By Shay Addams

Not sold in stores · To successfully retell a legend, the All the conflict coils around the clues that still take some thought writer must put his or her own kidnapping of King Richard, whom before you can apply them, Marx personal stamp on the story by keep Robin hopes to free by raising the increases the odds that you'll do ing some of the original elements, ransom. Of course we all know how everything you're supposed to do on tossing away others, and inventing Robin intends to do so; the fun part a particular day. wholly new pieces is that you get to rob Much has been made of the that keep the legend · from the rich and give effects of Sierra's new interface on fresh and intriguing to the poor, fight with the nature of the puzzles, particu to those who've read quarterstaff and bow, larly in recent issues of ye very the books or seen the and confront tyranny in Journal. Having played through films a dozen times. the ultimate underdog Police Quest III and now about half In Conquests of the story of all time. of Longbow, I see the point our Longbow, Christy As in recent Sierra reviewers have made. Marx weaves her quests, the story unfolds However, half the "problem" lies own distinctive tale day by day. And this is in a gamer's expectations: if you're of courage, romance the longest one yet, expecting the same kinds of puzzles and intrigue. with thirteen days of varied activi as in yesteryear and don't keep your ties, exploration and puzzle-solving. mind open to change, you will prob A Multi-faceted vision Each day begins with you leaving the ably be disappointed in the new style With her invention of an emerald cave at your hideout in Sherwood of Sierra questing. But if you enter and diamond heart that Robin pieces Forest, and ends when you return at each new world with an open mind together aher dreaming of Maid nightfall. and accept it for what it is, not what Marian, Marx rewrites the classic Characters will ohen tell you you expect it to be, it's far more love story. Countless episodes of where they're headed, giving you a likely that you'll be delightfully combat, cunning and stealth, clue as to where you might go next: surprised than let down. (The basis however, make it far more exciting to join Little John at the overlook to than a medieval cruise on the Love watch Watley Street in hopes of Continue~ on page 14 Boat, and Marx' multifaceted vision replenishing the now-empty treas of the Robin Hood legend and of life ury, or go with Dale to practice with in the 12th Century make this an your bow in the glade? This holds adventure that will be equally true for people you meet in other enjoyed by men, women and places, who ohen advance the plot children. with their conversation. The setting, while romanticized, is as true to life as the story is to the One day at a time legend. Robin is portrayed as a A fundamental aspect of the new multi-dimensional character with his Sierra style is centered on the "day own hopes, dreams and personal by day" design of the stories. This nightmares. Right away you learn lends each story a more life-like feel that Robin and his band of men are and narrows the nature of the not wild about living in the woods, puzzles and their distribution and that he needs, even dreams throughout the quest. Some thin~ about, a good woman. may be performed only on certain days as well as under specific condi tions. With easy-to-find hints and by Shay Addams Shay Addams' Most people Interplay's Castles: The Northern are unaware of Campaign mission disk is out, The Mail Maze the fact that with new combat features, Picts Advcn tu re 99% of the and Vikings, and options for ~ ~pn Road writers and buying and selling grain, etc. (it U...__-===~__J~t!:::· =~ editors of the will be covered fully in computer game Simulations!). Their latest from Dear QuestBusters: magazines are Delphine, Out of this World, is About the December article on named Russ, and on the way, using simulations "Adventure Express," I'm that once a year type polygons for graphics. Ocean worried that people who get they all meet to pick has Elf for the Amiga and PC. It Journal 3rd class will never find the Russ who made the biggest looks more like a fancy ladder out about the news and clues in contributions to the art and craft game than an adventure. it. Will these be covered in the we like to call writing and editing. next issue? At an exclusive dinner party in Sierra extends help line Denise Drummond San Francisco, our very own For the Christmas season, Sierra Contributing Editor Russ Ceccola has extended their Customer Don't panic! All the news that is was recently named "Russ of the Support Lines. Through March still news will be reported in the Year." 31, they're open 8 next issue. If you get it sent 1st Congratula AM-9PMPST Class, you'll get a two-page insert tions, Russ! Monday-Friday, with all the news and clues that and until 5 PM on arrived while the upcoming issue Secret Saturdays. (209) was being printed, along with Weapons 683-8989. brief excerpts from upcoming ofUltima? The Sierra reviews. If you wish to upgrade, We regret to Network start-up check your mailing label and report that kits have been count the number of issues left in Ultima VII well-received by your sub, then multiply by 50it. has been Russes Sipe, Ceccola & DeMarla major retailers such Everyone who gets the Journal delayed until as Babbages and Software Etc., via Air Mail will automatically February. So was Leather and Sierra expects to reel in receive "Adventure Express" - Goddesses of Phobos II. 10,000 users by year's end. the most up-to-the-minute news Infocom's compilation of all-text SierraLand is now open, though in the industry! games was set to ship the end of the formal opening is set for later December, but we haven't seen it this year, when LarryLand will yet. Interplay's Star Trek was still also arrive. Recent aaditions in beta in mid-December. Magic include E-Mail, Conference Candle II is now an early January Rooms and Sierra Game Hints. release. A playable demo is availa Sierra also released a few games, ble on Compuserve and GEnie: mainly edutainment pieces like Editor: Shay Addams characters developed in the demo · Dr. Brain, Mixed-up Fairy Tales Managing Editor: Dora McCormick can be used in the game, enabling and the l.Arry Laffer Utilities. News Editor: Cousin It you to get a head start. (OK, the last one's actually sex Contributing Editors: Bernie Yee, Al Giovetti, Rich Heimlich, Ken St. edutainment, but it's still fun.) Games that made it Andre, Stephen King, Brian Smith, SSI said they were "building the Steven Payne, Russ Ceccola, Bruce E. New Game Books Wiley, Duffy, This Reviewer packages" for Eye of the A pair of new books from Peter Beholder II last night, so it Spear arrived last week. The QuestBusters, the journal of the should be out now. Monkey Unauthorized Uncensored Leisure world's largest group of adventure Island II made it out the door, Suit Larry Bedside Companion is gamers, is published monthly by the but Indy in Atlantis probably a revised edition with clues to Addams Family. Annual dues: 3rd Class, $19; 1st Class, $25, Canada, won't arrive until March. Look games I-V. Spear also hooked up for a color Mac Monkey I by $26, Int'l, $36. Contents Copyright with a virtually unknown ghost Eldritch, LTD., 1991, All Rights February. Les Manley in: Lost in writer to do Dvorak's Guide to Reserved. Copying without express L. A. shows off Accolade's new PC Games. It's a full of capsulre permission is prohibited & punisha GUI interface and their introduc reveiws and tips for hundreds of ble by changing your name to Russell. tion of digitized videos for games and two disks of shareware graphics. It's VGA only, and will games. Both are highly recom be covered here next nionth. Member: mended (but buy Quest for Clues South American Explorers Club IV first!). Bard's Tale Construction Set n the good old days I played plunge in and create a program. opponunity to customize or Tunnels and Trolls six times a You need to know what you want rename your character types. I week. (Not Dungeons and to do before you get staned. You There is also an Adventurer's Dragons, never Dungeons and should begin by making lists: how Guild for saving the game and Dragons - though the experi many dungeons and what to call resting, a Ganh's Equipment ence was much the same.) Many a them, how many monsters, how Shoppe for buying and selling dungeon my friends and I delved, many items, how many spells. equipment, and a Review Board many a city explored, and many a That's because you will be for level increases and gaining monster we sent back to meet its using a different new magic maker. But the most fun of all editor for each spells. I was in being the Game Master in section of adven hadn't real charge of the expedition, and I ture creation: one ized that did that a lot.

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