TM QUfST1'USTfRS The Adventurer's Newsletter Vol. Ill,# 5 May, 1986 WIZARD'S CROWN: Fantasy at War There's only one reason to buy this game: icon depicts the party. In most shops and or (M)ake camp. In camp, priests can pray to conduct war game-style battles with markets you just get a menu or text for healing, rangers can use first aid, money spellcasters and sword-swingers instead of description, no fresh graphics. And the may be pooled or transfered, the game saved, tanks, half-tracks and infantry units. The graphics you do get look pretty lo-res from and other housekeeping chores attended to. graphics are dim, the animation is crude and this side of the screen. Outside the city Simple menus facilitate all actions. the sound effects are straight out of a box of gates you'll discover ruins and grasslands. There are three bizarre war game elements Kellog's Rice Crispies. Dungeons and the lengthy combat scenes are that seem out of place in a fantasy, even one However, Wizard's Crown does offer shown with an overhead view of the roorr.'s with tactical aspects: ratings for morale and unprecedented freedom in developing your layout and a horizontal view of characters, visibility -- and the fact that one of your characters by "spending" experience points to monsters and scenic elements such as trees or gang must be a point man who walks ahead improve the traits you want to concentrate tables. of the group to scout for ambushes. A point on, and some role-players may be intrigued SSI has grafted the command interface man? After seeing this, I grew concerned with this facet of the system. (You can from its war games onto this one: to move that one of my fighters might break down spend money at the training grounds for the in one of eight directions, you hit a key from with a case of Vietnam syndrome and start same purpose.) It also delivers an enormous 1-8. On the surface, your main commands shooting the others. range of traits -- 30 of them -- for your are to (S)earch the area, (C)heck a character Continued on page 2 characters, though I get the impression someone spent a few nights poring over a D & D manual. THE The goal -- don't tell me you've already BLACK CAULDRON guessed it -- is to find a 's crown, once Based on the Disney film, Cauldron begins effects are limited on the Apple. Of course, worn by the head of the Fellowship of outside a hut in the land of Prydain, with the graphics look crisper and more colorful Wizards who ruled this fantasy land. Then you directing the actions of a young boy on the IBM. you've got to return it to Kaitar the wizard in named Taran. Through Hen Wen, a psychic Because it is aimed at a young audience, the city of Arghan. The begins in chicken, you learn the Homed King is after the game has no parser. Jab a button on the Arghan's Crossed Swords Inn, where a crew the Black Cauldron, intent on using its joystick and a small window appears and of up to eight new characters can be created. magic power for evil ends. The enchanter offers three selections: look, use, and do. You can save time by using the pre-rolled Dallben, Taran's foster father, tells you to These are selected by highlighting one, then party on the disk. Any character can be hide Hen Wen so the Homed King can't use hitting another button. (Keyboard control is renamed and outfitted with one of 23 icons. her powers to locate the Cauldron. also available for these functions as well as Of course, the minute you get on the road for guiding Taran about.) Similar men us 1WO CLASSES IN ONE a winged fiend called a Gwythaint snatches facilitate saving and loading games, checking Qualification for the classes -- fighter, you both, drops you in a distant place and inventory, and other common actions. To thief riest, sorcerer and ranger -- is disappears with Hen Wen. You've got to "do" something, Taran must be standing next determined by intelligence, and a smart find the chicken, keep her from the villain, to the appropriate item, such as a door. Brief character can hold down two jobs. With and locate the Cauldron before he does. The text at the bottom of the screen tells you intelligence of 10, a new recruit could cast includes fairies, a princess, a wandering what's just happened. become a priest-ranger or a sorcerer-fighter, musician with a magic harp, a trio of The problems aren't overpowering, but for example. Two drawbacks to character witches and a furry creature, the Gurgi. after solving the game you can go back and creation: you can only save eight characters Disney's computer software team try to complete it another way -- mulliple and will need them all for a party, so you collaborated with Sierra on the game, which solutions make this adventure more can't have reserves. And new characters start displays the same bright, detailed graphics replayable than most. And it's tricky enough without any money, eliminating the popular and subtle pastels seen in Sierra's other 128K that some adults in the crowd will enjoy the "dummy" scam for generating a lot of money adventures. Stored on both sides of three game. Various random events occur without slaying a single ore. disks, there are 73 3-D locations to explore, throughout the story, so you'll really have to Skill abilities vary according to class. and access time isn't bad considering the pay attention to score all 230 points. A That's why the manual says half the people complexity of the graphics being retrieved. general map of Prydain, showing the Horned in your party should have two professions. It uses the animated, joystick-controlled King's castle, the hut, and other landmarks, In a game with such emphasis on Class system from the King's Quest series. Taran may help you get your bearings. types, I was confounded to find that nowhere can walk behind trees, swim streams, and Cauldron is a perfect outing for young does it display the class of your characters. move around much more entertainingly than adventurers, a satisfying one for older gamers To keep track of which one is the priest and the animated figures in Rings of Zilfin. who want to lean back in the chair instead of which is the thief, you must give them Sometimes an entire scene is animated, and hunching over the keyboard. related names. The icons are helpful, but are it seems like you're watching a slick cartoon. only displayed in the dungeons or during This happens when the Gwythaint snatches Computer: Apple (128K), IBM PC & jr certain types of combat sequences. you and the chicken, for example. Six Planned Conversions: Amiga, ST In the town, you'll see uninspired visuals animated arcade sequences are included. Skill Level: Novice shown from an aerial view; a two-character You'll hear eight melodies; other sound Price: $39.95 WIZARD'S CROWN ADVENTURE HOTLINE Continued from page 1 Bard's Tale II should see Ultima V a lot sooner, maybe by Characters with the proper skills can arm next summer. (Origin's latest is Ogre, a themselves with an arsenal of swords, Better hurry and finish off Mangar -- Bard's tactical war game based on the Steve Jackson crossbows and 23 other weapons. Each Tale II is around the comer. The Arch board game.) Questron II is a reality, but sorcerer knows all 22 spells from the start, Mage's Tale (a tentative title) will be easier SSI says they're not sure the authors will but won't have enough power to cast the in the early stages, because so many people give it to them. strongest ones early in the game. Priests can complained that the first part of the original count on six prayers for healing and other game was too tough. It will be released Infocom's Next Game functions; they have no combat prayers. simultaneously for Apple and Commodore Trinity will be the first Infocom story to When you run into a pack of monsters, a machines this fall. BT is expected to go recreate historical events in authentic text screen announces "thief' or "thugs" and "gold" with 100,000 sales. A pair of ACS locations: atomic bomb tests in Siberia, asks if you want to use the quick combat author Stuart Smith's classics, Ali Baba and New Mexico, a South Pacific island, and system. Do so and an all-text screen shows Return of Heracles , are being spruced up for even outer space. You play a tourist the party's status and amount of damage each release on the same disk under the name Age vacationing in London on the eve of nuclear member has suffered; you can always pause of Adventure (Apple and C-64/128). Look war. After escaping into a world of magic, to study it. Hit and spell points are not for this in September. EA is also doing a you must travel through time to visit all the shown. (Wounds are of two types, injury summertime graphic adventure. And test sites in an effort to change history and and bleeding; these may be normal or serious Amnesia, their premier all-text adventure, stop the bomb. Brian Moriarty, who wrote in nature.) If allowed to use magic, you should be out by July at the latest Apple Wishbringer, says "magical things can can't decide which spells are cast And you first, then Commodore. happen anywhere in the game." It's the first . can't change weapons to fit the situation. puzzle-oriented game in Infocom's Interactive The screen flickers a few times, numbers Fiction Plus series (128K, 512K on change in the damage report, then you get to Double Hi-Res Graphics the bodies. (Talk about logical Oo-topos is Penguin's first Comprehend Macintosh), and should be out by June. Infocom has also released Fooblitzky for the inconsistencies: After killing a pack of adventure to boast double hi-res graphics, and wolves, I was amazed to find the animals had they look superb. Future releases of Apple, IBM PC (but not jr), and Atari XL and XE. It's their first non-adventure game, been carrying a key, crowbar and some Crimson Crown and will bandages!) Quick combat is really useless, feature similar graphics. Oo-topos is out a board-style strategy game -- with graphics! -- for two-four players. since you shouldn't bother with Crown now for the Apple. Any day: Mac, ST, unless you want to play out the 15-45 Amiga, C-64, IBM & Quest-alikes. Thanks Adventurer's Pub Busted minute-long tactical combat scenes. to routines from Commodore, Penguin's In these the program first builds a map of C-64 versions now have faster disk access The Scarlet Bard. a popular tavern in the terrain. Then you enter the placement than their counterparts on the Apple. downtown Skara Brae, was padlocked last phase, moving each character's icon into a week after the bartender was arrested for tactically sound position. Characters take More from Mindscape serving ale to minors -- a pair of teenage ores greater damage if hit from an unshielded side, from the hinterlands who were celebrating as in most war games. The enemy icons If you liked Deja Vu, look for spring break. Mindscape's Uninvited, which was also done dash for your team's throats, with some by Icon Simulations. (Macintosh, ST, animated sword-swinging and spellcasting. Amiga) For the same machines, their Planned Conversions You direct your team members individually. Here's a sample combat menu: animated adventure, B'rataccas, looks like Macintosh: P hantasie, (Questron is on Mindscape's best game so far. The indefinite hold), King's Quest I and II, Fast Eddy company's latest all-text games, High Stakes Ultima IV Injury: 0 Bleeding: 0 Life: 30 and Goldfinger, were set for a May release. Atari ST: Phantasie I and II, Wizard's Type order(<-,->), 6, 7, 8, A, D, F, G, H, I, Grown,-Mindwheel,-.Dmgonworld- , Yltima K, Q, R; S, T, V, W, Z, ? = Help Alternate Reality-Club IV, Coveted Mirror, Sundog Atari 800: P hantasie I Datasoft, now known as IntelliCreations, has You can choose an action (A to attack, K Amiga: Phantasie I , Wizard's Crown, formed an Alternate Reality club and is Continued on page 6 sending a free, bi-monthly newsletter to Adventure Construction Set, Ultima IV registered owners. The first issue reveals the IBM: Rings of Zilfln , Ultima IV initial game, The City, has no goal other Commodore: Rings of Zilfln, Phantasie II, QuestBusters™ than mapping the town and developing a Wizard's Crown, Gateway, AutoDuel, Moebius Editor: Shay Addams strong character, which was not mentioned Feng Shui Consultant: Sabona London on the packaging. It's also impossible to Miscellaneous Stuff Contributing Editors: Ron Wartow, Ken join a guild in most versions of the game, St Andre, DWP, Tim Snider nor can you cast spells in any version. The Many new subscribers have asked about company is working on a "text-graphic back issues, which go for $2 each. For a list QuestBusters™ is published monthly by adventure" (whatever that means) based on of the games reviewed in each issue, send a QuestBusters™, 202 Elgin Ct., Wayne, PA the film The Neverending Story. They've self-addressed. stamped envelope. 19087. Annual subscriptions, $15. also got a Sherlock Holmes game on the Due to space considerations, free ads in International (except Canada & Mexico), way. That makes 47 so far, or is it 48? Duffy are now limited to those seeking or $22. Contents Copyright Shay Addams offering free help. And speaking of free, the 1986, All Rights Reserved. Copying winner of our ongoing contest is Michael without express permission is prohibited and Sequels II Gathers of Houston, Texas, who won a copy punishable by being locked in Harkym's Phantasie II looks like a loser. We'll have a of Penguin's Oo-topos. As usual, next Castle with nothing but a dagger and a full report in the next issue. Ultima IV, month's winner will be chosen randomly tattered cloak. Names of the games are Part 2 won't happen, which means we from the sub list trademarks of their respective manufacturers. HELP! HEART OF AFRICA f MR. WIZARD! A well-animated one-player expedition animation. He11 slow down to a crawl. Stuck again? Not a pretty sight, is it? If across 19th Century Africa, this game is swim around in circles, repeatedly fall on his it's a Penguin game you can call them at clearly superior to Seven Cities of Gold, face. or become delirious and tum left when 312-232-1984 for help, or send SASE for a though it uses much the same interface and you yank the joystick to the right You can help sheet. American Software will send a presentation style. A center-screen window always check his health and general location similar sheet to registered owners. If Bard's with one of the icons. shows the location. By highlighting one of Tale has you babbling to yourself in the four icons on the left, you can pick up and In addition to the time-saving auto­ dark. you can get an official clue book with drop objects. consult your map, and do other mapping feature, Africa automatically things. (Everything is joystick-controlled.) records notes of everything that happens. A maps from , Bard's Tale Clue Below, a single text line names your window in your "diary" opens, and you see a Book, POB 7530, San Mateo, CA 94043. location and offers more information. pen scribbling down the event To review It goes for $9.99. "The Way of the The goal is more clearly defined than in the diary, you select the proper icon and ," an official Ultima IV hint book, is Gold. Here you must find the tomb of the mash the button to tum the pages. (This available from EA for $12.95. Either book Egyptian Pharoah. Ahnk Ahnk. which is would have been handy in Ultima IV !). may be also ordered with MasterCard or filled with treasure. Do so and you11 also Each time you start a new game the tomb Visa: 800-245-4525, 800-562-1112 in inherit the valuable estate of Hiram Primm. is hidden in a different location. so there's California. Origin says people are "always who died while searching for the tomb. extra replay value. Dan and Bill Bunten did welcome to call" for help at 603-644-3360. (This background is fully detailed in letters a much better job on this game, mainly by Apple adventurers can get interactive help that make up the documentation.) You start making it easier to interact with the natives. from the AdventureTip disks. The first six (In Gold, I could never figure out what was near Cairo. with $250 in your hand and all disks give menu-accessible walkthroughs to of Africa -- which, if copied on paper the going on. Then a fight would break out, and dozens of games, while # 7 doles out hints same size it appears on-screen. would cover a if I was lucky enough to escape, I would to the Ultimas, 7.ork, Planetfall and more. wall 10 by 20 feet! -- at your feeL always return to the ocean and find my crew Only the immediate vicinity is displayed had sailed away with the boat.) They've also got Adventure Map disks. as your character. a small animated stick­ You might be cautious if using an old They're $10 each, but mention QB for a man, roams the continent. Consult your 1541 disk drive: the reason this game wasn't discount if you buy several: AdventureDisk, map icon and you'll see a bigger map with reviewed months ago is that it would not POB 216, Mercer Island, WA 98040. less detail, but which shows where you've load on the drives of the first two reviewers been and pinpoints your location. Wearing a it was sent to -- but it worked fine on the BOOK OF ADVENTURE ll pith helmet, he is depicted with more detail one in the office. With this in mind, it is Kim Schuette's Book of Adventure /l and several times larger upon entering a highly recommended for anyone who has ($19.95 from HARA/Arrays) offers maps and town; the natives he meets there are also ever dreamed of being Indiana Jones. walkthroughs for 46 recent games spanning animated. In towns he can buy equipment, the era from Infocom's Cutthroats to A Computer: C-64/128 or gifts to trade with the natives. Mind Forever Voyaging. It also covers the To succeed you11 have to give them gifts Skill Level: Intermediate 550-point version of Adventure, Amazon, to convince them to help you find the tomb. Saves: 10 (This is done by bumping into a native while Price: $34.95 Buckaroo Banzai, Crimson Crown, Critical holding something in your hand.) That's Manufacturer: Electronic Arts Mass, Dallas Quest, Dragonworld, Earthly because clues to its location are found in the Delights, Fahrenheit 451, Forbidden Quest, legends of the various tribes. This gets Gateway, Hitchhiker's Guide, Hulk, tricky, for some natives will go wild over a Institute, King's Quest, Kuku.lkan, Lucifer's copper bracelet, giving you a map of Island of Realm, Masquerade. Mind Shadow, otherwise elusive locations, or maybe some CompuServe's latest on-line RPG, Island Mindwheel. Questron, Rendezvous with advice; offer the same piece of copper to of Kesmai is a sequel that embellishes Rama, Ring Quest, Robots of Dawn, another tribe, however, and they might feed greatly on the presentation style of the Seastalker, Spider-Man, Sundog, Suspect, you to the hippos. So there's an element of original. Seen from an overhead view, the Tracer Sanction, Treasure Island, puzzle-solving involved. as well as walls of city's buildings and the dungeons Wishbringer, Wizard of Oz and Sorcerer of managing resources such as food and other are represented with alphanumeric characters. Claymorgue Castle. Plus 10 obscure games gear. Numerous clues are offered in the You need a terminal program that offers that will be of interest mainly to Apple manual, and you get a big map of Africa that cursor control, so you can move the " that owners, an enlightening lesson on how to shows the port cities and some of the key stands for your character in the maze. A terrain features. parser lets you talk to shopkeepers and solve adventures, and a clear tutorial on There are other things to do besides trading conduct most activities; it accepts multiple mapping mazes. with the locals. You can search for jewels commands and understands the pronoun "it." The only "bug" I found in Book ll is the and minerals. which can be sold in The goal is to explore the dungeons, kill incomplete solution and map to Crimson Timbuktu and another inland town (or traded monsters and amass a fortune, so you can Crown. Arrays admits Schuette played an to the natives). You can also make money play forever. Its main attraction is that up "illegally obtained copy" of the game before by discovering new mountain ranges. lakes. to 50 people can play at once. If you see it was finished, so he never found the second or the source of rivers such as the Nile and someone else's character, his name is half of the game. Otherwise, it's an real reporting them to Primm's lawyers. who displayed. This means you can post value, especially for Apple owners. Book I will be found in the six port cities. messages on the Multi-Player game board to comprehensively covered all the previous The graphics are sharp. animation is form parties to enter Kesmai at the same Infocom and other .classic graphic and text effective. sound effects and quick tunes are time and explore as a group. Players can adventures, plus a few RPGs such as the fun, and you don't have to copy a scenario communicate with each other, and if you get disk before playing. When your explorer tired of hacking away at creatures you can Ultima and Wizardry series. It's 100 pages gets sick or starves. the effects are shown via attack another player's character. longer than Book II. STAR TREK Star Fleet One by Ken St. Andre NASA must have had a hand in the design Bugs abound, however. After beaming and testing of this all-text adventure -- it's down to a planet, I read the report "you Alright, Space Cadets! Suck in those riddled with flaws big enough to fly a solid dropped something" each time I moved. stomachs, straighten out those tentacles and fuel booster through. But before the panel Every step of the way I had to hit shift-4 to report to Captain Baldwin aboard the reports its findings, here's the plot take something, then select "1 - tricorder" Republic for another training voyage to the You are Admiral Kirk, taking the Starfleet from the menu. Could Kirk really be so far comers of the universe! Combat begins Academy's final exam. The test is a clumsy? (If it is not a bug, if a logical on Stardate 17.00. Dismissed! computer simulation called the "Kobayashi reason exists for this, it isn't made clear in While working my way up through the Alternative." Your goal is to find Sulu, who the game or manual.) And if you forget to ranks of Starfleet for the past month or so, disappeared on the USS Heinlein somewhere bring the tricorder, no one will beam it down I've been fighting Klingons and Romulans (1 in the Trianguli area. (As an Admiral, you're to you. Why not? Other people can beam mean Krellans and Zaldrons) in an effort to only taking this new test in order to evaluate down. Why can't Spock bring it? Or make space safe for humanity. So far I have its effectiveness for the cadets.) From the Scotty? Did the crew unionize since the TV reached the rank of Commander, qualified for manual you learn there are 10 star systems show, do they draw the line at stoop labor? missions of difficulty level five, lost two you can warp to in search of Sulu. That With a one-drive system, I had to do a lot ships and won two medals. I figure that if I leads to more than 50 planets, many circled of disk-flipping at certain stages. This complete one mission a week, I should make by moons, with a variety of alien life forms always happens after you orbit a planet and Admiral some time in 1990. to meet. The crew consists of Spock, after you scan it. Since these actions are Star Fleet One may be the finest Star Scotty, McCoy, Uhura, Chehov and Renner. logically performed in sequence, you'd think Trek simulation currently available. There Each converses in the familiar and the programmers would have put this data on is nothing radically new or innovative about characteristic dialogue of the TV show. the same side of the disk. You can restore a this program -- just of lot of old techniques The presentation veers from the usual saved game at any time, but cannot restart done right. The program designer is T. course of all-text games. You type without rebooting the program. The Sorenen. It looks as if he might have commands into a thin, one-line window just manual, a hard-bound book with lots of written it all in BASIC; if so, it shows just below center-screen. Above it a large one color, looks good but omits information: a how good a BASIC program can be. . displays "scan" reports on planets and data list of the ten function keys (you have to The game opens with a fade-in of the obtained from the ship's computers, while view the on-screen help list), the need to manufacturer's logo, a beautiful hi-res picture smaller windows intermittently overlay this copy one of disk's sides if using two drives, of outer space accompanied by a musical with conversation from individual that the warp engines will stop dead if you fanfare. Then it changes to a hi-res scene of crewmembers, or inventory and other reports. touch a key. starships in battle, with music from the Below, a horizontal window shows current There are logical inconsistencies and 1812 Overture (1 think -- classical music is position and heading of the Enterprise and continuity problems as well as design and not my forte!). The text says simply, "The the state of phasers, torpedoes, shields and coding defects. What really didn't make war begins." This screen gives you an idea engines. sense is that you can say "set course for of what your ship and those of the enemy Your commands are assumed to be orders earth" and find that "charts show no such look like from the outside. (It's amazing to a crewmember: "system scan" or "warp location." Is that logical, when earth is how closely the Star Fleet ships resemble 8" or "set course for planet 3." The typical clearly shown in the manual's map of the the Enterprise. ) From this point on you're adventure commands -- inventory, get, universe? (A limited vocabulary is the in a pseudo-military situation, a world of examine and six others -- are executed with likeliest culprit in this case.) The manual orders and missions in which you must function keys or a shift-#. If this involves calls Kirk an Admiral, but everyone in the achieve a certain score in order to be taking or using an object, a menu lists the game addresses you as Captain. Was he promoted. In the fourth screen, you log on choices and you press a number to choose promoted by the book's copywriter, or with your name and personal password. one. Moving from place to place can be demoted by the programmer? The 100-page manual provides lots of - done by leaning-o!llhe...cursor keys instead.of_ After a_few hours, the_''little things" piled local color, telling all about the history and typing "n" or "s" -- a feature far more up into an avalanche of exasperation that traditions of Star Fleet and its continuing practical than using function keys for stopped me cold. I just couldn't get into the war with the Krellans and Zaldrons. It commands. In the turbolift, you may say fantasy of being Kirk when the program's makes fun reading, but you don't need it to "transporter" or the name of any section you deficiencies kept snapping me back to reality enjoy the game, which is menu-driven and want to visit and then zoom to the deck it's at warp 12. This could have been an self-explanatory. This manual must be the located on (there are 23 in all). excellent adaptation of the TV show, but it copy-protection scheme, as it contains the There are lots of little snafus in tlle takes more than flashy windows and a well- authentication codes needed to play on the program, but what bothered me most is a known name to make a good adventure. As higher levels, which are much more fun than design flaw that makes it impossible to it stands, Broderbund's Essex , which the unprotected lower levels. figure out when you've done something parodies the series_and its characters, is more From the main menu you can start a new right: you don't get points· for successfully entertaining and true to the spirit of Star mission or resume an old one, view your solving problems, and the score is never Trek. For a "phasers and photon torpedoes" record and scores on all previous missions, revealed until the test is over. (Top score is approach to the same theme, consider Star check how well you're doing on the current 2001.) No multiple commands are allowed Fleet I. Either one can fly circles around mission and score you need to attain a by the parser, and it does not tell you what's this major malfunction of a space adventure. promotion, -examine the status of other wrong if it can't understand you. All you get characters saved on disk, or listen to some is "Alert, you must use Starfleet Protocol." Computer: Apple (64K), IBM PC & jr, mood-setting music. The latter, called the Another weak point is the sparse amount of C-64/128 "Theme of Universe Creation," is the theme text. You'll walk for miles across most Planned Conversions: None for 2001 played in four-voice harmony (on planets, stalk the halls of the ship from stem Skill Level: Intermediate the Atari). Da Da Da Dat-daaaaaa! You can to stern, but rarely read more than the name Price: $39.95 also do "maintenance of data files," but I of the location. Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster don't know what this does -- so far I'm not authorized to use this function. version. In the first nine hi-res scenes, in After your first five to eight trammg Ultima IV on the Atari which you meet the gypsy and make the missions (in which you'll fly the Republic by Ken St Andre transition into the world of Ultima, the C-64 and fight nothing but Krellans who hang I looked forward to this game for a long pictures include these colors: white, black, motionless in space) you get to choose from time and expect to spend a lot of time dark and light blue, dark and light green, 36 individually named Invicible Class playing it. But it seems to me that someone brown, violet, pink, yellow and two shades Heavy Cruisers. As far as I can tell these are at Origin made a bad decision, and we Atari of gray. Plus black and white. This identical to the training ship. And they are users are being shortchanged. The program difference in colors is most noticeable in the definitely the toughest thing in space. If is great, but the Atari version doesn't have gypsy's Tarot cards, which really stand out not, how could you be expected to take out the music and variety of color seen in the on the Commodore but seem quite drab on an average of 50 enemy ships per mission? Apple and Commodore versions. The lack the Atari. Hi-res art in only four colors is Now that you're a Star Fleet officer, the of the first is most noticeable in the long characteristic of Atari graphics 7 .5. The program starts making things more difficult. introductory sequence in which you set up only apparent reason this important sequence The Krellans may move when you don't your character. The absence of the second is wasn't done in Atari graphics 11 mode expect them to, or they may get better at painfully obvious throughout actual (which would have allowed the use of at least deflecting your photon torpedoes. On level gameplay. 16 colors) was so it would run on even 48K three, the Zaldrons appear. They aren't too For this review I was able to directly Ataris like the 400 and 800. This doesn't tough, but are invisible to your sensors. On compare the C-64 version with the Atari seem like a good reason to me, because those level four you face all the above, plus · machines are almost all gone now, replaced intruders who beam aboard your ship during by Atari XLs and XEs with 64 and 128K combat to sabotage things. As you gain enemy shot damages your ship and knocks memory respectively. levels of expertise, the program grows out one of your 16 internal systems for an Actual gameplay looks much like the correspondingly more difficult. This is amount of time determined by the strength of earlier versions of Ultima. On-screen elementary game design, but exceptionally the shot. If too many systems are knocked graphics and animation are done with a well-done in this case. The boost in out, your ship is destroyed; you'll be lucky redefined character set representing characters difficulty is reasonable -- not exponential as to survive in a life-pod. When you move and background. The illusion of movement in Lucasfilm's Eidolon. When I finished out into an enemy-held subsector, they get to is excellent, but no better than previous level four, I was able to score an amazing shoot first That means you may take up to Ultimas. Atari owners have no gripe here. 124% and win a medal. On the first mission six hits before you can strike back. So As far as I can tell, Lord British used exactly at level5 , I had to use all my cunning to eke before doing anything else on a tum, allocate the same technique to provide the graphics as out an 80% score. (75% is passing, but as enough energy to your shields. If you he did for the C-64 version. The only you can see I had a much tougher time of it.) forget, the ship's computer will difference is that, once again, the C-64 uses automatically allocate as much as it can to more colors. On my Atari the forests of GRIDS IN SPACE each of the four shields. This can save you Britannia are brown -- on the C-64 they're a In combat you must capture or destroy 42 some time on the first round of battle, but rich, verdant green. enemy ships in 51.3 days. The ships are once a fight is underway the computer won't In style of play the key difference is that scattered randomly throughout a sector of change the shield settings unless you order the ·C-64 version plays the hauntingly Federation space consisting of 80 subsectors it The enemy has a knack for pounding beautiful Ultima themes (unless toggled on an 8 x 10 grid. Each subsector has 100 away at your one weak shield until hits get oft), while in the Atari game you wander points within it in a 10 x 10 grid. As you through. around in complete silence except for the travel around, you build up a map of what is I enjoy Star Fleet One and hope to make rather noisy crunching footsteps of your where; There will be more enemies than you Admiral someday, but I have one quibble, or character. Earlier versions of the first three need; there will be stars, which serve mainly warning, for you. It really isn't an Ultima games had music. I can only as navigational obstacles; and there will be adventure, and there is no role-playing. It's assume that because of Britannia's larger size up to five starbases, your only friends. As really an arcade game -- another variety of and all the conversations Garriott packed into powerful as your ship may be, you still have "shoot the space, squids and get a high score." this adventure, there simply wasn't enough to resupply with torpedoes and energy several Your crew members remain nameless: no memory in 48K to include the music. Too times in the course of a mission. On levels Mr. Spock or Bones are on-hand to inject a bad! I like the Ultima music. Atari still three and higher, your chief duty is to protect little personality or levity into the game. maintains one advantage over the C-64: disk the starbases from attack. You have no attributes to improves, no access time is three times as fast, which The ship's computer keeps you informed puzzles to solve. Any improvement that speed ups the game considerably. of your current status and also handles things happens is a result of the "real you" sitting like interstellar navigation. You tell it at the keyboard learning better tactics and Editor's Note: Origin System's Dave Albert where you want to go; it sets a course and just what your ship can do. Although it is a says they opted for a 48K program because takes you there. You lock phasers on an kind of arcade game, it is a thinking game, "we're trying to reach the widest market, and enemy ship; the computer maintains that not one of reflexes. My reflexes are just the vast majority of Ataris out there are still lock even if the enemy moves before you can slightly sub-normal, anyway. I'll never get a 48K. Sales of the RAM cards for the Atari fire. Using the joystick you scroll through a great score at Galaxian, but I may become 800 were never high, and the XE and 1200 menu of commands that appear in a window an Admiral in Star Fleet some day. I like didn't sell that well." About the col ors: at bottom-screen, then pick one -- the that "The more colors you use, the less computer does the rest. I like this because Conclusion: Highly recommended for fans resolution is possible, and to get the it's so logical: computer combat vehicles of of Star Trek, or for any other space war resolution we needed you have to program in the future will probably work this way. aficianado. a two-color mode." So Origin feels that The secret to success in combat is shield while the Atari owners with 64K may miss control. As long as all four shields are up Computer: Apple, IBM & jr, C-64, the music and some of the colors, at least the and have energy, your ship cannot be Atari, TI (256K, DOS2+) majority of Atari adventurers don't have to harmed. Every time a shield is hit with Planned Conversions: Mac, ST buy a new computer just to play Ultima IV. phasers, it loses energy equivalent to the hit. Skill Level: Advanced When a shield loses all its energy, the next Price: $49.95 ~~~~~ drawn!) Each character you meet is LAW OF accompanied by his own theme song: an WIZARD'S CROWN ominous dirge for anyone in black. a Continued from page 2 THE WEST vamping tune when the local saloon's to kill, G to guard), then pick a target by barmaid comes out for a chat. I was hitting "n" for next, which highlights the by Tim Snider extremely impressed with all the extra next possible target, then "s" to select the You adjust the brim of your ten-gallon hat touches in these areas, which add a new one you want. Brief text reports describe the as the light of the desert sun catches you in dimension to the word "detail." damage. It's a complex system and requires the eye. A lone tumbleweed blows silently The game is scored on several levels. constant reference to the lucid, 27-page across the dusty deserted street Twenty Your foremost goal is to discover who has manual, but eventually you'll master the paces in front of you is the hombre that information on a crime being committed numerous commands. I actually enjoyed the intends to make your life a mighty short elsewhere in town. The second goal is to tactical battles and had fun fighting in-depth one. His hands sweeps his Colt out of its weed out that information. Third and most battles with swords, flails, spears, and leather like he's done many times before. vital, you must act on it to stop the crossbows. Even so, I know I couldn't handle this through an entire game, supposed You twitch nervously as you make a renegades before they make off with the to last 50-100 hours. desperate lunge for your own weapon before town's funds. You're also scored on how The complex first aid and prayer system his lead can fly. It ain't easy being the well you throw your weight around, how for healing the four degrees of wounds sheriff of Gold Gulch! many bad guys you bring in alive, how well requires more thought than in games where Law of the West is a colorful new game you've done romantically, and how many you can cast a quick spell or pay someone at that's not a true adventure. But there is a rob.beries you've managed to find out about a temple. (Temples here are just good for story of sorts, one that is presented in the and stop. replenishing a priest's karma so he can pray style of graphic adventures and incorporates Your score is reduced for shooting innocent more.) One good point if someone dies, enough character interaction to make it worth citizens, being wounded, and letting the bad the death isn't automatically written to disk, a look -- especially if you like westerns, guys have a field day in the town banks. I and you can simply reboot the program. since few adventures are set in the Old West agree that all these factors should come into As the lawman in the sleepy little town of play when determining your score. This FOILOW THE LEADER The dungeons are presented like the tactical Gold Gulch, you must try to survive until way, you can opt for different strategies to combat scenes, with one key difference. You sundown (a reasonable goal, wouldn't you earn the maximum possible score in each select a character to be active, and the others say?). To do so, you must interact with the category. Will being a homicidal bully get follow as he moves around examining other citizens. Befriending the town doctor you the high score, or must you become a things, talking to people, opening doors, is advisable, but being nice to the stranger smooth-talking Casanova to win over the hopefully gathering clues, keys and so on. who just arrived on the noon stage can lead ladies for those elusive points? These It's possible to shift the lead to someone else to a hole in the chest! Can you get the additional challenges let the player decide and to make any character stand still. Mexicali kid to drop his gun, or do you have which course of action to pursue. Assorted technical considerations: Disk hot lead do your talking? Despite its originality, the games does access is infrequent and fast, and the Apple The entire game is joystick-controlled. have its drawbacks. Once you know the versions supports two drives; five difficulty You pull back on the stick to choose one of correct responses, you can discover the settings determine the speed at which the four possible responses to the comments of robberies without fail. Then the only action enemy attacks; a dungeon's contents can be the character currently facing you. Your you need to worry about is whether or not reset to its original state; to play you must copy both disks. replies range from "Get out of my town, you can outdraw your opponent. And this I like the focus on character development, Buffalo Breath. Now!" to "Oh, please! I isn't difficult after you know how. The since few games allow such freedom in this don't want to fight!" You can play the hero, game is also rigidly linear, in that you can't area. (Actually, few allow any freedom at the sissy, the romantic or the bully. Push choose where to go and who to meet all.) And I like the wide range of traits in forward-en the stiek-and you -Will draw-yeuF- -It's-still a sure-fire,- must-have-game for the system. But there's no soul to 1he gun on whoever is threatening your any true western fan, and I heartily fantasy; in fact there is no fantasy, just a existence. But be careful! Some people recommend it. May your journeys be short war game in wizard's robes. have an annoying tendency to reach for their and the sun at your back as you traverse the So if you enjoy tactical war gaming, you guns in order to give them to you and Old West in Law of the West. Happy trails! might have fun with this one. Don't even surrender. Shooting them greatly reduces look at it otherwise, for as a fantasy role­ your score (but it sure feels good plugging Computer: Apple, C-64/128 playing game it's inferior to almost that loudmouth!). Skill Level: Novice everything I've seen in years. I get the Graphics are the best I've ever seen on the Price: Apple, $34.95; C, $29.95 feeling Wizard's Crown is more than a tactical game, that it's a tactic SSI dreamed Commodore, comparable with those of the Manufacturer: Accolade up to lure their established audience of Amiga or Macintosh. Full-screen pictures of hardcore wargamers into the fantasy camp. the town's streets are seen over the shoulder >> NEXT ISSUE << Or maybe it's the first stage of a campaign to of your on-screen persona, the sheriff. This Phantasie II get fantasy gamers involved in war gaming. unusual perspective produces a new kind of 3- (Or maybe I'm just getting paranoid -- too D effect. The people walk out of saloons Oo-topos many hours in a dungeon can do that to and alleys, or off an arriving train, with Elite anyone.) some of the finest animation I've seen. In The Hobbit the background, other people, carts and Computer: Apple, 48K animals cross back and forth as an added · Psi 5 Trading Company Planned Conversions: C-64/128 Skill Level: Advanced visual touch. (Some even turn around and And More Clues & Reviews! run off-screen for cover if your gun is Price: $39.95 Manufacturer: Strategic Simulatiol1S 6 Waiting for Duffy Spellbreaker: How do you get KEYS TO THE KINGDOMS cube in giant bird's nest? Will Duffy's stuck in a gorilla suit, gladly pay for hints. Have RINGS OF ZILFIN so send in a brief ad if you solved and can help anyone with Early in the game, buy tobacco for $51 in Telboz. Go west and need help. Ultima 2, .3. and ~ Enchanter, sell it for $130 in Perimon. Be sure you have enough purlets & Bard's Tale: How do I speak to Sorcerer, Zork 1,2• .3.. parzins to defeat the K-plants you meet on the way, though. Go priest in Mad Dog's Temple? Hitchhiker's, Mask of Sun, south from Telboz to buy heavy armor, spare bows and arrows. Then M. Amorin, 2955 N. 400 W., Serpent's Star, Deadline, look for a castle to boost strength so you can carry more powerful Aptl 2208, Layton, UT 84041. ~ Planetfall and some of weapons. THEN you're ready to look for the first wizard (west). Spellbreaker - free! Send SASE Bard's Tale: Need lots of help. to M. Kim, 10425 NE 124th BARD'S TALE How do I get past the locked St., Kirkland, WA 98034. [1] Hang on to dead characters and pay to have them revived instead gates? Can help with any of using back-ups. Then they get to keep all the experience points lll.ti!:na, Deja Vu, Ouestron, The Mist How do I start the earned in the session in which they died. You can use two teams: if others. Tracie Hines, 104-40 truck? Ouestron: Mesron wants one gets killed, send out the second team to earn enough $ to revive Queens Blvd., Forest Hills, NY to see me; how do I find him the first one. [2] The name of the Mad God is found in the sewers. 11375. in castle? Can help with [3] C-64/128 players: you can speed up/slow down combat reports Mindwheel, Tracer Sanction, by pressing right/left cursor keys. Alice in Wonderland: Got Amazon, Mindshadow, Alice's brolly from boat, found Dragonworld. Call/write Karen INCA way down rabbit hole, gave Lee, 444 Bridgton Rd., To find the Pauladium, go to the Condor's nest. You need Indio to maramalade to mouse for a song Westbrook, ME 04092. (207) guide you there. He is in the re:;> :S a r ~ -. ~ c::> 4' + r t:::;t ~ but & am now stuck in house with 797-7985. r~mains invisible until the rc:;>:S ar~ ...... ~ c::>"'+ leave. To get doors too small for me. Help! ndofthem, .. t:::;t.., ...... 1)c:;>~~c:>+ inthe .. .r, ...... ~ ..,0. 0 Frank Lee Linne, POB 45, La ·Need clue on Ice Maze in New Vernia, TX 78121. Adventure. David Aullfather, 00-TOPOS 13209 Dossau Rd., Austin, TX The maze with the "strange floor " is really just six rooms, and it Need help with Sundog and 78753. helps to map them immediately by dropping objects. Need light? ~· Can help with G~ to main gravtube ro?m and head north. Now you want a space lnfocom and others. Chris ~ Have found clue under smt? How about the! :S••:SfO a""+~' .t+:S~? ~·~+r Muller, 514 SW 34th St., Apt blood; had Holmes decipher "'c:>a tillyougetthere,then +c::>~•Tr !"g..,.~ ·o • . 8 6., Gainesville, FL 32607. both messages; identified all parties but dwarf; climbed BALLYHOO Free help on all Infocom ladder; tried to close closet door. Can't get into the midway? Try looking at your ~o fQO ~ and adventures, up to 330 points on Now what? Anyone know following instructions, then put it in slot. Spellbreak:er. Also Ultima 3 and words so I can reach fireplace to ROGUE Mindwheel. Some Ultima ~. fmd secret passage? J. Swienty, Send SASE to Matt Friedman, 7951 Saloma Ave., Van Nuys, !he Amulet first appears on level 26. If dropped or not picked up, it 108 Lewis Lane, Oak Ridge TN CA 91402. is lost forever. To identify items, copy a saved game onto another 37830. If you have more than disk. Restore the saved one and use identify scroll on other scrolls 330 points in Spellbreaker, Fraktured Faebles: Said what rings: w~apons. It also works on most staffs. Identify armor b; please write. I need help. the note said to say to bees but wearmg it. Make notes on everything, quit, and copy the other saved still can't remove them. Or kiss game back to the master disk. Use call command to name Can help with Ultima 2, ~ frog, get to tea party, or stick everything you have identified. Drop useless items like cursed .3.. & Masquerade. Michae letter on sign. Can help with armor, save game and repeat process until all items are identified. Gathers, 1419 Heathwood Dr., many game, including [Some useless or marginal things to drop if you have too much: Houston, TX 77077. Spellbreak:er. T. Walsh, 116 poison or confusion scrolls, create monster scrolls, staff of haste Homestead Cr., London, monster.] Then return to playing with copy of first saved game. Ultima 4: What is pure axiom Ontario, Canada N6G 2E8. ~is month's help came from Ken St. Andre, K.C. Mulcahy, Ralph and the word? N i11(; Princes in Kinney, Joe Humphrey, and Stephen King. If you have any clues, Amber: How can I win both Amazon: Need all the help I answers and strategies to new games, send them in. We are Bleys & Gerard to my side, or can get. Will pay for answers. especially interested in publishing complete walkthroughs and clear meet Llewlla, Fiona, Caine or Can help on Planetfall, maps to NEW games not yet covered in hint books and will give Brand? Peny Mason: need lots Deadline. Seastalker, Cutthroats you your choice of any adventure or role-playing game if we use of help. Only person I scored and Sement's Star. J. Lema, your walkthrough. Write first and tell us what you've got. with is Bums. Send SASE. 431 Alphabet St., Holbrook, Aaron Chou, 7032 Stratford NY 11741, THE CODE Rd., Woodbury, MN 55125. Can help with Aulilln. Send :SA •B tC aD c::>EtF fG rHoI oJ Need lots of help in U!tima 4 SASE: Brian Smith, 3035 and Rama. Can help with 2 Montego, Piano, TX 75023 OK1)LG-M.w.N .tO ~·P QQ ... R+S Princes and Enchanter. Chris ~T~U ~v ~w~x l!!IY~Z A. Raudonis, 45 Pelham Rd., Hudson, NH 03051. adventures and FRPs. Send list each. lst club newsletter, $1. of what you have to trade and New "Wild West" construction Thane K. Sherrington, I? R #2, games you want. Ba Ha, 4111 set by Ted Mayes, $4. ACS Club Port Hood, N.S., Canada BOE Sunset Dr. # 24, Los Angeles, will support new Atari version. 2WO. (902) 787-3387 CA 90027. For these & more details, write Trade or sell: Rendezvous with Ken St Andre, ACS Club, 3421 To trade: 7 Cities of Gold, Rfilim and Dra2onworld with E. Yale, Phoenix, AZ 85008. Kin2's Quest 1 & 2. packaging and docs, $15 each. Transylvani!!. Ultima 2 & ~ Got a houseful of old Want Moebius, Spellbreaker, For sale or trade: Deadline, ZQrk Wizardry, By Fire & Sword, adventures? Trade 'em off Bard's Tale. Must be originals I. Hulk. Mask of the Sun, Gato, Zork 1, Archon, with a free ad. with docs and boxes. Aaron Amazon, Indiana Jones, Mindshadow, Zinderneuf. R. Chou, 7032 Stratford Rd., Transylvani!!. Dragonworld. J. Reid, 404 Shelley Pl., Woodbury, MN 55125. Wright, 2341 Charbonneau, Goldsboro, NC 27530. APPLE Waco, TX 76710. Wanted: 550-point version of To trade: Nine Princes in ATARI Adventure. Write first. T. Walsh, Amber, Perry Mason, Fahernheit Want Senient's Star, Infidel. To sell (for AT 800) Cosmic 116 Homestead Cr., London, ill. Rendezvous with Ram!!. ~. Blade of Blackpoole, Balance 1 & 2 (these also run on Ontario, Canada N6G 2E8 Below the Root, Swiss Family Gruds in Space, Planetfall and Apple), Universe 1, all Infocom Alie in Wonderland. Want KinU Cutthroats. To sell or trade: titles, many others. Chris Our lst talkin2 adventure is Quest 1 or l. Amazon, Amazon, DragonworlQ, Tracer Muller, 514 SW 34th St Apt. 6, "King Tut & the Egyptian DragonworlQ, Shadowkeep. Also Sanction, Starcross, Susp end~ Gainesville, FL 32607. Gods." We're looking for some interested in non-adventures. Deadline, Mask of Sun & all good artists to illustrate it Get a Send list of hardware and Zorks. T. Fox, 734 Strobel Want adventures for either 800 free copy of our game & software you have to trade. Scott N.W., Grand Rapids, MI 49504. or 130XE. Write if you have to draw them Huang, 14 Equestrian Ct., games for sale. B. Smith, 3035 with. Send SASE for details. Huntington, NY 11743. 35+ games for trade or sale. For Montego, Piano, TX 75023. Chat Software, c/o Boudreau, free list send SASE to Andrew 23977 Avenida Crescenta, Will trade for Ultima Ill, Bundschuh, 635 E. Comstock, Will trade Gruds in Space for any Valencia, CA 91355. Fahrenheit 451, Rin2 Quest, Glendora, CA 91740. Infocom but Stargoss, Zill:k..l or Mindshadow, Witness, Hitchhiker. Write lst: John To trade: all four Ultimas, Transylvani!!. Wishbringer, Will trade or sell Planetfall, Kalstrom, 6237 Cumberland Dr., Hitchhiker's Guide, Zorks, Sherwood Forest. Write first. Enchanter, Sorcerer & Blade of Goleta, CA 93117. Transylvani!!, Deadline, William Hall, 1110 44th St., Blackpoole. $15 each, with Starcross & more. Looking for Sacramento, CA 95819. hint books & maps except Will trade Ultima 1, Zork 3, ACS, Questron, Crimson Crown. Blade. Looking for Gemstone Adventure Creator, or Questron & Sorcerer others.Write lst: Planetfall, Deadline, Senient's ~. Sword of Ka