-up of a character, The Incredible Shrinking Bar horror movie effects." You have to un­ a monster, or events When you shoot your laser or touch a derstand that I'm a truly disturbed indi­ unfolding elsewhere "'_~11111!1 __"'''' creature, the appropriate in­ vidual who loves horror and sci-fi books, on the ship. These dicator bar shrinks. That movies, comics and so on, who adores make the game more means you have to keep malevolent aliens that like to rip living interesting, and fmding first aid kits to re- things apart. There aren't many good though they're noth­ l~~i:'L"- 1 store health. The kits are al­ horror games, so Project Firestart was ing new [take a look ways in the same places, so just what I was seeking. I jumped right at Maniac Mansion or ~ n-_. be sure to note them on the into it and was quickly engrossed. King's Quest], this maps. An empty gun must When asked to review it a few days technique has certain­ be replaced rather than re­ later, I was already halfway through it ly been put to good loaded. Only two guns may and had assembled most of the pieces to use in Firestart. be carried. When one is the story's mystery. Unlike games that Music is eerie and tension- C 64 version nearly empty, it frres slowly; tease you with catchy box art but fail to building, sometimes hinting that that's when you should switch to deliver, the action shown on the back is monsters are nearby, at other times pat­ the other one. After killing the monster, exactly the kind of stuff you'll see in the ting you on the back for a job well-done. switch back to the slower gun for long­ game (though the monster on the pack­ Sound effects include everything from a range shots. You'll also find a plasma ri­ age look nothing like the green beings simple door opening to the noises made fle that kills monsters with fewer shots, you'll encounter). by the monsters. I found the gameplay, so save that one for the end game. As daring adventurer Jon Hawking, graphics and sounds fit together perfect­ Moving about and frring your gun are you've been ly, giving the horror controlled via joystick. There are just sent by the Sys­ or sci-fi fan neat four more commands: I for inventory, C tem Science Type: Action Adventure scenery and sound to change weapons, P to pause and D to Foundation to System: C 64 and a strong chal­ access the menu for saving or restoring the Promethe­ Planned conversions: None lenge. It took me up to five games from a separate save us, a research ...------.,..------.... about six-seven disk. It's basically a joystick adventure­ vessel orbiting hours of experimen­ but unlike many others, it responds Titan, a moon of Saturn. Scientists on the tation and practice to get close to the end quickly, so the action doesn't detract vessel were experimenting with genetics, game. Once you know where to find from the element of adventure. hoping to create artificial creatures that everything, you can try to complete the Lots of little extras really round out the could act as mine workers on distant as­ game without losing all your health game. You can access a computer that teroids. Unfortunately, the experiments points. contains a log book with informative got out of hand, and the mutant creatures messages, and there's an arcade on level broke loose and killed the entire crew. On with the Quest one. Little things like these help keep Your mission is to learn what hap­ Puzzles center on finding objects and your mind alert and the enjoyment level pened to the crew, fmd the science log locations, using some items in these plac­ high. Firestart was done by Dynamix, documenting the experiments, set the es and doing it all before time runs out who did Arctic Fox, Skyfox II and Cave­ vessel to self-destruct and get away be­ Exploration freaks will have a field day: man U gh-lympics. It lives up to the high fore it does. The neat thing about this ad­ there are about 45 rooms and 30 corri­ standards those games set for the compa­ venture is that you never know what dors. (The program spans both sides of ny and is a welcome addition to the world you'll find around the next comer. There two disks.) Mutants may appear in any of of adventure. are many devices strewn throughout the these places, but you can tell when Conclusions: A great game for begin­ ship, plus a couple of mini-missions they're about to leap at you. ners, or just for die-hards looking for that you'll have to accomplish before com­ Inside the skimpy "manual," you'll familiar feeling of accomplishment after pleting the main one. One involves sav­ find maps of the ship's four levels. With completing a game (you can probably fin­ ing a beautiful woman who's being sized this blueprint and the signs you find ish it in seven-eight hours, if not sooner). up as a tasty morsel by alien beings. along the way, you can tell which hall I was really impressed with Firestart and you're in and may then move easily from hope Dynamix makes more games on this Graphics and Music one place to another. difficulty level. The balance of game ele­ The graphics are excellent. Your char­ Elevators enable you to move between ments is perfect-plus, you get blood and acter and his surroundings are depicted levels, but they're not laid out systemati­ guts! in vivid color. The room takes up most cally. Some connect just two levels. The of the screen, leaving enough space for pair of lifts in the ship's center will reach Skill Level: Beginner bars indicating health and laser energy, a all four levels; from the place you get off, Protection: Program however, you may not be able to make it Price: $29.95 By Russ Ceccola to certain locations on those levels. Even- Company: Dynamix/EA some public domain software pro­ grammed by a ten-year-old. But graphics Scavengers of the Mutant World aren't everything .. .let's get down to the game itself. Lau-not a nice place to spend your now what? There's no apparent increase The premise is good-quite a nice idea summer vacation, but good enough for a in the standard of living for gathering up a few hours of idle playtime. The lands all this stuff and sticking it in a storeroom to do an outer space RPG. Even character of Lau are the setting for a new tale of back in Lau. If the designers had put in a creation was innovative: so many new the war-ravaged future, where the village few quests like "Go forth and bring back traits and professions! That, however, elders have sent you and the '47 De Soto was the only redeeming feature in a vast three compatriots on a mis­ of the Gods, or wasteland. Travel on the surface was bor­ sion to scavenge the country­ 'r :- die trying!" I'd ing. Auto-mapping of interior locations is side for food, equipment and have been a lot fme, except that you tend to concentrate artifacts to help improve the oJ ... ~ ... I.~;' happier. on the map and not your actual surround­ standard of living for all. Conclusions: ings. Characters were easily replaced and At fIrst I had high hopes As I said be­ not worth building up. for this game. The descrip­ :a;)I 0 -.-_0 .. __ r-l• fore, most of I guess I'm spoiled, but it would have - " tion on the box reminded me my negative been nice to have seen a more sophisticat­ of another game in this gen­ feelings weren't ed combat system. One of the game's ma­ re-Interplay's Wasteland- ' the program's jor flaws is in how it handles battles. The but at least initially I was dis- fault, but due to review I read mentioned that this tactical appointed by its apparent lack of plot or my disappointment with the game's fail­ combat system is unique, and credited story. After much consideration, howev­ ure to deliver on the packaging's promis­ MarsSaga with an innovative approach. er, I found that trying to compare Scav­ es. Scavengers is a nice, simple RPG that What about the combat system in Wiz­ engers to Wasteland was like comparing beginners will find enjoyable and ard' sCrown's, released a few years ago? Apples to Amigas ... er, ah ... Oranges. interesting. At least the computer didn't stick charac­ However, Scavengers does has a few really nice features of its own. Skill Level: Introductory ters behind walls in that game. And when One unusual feature is the variety of Protection: None the computer resolved combat, you didn't effects caused by radiation. Instead of Price: $54.95 have time to cook a ten-meal course just killing you, rad zones will some­ Company: Interstel/EA while you waited. 0 times mutate you. Mutations range from If there's an obstacle, the characters of­ laser-vision to increased strength in one ten get stuck somewhere, unable to get in hand, to stupidity or increased sensitivity on the action. Additionally, the same _____.. to pain (damage). Kobold Korner things can occur even if you choose to .. There are two manipulate your characters directly. To Type: Science After reading the review of Mars Saga in modes for combat the February QB, I couldn't wait to run add insult to injury, the computer takes an Fiction RPG commands, Direct down to the nearest software guild and inordinate amount of time to complete the and Relative, Systems: mM plunk down some hard-won gold pieces battle. You get the option of watching the which relate to (256K required; for what appeared to be the beginning of fight (if the computer is running the bat­ how you position tle), but combat takes just as long when CGA only; both your icons for a great adventure! I sidled up to the coun­ ter and breathlessly requested my very watching a blank screen as it does when disk fonnats movement and you watch. included) battle. And you own copy. The clerk looked at me strangely and went to fetch it. He knew The February review lauded the battle Planned Con- can choose from graphics. I can't help but wonder what versions: three methods for I'd bought almost every adventure game ever published, so perhaps I should have other RPGs that reviewer has played. The Amiga entering keyboard characters aren't easy to identify, since 1-_.;;..___ .... commands: you taken his strange expression as a may type in a warning .... they aren't displayed in different colors or command's full text, an abbreviation­ I hurried home, donned my vac suit, holding different kinds of weapons, as or, for all you function junkies, you can grabbed my arc gun and prepared to do they are in most games involving tactical rely on F-key/ALT/CTRLISHIFT com­ battle. Having played all ofEA's previ­ combat today. When characters tum, they binations, a la WordPerfect. ous adventures, I anticipated a quality look like fingernail clippings! Not only There's also a built-in hi-res shape ed­ product My frrst clue should have been was I not impressed, I felt annoyed that 1 itor that enables you to to change your the documentation-there wasn't enough had actually bought the game. party members' physical appearance in to keep a camp fire going long enough to Is something up at EA? Are they trying the picture that's seen over your stats-if check my hit points. After the extensive to save money? Have all their program­ you're artistically inclined (personally, I documentatian I've come to expect from mers taken a kobold to lunch and never have a hard time drawing a straight line EA, I was dismayed to see a flimsy and returned? How can a company that offers with a ruler.) But because they're in uninformative few pages masquerading Bard's Tale have the nerve to sell this CGA only, graphics are weak-too bad shoddy game? The reviewer states that they didn't have the guts to work in as a manual. Interestingly, someone at EA must have felt the same, since they Mars Saga is one of the most entertaining EGA or VGA mode. Sound effects are RPGs he's played in "the last month or minimal, and I've heard better sounds actually printed the words "The Manual" on the cover! so." I'd dearly love to know which ones come out of a pay phone. were worse, so I can avoid them! Innova­ But the most disturbing drawback is Oh well, I've handled games with illu­ sionary documentation before... let's give tive MarsSaga is not. Overall, it didn't do its lack of "payoff' for all your efforts. a thing for me-other than serve as a So you go out and fmd all this junk- it a try, I thought And I did, but wish I hadn't The graphics are not reminiscent newly formatted disk. Beware! of Bard's Tale, as the QB review led me By Bruce E. Wiley to believe-they more closely resembled By Bonnie Barber

QuestBusters 11 that are right off the scale (only the word sounds of blade against armor and an oc­ Prophecy HIGH is seen). Beware of casting it in casional squeal of agony as some of the Continued from page one close quarters, though. If caught in the monsters meet their makers. range of the spell, you will be permanent­ Though it didn't pack a lot of punch, this ly disabled. Not even Save, Load and The Flip Side weapon siphons energy from your dying Quit will help---only the Ignominious Prophecy is not without its flaws, but foe and transfers it to you. Used in con­ Control-Alt-Delete spell can get you out most are mere quibbles. For one thing, cert with a powerful sword, it could be of this one! gold is plentiful, but the ways to use it are quite devastating. Others may disagree, but I find this re­ few. There were three people in the city Much of the action is the usual hack freshing. In a world where magic exists, of Nermon who would take some gold to and slash. Don't let this fool you though, why must it always be com­ heal you, restore your for there are several places where you pletely beneficial to the per­ spell points or give you must answer questions to prove you've son casting the spell? Like extra spell points, and been paying attention. You might be any other tool, common only one merchant with a asked the name of a creature you've en­ sense should be applied, or it respectable suit of armor countered, or you might need informa­ could backfire with disas­ for sale. I'd like to have tion obtained only by making notes about trous results. seen at least two each of some of the room descriptions. these characters instead One thing that you can be fairly cer­ Sig ht and Sound of only one. tain about if it's moving, kill it! If it is Monochrome graphics are And I wished for some­ stationary, it might still be an enemy, but not directly supported, so one to buy ihe extraneous talking to it might lead to valuable clues. Hercules owners will probably have to gear and identify some of the more am­ Who knows, maybe this particular beast use a CGA emulator like SoftGraf to run biguous items. It would have been nice to is the only one who can restore your hit the game. Of course Prophecy looks best allow the Priests to bless weapons and ar­ points. with any of the advanced I6-color stan­ mor, making them magical. Basically, I'd dards, but runs about 50% faster in CGA just like to have been able to spend my Spelling Bee mode. Only on 4.77 megahertz machines gold a bit more freely. Besides the physical weapons, there does speed become a problem on screens There is also a bug that occasionally are 31 magic spells. All are available to with lots of animation. Any turbo XT caused my game to freeze up when I en­ you at the start of the game, but you're class or faster should not have any tered a new area. Chances are, this was too weak to use most of them in the early difficulty . fixed in the final production copies, but stages. As experience makes you a better Advanced graphic driver will reward don't panic if it happens to you. You fighter, it also increases your knowledge you with beautiful color, need only copy the files from the of Thaumaturgy. You have from the flickering torches "MAPS" directory of your master disk instant access to ten spells at on the gray stone of the over the ones on your play disk. (This a time, which are assigned dungeon walls to Steve's also has the added benefit of refilling all to keys FI-FlO. Some of flowing blond hair. Move­ the chests you've emptied.) them seem fairly useless. ment is handled in an es­ Prophecy comes on one 3.5" and two Baepaxjed, for instance, en­ pecially realistic fashion. 5.25" floppies. Joystick and hard drive rages a monster in the target Unlike the usual RPG, are strictly optional, and won't be missed area and makes him attack where your character icon too much if you haven't used them be­ without mercy. Others, like remains constant, this one fore. The disks are completely free of Harlok, a low-level healing actually shows you using copy protection, so you can move the spell, are almost essential to success. your weapon of choice. The Halberd, files around as you like. In fact, the man­ There is also a gritty realism to the with its- greater reach, was especially fun ual recommends that you not use the way magic works in this world. A spell is to watch. Unfortunately, it requires both master disks except to make copies of memonzed by hitting the M key during hands, hence a drop in your defensive them. This is because of changes that are play, which brings up a list of the ones capacity. made to the files of the play disks that you already know. Assign a function key Sound effects were sparse but interest­ would make it impossible to replay the by using the cursor arrows to highlight ing. I was disappointed that such a high game after finishing. There is a form of one of the ten numbers, then press RE­ quality game didn't support one of the key word copy protection that requires TURN and enter the name of the spell. new audio boards, though I'm told that a you to enter the name of a creature whose To increase a spell's power level, four planned sequel will defmitely do so. Nei­ picture you are shown when you change prefixes can be added in front For in­ ther was the Tandy three-channel sound levels. stance, ParHarlok, which restores twice system supported Even so the sound Conclusions: As a designer's first out­ as many hit points as the standard healing wasn't bad. The opening screen was ac­ ing in the realm of fantasy worlds, Proph­ spell, drains twice as many spell points; companied by a Bach minuet that many ecy is a resounding success. Colorful and so far so good. But it also affects beings people will remember from the movie highly imaginative, with fast action and in twice as large an area, so the net result ElectricDreams. in which Edgar, the nice animation, Prophecy plays unlike is that while you are healing yourself "Apricot" computer, played a musical anything I've yet experienced before, and faster, you may also be healing your foe! duel with a classical cellist upstairs. has some really nice twists and turns that A classic example of this magic fall­ During the game, the click, click of resourceful players will appreciate. out can be found in Baenaturlik, which your footsteps, as well as your foes can removes your enemy's ability to move, be heard. This is annoying in some Skill Level: Intermediate or even attack you. This is one of the games, but is such a quiet sound in Proph­ Protection: Key word most valuable tools, particularly in the ecy that nobody is likely to be bothered. Price: $39.95 latter part of the game, where many of The footsteps are punctuated by the battle Company: Activision the monsters vou meet have hit points

12 QuestBusters Deja Vu II Walkthru Adventure Hotline Contmued from page nine Continued from page seven Waiting for Duffy Duffy's checked into the Reliant Laundry: Chute and ers in the air, was added, and the story Hotel California, so contact these Secret Office line and accompanying text was bol­ people if you can help. Operate vonbslfe csbtt Ifz on chute. stered. There's more emphasis on explo­ Open chute. Enter chute. Up stairs. Enter ration (over 250 rooms) than on combat in this menu-driven space adventure, re­ office. Operate ebsu on dartboard. Enter Ultima III: need clues, hints or walkthru Secret Office. Open desk. Take letter leased in June for 512K IBM. It supports the Ad Lib sound board during the title (in addition to ORIGIN's cluebook). from desk. Put djhbs sjoh in desk. Exit screen, and Blacksilver offers no support. Thomas Dauer, HQ V Corps, DEH, Secret Office. Exit office. Open front AETV-EHP-PP, APO, NY 09079 door of laundry. Exit laundry. E (3). MicroProse's New Division Since the MicroProse label is associated Shadowgate: How do I get past drunken Malone's Office mainly with simulators, their new Medal­ hobgoblins? Nathan Franklin, 30 Park­ Enter Lucky Dice Lobby. Enter corridor. ist International division will be handling view Dr, Feeding Hills, MA 01030 Operate elevator button (on itself). Enter adventure, arcade and other kinds of elevator. Operate nbhofu on panel. Exit games. Spider-Man, from that division, is Passengers on the Wind: what are the elevator. Open door to Malone's office. an "interactive, electronic comic book" keys for playing the IBM version? Amit Enter office. Open desk. Put diary , for the IBM: with C 64 maybe this Saraf, n. Kelinci 1 #4, Jakarta 10710 Cpoexfmm's mfuufs and Nvsqiz's month, ST and Amiga next Indonesia. mfuufs in desk. Exit Malone's office. Six Free Issues of QB! Open elevator doors. Enter elevator. Op­ Do you know anyone else on the entire Ultima 2: where can I fmd a hint book? erate button for Lobby (on itself). Exit el­ planet who plays adventures? Get them to Bob Thompson, 3680 Forest Creek Rd, evator. Enter Lobby. Exit Lucky Dice. E. subscribe to QB-and mention your Jacksonville, OR 97350 name when they d~and we'll add six Finale free issues to your sub (four if it's First BattleTech: need more men and Mechs. Turn on printer (if you have one). Enter Class or Canadian, two for overseas.) Can't find way past holographic face in train station. East to Baggage Claim De­ You can even give someone a gift sub­ inventor's hut. Michael Gardner, POB partment Examine sign for "Departures." scription and get the free issues (but you 2036, Bridgeview, IL 60455 Take any departing train. Operate money can't give a gift sub to yourself or a on conductor. Wait household member). And thanks to eve­ Neuromancer, M & M, Ultima 4: need all ryone who has already done so. maps, hints, tips. John Ransbottom, POB Map Key Contest Winners 491, Chesapeake, OH 45619 A: pants, wallet, $10 bill, quarter, faded Hugh Dainer, the winner of this month's newspaper clipping, recent clipping, driv­ "Keys to the Kingdoms" contest, will get FOFT: Does anyone understand FOFT? ers license, trenchcoat, key , penknife the game of his choice. So does Richard Jim Hollingsworth, POB 27, Kelso, WA B: cigar ring, train schedule Nathan, who won the Random Drawing. 98626 C: picture D: chips Walkthrus Wanted Enchanter, Zork 1-3: need help. Miles E: money Solved a quest lately? We're looking for Hastie, 2 Spicer Circle, Unionville, Ont., F: newspaper solutions to these games: The Magic Can­ Canada L3R lX9 dle, Might and Magic II, Wizardry V, G: flashlight, cigar ring, penknife, small Prophecy, Ultima I, II and III, Journey, brass key, overcoat, money Elite: How do you complete Mission Shogun, Zelda I & II and Hillsfar. If Five? Stephen Klick, 1108 Suntree Place, H: boards you've solved one of these, let us know Kansas City, KS 66103 I: phone, unusually shaped key before sending in the solution; if yours is J: bottle accepted, you'll get the game of your King's Quest 3: How do I kill dragon? I K: slot machine choice. (Your solution must follow the have all spells. Ahmad Al-Nusif, POB L: diary, Sugar Shack's car format seen in QB and Quest/or Clues and must be typed, not hand-written or 38305 Dahia, 72254, Kuwait M: wardrobe, uniform, vacuum cleaner, scribbled on the back of the maps with a envelope, McMurphy's letter fading InvisiClue pen.) Space Quest 3: How do I outsmart Boun­ N: toe tag ty Hunter on Pheebut long enough to get 0: box, Bondwell's wallet SSI: Land of Many Colored Boxes on ship before storm hits? Stephen Hertz, P: suitcase, dirty clothes, picture, enve­ SSI games are now in color-coded pack­ 1040 Whalley Ave, New Haven, CT lope, Bondwell's letter ages, to make it easier for you to find the 06515 Q: laundry hamper kind of game you're seeking. To make it R: desk, cardboard box, unmarked brass even easier, here's what the colors mean: silver boxes contain action/arcade-style Police Quest 2: No luck getting divers to key, small magnet games, the white marble boxes hold ac­ Cotton Cove, even tho I have scuba certif­ S: desk ornament, dart tion adventures (like Hillsfar, with ar­ icate and asked Mario and Dipatch for T: desk, letter cade-style events to complete, plus help. Bobbie Mikes, 160 E. 88 St, NYC, U: desk experience points, magic items etc., and a NY long-range quest to accomplish), and the gold ones contain real gold-the fantasy role-playing games.

QuestBusters 13 The Magic Candle Cupid in the pool to get the arrow. For Might & Magic II A good initial party: Zinx, Elfun, Sakar, the feather, jump off the dock and swim You'll flnd an expensive (50,000 a day!) Nehor an6 Rexor. Deramgud is in west to Jeresta's island. To get the bridle, but powerful (level 9 spells) hireling at V cfsj p 0, northeast of the Sanctuary, just swim north to the island after escaping D-3, I, 14; after being released, he shows west of Mblf Csfmmfiu. The chant is: the whale. Go to the bow, fmd the boat up at the Sandsobar Inn. Use him only for Bdivoof, Sftijqubs, Fqjupobhaj. In­ and look on the ground next to it. duplication and similar spells right at the side, visit the god called Valon. Chant Jamil Farshchi Inn. There's a teleporter at C-4, 5,1 that Tibfsbe, ver, tibfsbe, gbfz. When he goes to the Earth Plane (E-4, 6, 4. From grants you a gift, visit the fountains of Neuromancer there, the spell C7-1 is at 14, 1. To reach Strength and Dexterity. The combination Mvqvt (backroom of Njdsptpgu) has the Wind Plane, try the teleporter at A-I, for the teleportal in Dermagud is Cube, Evasion chip and security pass to Sensei 2, O. From there the spell C5-1 is at 1,14. Cube, Cube. It sends you to Yberton. Net ROM Construct Identity #0467839. Hugh Dainer Tonton in Bondell will raise your Charis­ He also has BankGeMeinSchaft account ma if you have enough gold. Chant for number. Good: Decoder, Blowtorch, To remove the Element Orb for Dawn's Vocha: Iplef, Ibgmui, qplboekp. Hammer. Better: Doorstop, Drill. Best: Cavern, give it to one of the hirelings, Dan Engbe Concrete, Depthcharge, LogicBomb. Use then drop him. When you return to the Logic against AI at 0/160, 80; Logic and last town you started from, your hireling Buy a book ofZoxinn for 2,000 at Shiran. Sophistry against AI at 1/352, 112; Phi­ will be there with the Orb. Knock on Fizkreto's door. Buy plenty of losophy against AI at 3/336/160; Phe­ D. C. Dayton, Jr. cubes, spheres and pyramids, the keys to nomenology against Xaviera at 31288, the teleportals. 208. Middlegate Dungeon: before entering, Chris Carlucci Kalen Lowe take the Poor Man's Portal (0, 5), go to 4, 10 and buy meal A. As you leave the tav­ Project Firestart To save 2,000 credits on going to Zion ern, H. K. Phooey will be available at 3, On level two, look in the Ijudifo for a Cluster and Freeside: (1) take all credits 10. Then return to Middlegate and enter flrst aid kit, in Ufssbsjvo tvqqpsu for a from bank (2) get a Musicianship skill the dungeon. If you need more help, go to gun. chip from Julius (3) buy ticket for Zion Vulcana (3, 2), order meal B, and win the Russ Ceccola Cluster (4) after done there, use Musi­ battIe at 4,2 to impress two more hench­ cian chip and play "Dub" for the man (5) men. Walk one square south and Rob the Wizardry V after fmished in Freeside, go to Bank of Dead for the Emerald Ring (AC +15). It's possible to create a party with all the Berne and say you'd like to rob it. Then go one more south and run from the alignments. Roll up a good Fighter, neu­ Dave Kent Snowbeasts to escape. Listen for rumors tral Fighter, Evil Fighter and a Priest, and tip the bartender at each tavern on Thief and Mage. At Gigamesh' s , form a Dungeon Master day 30 and 180. party with the good and neutral charac­ Develop all abilities for all Champions. James B. Simpson ters, then enter the Maze. Immediately Fireball spell is a good general offensive quit and save with "Q" and answer "y" to spell; have some prepared before com­ BattleTech quit this game. Back in town, load the evil bat. If all members have Fireball, the par­ Code for the map room is q fti u, characters at Gig's and enter the Maze. ty will be hard to beat Note which side cfokbojo, tIzf, tvoofs, szfstpo, Quit and save as before---on the same of the passage a monster and your Cham­ Ibuijm, bdifsobs. square. In town again, enter the utility pion are on: a Champion on the right Amit Saraf "From Edge of Town" and restart the par­ would waste an attack if he struck at a ty. Highlight the entire party, and you'll monster on the left side. Also, on the Gold Rush have a group both previous parties, so fourth level, near the stairs down, is a Brooklyn: close your account, sell house eventually your group can have a Nina, room full of Screamers. They can pro­ for money. If going by sea, buy fruit. Lord, Samurai and Bishop. vide food and flghting practice for Wiz­ You have fourteen seconds before the Brian Swander ards and Priests. Screamers regenerate; rush begins. Put gmpxfst on your after exploring the flfth level awhile, re­ qbsfout' hsbwft. Land route: unhitch Deathlord turn to hack' em up again. the team and mpdl xiffmt on the steep The last secret word is tfjzplv. The tooth Don Boudeman hill. Search bcboepofe xbhpo for food. is in Nbmlboui. Buy mature mules. Get Cjcmf from man. Tim Manda Use doors to destroy enemies: stand and Cape Route: get nothing before storm, flght after pushing button to close door, then get pig meat, string, paper clip, pole King's Quest IV so it slams down on them till they retreat metal scraps and flsh. Don't forget the or die. If you retreat, they will follow Cjcmf. Fork, town, etc.: switch the To get the unicorn, you need Cupid's ar­ and escape the door, so you must stand row, a peacock feather and a bridle. Scare mules in the stable (make sure brands and flght To fmd secret passages, check match!). You can fmd gold only 50 times. all walls for trap door levers, buttons and Use letter in your father's grave (12, not rings. In flnal confrontation with Chaos, 21). Hike to Coloma. If you've read the you must force him into a niche with the Cjcmf, you know where to go. Once The Gsff Kbnft Cspxo! gmvydbhf option on the power gem, there, ask for objm. Pan only in the edition of the QuestBusters then the gvtf option. Whenever you try fbtufso river, and never near someone Code: count one the gvtf, he'll teleport; keep following else. letter back-RC = QB. until he traps himself, then gmvydbhf David Auerbach and gvtf. James R. Davis IV Continued on page flfteen

14 OuestBusters cients, $15. Eugene Lin, 3947 Arthur, Lincol­ Buy/trade: Ultima I, Wasteland. Will trade ul­ wood, IL 60645 tima 5, Wizardry I, Pool of Radiance. John Ransbottom, POB 491, Chesapeake, OH Wanted: Impossible Mission. L. Brooks, 425 45619 East Dr, E. Alton, IL 62024 Trade: Project Firestart, Barbarian 2. M & M, Will trade Deathlord with clue book for Might AR: Dungeon, Last Ninja 2, Faery Tale, more. & Magic n. Bruce Menard, 324 S Boyer Ave, Want Heroes of Lance, Magic Candle, more. •Trade or sell your old adventures with a Sandpoint, ID 83864 Send list Also want Amiga traders. Robert free ad. (Adventures only. no pirated Perez. 1140 Burke Ave, Bronx, NY 10469 software. limit of 10 games per ad. Sell, $10@: Gemstone Warrior, Gemstone Please state system. . Healer, Expedition Amazon. $15 @: Mystery Sell: Pool of Radiance, Bard 2-3, Captain House, Empire of Overmind, Realms of Dark­ Blood, more. Send for list. Also want Amlga ness, Suspended. $20@: Bard's Tale, Ultima traders. Nathan Franklin, 30 Parkview Dr, APPLE 5, Wizardry. Will trade for or buy Timeship. Feeding Hills, MA 01030 Trade/sell: ACS, Bard 1 & 3, Legacy of An­ Write 1st. Gayle Ann Stanford, 3281 Foxgate cients, Ultima 2 & 4, Deadline, Zork Trilogy Dr, Memphis, Tn 38115 Sell--$lO: Breakers (or trade for Essex). Paul w/hints, Wishbringer, M & M hint book & su­ Shaffer, 1705-C 0' Shea Ave, Bowling Green, per-characters. Mike Jasper, R R 2, Box 65, Macintosh: 15 original Mac adventures, KY 42104 Worthington, IA 52078 write for list. D. M. Campbell, 9772 Via Pa­ via, Burbank, CA 91504 Trade/sell: Autoduel, Faery Tale, Alter Ego, Sell: Ultima 5,lkari Warriors, Black Magic, Shard of Spring, Roadwar 2000, Dark Lord, Zork 1 w/clue book, Shadowkeep, Aztec, GS: Dungeon Master, Warlock, War in Mid­ Tass Times, Defender of Crown, Beyond Wishbringer, Hacker, Death in Caribbean, dle Earth, Shadowgate, Questron 2, Bard 1-2, Zork, Friday 13th, more. Send your list. Bob more. Send for list Brendan Hayes, 258 Tower of Meglan. And Apple 2 versions of M Greenfield, 106 Heritage Dr, Freehold, NJ Windsor Dr, Bolingbrook, IL 60439 & M 1-2 and Wasteland. $20@. P. Matta, 07728 113 Carriage Crossing, Middletown, CT Trade/sell: Black Cauldron, Eidolon, Apshai 06457 AMIGA-Heroes of Lance, Hostage, more. Trilogy, Star Trek 2, King's Quest, Sundog, Want BattleTech, Sword of Sodan, Twilight Legacy of Ancients. Todd Howell, Rte 1 Box COMMODORE Zone, others. Will swap lists. Tracy Gross, 161, Pleasant Hill, NC 27866 Trade/sell: Bard 2/3, Wizardry, Pool of Radi­ 2203 Park Ave, St Joseph, MO 64503 ance w char. editor. Want Ultima 4-5, Ques­ Pool of Radiance, $25. $20 @: Neuromancer, tron 2, Wizardry 2. Jeff Behnke, 2691 Glen AMIG A--$10 @: Dark Castle, Barbarian, Bard 3, Bard 2 w/cluebook. Legacy of An- Valley, Leonard, MI 48038 Continued on next page

Continued from page fourteen it to circuitry. Check diagnostic comput­ puzzles just for the sake of arriving at the er. Sit and type dpnqvufs to access con­ original story's predetermined outcome. To get down the cliff safely, fIrst trols. Use the efgfotf tztufn to escape In this case, I don't know the legends sfmtbtf pyfo. If going west, you must (fIrst activate your radar and shields). well, and had the impression that Lance­ leave the campsite at the right time. Ed Pflager lot's authors tried to follow Malory at the (Leave too soon, and the plains will be expense of playability. There is no obvi­ too muddy; too late, and you'll get Phleehut: Enter Worlds of Wonder and caught in a blizzard.) To check condi­ ous reason why certain sequences of sell gem. Take third offer. Buy orat on a events develop as they do in the game un­ tions, go behind the wagon and walk stick and underwear. After Terminator's north. When the plain's mud recedes, less it is because that's whatLe Mort waming, quiCkly return to the screen d' Arthur requires. So if you're a die-hard save game and ubml to dbqubjo. showing your ship. Avoid the ship's en­ - CarILund fan of the Holy Grail [not Monty Py­ trance and go west to lure the Terminator thon's version!], or if your computer under the pods. Then use psbu to grab which lets you take advantage of the col­ Space Quest III his belt. Monolith Burgers: Buy Monolith To get off the junk ship, repair the large or graphics, you might enjoy the game. fun meal and eat it at the table. Play vide­ Otherwise, save your money. spaceship in the BattIeBot's Head (you ogame at slow speed (use pull-down need a warp motivator, nuclear reactor, menu) until secret message appears. Use ladder and SQ-approved wire. The moti­ Skill Level: Advanced sjoh. Protection: None vator's near the escape ship at the start of Russell Greenspan the game. Use pwfsitbe hsbccfs to get Price: C-64, $29.95; others, $39.95 it and put it in the rear section of the new Company: DatasoftlElectronic Arts ship. Examine wire in spdlfu cpptufs Lancelot tifmm two screens east of ftdbqf tijq. Continued from page three Next Issue Take good wire on left Ladder and reac­ tor are in sbu't mbjs. Go south on con­ Shogun trol room ramp and you'll fall down a Conclusions: While Lancelot shows a Tangled Tales chute that leads there. Examine light lot of loving attention to the Arthurian wires to locate reactor. A rat mugs you legends, it runs afoul of the basic prob­ Hillsfar right before you leave, but just return to lem with all computer adventures based War in Middle Earth the lair to get your wire and the reactor on previous books, fIlms and so on: Guardians of Infinity back. Get ladder after climbing out of the whenever you stick too closely to the plot of the original, players who already know lair. Use ladder to climb up on the ship And more news. clues & reviews! and enter roof hatch. Put reactor in open the story will be bored, and those who floor compartment Use wire to connect don't will feel forced through arbitrary Continued from previous page Sell-$20 @: King's Quest 1 & 4, Phantasie 3, Ultima 4 & 5. Maniac Mansion, $15; $10 Arctic Fox, Beyond Zork. $5 @: Trinity, @: TWilight Zone, Defender of CrOWJ1-()r Passport to Moonmist, Mind Forever Voyaging, Bally­ will trade for any Bard's Tale or Wizardry. L. hoo, Wishbringer. Paul Shaffer, 1705-C K. Miller, 256 Azalea Dr, Kissimmee, FL Adventure O'Shea Ave, Bowling Green, KY 42104 32743

mM & QUEST-AUKES Sell-$10@: Space Quest I, King's Quest 4, For the next few months, we won't be Trade/sell: Bard 1 + cluebook, $20. $15 @: Manhunter, Leisure Larry 2, Sherlock Holmes selling any computer games. We're set­ King's Quest 3 + cluebook, Ultima 3 w/same, (lnfocom), Roadwar Europa. $20@: Wizard­ ting up a new system for doing so, one By Fire & Sword, Wizard's Crown, Roadwar ry I, Ultima 4. Want: Maniac Mansion, Zak that will provide much faster and more 2000. Want Ultima 4, AutoDuel, Sentinel McKracken, Wasteland, Pool of Radiance, or send list. Pete Kenny, 14 Cimarron Dr, Tro­ efficient service than in the past Mean­ Worlds. T. Dauer, HQ V Corps, DEH, AETV­ while, QuestBusters' products are still NY phy Club, Roanoke, V A 76262 EHP-PP, APO, 09079 available at the same low, low prices. Trade: Pirates, AR: The City, Captain Blood, Sell/trade: The Colony, Leisure Larry 2, Po­ Future Magic wcluebook, BattleTech, Heroes lice Quest 2, Hollywood Hijinx. Send list or Quest for Clues I: $24.99 of Lance, Pool of Radiance, King's Quest 4, requests. Marlene Simmons, POB 72, Rich­ Quest for Clues II: $23.99 (till Juy 30) Starflight w/cluebook, Alien Fires. Want Wi­ ford, CT 05476 QB Map Kit (includes US/APO shipping, zardry 3, Star Command, Roadwar 2000, Ro­ Canadians send $3 US for shipping) mance ofTIuee Kingdoms. K. Lowe, 4412 Sell: Essex, $10; Leisure Larry 2, $25 or trade Kit A: (for text/graphic games) $8 Pacheco St, San Francisco, CA 94116 for Police Quest 2. Paul Shaffer, 1705-C O'Shea Ave, Bowling Green, KY 42104 Kit B: (for role-playing games) $8 (Each kit contains 75 sheets of mapping Trade Wasteland (both disk formats) for Fu­ ture Magic (5.25" disks). Andrew Pollak, ATARI paper designed for that kind of game, 2002 Regis Dr, Davis, CA 95616 8-bit-sell only: Alternate Reality, Ultima 1 plus a plastic mapping template that re­ & 2, 7 Cities of Gold, Gemstone Warrior, Re­ duces the amount of redrawing the same Sell/trade: Space Quest 1-2, King's Quest 3-4, turn of Heracles, Zorro, more. Write for list. maze over and over and over. Police Quest 2, Leisure Suit 2, Defender of Bob Albright, 912 Mt Rose Ave, York, PA Mapping Template $2 (includes Crown. Any disk size, but want 5.25" for De­ 17403 shipping except overseas, which is $2). fender. Rafael Marcano, Guayabal F-92, Lago Alto, Trujillo Alto, PR 00760 S T -sell or trade: Phantasie 1 & 2, Mercen- . ary, Moebius, Captain Blood, more. Bob Alb­ US orders, enclose $3 shipping & han­ dling for the book. $6 to Canada & APO, Trade/sell: Ultima 5, Wizardry 4, Future Mag­ right (See above for address). ic, Questron 2, Star Command, Autoduel, Pi­ $12 overseas. AZ residents add 5% sales rates, ACS, more. Send SASE for list. MISCELLANEOUS tax. Send checkS payable to QuestBust­ Michael Noth, 26 Regal Lane, Iowa City, IA Wanted: Book of Adventure Games I. L. ers, with your street address, not a Post 52240 Brooks,425 East Dr, E. Alton, IL 62024 Office Box.

Bulk Rate QuestBusters U.S. Postage PAID POB 32698 Tucson /lZ Permit No. 3056 Tucson, AZ 85751 Forwarding and Return Postage Guaranteed Address Correction Requested

YOUt-( l::)UI:H:iL:I