t _ue~e!~e!;!~ters™ ;j Vol. VII, # 9 September, 1990 $2.50 Adventures topped simulations in 1989, says SPA According to the Software QuestBuster Videogames on mailing the final issue in the Publishers Association report existing sub. Our data base on recreational software (bet of the Year! the way out? sorts labels out by first class ter known as "computer Paul Shaffer, who contributed Latest reports from Japan in and third class, and if we up games"), adventure and role the most walkthroughs for the dicate Nintendo is selling half dated them months ahead of playing games emerged as the upcoming Quest for Clues III, as many games there as last time, the last few issues of largest category. has attained the exalted status year, with most sales going to your sub would be sent first Adventurers bought 31. 7% "QuestB uster of the Year'' for the USA. Since Japan is about class-when that shouldn't of all games sold in the USA 1990. He also verified quite a a year ahead of us in electron kick in till the first issue of last year. Simulations ran a few other solutions. The book ic entertainment, it looks like the renewal (is this making close second, with 29.3%. should be on the shelves by the videogame craze has any sense?). To avoid confu The other categories: action/ January. peaked and the end is near. sion (ha!), we'll now update arcade with 21.9%, sports the expiration date on all tackling 9.79%, and family such renewals upon receipt, entertainment, with 7.39. EA and Sega Emily Littela then change them from third Simulations were most Electronic Arts' Software for strikes again to first class at the appropri popular overseas, capturing Life policy has been extended ate time. (Or just include an 40% of that market, with ac _. to Sega., so anyone who owns Recently we announced an extra 50!t for each issue left tion/arcade games coming in an EA game that's converted upcoming EA conversion of in your sub and start getting at 36%. (There's no way to for the Sega can downgrade to the game Helm of Shadow. it first class right away.) determine how the Iraq em a Sega version for half-price. No such game exists. It's ac First class subscribers: bargo will affect computer tually Hound of Shadow that check your mailing label be game sales, since the SPA was converted for ST and fore tossing the envelope, didn't reveal sales figures for New quests and MS DOS. since that's the only way to ·the Mideast or individual na conversions In a related rumor, we hear find out when your sub ex tions: However, we do hear the authors of Hound of Shad pires. It's late summer, and the ow are teaming with Acco that "Hitler simulators" are adventure game market is Instead of raising rates for particularly popular in Iraq.) lade designers to do a joint se drier than the desert outside first class subs to cover next In this great nation, Com quel called Les Manley: in year's postal rate hikes, the back door. All recent arri Search for the Hound Dog of modore remains the second vals are reviewed in this is we're considering doing most popular format for Shadow. away with the envelopes and sue, but Dragon/or~ was just games, representing 19% of imported by Cinemaware as keeping the price at $24. Let all sales. MSDOS is still the part of its Spotlight line, with Psychic editor? us know what you think ... biggie, with 58%. Apple is Amiga, ST and MSDOS due Somebody get Time/Life And finally, special number three, with 8.6% of by now. Books on the phone! Precise thanks and a tip of the QB the domestic market. Where in Time is Carmen ly as the editor of QB predict helm to James Hamm for his Sandiego? and Dragons of ed barely a month ago, this is recent five-year renewal. Elvira on disk Flame, the action-arcade sue shipped about a week Accolade announced a deal quest set in Krynn, arrived in behind our normal schedule. Inventory August for C-64. We also got Things should be back on with Horror Soft in Britain to Sierras publish Elvira, Mistress of an Amiga Fool's Errand. De track any minute now, so look '.fa{[ Line-up ..... 2 the Dark here early next year. spite rumors published in an for the October issue the first 'Megairave([er 1...... 3 other gaming magazine week of that month-a week Starring that sultry horror Interview:~ .9lta6e((,.5 show show, Elvira will be (what? there's another one?), or two sooner if you subscribe completely icon-driven, com Infocom has no plans to con via "Adventure Express." Secret ofSilver 'Bfutfe.s .. 6 bine puzzle-solving with real vert Circuit's Edge for the 'Baa 'Bfood...... 8 time hand-to-hand combat Amiga or anything else. Renewal blues and feature over 800 loca Cliaracter 'Editors: If tions. Elvira was a hit in Eng Later this year you renewed recently but it '.friend or J'oe? ...... 9 land, according to ZER 0 hasn't been reflected on the Cinemaware may have a fu 'Eartlirise ...... 10 Magazine (but Accolade's mailing label, it's probably turistic spy thriller for press release didn't mention because you changed from a 'Wa!KJliru: MSDOS. Infocom's only third class to first class sub what Less than 'Zero Maga '.Future 'Wars ...... 11 zine had to say about it). Christmas computer game scription a few months before MSDOS, Amiga and ST ver will be Battletech II, designed your expiration date. 'l(.f.ys to ye 1(Jngtfoms .. 13 and programmed by West sions are planned. Until now we've been up SwapSfwp & 'Duffy ... 15 wood for MSDOS. dating these renewals after Letters Cinema graphics from Sierra to the When the Sierra JetCopter buzzed the and animation, Dynamix videotaped real Editor house a few times before landing amid actors, then digitized the tapes and the cacti out back, I realized Kirk "Mad spliced them into the game. You'll see Dear QuestBusters: Dog" Greene was at the controls. I hadn't lots of .them, too ("probably a plethora," I dare you to read this letter. First, I nev seen him since the fall of Saigon, where according to Greene) during your quest to er played a computer game before Ulti he'd earned his nickname in a ... well solv~ a. m~er and do in the druggies. ma V , but figured it out in three months that's a story best saved for Soldi.er ~f Similar videotaped scenes bring Heart with no help. Then I finished Ultima VI Fo~tu.ne, or ma~be The Best of Stag .i After of China to life as you sleaze your way in four weeks. So I fail to see the value obligmgly helpmg me replace the shin through Hong Kong and Europe to rescue of your providing clues in QB. And why gles blown o~f the roof by the chopper, he should I order Quest for Clues for full re hel~ me nail down exactly what Sierra tail price and pay shipping charges, has m store for quest-ioning minds like when I can get it from ORIGIN without yours and mine this autumn. ~hipping charges? Since I get a coupon Working versions of every game in m the books f<;>r three free issues, why Sierra's fall line-up were conveniently s~ould I send 1:ll i;noney for a subscrip stored on a CD-ROM unit, which Mad tion? Get realistic. I know this letter Dog guarded like the boxes of CIA files will be read by a secretary and tossed in he'd tossed into the army helicopter on the trash without ever reaching the Big the last flight from the US Embassy back Boss' Desk, but that's the way the cook in Saigon. He booted up the portable ie crumbles, right? So there! clone, clobbered it a few times to make it Armando Rodriquez recognize the CD-ROM drive, and pro ceeded with the show. I yam what I Graham. Letters beginning "I dare you to ... " are A tumbler of Waterfill and Frazier in the funniest mail we get, so we always h.and, I leaned back, expecting to see ba the ki~napped daughter of a wealthy Amencan investor. In China you play read them first. Everyone else isn't quite sically more of the same animated adven the Master Adventurer you are-most tures Sierra's been doing for years. Sure, Jake Masters and travel from Kathmandu to Paris in the 1?30s. Unlike Dragon, this people say they find the clues very use I knew they were introducing 256-color ful. ORIGIN publishes the books, so support for VGA, but was unprepared for one lets you switch between what are called "meanwhile" viewpoints of the they can afford to pick up the shipping. such radical changes in the graphics. And you can always find games cheaper I got my first glimpse in a pair of ad three major characters. An onscreen map shows the different a~ Babbages, etc., since they get volume venture~ from Dynamix. (After licensing places you can visit around the land discounts when ordering from distribu Dyn'.1111tx technology last year, Sierra tors. But Vfe do extend rour sub and give president Ken Williams liked it so much scapes in each of the Dynamix games (somewhat as in the M anhunter series you mappmg paper, so it evens out. And he bought the company-watch your sets by buying from QB, you're helping sup for the upcoming TV spot.) though this map looks more like a ' po~ter). Puzzles. hinge on object manipu port an outfit that delivers the world's lation, and you mteract with people by most objective reviews and tons of clues The Dynamix Duo choosing options from windows that ma (we don't sell ads to computer games . Rise of the Dragon and Heart of China terialize at various places on the screen companies and are entirely subscriber he worlds apart from traditional Sierra rather than being pulled down from a supported, like public radio). About the adventures: there's no parser, and you see menu bar. The digitized paintings and coupons: when you send $$ with one, digitized J?aintings instead of computer subtle animation take advantage of 256 you get the three free issues for a total of art. The pictures look more surrealistic colors in VGA, and major sound boards 15, plus you get $5 worth of back issues. than cart~ny, bringing to ~ind Heavy are supported. Metal comics and the movieBrazil. The interface is reminiscent of ICOM Simulations' Deja Vu II. With the mouse Want to be another hero? you grab objects in the picture and slide ' Are the authors of this sequel psychic? them into your inventory, give them to Just about the time Iraq invades Kuwait, QtJ§~i~.Y.?.~~rf other ~pl~, and so on. Smooth, rippling they're putting the finishing touches on a Editor: Shay Addams spot animation and other special effects g~e set in the burning sands of the Ara Managing Editor: Dora McCormick involving lights and shadow add to the bian desert, where the forces of an evil News Editor: Nuyu sense of "being there." city are attacking the good city. Your Contributing Editors: Stephen King, Ken goal in this Arabian Nights-type tale is to In .R ~se of the Dragon, you'll fight a St. Andre, Al Giovetti, Steven Payne, futunstlc war on drugs to eradicate a resolve the conflict Gameplay is similar Ru~s Ceccola, Bruce E. Wiley, Brian mindbender that turns its users into mu to Hero's Quest. You can import your Smith, Bob Guerra, William E. Carte, tants One of the Cardinal Rules of Reviewing except that there is only one race to lions. It's confusing at first As expected, Computer Games is to avoid words like choose: human. Players get a choice of you hit the right arrow to turn right But great, superb and fantastic. From time to six statistics, ranging from Strength to instead of punching the up arrow to pro time, however, along comes a game that Social Standing, which are expressed in ceed in that direction, as you do in most truly warrants this level of praise, and hexadecimal notation ranging from 1 to games, you have to keep pressing the MegaTraveller 1: The Zhodani Conspira 15 (F). From there, you may submit to right arrow. After a few minutes of prac cy is indeed one of them. the draft, or attempt to enlist directly into tice, however, you'll find this a very nat In a futuristic setting, your job is to the service of your choice. ural way of moving your characters. thwart an invasion by the Zhodani, a race Each service has its When you enter your attempting to overthrow the Third Impe advantages. The Army ship, the view switches to rium and seize control of the Spinward and Marines can handle a starfield. The ship, a lit Marches, culminating a 500-year long ag ground-based weapons, tle triangle, takes off gression. The story commences in a bar while the Scouts, Navy when you've run the (naturally) on the planet Efate. and Merchants are bet proper programs, then Your compatriots are lounging around ter equipped in abilities you use the mouse or ar when a woman approaches and begs you relating to space travel. row keys to turn, acceler for help. She explains that her friends The wise player will ate and so on across a hold vital information about the current create a party with a scrolling sky of stars. If aggression by the Zhodani and hires you mix of the different ser your ship has Jump capa and your crew to take a holographic disk vices. bility, you can select a to their agent on Boughene, who will pay After entering the ser MegaMSDOS Version destination from a you for the job. vice, you will acquire hexagonal map Suddenly thugs burst in, agents of skills based on the type of duty to which where the destinations are labeled right Konrad Keifer, the Regina subsect chief you are assigned. Then you can reenlist on the hexes. executive of the Sharurshid Megacorpo or muster out Space flight is quickly mastered and ration, who has been smuggling supplies This cycle continues until you muster lots of fun. You can view individual con for the Zhodani. Lenara passes you the out or are forced to leave. A character trols for each crewmember, and colored disk, encoding key and half of an Imperi who attains more than one term of service bar graphs simplify reading the displays. al seal, then whips out a laser pistol and is eligible to receive equipment and/or In most menus throughout the game, you holds the thugs at bay while you make Credits as he leaves the service (character can activate an option by hitting the key your escape. These events unfold in an creation) for civilian life (the game). corresponding to the first letter of its introductory series of pictures and text The equipment you muster out with, name. Your however, is insufficient to last you It's a good idea to save frequently, es first tasks through the game, or even through the pecially every time you land on a differ Type: Role-playing are toes first battle. (A void all planetary combat, ent planet Maybe that's whey the design System: Amiga, cape the which occurs in real-time, until you've ers allow you to save up to 30 positions. ST, MSDOS 512K area and upgraded your equipment and bought There are the usual locked door puz required, mouse/ amass more grenades.) zles, objects to find and use, and some in joystick optional; · enough There are over 70 talents and skills. teraction with NPCs via the "Converse" credits to The skills chosen during the initial char command, which elicits brief dialogue CGA, EGA, VGA, equip the acter generation phase are important, as from people who often tell you want they Tandy 16-color; Co ship with a they detennine the chance of success or will buy. Much of your time will be spent vox Sound Master) star drive failure of a given action. So it's important finding such items and selling them. Version powerful to have characters that rarely duplicate Developing your characters and equip reviewed: MSDOS enough to skills other than the most basic ones, such ping them is the focus of the MegaTrav make the as Vacc Suit, Handgun and the like. It eller experience, however. Various com jump to also helps to have at least two characters puter programs are necessary to fly the Boughene. Your party may need to resort with Turret Weapons skill, in order to ship: Jump, Maneuver and the like. Rep to piracy in order to get enough credits in more effectively use both the weapons resented by little icons, they must be time to complete your mission. aboard your ship, the ISS Interloper. loaded into the ship's computer before With repetitive use, the characters' you can "run" them and do things. From Pencil and Paper to Disk skills will improve. If, for example, you Triggered by clicking on a character's The Traveller game system was intro frequently engage and defeat other space icon at any time during the game, the per duced by Game Designers Workshop as a craft, your associated skills (Turret ceptive presentation of character stats paper and pencil RPG in 1977. It consist Weapon, Ship Tactics, etc.) can be in consists of color-coded screens whose ed of a three-book set of basic rules and creased for a steep fee the next time you abundant options are easily selected via thirteen supplements, and various scenar visit a full-service Starport mouse or keystrokes. You can view stats ios soon followed. Ten years later, GDW Movement and combat take place on and skills, use or move objects (depicted revised it into MegaTraveller. The prem an aerial-view display. A menu in the with little pictures of weapons), view per ise of the game, as well as the computer bottom comer lets you shift between me sonal records, etc. Role-players who en version, is that a group of ex-military ad nus for Party, Game, Vehicle and others. joy detailed emphasis on the characters venturers have banded together to seek Party members may move individually and their capabilities and development their fortunes on the frontier of space. or as a group. Movement is in eight direc- will really like this game system. Character creation routines are just One problem I had with the original re like the tables found in the original game, By Bruce E. Wiley lease was mainly hardware-related. The Teleport to next page QuestBusters 3 blanketing the forest MegaTraveller 1 Sierra's Fall Line-up And Roberta did away with the parser Teleported from previous page Teleported from page two entirely. First you click on one of the row combat phase tends to be rather frustrat tern, with the graphics style, combat and of icons at the top of the screen. When ing, as it seems that my opponents would puzzles of the original Hero's Quest. you move the cursor into the picture, it get off about seven or eight shots to my changes to that icon's name: "eye," for one. Most of this was due to the proces The Sequel Police example. You can then examine an object sor speed of my Tandy EX. Amazing changes await Space Quest by clicking on it with that icon. Also, the manual states that to navigate fans, for the sequel replaces the cartoon King Graham's quest is to rescue his between planets, you must follow the cir style graphics of the SCI system with kidnapped family, and this time he won't cles representing the planets' orbit. Un "cinemagraphics," in which airbrush get tripped up over landscape elements if fortunately, the programmers ran out of style paintings of the settings-every controlled with a mouse. You can click memory when writing all the routines and tree, building and person-are realistical on a destination, and Graham meanders omitted that routine, then forgot revise ly textured and shaped to lend an even over without getting stuck on a gigantic the documentation to reflect the change. greater 3-D sensation than before. No Venusian fly trap or a gnarled and twisted Most of the problems were ironed out in longer does the program abruptly display oak tree. (This applies to Roger Wilco later versions (the latest is 2.0). a new scene when you enter an adjacent too.) In the CD-ROM version, you can location, for the screen now scrolls hit the "mouth" icon and hear dialogue The Life of a Pirate smoothly, "panning" across the picture recorded by real actors. In order to successfully make money as you move into the next area. as a pirate, you will need at least one The plot this time: Roger Wilco wants King's Quest I: the SCI upgrade crewman with Turret Weapon-1 skill or to return to his home planet, Xenon, All the older Sierra quests are being re better, a Pilot and a Comm officer with which entails rescuing the Latex Babes written with the SCI system. King's Communications-I or better and Sensor ofEstros (and naturally, they just have to Quest I now looks like a whole new Ops-I or higher. go to The Mall right away). But you game, thanks to new graphics, intricately All skills are referred to by the 4 QuestBusters QuestMakers: The Magic Candle's Ali N. Atabek QB: What was the first computer role who disappeared in the first game are which can be a foolish move-there playing game you played? trapped in the flames of evil candles and could be a Magic user throwing Fireballs will die if you don't rescue them in time. at you, but the Dwarf doesn't care. Atabek: Ultima II, which I thoroughly But this is just part of a bigger story that enjoyed. Of all the games I've played, envelopes this part of the quest In fact, we've developed all kinds of that one had the most influence on me. characters for every race and monster. The idea to write my own games occurred QB: How does the sequel differ? Various criteria on how they fight, like after finishing Ultima III, because I monsters who get very angry when you looked for more games to play but was Atabek: There's much more freedom in attack their leader, so they react by target disappointed in what I found. I had to MC II than MC I in terms of what the ing anyone who does so. And we have find a way to spend my evenings, so I player can and cannot do. And there's new attributes that haven't been seen started working on Rings of Zi.lfin on an also a lot more story. I'm quite pleased that much in role-playing. And people Apple II (that I still have). I scratched it with the way we managed to combine the will even talk to you without being ap halfway through and started over. It was story and the game, because the danger proached. In certain situations and places a learning experience. I was already pro with overemphasizing the story is that they'll make comments and so on, and gramming on mainframes, doing finan you start taking away the player's free they have much more personality than in cial work for a major corporation in Los dom: to make sure he experiences the sto the first game. Angeles. So I knew programming-it ry, you start forcing a linear structure so was game programming I had to teach things happen in sequence and a story QB: How about monsters? myself. Zi.lfin took two years. emerges. And we want to avoid that, we want to give the player the feeling that he Atabek: We still use some of the classic QB: Had you played pencil and paper or she is sort of controlling his or her monsters, such as Ores and Goblins, be role-playing games? own destiny. On the other hand, if you cause they're such a fundamental part of give them total freedom, how do you en the fantasy setting that people would be Atabek: Never. But my partner Jim sure the story develops the way you want disappointed if we didn't. But we also Thomas has a lot of experience in that it to? That's the big design challenge, and like to come up with monsters that are and helps with that aspect in the design. I think we're handling it rather skillfully. unique in some way, that are completely our creation, monsters you won't find in QB: How did Magic Candle happen? The interface has been totally reworked, any A D & D monster manual. And we and the game moves along much more brought in professional artists this time. Atabek: By the later stages of Zilfin I briskly now. In MC I we displayed the knew what I wanted to do, but it was too player's available commands and the QB: Which computer will it be out on late to do any of it in that game. So I games text in the same window. So when first? started on Magic Candle as soon as I fin text was displayed, the commands would ished Zilfin. Again, I had a day-time job, disappear. Now text has its own dedicat Atabek: The IBM, but Apple and Com and my tools were pretty simple. I didn't ed window, so the game moves much modore versions will follow. The Apple have any fancy cross-assemblers or any more quickly. We're supporting the version will have double-high resolution thing like that It took three years, but mouse on the PC, and we've refined and graphics, so you'll need 128K. It's com two of those were part-time, working at retuned all the interface functions so you ing along nicely but is way behind sched nights. The last year we formed Mind can play more intuitively. ule, and I'm starting to doubt it will be craft and went at it full-time. out for Christmas. We're still working QB: What other innovations can we look very hard, however, to make it. QB: Where did the land of Deruvia and forward to seeing? the story of the candle come from? QB: Has Mindcraft got any other new Atabek: It has many, many new fea games lined up? Atabek: We made it up! I guess I get in tures. Three new spell books with excel fluenced by all the fantasy novels I read. lent spells that are a lot of fun, some that Atabek: We're picking up the Omni Tolkien, of course, got me started, and I add enormous depth, tactical depth to trend titles. They'll develop the games, read most everything that comes out combat. And combat moves much faster and we'll publish them. Breach/I will re Saberhagen is one of my favorites, and now. We've done away with the set-up packaged as our first one. We've got a Dennis Ettings. phase, so you no longer have to move fantasy war game for late next year. people into position and equip their Shortly we'll be starting on The Frozen QB: Will Candle II follow up on the weapons at the beginning of combat. Jungle, a science fiction role-playing original story and setting? They have default positions, which you game that will utilize many of the pieces can change, and can walk around with we've developed for Magic Candle. Atabek: Yes. We got a very good re weapons equipped, which was not possi sponse from people about the story in the ble in MC I. You can also turn combat QB: Anything else you want to say be first one and knew we had to top that, so over to one of your companions, such as fore returning to the dungeons? we even brought in outside people to help a Dwarf, who'll take over and issue com with the story and characters, and we mands in your place. It's more than just Atabek: Just "Hi morn!" She's been have some very nice surprises in there. an auto-mode, because the way combat very supportive. And that I'm very excit We still have candles, but now we have will be conducted depends on which ed about Magic Candle II. We're estab evil candles. In MC /, it was a good candle, character you choose to be the leader. lishing a very powerful gaming system to white in color, and the demon was Dwarves hate Ores, for example, so if play with, but it has so much depth we'll trapped within its flame. As long as it you're facing a party of Ores and put a be able to use this as an engine in other burned, the demon couldn't escape. In Dwarf in charge, he'll have the party at games. We're already making plans for MC II it's reversed. Four of the Eldens tack the Ores till they're wiped out, Magic Candle III. QuestBusters 5 Secret of the Silver Blades This is SSI's fourth "gold box game," There are six randomly generated abil the Well of Knowledge. The mines pro their line of ''Fantasy Role-Playing ity scores: Strength, Intelligence, Wis duced the highest quality and quantity of Epic"s using TSR 's AD & D system. Set dom, Dexterity, Constitution, Charisma gem stones in all the realms. About that in the Forgotten Realms fantasy world, and Hit Points. Rolled characters are giv time at the nearby Castle of the Twins, a Silver Blades concentrates on strategy en 200,000 experience points and the lev battle erupted between two brothers: and tactics for a small band of up to six els are determined as per A D & D rules Oswulf, a Paladin, and Eldamar, a Mage characters and up to two NPCs. relating to class and experience. who, with the help of the evil god Bane, The tactical combat was refined into a Depending upon your random attribute was reborn as an evil Lich called.the fairly efficient system, and the magic sys scores and race, Dreadlord. tem's faithfulness to AD & D rules is you can pick from Oswulf led a small one of this series' big pluses. And actual six character class force of high-level ad puzzles-mainly riddles and object es: Clerics, Fight venturers called the Sil oriented situations-were incorporated, ers, Rangers, Pala ver Blades against the making this one more than just another dins, Magic-users Dreadlord and his Black combat-intensive quest and Thieves. Non Circle followers. Rather One very enjoyable part of this game humans can be than slay his brother, is that it allows for advancement not pro multi-class charac Oswulf had his Mages vided for in many AD & D pencil and ters with up to three and Clerics cast a spell paper games. Thieves can advance to a professions to di to freeze the valley per - maximum level of 18. Classes can reach vide experience and manently. 15. Many gamers object to limitations on hit point advance Oswulf fell while pro the levels to which characters can ad ment among. Multi EGA MSDOS tecting the Silver Blades vance, because these limitations are too class characters are from the Black Circle's restrictive to game-play. Limitations in limited in advance- final counterattack. The level for A D & D games is explained by ment by race, Strength and Intelligence New Verdigris officials ask the party to the limitations designed into the scenario (except for Thieves, who have no limita help clear the mines of the evil creatures itself. A planned scenario will deal with tions). For example, a Half-Elf cannot ad that are being released by the Black Cir even higher levels of play, and this game vance beyond Cleric level 5 but can ad cle, and unravel the 300-year old Cold is designed for high-level play. vance up to Thief level 18. spell holding the glacier over the Castle The story begins sometime after the of the Twins and the valley floor. events in Curse of the Azure Bonds, More three-way splits which was a sequel to Pool ofRadiance. Multi-class characters also split experi Three coins in a fountain The game ence points three ways, so that 200,000 You will be assisted in this goal by the Well of Knowledge, which imparts infor Combat lets you experience on a three-class character is Type: transfer 66,666 per class. I suggest that the only mation and occasionally grants wishes in oriented role-playing characters multi-class character you use in this game return for payment in gems. Your first Systems: C-64 from Pool to be a DwarfFighter{fhief, who can wield mission is to free the Well from its cap Goystick optional), Bonds, and Fighter weapons and advance up to 9th tors so it can help direct your quest from Pool level Fighter and 18th level Thief. Due to an amusing error in the may IBM (512K required, or's wish at the Well of Knowledge, the hard disk recom or Bonds to Human characters can be dual-class Blades. characters who are one class for the first adventurers arrive nude and are given mended, mouse op Many part of their lives1•. then change to a new magical weapons, gems, jewels and plati tional; 640K for people have one. Once his level in the new class ex num as payment for their work. You must Tandy graphics or had trouble ceeds his level in his old class, he can use outfit your group with armor and weap with the both classes and will gain Hit Points nor ons, since the weapons given by the town mouse; Roland, Ad treasury leave its members nearly as Lib, CMS) character mally. A dual-class Human Fighter transfer rou turned Thief could be a greater asset than naked as when they arrived in the town. Planned tine. So did the Dwarf multi-class Fighter{fhief. The magic system is straight out of the A D & D rulebooks. Spells are limited to ______conversions: none .. I.my Perhaps inability (These race limitations have aggravated some players to the point of editing their only a dozen or so types per level. The to transfer character files to allow for the higher lev Forgotten Realms game setting lacks the characters was due to my own stupidity. els for non-Human characters.) complex magic system of the Dragon The game attempted to access the lance setting used in Champions of characters, but the characters never Northwest of Moonsea Krynn. Many players differ in their pref showed up in the group. I got around this The adventure kicks off in the town of erences of the two magic systems. I am deficiency using the training menu's New Verdigris in the Dragonspine Moun prejudiced-I like both systems. "mOdify character" option, which lets tains, which are just north west of Moon Due to the higher levels for characters you change the character statistics, Hit sea and the ruins of Phlan, the setting for in Blades over Bonds new spells were Points and character name to generate Poolt, and northeast of Tilverton, the set added: 7th and 6th level spells for Cler custom characters. ting for Bonds. 'They've been teleported ics and Magic-users, and 2nd level Druid Alternatively, you can use the pre there by the mayor of New Verdigris. spells for high-level Rangers. In addition, rolled characters provided with the game, Three hundred years ago Verdigris the higher levels add to certain spells ·that or roll your own by choosing from a list was a thriving mining town and home to use level as a multiplier of power, such as of six races: Dwarves, Elves, Half-Elves, Fireball and Magic Missile. Gnomes, Halflings and Humans. By Al G iovetti 6 QuestBusters No wilderness travel this time directions by using the keyboard numeri ment and may even be superior to the Graphics are much the same as in Pool cal keypad, mouse or joystick. Combat is mouse for some players. In a few situa and the other "gold box" games. But this resolved on a tum basis, depending on tions, like flying a dragon, mouse control time there's no wilderness travel, for the the combatants' relative dexterity. A de excels over the keyboard. I do not find area in and around New Verdigris is very layed tum phase accommodates the time the joystick particularly superior to the large. The action talces place in the town, it talces to cast spells , or allows you to keyboard for this game, but did give it a the ruins, the Well of Knowledge, the Old time your movement and attack. try. Administration Building, the temple, a Combat can be handled manually or in Several sound boards are supported, 10-level mine shaft and 10-level castle auto mode. Some battles can be fought but they play music only during the titles. dungeon, miles of"ice rifts" complete successfully in auto mode from begin If you skip through the starting screens as with a Storm Giant city, and the three ning to end, while others require manual fast as I do--to get on with the game! levels of the castle itself. control of the back rank's ranged weap the value of the sound boards is exactly While you're exploring, the left side of ons, such as Archers nil. The PC speaker the screen shows a first-person view of and spellcasters. handles sound ef your surroundings. As you walk down Where Clerics or fects during play, the dungeon corridors, the walls that powerful wizards are in and the external scroll past are of many colorful and var the back ranks of the speaker is superior ied media, lending atmosphere to the enemy, you hit the to the sound boards chase. space bar to disable for footsteps and the Monsters and other NPCs grow larger auto mode and use clang of Sword on as they approach, until they fill the dun ranged weapons to keep Halberd. Tandy geon window with their two-frame ani these powerful charac owners will find the mated visage. The graphics for some of ters from casting spells three-voice sound the monsters differs from those in earlier such as Hold Person chip supported, with games, and in some cases they did not and Death Strike. Secret of the C-64 Silver a result superior to change for the better. Auto mode sacrifices the PC clone external Special characters and situations result common sense strategy speaker. in the whole top half of the screen being and also results in movement that is less Besides a 12-page rule book, you get a devoted to a computer art display that, than advantageous in many situations, 60-page Adventurers Journal that has unfortunately, is not animated. One of where the characters run behind a wall, fewer pages of paragraphs than preceding the~ displays shows the evil Dreadlord run away from the enemy, move errati games. There are only 17 pages of para himself in the top level of the castle. cally from side to side rather than taking graphs, while Bonds had 30 pages of par Graphics are EGA, but they do look a direct route to the enemy. Perhaps the agraphs, Krynn 22 pages and Pool 18. better on my VGA monitor than on the game designers should make the auto Except for the combat system, I find the EGA monitor in 16-color mode. VGA in mode movement a little more intelligent. story the best part of the game, so I 256-color mode is not supported. CGA Another auto mode improvement that would like to see more paragraphs, not and Hercules are supported, but with less could be made concerns ranged weapons. fewer, in future games. The best part of a visual beauty. With all the group on automatic non game is reading and living the story, magical play (Alt-A), characters with which makes it just like being there. Improved auto-mapping Bows who can't get to an enemy charac Silver Blades has more of the feel of "be One of the main objections to past ter should be able to use the Bow until ing there" than any AD & D game since games in this series has been their limited they can get to an enemy with a hand Pool ofRadiance. auto-mapping, for the auto-mapping fea weapon. As with paragraphs, there are fewer ture was disabled in many of the dungeon As in Krynn, combat has been stream 5.25-inch disks than in the previous gold and wilderness areas, which made it vir lined. The action is quicker, and you will box games (two 5.25-inchers, half as tually useless there. Several areas of this not wage any five-hour battles, like those many as Krynn), I wondered if the au game can be auto-mapped after your in Pool. Many battles are over in less thors found a way to compress the pro group completes a few battles to "clear" a than five minutes. The flight of arrows is gram, or if the quality has been reduced. small local territory of hostile monsters. abbreviated, with a few refinements the I finished this quest in about 20-30 These auto-mappable areas include the combat system could be a real joy. hours. The game shuts down after enter town, the administration building, the ing the last room of the Dreadlord, so do Well of Knowledge, the dungeon, the Everybody must get stoned not enter the last room until you have fin Storm Giant village, and the castle. Auto There are a lot of high-level monsters, ished exploring. mapping doesn't appear to work in the including an abundance of Basilisks and Conclusions: If you enjoyed the Pool, ruins and the ice rifts. Medusae. Your characters are constantly Bonds or Krynn, you will like this one. Since many more areas now use auto getting stoned by them. Clerics have a de [If you haven't played any of them, mapping, one of the main objections to fense against this in the spell Stone to though, try Bonds first] It conforms this game system appears to have been al Flesh, but it may not be as effective as strictly to the A D & D rules and was de leviated. If the game designers could fig silver shields, which reflect the gaze of veloped with the cooperation and approv ure a way to use auto-mapping through Medusae and Basilisks. (See Keys for re al of TSR. The story is detail~ and inter out the game, including the ruins and the lated tips.) esting and carries you right along. If you ice rifts, the problem would be complete Like Krynn, this game has mouse sup like the best A D & D combat simulator ly eliminated. port. I prefer keyboard control of charac available, one that comes with a great sto ters over mouse control, since I don't ry, this is it Combat want arthritis in the first two fingers of The left side of the combat screen is my right hand. I like to use all my fin Skill Level: Intermediate. devoted to a semi-three dimensional gers. But those who enjoy mice say the Protection: Keyword from manual "oblique angle" perspective of the battle. interface speeds up the game and makes Price: IBM, $49.95; C-64, $39.95 The characters can move in any of eight operations less tedious. Company: SSl/EA Joystick is also supported for move- QuestBusters 7 for turning the music and sound effects Bad Bug? on and off. This arrangement results in a It's not really a bug, but be forewarned Bad Blood nearly invisible interface that further re that you need 410 K of "free RAM" to duces the barrier between the gamer and play in CGA or Hercules mode, 530K for "Killed again" would have been a fitting the fantasy. subtitle for this one, I muttered as I blun all others. ORIGIN advises booting your dered into yet another nest of Kejeks and hard disk with a floppy to ensure any was quickly shot full of arrows. But it When is a sequel not a sequel? RAM-resident utilities don't interfere only took a second to reload one of my When it's a "technological sequel." with the program. three saved games, and two days later I Technologically this is a sequel to Times And they will do so most enigmatical had recovered enough of my diminished of Lore, which means the program uses ly. Memory-intensive games usually just arcade skills to rescue the Shaman and an enhanced version of the engine that give an "out of memory" message when track down the Oracle. drove that game. You can talk to people loading, then they crash. Not so with Bad Those were my first goals as I set out by choosing assorted Blood. It loaded to prevent the final blitzkrieg in a race phrases from drop briskly, so I assumed war the pure-blooded humans waged down menus. the computer had against the mutants in this unnamed land. You might choose enough memory. The (By the look of the cacti, however, it to "'Talk About." game seemed to must be southern Arizona, the only place which leads to a menu work fine, but when on the planet where saguaro grow.) After of things to discuss: I finally got to their a cinematic introduction that was interac the war, the Oracle or locations, the Fisher tive enough to incorporate character ammo. As in Ultima, man and the Shaman selection (male or female human, or male limited conversations weren't where ORI mutant) I had begun my jaunt in the are possible, for new GIN's customer sup mutant village of Mardok. words are added to this port people assured Each of the half-dozen towns, villages menu as you talk to a TV or not TV? me they should be. and cities that had survived the nuclear character. In this manner And during one ses holocaust, I learned, was dominated by a string of mini-quests are assigned to sion I met nary a character or critter "Humes" or "Mutes," as the lingo of the you by town leaders and the Oracle. while roaming the entire landscape. era calls them. Along with the terrain, are Other actions, such as examining and Rebooting with streamlined auto.exec portrayed from a top-down view that is using things, are handled in a similar and config.sys files solved this dilemma, the finest yet seen in an adventure: large, fashion. Combat was dramatically en and soon I was running into too many infinitely detailed graphics and animated hanced and now offers ranged weapons. monsters. characters that are drawn in realistic per Instead of bumping into a monster to at You can also copy the program to flop spective for a true 3-D experience. tack it, as in Lore, you can fling grenades, pies and play from them. Copy protection The sound effects (produced by the fire an Uzi, swing a Vibrablade, or fall consists of "Thale' s Comprehensive PC speaker, back on the good old reliable knife or Guide to the Beast and Savages of the even with a whip. Plains," a color brochure that you can Type: Action sound Monsters and NPCs are finely animat fold out to quickly find the answers to a Adventure board in ed and fun to kill. The Urse, a huge bear, pair of questions about the monsters. stalled) and is one of the toughest animals you'll ever Sometimes you're asked to name the col Systems: MSDOS encounter in any fantasy, so get hold of or of one's back, for instance, so software (640K required, joy music are also out the Bazooka before going near his cave. pirates will have to do more than just xe stick optional, hard standing. The mini-missions involve rambling rox the brochure. disk recommended; And the through the desert and mountains, pad Hercules, CGA, music plays dling across the green rivers and lakes, C-64 version on the way during the and fighting every step of the way as you Disk access is nearly imperceptible EGA,VGAJMCGA seek out certain people, places and things. (256 colors), Tandy game, not when playing the MSOOS version from a just in the It won't take much logic to accomplish hard drive, which is recommended by 16-color; Roland, Ad intro as in these goals, just a fair amount of talking ORIGIN. Before endorsing the C-64 con Lib, CMS, Innova many pro and note-taking. The Satscan provides co version, we'll have to see if disk access is tion, Covox, Tandy grams. ordinates of your location, which makes it bearable (or should that be Urse-able?), The pic easier to return to places. Only the final since that version of Knights of Legend sound boards) maze, which takes place underground and Planned ture doesn't turned out to be a nightmare. cover the involves pressing the correct sequence of Conclusions: While it's a lightweight conversions: C-64 entire 22 buttons, is tricky. quest, Bad Blood is one of the best look around Christmas, screen. In For adventurers whose arcade skills are ing action adventures ever to roll down Amiga, spring 1991 stead, it's too weak to last long in "Warrior" mode, Adventure Road. And the story makes it displayed designer Chris Roberts added a "Wimp more than merely another arcade game on an old mode" that reduces the number of en with only the trappings of an adventure. I TV set (left over from the days before the counters. The pause feature was well didn't have to spend a week playing it to war), and your health is indicated by the implemented: pause is the first item on write this review. It's such a mesmerizing amount of water left in an old soda bottle the menu, you just punch "O" (for the experience, though, that I only quit when beside the TV. Options menu) and hit return. my right hand started getting cramped There are no other stats or attributes to You can even name your three saved from punching those cursor keys all day. fret over. Five buttons on the TV activate games. Most action adventures won't per menus for listing, using or examining mit more than one, let alone let you name Difficulty: Novice things in your inventory, talking to peo them. Protection: Keyword ple, and accessing options for pausing, Price: $49.95 saving, reloading and activating a joy Company: ORIGIN, Inc. stick. You also have individual controls By Shay Addams 8 QuestBusters Questmaster I: The Prism of Heheutotol Dondra: A New Beginning was published start over, these numbers are saved to With some of the best graphics of the back in the spring of 1988. Even the orig disk, but you can reset them to zero if batch, the GS version also enjoys sound inal release achieved sporadic circulation you want to start over from scratch. As a effects and music. The C-64 version has at best, and the conversions announced result, two people can solve the game and music and sounds. back then were just released last month wind up with vastly different scores. Conclusions: Graphic adventures are along with a new Apple version. First becoming almost published by Spectrum Holobyte, it was New features as rare as their later han- and changes all-text cousins, ------died by Mi- The most sweeping so it's encourag cro- Type: Graphic change allows you to save ing to see some Adventure Illusions, several games in progress thing as good as Systems: Apple 2 and author by giving your character Questmaster hit different names. Minimal the shelves (even (48K), IIGS (512K), ~:1 ~fte:t though the con C-64, MSDOS Miles Com- changes in the quest were made for the MSOOS and versions set a (512K; 5.25" disks puting. GS versions, in which record for miss- only; CGA, EGA, Despite some of the original . ing the release VGA, Tandy 16- its "new be game's conventional puz MSDOS VGA version date). Hopefully ginning" in we won't have to color; Ad Lib) • the zles were turned into real- Planned 1990 time puzzles. The map didn't change, so wait forever to new ver- the solution published in Quest for Clues play Questmaster II, which Barger says is sions conversions: II will work, except for the new real-time planned for Chrisbnas of '91. Amiga (no set date) dropped puzzles (which usually means just wait .....~~~~~~~__. Dondra ing a few seconds in some places). Difficulty: Intermediate from the ti Music and sound effects were en Protection: Keyword from manual tle entirely (part of Barger's agreement hanced in the MSOOS version, but only Price: MSOOS & IIGS, $39,45; Apple with Microlllusions) and are called if you have an Ad Lib board. This and the & C-64, $34.95 Questmaster: The Prism of Heheutotol. GS version can be install on a hard disk. Company: Equilibrium/EA (Thoughtfully, the Apple version's pack age points out it was formerly released under another name.) It's a graphic adventure whose distin Character Editors: friend or foe? guishing feature is the inclusion of real For newcomers to role-playing, a charac an encounter. Rather than spend hours time puzzles. The story takes place in the ter editor is a utility program that enables building him back up, I restored him to land of Dondra, which is currently beset you to work real magic on your PartY. his original level with a character editor by the despicable Colnar. Your goal in You can give your Mage extra spell and returned to the quest in minutes. this game is to recover the Crystal Pyra points, dole out more hit points to your Even the best Ore-slayer among us has mi. Colnar's defeat is reserved for a fu Fighter, boost everyone's attributes to the lost the occasional key battle by just a ture sequel. maximum, and usually even resurrect few hit points. After getting stomped re dead party members. peatedly in Pool ofRadiance, you might Cartoon time! It can be a two-edged sword, however. add just enough hit points to allow your It presents us with speedy spot anima Wielded wisely, a character editor can characters to win the battle and get on tion and very good graphics drawn by enhance a quest, but used imprudently or with the quest Sure, you can achieve the Rick lncrocci, whose name Apple gamers excessively it can ruin the adventure. same effect by dashing off through the may recognize for his inimitable cartoon Years ago, for example, I had to re dungeon, slaying a couple of dozen style in Sherwood Forest. The parser can view Wizardry III on a tight deadline, so Kobolds and advancing the party a level deal with fairly complex commands and I tried a character editor for the first time. But maybe you happen to have a life out has a sizable vocabulary, but doesn't In addition to giving my characters side these fantasy worlds and would like know what to do with pronouns. enough hit points to get me through the to spend at least a few hours a day inter Questmaster differs from standard first few mazes, I decided to deck them acting with real people (not to mention graphic adventures in several ways. As in out in the finest arm or and weaponry, real monsters.) role-playing games, you'll be able to use which was available in another menu. your character from this game in sequels. The "Orb of Llylgamyn" sounded Is is cheating? A unique scoring system gives you one powerful enough, so I gave it to a Mage Purists often express shock at the no experience point for each puzzle point and entered the maze. The party hadn't tion of using a character editor, refusing awarded when you solve a problem, and taken a step before a non-player character to "cheat" in order to win. And some your total score at the end of the game uttered the equivalent of "Thanks for re game designers, continually whining determines the amount of experience turning the Orb," and that was the end of about people "cheating," do their best to available to use in the next game. the game! thwart such devices. But you paid for the Your final score is modified by the Then again, there have been times thing, and have every right-moral, ethi number of times you saved during the when restrained use of an editor spared cal and civil-to cheat if you want to. Af game, how many times you got killed, me hours of replaying the same dungeon ter all, if you totally abuse the program the number of objects you collected or trying to rebuild a favorite character. by making supercharacters who can race (some of which have no value in this While playing Bard's Tale III ''just for through the game in a few hours, the only game but may prove handy in sequels), fun," I cringed when Moe the Mage was person you' re cheating is yourself: out of and how much time it took to complete repeatedly drained several levels during weeks of fun and fantasy. the quest If you get killed and have to Coninued on next page QuestBusters 9 Character editors Earthrise: The Solus Incident Teleported fromprevious page The year is 2034, and you, the top inves neered by Sierra. Control of the central People who want and need them are go tigator and general trouble-shooter of the character is the same, backgrounds blink ing to use them anyway. My advice is to Terran Mining Guild, are suddenly in and out, one screen at a time, and resist the urge to go beyond adding only awakened by the clamorous sound of a many of the function keys do the same the minimum amount points and equip telephone. It seems "Operation Astro ment absolutely necessary to survive; or Pilfer," a huge success till now, has hit a to bring a dead character to life. serious snag. Astro Pilfer, you remember, is the Where are they when I need one? backbone of the Guild, a codename for '' ~-:--~~'. ,.,.,,... : Character editors are usually pro nothing less than the selection and trans grammed by individuals and sold through fer of appropriate asteroids from the belt -,,.,.... 'j:,·.:II :~• ,., ... -. •-. the mail. (Though Richard Garriott, ap into Earth orbit to facilitate mining. parently fed up with seeing Ultima char The most recent contingent of scien n acter editors appear so soon after each in tists dispatched to the Solos asteroid dis stallment' s release, included one in covered signs of life there, but radio Ultima VI. To access it, just say Spam transmissions enigmatically halted before three times to lolo, then say Humbug.) they were able to elaborate. I feel a bad Earth a'rlsln' Some of the best third-party character editors in the business come from Gosse Oh Salus mio thing as in the Sierra adventures. lin Computer Consultants, which I ran As the game begins, you find yourself across in a computer magazine (yes, oc in the cramped quarters of a cryogenics Godzilla's little cousins casionally I actually read one). Gosselin cabinet in a one-man craft orbiting Sotos. The premise is interesting and the sto turns out character editors for Apple, You must take your lander down to the ry entertaining. But most of the puzzles Amiga, MSDOS and C-64 computers. asteroid's surface and carefully scout the are fairly arbitrary. They usually involve area. finding ways to deal with one of the vari INT~I I LEV<:L~ l 1\GE::::::H S.:l<'.P:::::O ~IG=l 4 Once on the surface, you've got to find ous monsters that inhabit the asteroid. ?ER=Q SP=O /Q ( 3) GE~S=O END=l 3 a way to gain entry into the outpost, Each of these characters has a different 5PIJ~9 HP 0 13 / 13 GOLL=O ~CY::t5 where you'll have to deal with the indige weakness. A file in the central computer LUC= 13 THIEF A9ILI7·t::;l FODD=lO nous life-forms that block your progress. contains the clues you need to destroy the :oo:FGOOD Most of all, you need to find out what bad guys. It's up to you to find the tools ----- 10 QuestBusters . Walkthrough: Future Wars: Adventures in Time Outside Building Teleport Room Village When opening sequence is over, take Examine machine. Examine opening. Examine hvbse. Ublf lance. NW. Go bucket. Walk to control panel on the left Walk to machine and use qbqfs on to tree (stand at tip of second root from and examine scaffolding. Operate the red opening. Operate green button. Operate the right). Use mbodf on monk's habiL button. Walk to the open window and op red button. Take documents. Enter tele E. E. Save gave. Use qmbtujd ebb on erate it port tube. lake. Quickly go west, then south. Walk up to bridge and use gvmm ebb on Inside Office Building Swamp wolf. Walk to monastery door and oper Examine trash can. Take paper bag. Walk (in the Middle Ages) ate door. into toilet. Operate cupboard. Take insec Walk left toward mosquitoes (walking ticide. Operate door to W. C. and take lit- Monastery •' only on Never walk to center of the room and al the green ways walk clockwise. Go to left door. areas in Operate door. Enter and walk up to the Offtce Secret !Telep or the monk. After he speaks, exit Walk to the - -· - I'- swamp). B Tot let § Hall Room door on the right, operate door and enter. Use in I Walk up to Father Superior. After he secticide c D speaks, exit and return to room on left Outstd on mos The Enter room and take cup. Exit. Enter Bldg A quitoes. room at the top. Use cup on one of the Present To Ruins I Keep full wine barrels. Return to the room of walking i the Father Superior and give the wine to I left till I him. When he collapses, examine Father you no G Prtson Superior. Use control device on piece of J tice a furniture at bottom of bookshelves to get glint of Big Middle Room magnetic card. Return to Wine Cellar. Pub light on Tree Ages I the Wine Cellar I wtne ground). Climb ladder and use control device on ' Examine Lake Cellar barrel at top of ladder. Vt l lagE H I it to find IC ast Ie I·· - .j swamp ~-- I a pen Prison Room I E Altar Father F - Monk: dant. Go Examine Lana. Walk to her and stand in Room Super tor west Bridge - front of the case. Examine hbt dbqtvmf I I (directly below Lana). Walk to computer ------~ rtle console and use nbhofujd dbse on con Lake sole. Watch animated scenes. tle red flag (on floor). Use evdlfu on Walk to the tree on the left of the screen The Future (4315 AD) tjol, then exit toilet and walk to the door and examine foot of tree to get rope. Use Walk to bottom right of screen and exam- on the right After you get the message rope on tree branch. Wait till "something is under your feet," operate someone walk up and throws carpet. Operate right door. After the boss away some clothes, then walk K The leaves, use evdlfu on left door. Operate L to the clothes. Take tunic. Fu tu re. right door. Take slacks. After you Rutns .... Ruins change, go west. I 4315 AD Map Room To Jail Use key on cupboard below the book Village, Pub ce 11 shelves. Examine typewriter and note Sewer Sewer Tap combination (40315). Operate drawer of and Castle .... i- i desk. Take paper. Examine map. Use Walk to guard on drawbridge. gmbh on little hole (on the map). Save Use qfoebou on guard. Go Space- game. Go east. northwest to the back of the M port castle and walk to the tree. Sewerl7 .. I Secret Passage Operate tree. Examine ground OutstdE Speed with the mouse is vital here. Ex where coin fell. Go to the Pub Space- amine keypad. Operate numbers (one at a and operate door. Use oort time) found on the typewriter to reveal tjmwfs dpjo on innkeeper. : Listen to all gossip. Exit another door. Enter door (center-screen). Sewer _ Crea- Walk to guard and use qfoe ~ ..... Sewer bou on guard. Enter castle. tu re .___ Sewer By Andrew Phang Listen to the Lord. Exit. QuestBusters 11 ine rubble to get blowtorch. E. Walle to Prehistory The white piece of rubble and examine box to Walle to Lo' Ann. Save game. West. Maze find fuses. Examine rubble in middle of Follow map to the exit screen to find manhole. Operate manhole Shooting Sequence cover. Aim at aliens coming from left of screen, paying special attention to those Sewers marked "danger." After awhile, the Map Key You can walle in just one direc-tion. Do leader will appear on a fly A: Bucket so till you reach the room with the tap ing platform. Kill him, and B: Plastic bag, insecti (see soon the attack will end. Ex cide, little flag, key Sheaf of paper map). amine Lo' Ann three times to get pendant C: p Use and invisibility pill. Use qfoebou on Lo' D: Documents E: Pendant To cmpx Ann. Walle to spaceship. In upsdi F: Rope, clothes the Ship on tap. Outside Alien Ship G: Silver coin, monk's Maze habit I Keep Examine dead alien to get magnetic card. walle- Enter ship through doorway. H: Cup Outsldf 0 ing till I: Control Device Ship you Inside J: Gas capsule . reach Alien Ship room Use nbhofujd Battle ,_ HI I Ito~ with N dbse on card crea- reader. Operate ture. case. Take gar Go ment. Walk to Prehistory near videocamera the ----, and use garment •I crea on videocamera. ture and use cmpxupsdi on creature. Enter the sus Go up. pended anima tion capsule -----. Outside Spaceport (click on center ------.JI Walk to door and examine videocamera. ______}I of case) and op- I Use mbodf on videocamera. Enter . erate case. The spaceport. Save. ship will take off for the space Space port station. Save. Walk to newspaper machine on left and examine coin collector. Use coin on mon ______,I ey slot. Examine coin collector. Use coin On Space I on money slot to get newspaper. Wait for Station train. Move to the I right side of the ··-I door, then use I Space Terminal I Speak hostess. S. Examine fuse box. Ex jowjtjcjmjuz I ------J amine fuses. Use gvtft on fuses. N. qjmm as the t ______2 Save. When guard is watching TV and door starts open hostess is powdering herself, quickly go ing. After slid- The Maze between arrows and up the lift. ing down the ramp, go for- Jail Cell ward and left immediately. Quickly leave K: Blowtorch Save. Use lfz on air duct. Use hbt ship and go to the front of the boxes on L: Fuses dbqtvmf on air duct. Use ofxtqbqfs the left of the screen. Examine box on the M: Coin, newspaper on air duct. Exit jail and wait till cap- left and operate it. N: Pendant, invisibility pill 0: Magnetic card Store Room P: Garment Listen to Albert Save. Walk to From ._.Q_ Bridge __ To door. The Maze Shuttle ~ of Ship Prehistor y You have six minutes to find 1: Start the computer room and exit 2: Computer Room the space station, so be quick. 3: Exit The Cr ugh on Sh i p (See map.) X: Hole in floor Vertical lines: Ladders Computer Room Dotted line: Path through maze Walk to computer console on the left and tured. Watch animated scenes. use nbhofujd dbse on console. Exit 12 "'QuestBusters Secret of the Silver Blades One: see Derf the Dwarf for Staff quest, you run across on the police computer. Magical silver shields can be quite help then go west and south to find Staff. Lev Police Computer: you need police ful in this game. Vala, an NPC who will el T~: go west and north to find Staff. badge for first access (from street dealer). join your group in the Mines, has a +3 sil Level Three: go east and north to find Next time you need datalink terminal, ver shield and Oswulf's spirit, who is Staff. Level Four: go south to find Staff. two uplink cables, belt phone, commcode found at the entrance to the castle, has a Level Five: go north and west to find number 054AJR86 and password +5 silver shield, which can be duplicated Staff. Level Six: go west to find Staff and hsbwuz. Ransom note: check "floral using a simple technique in the training Vala, who'll join party. Level Seven: go scent" at Heavenly Fragrances. Docks: menu. Silver reflects the gaze of basilisks south and west to find Staff, west to find use Alpine Jack and Super Spy chips. and medusae which are in abundance in Portal to Level Nine. Level Ten: go east Muhammed: ask about "odd woman." the game and makes their threat of ston to Cavern and entrance to Dungeon. Mimi: ask about cologne ("close to ing an advantage for your men. They Dungeon Riddles: the first is z p vs death" means cemetery). Sell crystal ball gaze, you reflect, they get stoned, end of ifbsu, second is zpvs xpse, third is back to her. Warehouse: blow door off story. zpvs csfbui, fourth is river, fifth is with plastics (from cigars at dock), deto Al Giovetti xbufs, sixth is xjoe. nator (Abdul), countdown timer, Demoli The Keys: all in the Dungeon. Brass is tionist Chip (Morgue, Luigi's remains), All new magic items should be given to at 12, 15 on Level Seven. Gold is on Lev wire. extra characters to be duplicated (see el One at 2, 11. Silver is at 0, 8 on Level Bob Schreur above, or use technique described in the Four. September 1989 issue of QB), or used to Ice Crevasse: The entrance to Giant King's Bounty supply NPCs met along the way.New Village and Portal is at 48, 86. Help Frost Explore each world by sea thoroughly Verdigris: the Old Man at 2, 9 will give Giant King at 50, 94 for +4 weapons. when you first reach it, to find the gold you the Cloak of Displacement and some Help Oswulf fight at 7, 82 for + 5 silver and troops needed to explore by land. Al Journal Entries and items as you com weapons. ways garrison the castles, for after about plete quests. Visit him each time you re The ·Castle: exit to second level is at 9, 20 castles, the extra gold really pays off. turn to town. A soldier at 14, 11 sells 15. Ignore Medusa Sargatha. Secret door The key to easily defeating the fourth magic items, and you can trade platinum to Level Three is at 0, 14. After tough world is Vampires. Try to get about 200 for gems at the vault at 7, 9. Then head fight at 7, 1, you get +5 weapons. Dread of them if possible. They do lots of dam for the Well (66, 36) via the teleporter at lord's at 2, 5, with many Storm Giants. age and can heal slain Vampires in com 3, 0. In the Well: go to 4, 1 and duck, Use Magic Wands, etc. bat with each attack. Try to garrison the then finish the battle to get Plate Mail+2, Dennis Ewell easiest castle there quickly, so you won't Shield+2 and Mail+2, Necklace, Magic spend many days in the desert. After this, Missiles, Long Sword+2 and Wand of Ice The Mines: On Level Eight, go north, send Demons and Vampires (which can Storm. Defeat small dragons at 6, 6, usin then west from the lift to use the malfunc fly) across the continent and desert for all ing Ice Wands, do the same at 7, 7 and 8, tioning teleporter to Level Nine. On Lev gold and treasure. The last (and seeming 8 against Ancient Dragon. Drop Gems in el Ten, go north from the lift and dig for ly impossible) battle can easily be won Well for clues and next quest. Gems and experience. with the following armies: 100+ Demons, Marcus: return to town and defeat him Ice Giant Village: speak nicely to 30+ Dragons, 200+ Vampires, 100+ at 15, 10. Then head to Ruins and follow King. Iron Golems: Fireball and Magic Giants, 200+ Trolls and anything else, map from JE # 1. Before battle, cast Missile spells heal these fiends; slow such as Ghosts or Archmages. Don't wor Prayer, Bless and Haste if necessary; use them down with Lightning Bolt. The ry about morale, for even with its medi Ice Wands on Dragon. You'll get a Cloak Castle: to enter, you need the Amulet of um to low morale, this army should have of Displacement. In the north ruins at 11, Eldamar and the eight pieces of Oswulf's no trouble, thanks to its effective man 0 is a battle with Dragons and Giants that Staff (see above). Take them to the Dwarf power. nets you a Flail+2, Ring of Protection+2 in the temple on Level One of the Mine to Robert Breezley and a Wand of Fireball. There's also a be assembled. You also need the gold, sil teleporter to the Well. Head to Black Cir ver and brass keys from the Dungeon. Bad Blood cle HQ (23, 45) next Key battles are at Password of the day on Level Two of the Varigg is the best character. Though he 12, 6 (Commander); 10, 6 (teleporter to Castle is Tuffmfzf. On Level Three, use needs a Collar to enter Yvrium (go north Well); 14, 6 (Armoury); 14, 12 (Dragon silver key on door one, speak Ptxvmg at east of town around noon), he's impervi Hatchlings, use Ice Wands); and 14, 14 door two, use gold key on door three and ous to radiation in :zero Town. (final battle). brass key on door four. Fred J. Philipp Richard Rassmussen Vivienne Stevenson Healing: Priests at Temple of Gond will The Jetsons Aboveground: Sleeping in town is dan Check the table in your room for your gerous till you slay Red Assassins at 15, heal for free. Scott Haverly credit card. Use reverse psychology when 12. (But first fight Black Circle at 13, talking to Judy's diary, and you'll find 11.) There's a Dragonhoard near 5, 48, the keys to the JetsonMobile behind her with good treasure and Amulet of Elda Circuit's Edge ebodjoh tipft. Take your briefcase mar. Ancient Bier at 59, 22 has good Most quests involve much running back when you go to work, so you can carry items. and forth. Check with Chiri, who has lots more items. After visiting Spacely: The Mine: entrance is near45, 37. Top of info. For money, see Papa after your go to your office and talk to Rudi. At level is Temple of Tyre, with secret doors first meeting with him. Useful items are the Mall: buy an Anti-grav Belt and a at 7, ll(don't forget_to get a Staffof at Laila's, Electroniques, Friendly's and Port-a-Nuke energy generator; talk to Slurpee here); 12, 13; 15, 14; 1, 3. Level some street dealers. Check any full names QuestBusters 13 Jane. Don't forget to visit Elroy and his 6666665: Gargoyle's Castle (sure, the de Future Magic Science Fair at the Little Dipper school, signers' choice of 666 for latitude and Key of Thor: this is in the depths of where he'll give you something useful. longitude was purely coincidental.) Ceyjavik. To get there, wait for the Bor Andrew Phang ******5: Gargoyle World kin Station distress signal, then search the (The Os in the list are zeros. Sherry: to Command Center. You'll find a commu Ultima VI keep the Mouse from getting killed in nication from the sole survivor, who will Multiple saved games: For each battle, set her combat tactic to "retreat." direct you to the Sealife Labs. Explore game you want to save, create a directory To carry more weight: take along an there, descending to level four, where under your Ultima VI directory. Then empty bag in your inventory. When you you'll find the Key. Green Dragons: to create the following batch file: find an item but can't pick it up, click on get past these and other tough monsters, ULTSAVE.BAT the empty bag and you '11 see the amount use a "strong point" formation: keep your ECHO Saving Game files to QuestBusters 14 ville IL 62650 MSDOS & QUEST-ALIKES Many bestsellers, mostly 3.5" to sell/trade. Waiting for Duffy Steve Lake, 90 McKay St, Beverly MA 01915 Duffy' s on the way to Kuwait, so contact these people if you can help. 'Sell/trade: Dragonstrike, 5.25" for $17. Tony Ellison, 407 N Division, Lowell MI 49331 Magic Candle: how to enter dungeon near Trade or sell your old adventures with a Brelleht Lake? Wishbringer: how to enter free ad. (Adventures only, no pirated Sell/trade: $25 @-Faery Tale Adventure, • Hillsfar, both w/cluebook. Shard of Spring, Tower, get in library? Brad Nolan, 8 Long software, limit of JO games per ad. $15. Questron 2~$18. Hero's Quest, $25. Keef meadow Rd, Lincoln RI 02865 Please state system. the Thief, $18, plus more. Want Silver Blades, Questrnaster, Keys to Maramon, Deathbring Heroes or Lance: Need CGA simulator APPLE er. B. G. Feagins, 16 A Michael Loop, Ft. that will run this game w/Hercules. N. Mark Ultima 2 or 3, $15. The Pawn. $8. Bard 1 $6; Benning GA 31905 Kassouf, 12767 Royal Ave, Grand Terrace Bard 2 or Wasteland (both w/cluebook), $15. CA92324 Wishbringer or Planetfall, $5. King's Quest 1, Trade only, 5.25": Ultima VI, Champions of $10. The Quest, $2. Send SASE for list of Krynn, Demon's Winter, Silver Blades, Mech Future Magic: on planet Ceyjavik, 4th lev more. Tim Prokott, 849 SE 23rd Ave, Minne warrior. 3.5": Wizardry 5, Demon Stalkers. el, can't find raiders. LTC Anthony Giasi, apolis MN 55414 Write for list. Want Might & Magic I or II. USAE SHAPE-POL DIV, APO, NY 09055 Dragon Wars, Bard 3. Les Minaker, 5 Leve Sell only: Pool of Rad, Azure Bonds, $25 for rhume Cres, Scarborough, Canada MlE 1K5 M & M 2: need access code for evil and both. Ultima 3 & 4, $20 for both. Bard 1-2-3, good sorcerer's keeps. Armen Kassabian, all for $20. $20 @: M & M l, Moebius, Want Enchanter Trilogy, 5.25". Buy only. Ar 17950 Lake Vista, Encina CA 91316 King's Quest4. Christopher Carter, 21 St. thur Milburn, 20079 Gist Rd, Los Gatos CA l James Pl. 16-B, Brooklyn NY 11205 95030 Adventure 1.0: am missing 16 points, can anyone help? Mike Arnott, 13545 - 81 Ave, $10@: Seastalker, Legacy of Ancients, M & Trade only. 5.25": Ultima 4, Champions of Surrey, BC, Canada V3W 3C6 M, Deathlord, Pool of Rad w/cluebook. $15 Krynn, Demon's Winter. 3.5": Demon Stalk @: Knights of Legend, Dragon Wars. Chris ers.Want M & M 1 or 2, Dragon Wars, Rail Police Quest 2: how do I see find Morgan Carlucci, 15927 Viewfield Rd, Monte Sereno road Empire. Les Minaker, 5 Leverhume in his office after Blue Room scene, see Marie CA95030 Cres, Scarborough, Ont. Canada MlE 1K5 in jail? Paul, POB 2063, Noumea, New Cale donia COMMODORE Many bestselling games, mostly 3.5". Sell or Amiga: Want to buy Paladin, Dragons of trade. Steve Lake, 90 McKay St, Beverly MA Circuit's Edge: Where are explosives? Flame, Hillsfar, Ultima 1-4, Dungeon Master. 01915 Have timer, wire, detonator. Les Minaker, 5 P Matta, 73 Basswood Rd, Farmington CT Leverhume Cres, Scarborough, Ont., Canada 06032 Trade: Police Quest 2, Conquests of Camelot, MlE 1K5 Champions of Krynn, War in Middle Earth, M Want Silver Blades, Trinity, ZorkQuest 2, & M 2, more (send for list). Want Circuit's Wizardry 2: need answer to beast's riddle Enchanter. Brian James, 7111 S. Albion St, Edge, Future Wars, MegaTraveller. Andrew on level 6. Deatblord: how to get past fist Littleton CO 80122 Pollak, 2002 Regis Dr, Davis CA 95616 level on Plane of Darkness; walkthru for rest of game would be nice. R Wyatt, 8614 Bram $15 @: Bard 1, Zac McKracken, Maniac Sell, $20@, 5.25" only: Circuit's Edge, M & ble Lane #203, Randallstown MD 21133 Mansion, Legacy of Ancients. $10@: Wish M 2, Space Rogue, Starflight 2. Both formats: bringer, Borrowed Time, Tass Times, Mind Dragon Wars, Larry 3, Space Quest 3, Man shadow, Murder on Mississippi. Shawn Lau hunter NY. William Gustafson, 3490 NW Trade: Magic Candle for Legend ofBlacksil zon, 29606 41 St, Salem Wi 53168 179th St, Portland OR 97229 ver. D. Joan Maybe, POB 1236, Joshua CA 92252 $15 @:Brimstone, Phantasie 1 or 2, Wizard's Trade: King's Quest 1-4 (4 is 256K version), $7 @, or trade both for one game: Planetfall Crown, Defender of Crown. Sell: Zork 2, Se Space Quest 1-2, Journey. Want Space Quest kaa of Assiah, $5 @. $12@: Wasteland w/ 3, Larry 3, Hero's Quest, MT32-compatible and Infidel. Want Mines of Titan, Quarter & cluebook, Indy action game, Star Trek: Ko games. Chris Linton, POB 35, Coventry VT staff, Third Courier, M M 1. bayashi.Want Pirates, Law of West, Alter 05825 Ego (male). Tommy Earnest Jr, 2465 Plum Trade: both formats-Hero's Quest, Star Creek Rd, Christiansburg VA 24073 Sell/trade, $15 @ : Manhunter 1-2, King's Command. 5.25" only: Omnicron Conspiracy, Quest 4, Hero's Quest, Space Quest 3, Police 2400 AD, Space Rogue, Magic Candle, Wi Will trade Banletech, Tangled Tales, Knights Quest 2, M & M 2 (all 3.5"), Keef the Thief zardry 5. Send your list. Marc Thibault, Box of Legend or Dragon Wars for Ultima IV (5.25"). $20 @: Ultima 5 (3.5"), Ultima 6 1901, APO NY 09458 (complete package, including ankh). Paul (5.25"). Send SASE for others or trade offers. Spurvey, 1089 Madeleine Ave, Sudbury, Ont, Joe Bogdanski, 5 Skyline Dr, Saugerties, NY Want Dragon Wars, either format. Trade: Ulti ... Canada P3A 3A2 12477 ma 6, Bad Blood, Future Magic, Pool of Rad. Brett Stauffer, 131 Hopewll-Wertsville Rd, Want M & M 2, Magic Candle, Ultima 4, 5.25", sell only: Ultima 6 (version 3.2) w/ Hopewell NJ 08525 Bard 2, preferably w/cluebooks. R Wyatt, clu~book, $28, Silver Blades w/cluebook, 8614 Bramble Lane #203, Randallstown MD $24. Book of Adventures 1, $22. Postpaid. Sell: 3.25"@ $12: Don't Go Alone, Prophe 21133 Richard Robillard, 52 S Main St, Baldwinville cy, Future Magic, Echelon, Wasteland, Tan MA01436 gled Tales. $1, Code-name ICEMAN. 5.25" Trade/sell: Faery Tale, Neuromancer, Moebi @ $10: Sinbad & Throne of Falcon, Legacy us, Questron 2, Mars Saga, War in Middle Sell only, Conquests of Camelot, both for of Ancients, Ornincron Conspiracy. Will sell Earth, Eternal Dagger, Windwalker, Legacy mats, $20 + $2 postage. Joe Courter, 410 N all for $85. Peter Gedzyk, 502 S Brookwood of Ancient, The Pawn. more. Jennifer Drath, 1Oth St, Prospect Park NJ 07508 Trail, McHenry IL 60050 8006 Bunkerwood Lane, Houston TX 77086 Many 5.25" games to sell. Sned list and long ST Amiga: will buy or trade for Sword of So SASE or stamp. Mark Kassouf, 12767 Royal Sell: Future Wars, Dragon's Lair, Dungeon dan, It Came from the Desert, BanleTech, oth Ave, Grand Terrace CA 92324 Master, Chaos Strikes Back. Space Quest 3. ers. Andy Webster, 2012 Cedar St, Jackson- Send SASE for more. Rhett Butler, 226 W Sandusky St, Findlay OH 45840 QuestBusters 15 MSDOS Quests Apple Outings Passport to Silver Blades (512K $40 Space Quest III GS $45 Adventure MegTraveller (512K) $50 Champions of Krynn 128K $40 Bad Blood (640K) $40 C64 Seek & Slays Books & Map Kits Escape from Hell $38 Breakers $30 Quest for Clues I or II $24.99 Circuit's Edge (512K) $45 Times of Lore $30 Official Book of Ultima $12.99 Les Manley (640K) $50 Assorted Systems King's Quest Companion $14.95 Ultima VI (640K $65 Future Wars: (has solutions to games I-IV) Loom (512K) $50 Amiga & MSOOS (512K) $40 QB Map Kit (includes US/APO Conquests of Camelot (512K) $45 Keys to Maramon C64 $30 shipping, Canadians send $3 US for Code-name ICEMAN (512K) $45 shipping; no overseas sales) MSOOS (512K) $40 Kit A: (text/graphic games) $8 Bad Blood MSOOS, 640K VGA, Kit B: (role-playing games) $8 Centauri Alliance Apple( 64K), $35 512K EGA, Tandy, 384K CGA $50 (Each has 100 sheets of mapping paper.) C64 $30 Starflight 2 (512K) $45 With each game you get a free Starflight: C64 $35 Mac, Amiga (512K) $40 packet of mapping paper-and 3 Amiga Missions issues added to your sub (2 for lst QuestMaster: C64, Apple (48K), $30; (512K except*, which need a meg) Class and Canadian subs, 1 for MSOOS, GS, $35 overseas). With Quest for Clues King's Quest IV • $45 you get the same; other books Transylvania 3: MSOOS (512K)and entitle you to two extra issues for Police Quest II* $45 IIGS $32 regular subs, one for lst Class, Leisuire Suit ill $45 Canada and overseas.) Champions of Krynn: Amiga* and Psi-Mutant Priestess $40 MS DOS $45 To US addresses, add $3 shipping/etc. for Drakkhen $40 Hero's Quest: Amiga* $45 each book & game; to Canada, APO, $6; overseas, $12. No credit cards or bill MSOOS (512K) $50 mes. AZ, residents add 5% sales tax. Please send street address, not POB. Bulk Rate QuestBusters U.S. Postage PAID POB 5845 Tucson /J\l.. Tucson, AZ 85703 Permit No. 1153 Forwarding and Return Postage Guaranteed Address Correction Requested YOUR SUBS CR I PT I ON EXP l RES: 92./0 2 GOLETA CA 93117
Questbusters: Dog" Greene Was at the Controls
