The Magic Candle

t Vol. VI,# 4 April, 1989 $2.50

Quest of the Month A vvicked RPG: The Magic Candle By Shay Addams Meet the Party (Animals) dungeon fountains to elevate the trait's Eating ore with a fork-that's as good as This is your basic Dwarf, Human, actual rating. it gets out on the open range in Deruvia, Halfling and Elf society, and there are One thing to work on immediately is where I've spent the past few weeks bat only five skills. In addition to the usual Charisma. I've never seen a game in which Charisma is so impor tling more of those deadly little devils weapon skills, than in any fantasy land since Ultima !I's however, Ata tant at the outset. You can't enter some rooms or talk Sosaria. Though a cursory glance at the bek thought with certain people until screen shots on the package might at first fully gave us a lead you to deem this just another clone, Learning Skill your Charisma is high enough-and must travel Magic Candle contributes numerous in that enables quite a distance to do so. novations to the computer RPG, doing so fighter types to There are only a dozen in an imaginative setting and story. The learn faster at insightful game design shows the au combat kinds of swords, axes and thor's visions owe as much to his experi schools, and bows, and five types of ar ence as an adventurer as they.do to his cuts the time mor. The interesting thing is role as a designer. magic users IBM EGA/Tandy version that weapons wear down in need to memorize battle. A weapon starts at 00 points What? No Evil Wizard? spells. Skills such as swordfighting and for Wear and Tear, which, as it gets worn Ali N. Atabek, who did Rings of Zilfin magic are improved with use as well as down in battle, goes up to 99-and at this in 1986, makes a far more impressive by accumulating experience points. point becomes useless. To keep it sharp, a showing in this six-character quest. Sum Your pre-rolled character is called Lu sword must be "Fixed" in camp. moned to King Rebnard's castle, you're kas, but you can change his name. In the Continued on page ten informed that for centuries the demon Knight's Room of the Castle, 25 more Dreax had been securely locked away in volunteers await your selection. Their at- a Magic Candle kept tributes, weap Would You Believe ... ? aflame by the Four ons, magic books and Forty Guardians. Type: Fantasy RPG and brief bios are According to our new "undercover edi The Guardians have Systems: Apple (64K), C 64, described in the tor," a well-known designer (who prefers vanished, the Candle IBM (256K required, EGA, CGA, manual, and you not to be named at this time) is writing an is burning low and Tandy graphics, hard drive can also check adventure game version of The Satanic Dreax will escape un supported) out onscreen Verses, to be published by a company less you can find a Version Reviewed: Apple stats at any time. that also prefers not to be named at this way to prevent this ca (version 1.5) While some time, and distributed by a distributor that tastrophe. A time limit people probably prefers not to be named at this time. is in effect, and one window tells the prefer more input in character creation, I In a related story, we hear Infocom ac number of days left before the Candle like this style of party creation: you get to quired the computer game rights to Roy burns down. If playing the easy version, make key decisions about the party's Orbison's last album, Mystery Girl, and you have 1,000 days (800 for the interme composition without spending time roll will make it into a graphic adventure- diate level setting, 600 for difficult) to ing up (and rerolling up) every single The Orb of Orbison. (It's a little known unravel the riddle of the Candle. character. And your party is ready to fact that Orbison was among the world's King Rebnard doesn't have a clue as to rock- fully stocked with weapons, ar most devoted adventurer gamers- the how this might be accomplished, but mor, spells, weapons and other necessary only reason he wore such thick glasses he'll at least donate some gold, food and gear. That means you spend less time was because he spend so much time star other goods to your party. There are lots building up hardware in the early stages. ing at the monitor while lost in a maze.) of mini-quests to complete, but these are There are no character levels as such, Interplay just announced they'll convert not assigned as formal missions by any so you don't have to keep returning to a Neuromancer for the Cray- "the next big one. You run across clues suggesting Guild. Traits such as Strength are boosted game machine," according to Brian Far things you might do, such as seeking the by first awakening the appropriate god go. And Jon van Caneghem plans to team Hammer of Thorin in Marmaris. (there are eight), who increases your po up with the author of Future Magic to tential. Then you've got to drink from produce Future Might and Magic. Letters . . . Adventure Hotline . . . to the ~ ~ Editor New Quests Six Free Issues of QB! Dear QuestBusters: Project= Firestart, which looks like it was Do you know anyone else on the entire Sega recently released a few adventure inspired by the film Aliens, is a new RPG planet who plays adventures? Get them to from Dynamix (distributed by EA) for the subscribe to QB-and mention your games for its videogame system. Do you C 64. Based on the Agatha Christie se name when they do-and we'll add six plan to review any? ries, The Scoop is out for the IBM and free issues to your sub (four if it's First Joseph M. Smith Apple (from Spinnaker). Lancelot is a Class or Canadian, two for overseas.) graphic adventure with over 60,000 You can even give someone a gift sub Dear QuestBusters: words of text that tells a three-part saga in scription and get the free issues (but you Have you ever considered doing a month which you seek the Holy Grail (IBM, ST, can't give a gift sub to yourself or a ly Nintendo/Sega column? Amiga, Mac). It's from Datasoft,,as is household member). And thanks to every Steve Kempton Time and Magik, a set of three graphic one who has already done so. adventures with time travel themes. Both Dear QuestBusters: games feature impressive digitized Contest Winners ···some of them are actually better than graphics. This winner of this month's Random Drawing is Walter Compton. Fred Ando many computer role-playing games. Do Conversions li won the Keys to the Kingdoms contest, you plan to start reviewing more of them? Dondra should have shipped by now for and will also get the game of his choice. Susan Jenkins the C 64 and GS. (Still no word on game two in Sean Barger's QuestMaster series.) Secret Contest We'll be covering adventure-style video Baudville's Dream 'Zone is now available Our all-new Secret Contest is a simple games(like 'Zelda) for the Sega, Nintendo for the Amiga and IBM. The Amiga and one: all you have to do is tell us the ques and other systems, but won't devote as GS versions of DungeonMaster are out tion, and you'll win the game of your much space to these reviews. Maybe a The GS version includes a new dungeon choice. That's right-you don't even column, or we might combine several re designed for kids. Mac and IBM versions have to give the question's correct an views into a longer piece. (Hopefully the are next. swer! Contest expires June 5, 1989. Send entries to Secret Contest, c/o QB. videogame industry won't vanish, as it Coming Soon: did just a few years ago, before our next Star Saga Two should be ready for the GS The Key Club issue!) And if it's a matter of space, we'll and IBM this summer (we'll review the If you need help on an older game and never cut a computer game review to first game next month). DungeonMaster can't stand waiting for Duffy, request a make room for video game coverage. II, erroneously reported as being released copy of the Key Club list It gives names in January, has not been released for the and addresses of QBers who will answer Dear QuestBusters: ST, and FrL has not set a date. questions of specific games. Write to Lately I've had trouble sleeping. Can you Brian Smith, 3035 Montego, Piano TX recommend a good potion? Going for the Gold: Bestselling 75023 and send a self-addressed, stamped Jason Watts Adventures of 1988 envelope. If you want to add your name King's Quest IV went gold (100,000 cop to the Key Club-and can help with ies) in the first two weeks. Many dealers games released in the past year-Brian, Yes-Deathlord. are calling Pool ofRadiance the bestsell the Official Keeper of the Keys-will be ing C 64 game of all time, and it should glad to add your name to the list go gold with the IBM version. And Ulti- . ma IV has already sold over 250,000 Writing and Calling copies. If sending in stuff for more than one de Q11~~i~1!!§tJ~rJ partment (Duffy, Swap, Keys, etc.), put Editor: Shay Addams New Features each on a separate sheet of paper-and News Editor: Nuyu We've added two new features. Each put your name and address on each one Contributing Editors: Ken St. Andre, Tim month, one game will be recommended (the reason Fred Johnson didn't get a by Snider, Stephen King, Brian Smith, Bob as the Quest of the Month-this will usu line for his Demon's Winter clues in the Guerra, William E. Carte, Charles Don ally be the cover review. And to further December issue). We rarely reply to mail Hall, Mike Bagnall, Tracie Forman clarify the reviews, the specs box will but will almost always do so if you in Hines, Steven Payne, Russ Ceccola, Matt state which version was reviewed (unless clude a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Hillman, A. Bruce Lotts the game is currently available for a sin A few resourceful subscribers have dis QuestBusters is published monthly by gle system). covered the QB phone number. This is Lyle Lovett. Annual subs, $18. Canada, just a reminder that we don't give out $24, Int'l, $32, Intergalactic, 324 ziirgz. Business News clues by phone. But call if you 're having Textual contents Copyright Shay Ad Datason was recently acquired by Soft problems with your sub (and, of course, dams, 1989, All Rights Reserved. Copy ware Toolworks, and all products will be can track down that elusive number!). ing without express permission is distributed by Electronic Arts. Chris Ea prohibited and punishable by putting a rhardt left Infocom for Level Systems. $5 million bounty on your head. Police Quest II: The Vengeance By Stephen King gritty feel, yet doesn't beat the player to go with him. There are three screens of death with mundane details like eating, the lake bottom at Cotton Cove, each cov Well Sonny, things were really starting to sleeping and other assorted trivia com ered with debris among the algae and oth come together for you. First you re mon to such games. er plants. A single clue lies buried in the discovered love with your high school Since you are no longer a patrol offi mud at each place, so it's up to you to sweetheart Marie (currently retired from cer, the overhead map has been eliminat swim over curious looking items and sur her "profession" in Police Quest I). Then ed. Driving is now an vey the bottom. It is came the promotion to homicide, and to automated task seen interesting to note that top it all off, that scum-sucker Jessie from a first-person there is even an east Bains-AKA The Death Angel-is cur perspective. Time ward current caused rently cooling his heels in a maximum se spent in the patrol car by the waterfall on the curity cell. is the one thing that far left screen. Be Don't get too cocky though, because can get tedious about cause of this, you can situations tend to change fast. If you don't the game if you let it swiftly move to the keep your eye on things, Bains might be [but at least you don't right, while moving sent back to the city jail pending an ap have to drive the ani back to the left again peal. And if you don't stay on your toes, mated car and crash talces more effort. he might even kidnap a guard at knife into a building every point and escape. What? It's already hap other block]. Just the Facts, Ma'am pened, you say? Uh oh... The animation of the scanner and the Continuing in the tradition of Police smoke from Keith's everpresent cigarette Quest I, the sequel is heavy on procedure Do Not Pass Go, Do Not Even I.r.y_ are excellent, and the "on the road" theme and investigation [if it were a crime novel, to Collect $200 song is great, but these sequences tend to this style would be called a procedural]. Police Quest II talces up where the first be a bit long. A good way to keep them The procedure part is a bit more forgiving game ended. A message alerts you that short as possible is to hit the RETURN than in the first game. For instance, you Bains has escaped jail and your Captain key every time there is radio traffic; the no longer have to walk around your car to has assigned you to investigate. Together time sperit enroute then becomes much check the tires every time you leave the with your chain-smoking partner, Keith, easier to bear. parking lot. you drive to the jail to look at Bain' s file, But the detective work is quite a bit pick up a current mug shot and get a de- Target Shooting and Scuba Diving more intense. It's your job to cart around tailed ac- The poker game from Po- your trusty field investigation kit and get count of the ------lice Quest I was replaced blood samples, dust for fingerprints, talce escape. Type: Animated Adventure with a sequence at the target pictures of the crime scene, and even It Systems: ST, IBM (512K re- range where you shoot at a make a plaster cast of a footprint if need doesn't quired, Turbo PC with least 8 MHz standard police-style sil talce long to and a hard drive strongly recom- houette target and adjust Continued on page 11 find that mended; VGA, EGA, Tandy, Her- your sights between rounds. Bains has cules, Tandy and two CGA modes With no way to tell which stolen the supported) direction or how much to kidnapped turn the screws, this seemed Inventory guard's car Planned Conversions: Apple difficult at first. But it and aban (128K), Amiga, Macintosh, GS quickly became apparent doned it at Version Reviewed: IBM that while you're adjusting 'Ifie Magic Canife ...... 1 a local ------...------the sight, the joystick (or ar Po[ice Qyest II...... 3 shopping mall, where he picked up a less rows) should by pushed in the direction conspicuous vehicle. From here, The you want the bullets to move. If you are :Heroes of tfie Lance ...... 4 Death Angel leads you on a merry chase shooting too low and leaning to the left, 'Deja 'Vu II...... 5 that includes an underwater search for · just move the joystick up slightly and clues, the hijacking of an airline flight right a bit. A little adjustment goes a long Sorcerer Lord...... 6 and a grand confrontation with the man way with a gunsight, so be careful you g:'IS:H...... •...... •...... 7 himself, deep in the picturesque sewers of don't overdo it. Steelton. The gun becomes very important to 'Wa{{(J;firu: Leisure Suit you in the later stages of the game, so Larry II...... 8 Sonny Today, Hot Tamale make sure you get the sight adjusted as The first thing everyone wonders about accurately as possible. Don't worry, for 'Waiting for 'Duffy ...... 13 a sequel is how it compares to the origi with a small bit of practice it becomes 'l(g,ys to tfie 'l(jngtfoms ... 14 nal. In this case, exceptionally well. Al easy to manage. though other games have been based on In one of the most unique sequences, a Swap Sfwp ...... 15 law enforcement, none has approached police diver is called in to help investi the realism of the original Police Quest. gate a crime scene. Being a firm believer The Vengeance carries on with the same in the "buddy system," he requires you to Heroes of the Lance: a D & D Action/ Adventure .By Stephen King the bulk of the Clerical spells are protec advancing toward your party. Monsters tive ones like healing, raising the dead or tend to stay in certain areas. If you walk Heroes of the Lance is the first action ad shielding your party from the acid breath away from one, it won't follow you. But venture in the line of computer games of a dragon. This last is somewhat of a upon returning, you'll find it there wait produced by SSI in collaboration with mixed blessing. While it does a good job ing to bash in your head (or your knee TSR, the Dungeons & Dragons people. of protecting you from terminal halitosis, cap, if attacked by dwarves). Lance is set on the world of Krynn and is it also limits your party's effectiveness in When a party member uses his ranged based on the first module of the Dragon combat Wizard spells are generally for weapon, it flies across the screen very lance saga, The Dragons ofD .espair. SSI attacking or restraining an opponent. nicely. Your dwarf can pitch one of his plans more in this series, with Hillsfar They work well on the battle axes at an op due soon if not out already. other nasty creatures, ponent. Two party You control a party of eight pre-rolled but for some reason I members can be characters-the Companions of the was not able to make seen putting away Lance-whose goal is to search the ruins any of them work on the their swords to of the temple of Xak Tsaroth for the black hatchling dragons. draw a bow, while Disks of Mishakal, which will revive be There are several two more use a lief in the old gods. The Companions are types of creatures-all spear and a sling. controlled via joystick or keyboard, with of them evil, wicked, Sound was in the keypad numbers corresponding to the mean, bad or nasty: ene cluded, but sparse joystick directions. Moving the stick left my humans, Baaz Dra ly. A one-voice or right sends the central character in that conians (a small type of IBM · version theme song plays direction. Leaning it upward in the direc lizard man), Giant Spiders, Trolls, when the game first starts. You tion you're moving causes him to run, Spectres, Wraiths, Bozak Draconians can also hear the clomping footsteps of an and pressing the button while running (slightly larger then their cousins, they advancing monster. There are a couple of will make the character leap. If a door is carry a contingent of offensive spells), "all purpose" crashing sounds related to accessible, ______...______, GullyHatchling Dwarves, black drag- combat. You hear these when you swing pushing the your sword, when you set off stick up or Type: Action RPG ons and finally, Khi- a trap, or get killed. down sends the Systems: IBM (384K required, santh-the large black There is a diminished party through CGA, EGA and Tandy supported), dragon that guards the version of this if you it C 64, Amiga, ST disks ofMishakal. fire an arrow. This was Combat oc Version Reviewed: IBM There are also sev- a bit disappointing for curs in either eral potions, scrolls, me. Given the highly rea- close quarters wands, rings and other listic graphics, I or ranged. If you've previously selected miscellaneous material such as gem thought some clang your central character's distance weapon, stones, gold ingots and treasure. Many of ing swords and a few you can choose ranged combat by press these are guarded by denizens of Xak grunts similar to those ing down on the button with an enemy Tsaroth. If you see one just lying there in in Battle Chess would have some distance from you. Otherwise you'll a manner that seems almost too good to spiced up the game. enter close combat mode as soon as he is be true, be advised that it probably is. · Copy protection .is of the key word va near enough. You'll also have to dodge hidden traps, riety that has become so popular in recent months. When you run the game, you're May I See a Menu, Please? stone slabs and rocks that can fall from the ceiling at a moment's notice. asked to enter the Constitution rating of a By pressing the space bar you can call party member from the biography section up a menu that allows you to change the Lights, Camera, in the middle of the owners' manual. Sep central character of your party to another Action/Adventure! arate packages contain either three 5.25" one who is perhaps more rested, or maybe This game profits from some really or two 3.5" disks in the IBM version. a better match for the current opponent beautiful graphics. In a block that indi Conclusions: Heroes of the Lance was Keep in mind that if you plan on using cates the marching order near the bottom not really my type of game, but I have no Clerical spells, Goldmoon must be one of of the screen, each of the eight Compan doubt that it will find its audience. The your first four party members. Likewise, ions is displayed. The current group lead graphics are stunning, and it does stick as if you want to use Wizard's magic, Raist er is show in the center of the screen in closely as a computer can to the AD & D lin Majere must be in this group. full living color. All actions are depicted rules. If you prefer a real-time action ad The menu is also used to pick up or through the group leader. When you're venture RPG to the more cerebral types drop items, to use an item one of the party moving, the ruins of Xak Tsaroth scroll like Ultima or Phantasie, give this one a has in his pack, to give an item to another past in the background. try-it may be perfect for you. party member, to save and restore the From time to time you will walk past a game, to check the current score, or to doorway to another area. When this hap Skill Level: Intermediate cast one of the various spells. pens, one or more compass points on the Protection: Key Word How Do You Spell Relief? lower left of the screen light up to let you Price: C 64, $29.95; others, $39.95 As is usually the case in D & D games, know in which directions you can move. Company: SSl/Electronic Arts If a monster lurks nearby, you'll see it

4 QuestBusters Deja Vu II: Lost in Las Vegas By Steven Payne Select and "open" the pants to find your must return for the final showdown. You wallet; "open" the wallet and you'll find won't end up any richer, but with luck You're in big trouble, pal! Remember the some important papers. "Operate" the and a clever ruse you may at least escape time when you woke up in the bathroom cold tap on itself to run some water in the with your life (and if your printer is on of that sleazy Chi-town bar with no mem sink. "Hit" the mirror for the thrilling when you finish the game, you'll have ory and found out you'd been framed for sound of shattering glass. something to show for all your "work"). Joey Siegel's murder? Thought you could There are also plenty of shortcuts. You'll find the same kind oftongue-in rest easy after clearing your name? Not a Double-clicking on most objects will give cheek "software noire" humor as in the chance! Seems Joey, who was working you a description of them. One double original Deja Vu, and even some of the for Las Vegas mob click on an unlocked same characters and locations. The ani ster Tony Malone, door (or the corre mation and more extensive use of sounds left $112,000 unac sponding square in the are major improvements, as is the fact counted for upon exit window) opens it, that you die less frequently. The game his ... er... demise. --~....- and a second double seems easier than the original Deja Vu, Now Malone wants click takes you though perhaps only because I've had his money and has through it. more practice since then. you figured as the thief. He's sent sever Don't Forget Your Red Herrings to Go al of his ... er ... friends i!!!i!!i!i~!!!!!i!ll Pants! There are only a few really difficult to "persuade" you to Make sure you take puzzles, the worst coming at the end as come up with the dough-"or else." the pants, trenchcoat you try to figure out how to misdirect Deja Vu II is a sequel to Deja Vu: A and cigar ring from the hotel room when your enemies. As before, there is an over Nightmare Comes True, the first entry in you leave, because it locks behind you abundance of red herrings: many exits !COM Simulations' award-winning se and you'll need the items later. Stop first that can never really be used and dozens ries of graphic adventures (which in to admire the artwork in casino lobby, of objects that have no purpose except to cludes Uninvited and Shadow gate). Once which may give you an important hint on clutter up your inventory. There's no ob again you play former pugilist and sec how to win the game. Then head for the vious reason, either, why some doors ond-rate detective Ace Harding. And blackjack tables and look for an old open with keys, others need to be jim once again you start off in a bathroom. friend (you may have to prod his mied (and only with the penknife) and This time you've been kidnapped by memory). still others never open at all. I finished the Malone's thugs, brought to his hotel/ Here, for the first time, you get to see game without ever really figuring out casino in Vegas, grilled, beat up, tossed the major enhancement in this second where the money was or why certain cru in a bathtub and given a deadline of sev Deja Vu installment: the authors have in cial objects (such as Sugar Shack's card) en days to hand over the missing funds. cluded some of clever animation found in ended up where I found them. Just to keep you on your toes, one of Ma Uninvited and Shadowgate. The dealer As in all the ICOM games, there is a lone's boys follows you throughout the may wink at you before he lays down the wonderful "About.." sequence, though its game, keeping an eye on your actions and cards; later on, you'll watch the trains ar 51K size makes me wonder if the disk popping up every now and then with rive, gaze at passing scenery through the space might have been put to better use. grim warnings to remind you how little train window, or see birds flying across My biggest complaint, however, is that time is left. the desert. some commands ("speak" and "con The interface will be familiar from all Speaking of trains, once you've won sume," for example) seemed totally un the other ICOM adventures. Onscreen enough money at the gambling tables you necessary to complete the game (and you have separate windows for graphics, should head directly "hit" is only used in text, exits, commands, "self' and invento for the station and Type: Graphic Adventure a specialized sense, ry. The command window offers eight catch a ride back to . Systems: Macintosh (512Ke or for blackjack). If options (examine, operate, open, close, your old haunts. In better required; supports color on the programmers fact, a better subtitle aren't going to let go, hit, speak and consume) while the Mac 1n, Amiga, ST "exits" window shows all currently possi for this game might you use these com ble (and some impossible) ways ofleav have been "A Tale of Planned Conversions: GS mands, why not ing your location. Most items shown in Two Cities," since (May), IBM (April) redo the command the graphics window are really "there" you spend almost as Version Reviewed: Macintosh menu and replace and can be manipulated with the mouse much time in Chica- them with other op by pointing, clicking, dragging and so on. go as in Las Vegas. tions that are necessary? Containers of various kinds can be select Back in the Windy City, you'll return Deja Vu II comes on a single copy ed and "opened," bringing up a new win to the scene of the crime (changed in sub protected disk. You can transfer the entire dow that shows their contents. (Anyone tle ways since the first Deja Vu) and visit contents to a hard disk, but if you play remember "opening" the corpse of Joey a number of new locations as well. from the hard disk you will be asked to Siegel in the original Deja Vu?) This time your taxi driver is deaf, so insert the master floppy for verification To get dressed in the opening scene, you'll need written addresses to get where purposes from time to time. As before, for example, you can select the pair of you want to go. Little by liule you'll find the number of games you can save is lim- pants, drag them to your inventory win evidence connecting the lost money with dow and then "operate" them on yourself. someone back in Las Vegas, where you Continued on page thirteen minute and don't compensate for the the weather in your favor, while Devastat overwhelming odds. ing means a host of demons fights on Sorcerer Lord Every troop unit that's moving must your side. These are merely verbal de By Ken St. Andre have a leader, which all have names and scriptions, however, for most of the time ratings in Leadership, Sorcery, Fatigue the magic used by both sides turns out Who the barbequed babel fish is PSS- and Movement A garrison force without Weak and therefore balances out. Only and where do they get their game design- a leader can defend its fortress, but cannot numbers matter. Sometimes the dice fall ers? [PSS, it turns out, is a line of games attack independently.You can stack units in your favor, and you'll get Devastating recently bought up by Datasoft] The to amass greater numbers, and armies magic against the enemy's Mild. February QB compared Sorcerer Lord to (while in a fortress) But does it really Defender of the Crown, but it's more like may be combined un- matter? Nol Your so Chris Crawford's classic, Eastern der a single leader to called "host of de Front-a swords and sorcery wargame create bigger or small- mons" can't kill any that unfolds on a hex-grid map with er tactical units. one if you're beautiful graphics but no play balance. But in fact, only the outnumbered more The program is ornately packaged, but leader counters have than five to one. The why doesn't PSS credit its designers and the advantage. You five levels of magic programmers by name? I'd really like to can change Savantor act as modifiers to the know who ruined what should have been desert Barbarians into number of casualties a terrific game. forest-running Elves your forces can in The story is straight out of Tolkien: an by merely dumping flict If you can't kill evil demigod called the Shadowlord has the troops into a garrison, then recruiting anyone, neither can your demons. bred a race of goblins and plans to con- them into a new leader's army. While this A better method, and one that might quer the world with them. It's a beautiful allows you to reorganize your troops with have made the advanced games winnable, world of lakes, mountains, forests, desert, a certain flexibility, it totally violates the would have been for the magic to slay an plains and even ice fields. Men and Elves reality of the world of Galanor. This arbitrary percentage of the enemy. Thus, share this world and must defend it holds true for the Forces of Evil, always if you had to fight at fifty to one odds, against the Shadowlord's goblins. And played by the computer (so there's no you could still do some damage instead of you, representing the Forces of Good, two-player option). just being obliterated. don't have much of a chance. Fortresses, Citadels, Rune Rings-the Considering how badly you're outnum I've been playing ------.i.------mapboard is lit- bered, it's a shame this game is nothing it for a month on my Type: Fantasy Wargame tered with stra- more than a variation on capture the flag . . Amiga. It's very Systems: Amiga, ST, IBM (512K tegic objectives. You have four Citadels and four great playable, but I defy required) The good guys leaders. One would think that as long as anyone to win a have four na- any of them are still in your possession or game on the expert Version Reviewed: Amiga tions and four alive, you wouldn't be defeated. But, for or advanced level. separate Cita- no reason given in the rules, it's all over The only difference is the number of dels, but the only one that really matters if the Yarthros Citadel falls. troops the computer forces get. At the be- is Yarthros in the far southeast: if the The evil Shadowlord is supposed to ginner level you're outnumbered about Shadowlord's forces capture it, you lose wait in his own Citadel for his armies to five to one; experts are outnumbered fif- the game. His Citadel is in the far north- triumph. I've attacked that Citadel teen to one, and advanced players will west, and you must capture it to win. conquered it at the beginning level. And bucks odds of thirty to one. Fortresses and Rune Rings serve as mi- there is no Shadowlord character who Of course, sheer numbers aren't nor targets for the invading goblins. Too corresponds to your own leaders. How enough to daunt any true computer gam- bad they have no greater function. Having awesome Sorcerer Lord could have been er-we're used to overcoming incredible troops in a fortress gives no protection I if there really was a Shadowlord leader, a odds. But though a designer usually gives could see. If you 're facing odds of more sorcerer supreme who always casts Dev the player some sort of advantage, don't than two to one, you may as well resign astating magic in combat, one whose look for one here. The enemy has more yourself to getting wiped out-no matter death automatically grants you victory. troops, can fight better and move faster where you are. It's just lousy design, friends. From what (even over water), and their wizard lead- Rune Rings supposedly act as a source I've seen, the programmers are fully ers are quite likely to get better magical of magic. Ignoring for a moment the fact competent. recruits than do yours. that magic is almost totally useless in this Another major flaw is that the designer Except for zones of control, Sorcerer game, one would think that possession of didn't give the player any kind of big pay Lord applies all the standard wargaming these Rings might make a difference. If off or finale at the end. Regardless of who conventions. Covering six screens, the the Ring belongs to Galanor, it should aid wins, the screen turns black and the win non-scrolling mapboard is divided into only Galanorians, and vice versa. But no, ner gets a victory message. Boring! Con invisible hexes for movement. Units Rune Rings are impartial and are actually sidering that the game was done on an ~an't move north or south, but the other more likely to help the bad guys than the Arniga, it's simply a failure of imagina &.ix compass directions are allowed. good guys, especially if the numbers are tion to cop out with a simple message. A Riders, Warriors, Elves, Barbarians, in their favor (as is usually the case). Shadowlord victory, for example, could Mountainmen and more-each type of According to the manual, there are five have treated us to an insane-looking sor- troop unit has its own advantages and grades of magic: from Weak through disadvantages, which are, however, truly Devastating. Weak is described as having Continued on page thirteen

6 QuestBusters rock group hanging out in an abandoned ceremonial cord from the altar, you learn church, where you've got to restore agar it's "really good for strangling virgins af FISH goyle to its niche in a subterranean altar. ter a bout of custard wrestling." The By Shay Addams This puzzle is rather unusual, for it has a prose is graphic enough to please the two-stage solution. Even when you know most devoted all-text fan: when you're at Finally, I exclaimed when this package what to do, you can only complete a few tacked by the gang of hippies, a "guitar swam across my desk last week, an inter of the necessary tasks before being hits you with a twang like the opening active story based on my favorite charac warped back to the bowl. Then you can chord of A Hard Day's Night." ter from Barney Miller. Or so I thought return and finish the job. So what we've got here is a variation Trollingfor Parsers until the first scene, in which I awoke in The Magnetic Scrolls' parser is still side a goldfish bowl-and inside a gold on the classic "find stuff to make a de vice" plot (used so well in Leather God state of the art, accepting multiple com fish's body! mands, full sentences, pronouns and so How and why did your fearless editor desses). You've got to find three items, such as a gold disc and a grommet, need on; it also enables you to cursor back and end up in such a fishy situation? Just part forth along the command line, to delete a of the job: the job of Interdimensional Se ed to make a "regulator" device. After successfully solving word or character in either direction or cret Agent for England's "Mission HQ." insert new ones. Actually, it was part of the vacation after each warp's main puz zle, you'll obtain one Even the parser pos the job, for the only way I-as Agent sess a sense of hu 10-could relax after completing my last of the three items. (Upon your return to mor: the parser asked assignment was by "warping" into the "Are you talking to body of a fish and floating around for the bowl, the related warp will have van yourself again?" af days at a time. ter I typed in a word My vacation ~nded abruptly when the ished.) Collect all three, and you 'II open it didn't understand boss, Sir Playfair Panchax, alerted me (the word, incidental that the Seven Deadly Fins, a group of in a major warp to the world of Fish, where ly, was understand), terdimensional terrorists, was on the and when I answered loose. Since they perpetrate their crimes you've got to collect IBM version yet more odds and ends to construct a no, it replied, ''Well, it sound- by warping in and out of other beings' ed like it." bodies, Sir Playfair figured I could use device that will save the planet from de struction by those deadly dorsals. On mouse-based machines, you can the same technique to catch them (though pull "scrolls" up and down to reveal me if they also warped into fish, a fishing rod Graphics and Prose Style nus containing common commands such might prove equally effective!). Ultimate Graphics are done in a more contempo- as save. The picture, too, may be moved ly the story up and down with the mouse. moves toa rary style than those in Mag r------..i..---- netic Scrolls' previous You can change the text size to double watery Type: Illustrated Text Adventure releases. They look smooth the usual size, which makes it a lot easier world in Systems: Amiga, IBM (640K re er and possess more per on the eyes. It will print the text as you another di quired for EGA graphics-no spective and softer colors, play. Sound effects take the form of syn mension CGA support-256K required for but still lack animation. As thesized speech for some characters In the Planet text-only), ST in The Pawn, you won't see the Amiga and other versions for comput of Fish-to Planned Conversions: C 64 a fresh picture for each ers with function keys, all ten may be set find the scene. Each new picture usu up with macros for your most commonly parts need Version Reviewed: Amiga ally stays onscreen for the used commands (as in Beyond 'Zork). to build a next four or five moves, so there are only The small manual is packaged as a set control wheel and foil the Fins, who play a few dozen in all. of memos and a dossier with background in a rock group when not busy destroying Clues are hidden in the abundance of on the Seven Fins and details on warping; civilization as we know it text, so this is really an illustrated text ad it's stapled together at one comer for an One Warp at a Time venture-well-suited for gamers who authentic look. In addition to scores of Warping is easy. You just swim into pine for the traditional Infocom-style ad cheap laughs, it provides coded clues for one of the three warp holes in the fish venture. Just toggle off the graphics, and many puzzles. First you type in the word bowl, then immediately emerge in a fara there you are. "hint," then a series of letters that the pro way place. You might wind up as a lack As you warp from one world to anoth gram decodes into a clue (but if your ey in a recording studio, in a forest, or er, the Magnetic Scrolls' warped sense of score isn't high enough, you may not get some other off-the-wall location. And humor emerges as the game's trademark. an answer). your new identity will be as much of a Instead of being told "you can't go in that Conclusions: This adventure poses surprise as your destination. You 're al direction" when I tried to walk west in the some challenging multi-step logical puz ways human, at least-and always in for recording studio, I was told: "This is as zles involving object manipulation and some fun times. far as the studio goes-on a first date, timing. Guild member Paul Shaffer In each new location, you'll have to anyway." And the volume on the amplifi (whose solution greatly speeded up this solve a major puzzle (and intermediary er in the studio goes all the way to eleven, review, which otherwise might not have minor ones) within a certain number of a Spinal Tap joke. appeared until June, 1993) as "one of moves, or be warped back to the fish Adventuredom's most unusual light Magnetic Scrolls' weirdest, but one of the bowl. In the recording studio, for exam source, this game's torch is "one of those most enjoyable." He even preferred it ple, you've got to make coffee for the rubber ones that looks like a marital aid boss. In another scene, you'll encounter a but isn't." And when you examine the Continued on page thirteen

QuestBusters 7 Los Angeles Eve's house (Dl) Walkthrough: Leisure Suit 1any II Look in trash (twice). Take passport. By Terry Calderwood bers given to you by the receptionist. Walk to Century Plaza (C2). (Girl asks for your ticket numbers.) Re Los Angeles peat the numbers given by receptionist Century Plaza (C2) Eve's House (Dl) · Enter the Green Room through the north Look man. Walk to Molto Lira (B2). Walk into garage. Walk east in garage door. until you can't be seen. Take dollar bill. Molto Lira (B2) Walk to KROD (Al). Green room (A2) Read sign. Take swimsuit at back of Sit down on bench. (Man enters.) Follow room. Buy swimsuit at front of counter. KROD (Al) man through west door. Walk to drug store (B4). Look (note info for future reference). Walk to dumpster (A3). The Dating Connection Drug store (B4) Enter anything when asked questions. Walk to west side of far left shelf. Look Dumpster (A3) (You win the game.) Return to the Green shelf.Takelotion.Buylotion. Walkto Walk to hole in fence. Look through Room. Quickie Mart (Map A4). hole. Walk to Quickie Mart (A4). Green Room Quickie Mart (A4) Quickie Mart (A4) (Man gives you cruise ticket.) Sit on Walk to soda dispenser. Take soda. Buy Talk to girl. Buy Lotto Ticket Enter any bench. (Woman enters.) Follow woman soda. Walk to barber shop (03). six three-digit numbers. Walk to KROD through east door. (Al). Barber shop (D3) Lotto Room Talk to man. Sit in chair. Get haircut KROD (You win a million a year for life, get Walk to music store (B2). KROD (Al) money from girl and walk back to lobby.) Enter building. Music store (B2) Talk to girl. Get microfilm. (Look-alike Lobby ( B2) Lobby KGB agent shows up.) Walk to dock Show ujdlfu to girl. Write down the num- Leave building. Walk to Eve's house. (D4). Dock (D4) 1 2 3 4 Give ticket to man. (Note: Deck F, Cabin 1.) Climb ramp to boat. i S. S. Love Tub A m~i) . Hoiz;,~ . Dmnp

QuestBusters 9 Walk west to waiting area. Swamp (B2) The Magic Candle (Save game.) Walk east across light yel Continued from page 1 W~ting Area (Cl) low pattern. Go north into barber shop. River (B3) On the Land Barber Shop (Bl) Walk to edge of river and swing on vine. Outdoors, an arrow points out your Sit in chair (get haircut and conditioner). (This must be quickly executed three group's position on the aerial-view Return to counter area and go east to times, so use F3 key.) Release vine. Take customs. map. When you approach a group of vine. Walk east to beach. (Girl takes you monsters, a skull and crossbones flash to chief in Native Village). Customs (C3) es to indicate their position. This effect Walk up to customs agent. Show Native Village highlights other discoveries, such as qbttqpsu. Walk east through short door. Chiers hut (Fl) and Chasm (El) dungeon doors tucked away in the (You follow chief north to chasm.) (Lis mountains--0ne of the game's many Security Area (C4) ten to chief.) Walk south to chief's hut, creative fine points. Walk to conveyor belt Take bag as it then east to campfire. Interiors of the six towns and villag passes by (repeat till you get the bag with es are depicted from a fresh outlook a bomb and you go back to ticket Campfire (F2) counter). combining an aerial view of the streets Take ashes. Walk south to beach. with pictures of stores, houses and oth Ticket Counter (C2) er buildings that are seen head-on, as in Beach (G2) a graphic adventure (see screen shot on Stand in line (after bomb explodes). Talk Take sand. Return to chasm area. to girl (you get ticket). Walk east to page one). Castle interiors are por Customs. Chasm (El) trayed from an oblique-angled, over (Save game.) Look tree. Walk north to head view that provides a 3-D effect Customs (C3) the end center of the path. Throw vine. (If None of the graphics are as slick as Show qbttqpsu. Walk east to security unsuccessful, try from a different loca those in Questronll, but they're better area. tion.) Walk north (after you cross the than those in Wizard's Crown-which chasm). Security Area (C4) makes them about average. However, Walk east to snack bar. Magic Candle offers a far more sub Glacier (Cl) stantial fantasy world than either of Throw tboe (or btift) on ice. Walk north these and many others, with lots more Snack Bar (CS) to land bridge. Read sign. Buy special. Look in food. things to do, places to go and people to Take pin. Walk to top vending machine. Land Bridge (Bl) meet. In a way, the art reminds me of Look at machine. Buy insurance (you get Walk north across land bridge. Grandma Moses' work: a primitive a parachute). Get on walkway. technique that radiates a uniquely ap Volcano (Al) pealing charm. Gate (AS) Walk near center of screen by crevice. As in Zilfin, much of this game's Look at the counter. Take the pamphlet. Open upojd. (You must be in the correct character derives from its many "spe Give the ticket to the man (you walk location, stated above and shown on through north door and into plane). cials." You'll be trudging along a road map.) Stuffbjstjdl ebb in upojd. Mjhiu through the forests, when the main map bjstjdl ebb with nbudift. Drop upojd in is suddenly replaced with a picture Front Section (Al) crevice. Walk into elevator. (You give the ticket to the woman, then showing your team stopped at the edge walk into the middle section.) Map Key of a canyon whose bridge is out. If you A: dollar bill (garage), passport (in trash) use a rope, it materializes and spans the Middle Section (A2) gulf, and in an animated sequence, Look seat Take bag. Stand. Sit. Give B: note C: Lotto Ticket, soda your characters slide hand-over-hand to qbnqimfu to man (after he tallcs to you). the far side. And when Dalin the Dwarf Stand. Walk to the rear section. D: winning lottery numbers (receptionist) E: cruise ticket (man) goes to work to earn a few gold coins Rear section (A3) F: swimsuit at the blacksmith• s, you see him walk Walk to back of plane. Look at the doors. G: lotion around to the anvil and start pounding Walk to south side of plane. (There's a H: haircut, wig, wax job, haircut, tonic it with his hammer. door here but you can't see it.) Wear par I: microfilm achute. Qjdl mpdl. Tum handle. Open J: fruit, note (Larry's Cabin) Chanting for Dungeons door (you are pulled from the plane). Pull K: top (bottom of pool) When you step on a square next to a ripcord (quickly!) (You get stuck in a L: kit (nightstand) dungeon, a message says "You see an tree.) Use lojgf. M:dip entrance," then a flashing door appears. N: handles for lifeboat drill After typing in the magic words with Jungle 0: lifeboat the Chant command, you'll see a first- Landing site (Al) P: food, knife . person view picture of the area and a Look at the ground. Take stick. Walk Q: matches (nightstand), soap (bathroom) door that slides up to allow access. southwest, just north of bush. (Avoid the R: bikini bottom There are ten dungeons and a total of tree; it contains killer bees.) Crawl. Walk S: flower south. 54 levels. T: Krishna Sound effects are significantly better Python (Bl) U: bag with bomb (conveyor belt) Walk south (until snake starts to move). Use tujdl (quickly!). Walk east to swamp. Continued on page fifteen Continued on next page Police Quest II it out on a 4.77 MHz machine and found Radiance. That's because the Switch/ Continued from page 3 a detectable difference in playability, but Divide feature lets you divide the party it wouldn't be enough to keep me from into two or more teams and leave the be. Don't forget to hand over all the evi playing the game if that's all I had. I spellcasters in a safe place to learn their dence you find to the man at the booking would draw the line at swapping six spells while everyone else explores part counter. It will take all the resources of disks, but I think it could be played with a of a castle or nearby forest minimum of frustration if you used the Lytton's Police Puzzles and Stuff Department to 3.5 inch micros. Copy protection is a vari Magic words to Chant, objects to find catch up to Jes and use, names of people to track down sie Bains, who ation on the key word meth od. A mug shot is displayed for yet more clues--a diverse collection seems to contin of puzzles awaits the intrepid adventurer ually stay just at the game's outset, and you've got to find the cor who enters this realm. Count on lots of one step ahead note-taking. Mapping won't be as labori of you. rect picture in your owner's manual and type in the sus ous: you've got auto-mapping in the dun Sights and pect' s last name. geons, and most areas are small enough Sounds Conclusions: The Ven- that you can usually recall where to find Police Quest geance is well worth your the Supply Store or Guest House. The number and placement of clues is fair and II is Sierra's third game incorporating time. It is a good, solid game in a proven the new double-resolution graphics. I fonnat-with graphics and sound that are well-balanced; strategy tips on combat compared The Vengeance to its prede better than ever. You almost have to de and the game's early phases are included cessor and once again noted a dramatic velop the eye of a real police detective to in the manual. difference in the two fonnats. The first catch some of the more subtle clues on It's a four-sided program. Up to four game is somewhat cartoony, and every the screen. Truly, another triumph for games in progress can be saved on side thing is very square-edged, while this Sierra. four, and you get to type in up to 25 let one flows much more evenly, and the an ters as a name or a note-•'Get gold, find imation looks far more natural. Skill Level: Advanced Tonton"-to remind you what to do next Besides the standard graphics, you Protection: Key Word time you restart. Another considerate fea can choose from two different CGA ver Price: $49.95 ture is the ability to return to the ongoing sions that use either of two or four col Company: Sierra game after you've hit the Quit command ors. But if you don't already have a 16- (many RPGs insist you save at this stage). color graphics card by now, it's time to You don't have to reboot to keep playing start thinking about one. The games are The Magic Candle after a save. The IBM version will in much more enjoyable when played at Continued from previous page clude information on swapping the 5.25" disks for 3.5" versions, probably for a their best. combat, though I was never successful at minimal fee. This is also Sierra's third game to har doing so. ness the extended audio capabilities of Conclusions: The leap from Rings of the Roland MT-32 and AdLib sound Magic Books Zilfin to The Magic Candle is like Lord modules. The music on the Roland was Spells are listed in four books of mag British going directly from Ultima I to rich and full in 32-voice splendor, and ic, which contain six spells each. Wizards Ultima W, a major achievement for the the sound from the AdLib was also quite and Elves will possess one such book author. Yet many of the most entertaining nice-except for the car scenes, when it right away, and you can buy more books and singular elements of Zilfin are what tended just a bit towards harsh. This is from Wizards in different towns. (Men give this game its character-the mush where the mellow base capacity of the trained as Rangers may also cast spells.) rooms, specials, those Zorlim and their Roland really made a difference. Fear, Fireball and other standard offen animated spells and sound effects. Atabek Some of you who read my King's sive and defensive spells are reinforced managed to make combat enjoyable with Quest W review may have been as excit with some resourceful incantations. Cast out allowing it to overshadow the puzzle ed as I was by the implication of realistic during combat, the Assess spell cycles solving side of the quest, and the game sound effects just around the corner. In through each monster and reveals its system is easy to master (though the Police Quest II, the first steps towards Strength, Agility, Stamina, Annor and game itself will prove much trickier). this have finally been taken. Realistic Shield. The Locate spell shows you the Magic Candle's cohesive, unified design sound effects were worked into several location of all monsters in the area. Vi offers the experienced ore-slayer a re places, from the low rumble of the jet sion turns a door to glass, enabling you to warding fantasy, while its countless origi liner to the firing of the tear gas projec peer into a room and prepare to meet its nal touches and innovations, combined tiles. Another enhancement was a slow inhabitants instead of just blundering in with a charming, individual graphics fadeout of the background music in and getting your head whacked off. And style, make it an entertaining one. Not many places, rather than the jarring halt if a party member does get killed, the just recommended, Magic Candle is our we have come to expect Resurrection spell can be used in the "Best Quest of the Month." combat arena (after the battle is over), so Boom 'Em Danno you won't have to trek back to a Temple. Skill Level: Variable Like the original, Police Quest II was Before you can cast a spell, it must be Protection: Key Word written by Jim Walls, a retired California learned in Camp, an Inn or on a voyage. Price: C 64, $39.95; others, $49.95 Highway Patrolman. It comes with six This takes a little real time but isn't as in Company: Mindcraft/EA 5.25" disks and three 3.5-inchers. I tried convenient as a similar routine in Pool of

QuestBusters 11 sional messages say you've just encoun convenient, but you can't do so in a shop, The Magic Candle tered a Travelling Monk or Knight and where you've got to transfer things di Continued from previous page asks if you want to talk to him. (These rectly from one party member to another. will be familiar to Zilfin fans.) Many But there's also an added benefit of than the typical beeps and clicks heard in characters have schedules, like their coun this interface: you don't have to memor Apple games, but there's no music. There terparts in Ultima V. Someone told me a ize keystrokes or look them up on a refer is lots of spot animation, such as camp ship's Captain would arrive at 1900, so I ence card, which is so often the case with fires burning and braziers glowing. Time, knew to come back then. Stores shut an RPG that has lots of commands. And day and night pass at the rate of five down at night, as do the town gates. the program's fluid network of windows (game time) minutes per move, but you Another Zilfin element, the use of provides a quick, unobtrusive presenta don't see related effects, such as the sky herbs and mushrooms with weird names tion of stats that doesn't intrude on the darkening, except when sailing. (like Sermin, which restores Energy) is fantasy. part of this game system. Other herbs Auto-mapping & Teleporting In the Combat Arena The View command drops a mini-map cure poison, endow someone with super When combat proves inevitable, four showing one-fourth of Deruvia' s total strength, or temporarily boost sword skill. or five different monster types pop up in surface into a comer of the screen, so you These may be bought in towns or found. a minimally illustrated combat arena. can get your bearings by comparing it You don't buy and sell goods to make You get to arm and position your crew with the full-color map that comes with money, as in Zilfin, but characters with before the onslaught, for each one's icon the game. And by using a certain item in professions such as Gem-cutter and Tail is individually controlled in battle. Then the Magic Bowl found on each dungeon or can get part-time jobs at shops in many the Zorlim, Ores, Hibliss and other fiends level, you'll see a map of that level towns. attack, and you respond. To target distant though it won't show which squares So what does everyone else do while foes with a spell, you position a cursor you've already stepped on. Dalin slaves away in a sweatshop? The over the target, while closer ones may be Besides a teleportation spell, you can Divide option permits you to move every hit with swords and so on. Some mon teleport by using certain objects in vari one into a new party, then Switch to that sters are animated, and quite amusingly ous combinations to reach different desti one and send it somewhere else. This en so, like little cartoon characters that nations: cube, sphere, cube sends you dows the inventive adventurer with an ar munch and chomp at your team. A simple from Sodogur to Pheron, for example. ray of potential strategies. one-line combat report describes each Ocean travel also demonstrates Atabek's blow, and many actions-especially of ingenious knack for presenting a univer A Fluid, Power-packed Interface Commands are displayed in a menu fensive spells-are effectively animated sal activity in a fresh style. Rather than that initially looks like a Questron menu and reinforced with sound effects. The steering your ship across a scrolling running horizontally rather than vertical combat delay is easily adjustable. ocean, you view a split-screen showing the crew on one side, the animated ship ly. But as soon as you move to a new lo In another minor but entertaining inno cation, a major difference crops up: the on the other. Night falls, clouds appear, vation to the combat system, your guys menu choices change, replacing options and other special effects fill the ship's and the monsters frequently jump out of that can't be used in the new area with window until the ship docks. This is like the way to dodge a thrusting sword or ar new ones. This flexibility gives you a to being in Camp, so your team can spend row, then move back into their original tal of 44 main commands, such as Sell, to the time productively by learning spells, position. Often this means you have fixing weapons and so on. (Unless they Buy, Use, Transfer items and Eat That's surround a monster to make sure he can't a lot of power, opening the way for a mul duck your attacks. And that if one of your are Dwarves, who get too seasick to do ti-faceted game of extraordinary scope in anything-an amusing character trait that guys is standing on the opposite side of a terms of activities. helped bring these mythical beings to life monster that dodges your arrow, it could You make menu selections with a joy for me.) hit your man (or another monster). stick, cursor keys or by pressing the key The Zorlim or other leader types are Conversing for Clues matching the letter alongside each option. shrewd foes, lurking in the rear and blast When you "Ask" someone, the menu's Each menu's default menu item is high ing your team with spells. These tactical first choice lets you type in a word or so lighted, which saves time in executing or considerations will give "armchair squad and hope for a response containing a key ders. To walk, you just lean on the leaders" opportunities to exercise their word that, used in your next question, joystick or proper key. To choose a new skills-at the same time, combat is easi may lead to yet another clue (often telling active character (who performs the select er, faster and more fun than similar sys who to visit in the next town, what to say ed action), punch the new one's number. tems used in Pool ofRadiance and to him, or other vital information). This is You don't walk out of doors from one Wizard's Crown (though hard-core tacti like conversing in Ultima IV and V, but scene into another, even when the loca cal fans will probably prefer the Crown here you can choose two other menu op tion is depicted with a first-person picture system). After a victory, you send some tions that let you request Advice or Ru of the entire room, as in a graphic adven one around to search each body for loot, mors and usually get at least one useful ture. Instead, you choose the Exit com but can't do so during the battle. tip (I liked this mainly because I was able mand from the menu, then select one of Leave the combat arena without resur to get something out of most people, even the directions listed in a sub-menu. recting a dead party member, and his when I didn't yet know the key words to One snag annoyed me: you can't trans name vanishes from the roster. He can be trigger more esoteric revelations). Much fer weapons from one character to anoth replaced with a fresh volunteer, or a of the game's plot emerges in conversa er, just arrows (or gold, food and other clone (just duplicate your save game disk tion, such as when a lad proclaimed items) The ability to Pool all of any item now and then). You can attempt to flee "Giant eagles have stolen the Prince!" to one character and then Distribute (di Continued on next page Other advice is available when occa- vide one guy's stuff among the team) is

12 QuestBusters Sorcerer Lord ra, "it's like Deja Vu all over again!" Continued from page 6 Waiting for Duffy Skill Level: Intermediate Duffy' s helping John Tower write a cerer capering on a stack of skulls while a Protection: Program new resume, so contact these sea of crimson washes over the map and Price: $49.95 people if you can help. blots it out. A grand finale like this_ Company: ICOM/Mindscape would certainly have called for a good Wizard's Crown: Can't get good party artist and would have eaten up more FISH started, need tips. Joseph Smith, 69-43 B memory, but could have added a lot. Continued from page 7 210 St, Bayside, NY 11364 It felt odd to play an Amiga game that over The Pawn and Guild of Thieves, and won't let you use the mouse or joystick Ultima 5: How does Lord Kenneth help I agree. Also, this one does have a real (same for other versions). Every move me get Sandalwood Box? Matt Danben ending, unlike the disappointing (and to ment command is input via number keys, speck, Rte 2 Box 466, Tuttle, OK 73089 many people, insulting) conclusion of which makes.it easy to make mistakes Jinxter, which sent you right back to the when placing and moving your forces. If Ultima 5: How do I get through Dungeon opening scene in which you cannot avoid you play very slowly and carefully, read Hythloth to Underworld? Where's the being run over by a bus. Recommended. all menus and consult the accompanying Sandalwood Box? How do I get out of map, you could avoid such mistakes-but first room in Shame? P. Gardner, 2038 Skill Level: Intermediate I play a little faster and looser than that, New York Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11210. Protection: Key Word so I usually make at least ten errors per Same questions, plus will playing harpsi Price: IBM, $39.95: ST, Amiga, $44.95 game. And mistakes in movement are fi chord help me? R. Loveland, 7721 Sundi Company: Magnetic Scrolls/Activision nal-once a movement point is spent, al Lane, Orlando, FL 32819 you can't get it back. There are a few sound effects, but no Neuromancer: Where is Commlink 4, music. I always turn them off, preferring what are passwords for Chiba Tactical silence to hearing the same digitized Police and SEA? P. Meehan, 2555 Giant death scream and tinkling "movement" The dragon catalog includes: Oaks Dr, Pittsburgh, PA 15241 noises over and over. Sorcerer Lord takes T-shirts, posters, sculptures, lapel pins , about three hours to play, but you can rubber stamps , jewelry, stationery, and more . ChronoQuest Help!!! T. Page, 96 Had save a game at the end of each turn (and don PI, Upper Montclair, NJ 07043 do so on your game disk). Conclusions: I've been looking for a M & M 2: Can't get ouf ot Dawn's Mist good Amiga game. This could have been Bog Cavern with element orb! Where's it, but failure of the imagination of the "long one?" What's Molecular Chamber designers, or perhaps the producer, (Lux's Dungeon, lvl 2) good for. Beli spoiled it. I recommend it only for maso aeff's? Wizardry 5: What's the Play chists who enjoy being victimized by house Mystery Theatre about? Jigsaw their games. Bank & Trust? Where's Loon? S. Kunz, 211 E Ohio #610, Chicago, IL 60611 Skill Level: Variable Protection: None King's Quest 4: How do I get bridge for Price: $34.95 unicorn? Get out of whale? What to do af Company: Datasofl/Electronic Arts T-Shirt from the catalog: ter the five ghosts? About Oge? D Bar tram Jr, Box 2398, APb NY 09009 Silkscreened w~h black ink on heavyweight 100% cotton T-shirts: white, blue, or wlldberry. Deja Vu II TS_ S, M, L, orXL __$12 .50 Wizardry 3: Desperate help needed for Contmued from page 5 TXX_White only XXL_ $13.50 Add S2.50 Shipping/ ord!f. Calif Residents: add 6% sales tax . level 6, especially the riddle. P. Tayco, ited only by disk space. The package 3569 Boston Ave, Oakland, CA 94602 comes with general instructions as well as machine-specific reference cards. Original Adventure: Need help in Plover Conclusions: There seems to be a dif Room, Mirror Canyon, window pit, green ference in attitudes toward the ICOM ~ 1-800-322-6040 El dragon, reservoir. Christopher Dox, 975 Simulations adventures. Most Mac users Dancing Dragon Designs - Dept BO Laurel Ave, St Paul, MN 55104 I know are crazy about them, yet some of 1881 Fieldbrook Rd Arcata, CA 95521 the GS users who've played the recent Fool's Errand: How do I capture the fly conversions don't seem to like them at ing quesiton mark all. Maybe it's that the Mac users are in the Three more comfortable with the mouse-driven, Next Issue Ships section? M. point-and-click interface in games. I can Battletech Groff, 279 Topaz only say that I've played both Deja Vus Corruption Way, San and thought they were both great. So if Guardian of Infinity Francisco, you enjoyed the first installment, you Visions of Aftermath CA 94131 should love this one, too; in the immortal Best Quests of '88 words of the great philosopher Yogi Ber- And more news, clues & reviews! QuestBusters 13 J 11© e Neuromancer ores in Ambush Valley at D-1, 14, 1. you can slay him at your leisure. (But be Link Codes and Passwords (all coded) Seek guests in Atlantium and at the cas ready to duck, for the monster launches a Name Code Passwords tles. After your party is level 7+, fight singel magic missile upon dying.) Hatch Cheap Hotel Difbqp 1: hvftu castle guards in Woodhaven to get mu ling dragons can't be hit in the head, only 2: dpdlspbdi cho experience, gold and up to +6 equip near the hindquarters. A web will freeze Panther Modems Dibpt 1: nbjomjof ment. Get Lloyd's Beacon spell through dragons, but it must be angled downward Consumer Review Dpotvnfsfw a secret door next to the entrance in Co in order to hit. To aim spells, Raistlin 1: sfwjfx rak' s Cave at 7, 11 . Find Corak's soul in must be selected. Use the blue crystal Asano Btbopdpnq 1: dvtupnfs the Lost Souls' Woods at C-1, 10, 15. staff sparingly, or it runs out later in the 2: wfoepst Clerics can reunite it with his body in game. World Chess Xpsmedifu 1: opwjdf Corak's Cave at C-2, 5, 11. Nathan Franklin 2: nfncfs Robert Breezley Psychologist Qtzdip 1: ofx np Mars Saga 2: cbczmpo Questron II Hire a police or marine right away. At the Regular Fellows Sfhgfmmpx To activate auto-mapping, find the Scroll restaraunt, hire a scientist, medic and four 1: wjtjups of Scalma on the third level of the dun police or marines. Focus on learning auto Tactical Police Ljftbutv 1: xbssbout geon on the east coast, where you'll also matic weapons and medical (so one can 2: tvqfsubd find the Onyx Key (opens Twilight use a compress). Later get experience in Free Matrix Gsffnbusjy 1: DGN Tombs) and Agate Key (opens area in arc guns. Get experience in programming, Central Justice Kvtujdf 1: vtf Fortress where chest with Ruby Key is then hack the computer till you get into I. R. S. JST 1: uby jogp found). After finding the Ruby Key, you the wargames and mines. In the early 2: bveju can obtain the Eternal Flame and talk to stages, go to the mountains in Primus and S. E. A. TFB 1: tpgufo King Kelfar. To boost intelligence, visit get a job from Cybil Graves. Go to the 2: qfsnbgsptu Simon in the Fortress. Police Station and get a bound. The man Gentleman Loser Motfs 1: xjmtpo TedAicher you're looking for is in a mine shaft to 2: mptfs ward Progeny. Tozoku Zblvzb 1: zbl Wizardry V MarkLain Copenhagen U. Csbjotupsn 1: qfsjmpvt The Ruby Warlock wants something Eastern Seaboard Fbtutfbcpe from the Hurkle Beast room before he'll King's Quest IV: GS Version 1: mpohjtmboe let you pass. Say dvq to him after the It's impossible to escape the ogre while N. A. S. A. Wpzbhfs 1: bqpmmp first visit, and he'll let you pass. (If you carrying the magic hen when the system Fuji Electric Gvkj 1: spndbset can't make it, try the secret door west of speed is normal. Go to the control panel Musabori Nvtbcpsjoe 1: tvcbsv the stairs.) Don't kill him or anything and change the speed to fast, then reset Hitachi Biotech Ijubdijcjp 1: hfoftqmjdf that doesn't attack you, or your good speed to fast after leaving with the hen. 2: cjpufdi characters' alignment will change. (Evil Pick up the floating bottle and read the Hosaka Iptblbdpsq 1: gvohflj characters can be converted back to good note before climbing the whale's tongue 2: cjptpgu ones by changing your tactics.) If you've (you must climb diagonally, from the out Bank Gemeinschaft Cbolhfnfjo slain a dungeon dweller before getting er edge toward the center. 1: fjousjuu 2: wfscpufo information from him, you can pay to Lonnie E. Kuntzman Mike Spears have him resurrected at the temple. Greet each inhabitant with "Hail" and offer Police Quest II Might & Magic II gold or an item if you get no response. Airplane: To disarm bomb, search uvsc An easy way to earn items and experi Cast Katu if all else fails. Swimming bot and qpdlfut of efbe ijkbdlfst. Open ence: drink from Magic Fountain west of ability is very important for magic users. upxfm ejtqfotfs and follow instructions. Atlantium to boost abilities to 100, then A pool on level seven recharges spell Sewer: To get past poison gases, quickly fly to D-2 and go to 6, 8. Kill Mandagaul, points, but you need to dive to pool level go east, then south. Go south again, then the Court Mage and Bowman for 6,500 10. Many pools have objects on the bot west and get the gas mask from the red points, gold and magic items. tom that are vital to victory. The duck box. Control Room: Dbmn nbsjf epxo. Grant Kushida will give you information on how to in Untie Marie. Raise gun. Ijef cfijoe qjqft crease swimming ability, and you can ·on left side of screen. When Bains walks In dungeon below Middlegate, you'll find buy something on level three that will about even with the qjqf, shoot him. goblets at 0, 7 and hirelings at 0, 15. To greatly enhance it. James Tan get a castle key, travel by portal to all five Fred P. Andoli towns and donate at the temples, then go Flick a Farthing at 15, 15 in Middlegate. Heroes of the Lance Don't fight the magic-using Bozak Dra The BQSJM GPPM Find Mr. Wizard, possibly the best hire edition of the QuestBusters ling, at D-3, 1, 14. Save two more hire conias hand-to-hand; instead, select web lings at the Atlantium jail. Save Red from the magic-user menu. Have your Code: count one Duke and Dead Eye by fighting over 240 character duck to avoid most of the Dra letter back-RC = QB. conians' missiles. When the web hits,

14 OuestBusters ACO USA FSB 9800, APO, NY 09742-4822 Trade/sell: Wishbringer, Ultima 3/4, Wizardry 1-3, Hitchhiker's, Enchanter, Sorcerer, Spell Will trade Ultima 5 for King's Quest 1, 2 or 3. breaker, Stationfall, Planetfall. Sandy Poynor, Send list. Lou Tometich, 1299 Kasamada Dr, 132 C Ave C, Gunter AFB, AL 36115 Ft Myers, FL 33919 COMMODORE $30 @:Times of Lore w/clues. Chris Carluc Infocom games, $5@. Send SASE for list. ci, 15927 Viewfield Rd, Monte Sereno, CA David Robeson, 1921 Stanley Ave #6, Signal •Trade or sell your old adventures with a 95030 Hill, CA 90806 free ad. (Adventures only, no pirated GS software: buy, sell, trade. Greg Watanabe, $20@: Zak McKracken, Maniac Mansion, L. software, limit of 10 games per ad. 3203 Alpine Rd, Stockton, CA 95205 A. Crackdown. $25 @: Pool of Radiance, Please state zystem Bard 3. Wasteland, $15. Legacy of Ancients, $20@: Times of Lore, Eternal Dagger, Moe $10. Brett Thompson, 17 Meadow Lane, bius, M & M 1, Wizard's Crown, ZorkTrilo Flemington, NI 08822 APPLE gy. $15@: Maniac Mansion, Dondra, Bard 1 Want to buy: Ultima 1-4, any discontinued & 2. Robert Breezley, 4922 Coco Palm Dr, Amiga: Shadowgate, Dragon's Lair, Sword of games, GS-specifics. Matthew Kozak, POB Fremont, CA 94538 Sodan, Obliterator, more. Trade/sell. Simon 151, CM.C.H., NI 08210 Lee, 7031 Bret Harte Dr, San Jose, CA Trade/sell: Bard's Tale 2/3, Beyond Zork, 95120-3213 Macintosh-$2- @: Beyond Zork, AR: The Legacy of Ancients, Leisure Suit Larry, Ulti City. $15@: Spellbreaker, Lurking Horror, ma 5, Bard 1/2 cluebooks. Want Deathlord, Amiga-$10 or trade: AR, The City, The Stationfall, Tass Times, Shadowgate, Portal. Last Ninja, Neuromancer for 2C. Many more Pawn, Leisure Suit Larry 1, Barbarian, Unin $10, Wishbringer. Will trade, send list. V. Jay to trade. John Pontaoe, 816-A, S. May, Chica vited. Send list. Chris Nauert, 501 Button asankar, 74 Country Dr, Weston, MA 02193 go IL 60607 wood, Bastrop, TX 78602 Macintosh-$15 for all games listed here: Un Want Mission Impossible. Linda Brooks, 425 Sell: Ultima4, Phantasie 1/2, Wizard's invited, Hacker 2, Ultima 2, Stationfall, Lurk East Dr, E. Alton, IL 62024 Crown, Legacy of Ancients, more. Matt Ko ing Horror, Colony, Where in World is zak, 201 Hand Ave, CM.C.H., NI 08210 Carmen San Diego, Manhole, Fool's Errand. Trade/sell: $20@: Hitchiker's, Stationfall, Steve Quezadas, 3331 Laurel Canyon BI, Stu Deathlord, Legacy of Ancients, Wasteland, Want Ultima 2. Will trade Bard 1-3, Rocket dio City, CA 91604. King's Quest l, Maniac Mansion, more. Kris Ranger, Ultima 1/5, Times of Lore, Waste Gamache, RFD #4 Box 1091, Augusta, ME land. Have more, send list Mark Houston, Macintosh-$15 for Ultima 3 w/super charac 04330 303 Windsor, Park Forest, IL 60466 ters, maps, backup disk and QuickKeys macro for assorted tasks. Uninvited, $15. R C Stone, Continued on next page

Leisure Suit II 1 2 3 4 Continued from page 10 V: ticket W: pin (in food), parachute (top vending Gate machine) x X: pamphlet Y: bag (seat) The Airport Z: ashes Walkway Zl: sand Barber to Planes Z2: stick

1 2 ...... :3 v Luggage w A Volcano Waiting Ticket Customs Area Area u Snack B Land Bridge Security Bar

c Glacier T Front of Terminal D Path y Cockpit First Rear Native Village & Second Cabin Cabin Cabin Chasm Path to Volcano E • From Cliffs ...... ~ ...... _<_st_an_d_o_n_·_··-")______Jetway Exit

Witch F Chief's Hut zCampfire Doctor Don't let your subscription expire! Check the mailing label-if it's due to expire in the next three months, Zl Beach go ahead and renew now to avoid missing a single is G sue, a single clue, a single review, a single typo! Continued from previous page cluebook). $20@: Star Command, Romance of 3 Kingdoms, Visions of Aftermath. $15 @: Breach, Starflight. Tony Ellison, 407 N Divi Passport to Trade/sell: Ultima 3, Sherlock, Hollywood Hi sion, Lowell, MI 49331 jinx, Mindshadow, Breakers, more. Want Adventure Brimstone, Talisman, Scott Adams' games. R. Will buy Ultima 2, Wizardries, any SSL Joe Goodkind, 4444 W. Pine, #413, St Louis, MO Lore, 34 Woodford St, Worcester, MA 01604 63108 For the next few months, we won't be Sell/trade: Police Quest, King's Quest 1-3, selling any computer games. We're set $20@: Wasteland, Ultima 4, Pirates, Bard 1 Space Quest 1-2, & more. Send list or re ting up a new system for doing so, one & 2 with advanced characters, Phantasie 3, quests. Kevin Adair, 5753 S Laflin, Chicago, that will provide much faster and more Roadwar Europa. More. D. Clark, 214 Wash IL 60636 efficient service than in the past Mean ington St, Hachettstown, NJ 07840 while, QuestBusters' products are still $20@: Starflight, Shadowgate, Future Magic available at the same low, low prices. IBM & QUEST-AUKES (all w/cluebook), King's Quest 4, Heroes of Tr~de only: Wizardry 4, Ultima 4, Future Lance, Star Command (w/hint sheet). Both Quest for Clues: $24.99 Magic, Wizard's Crown, Roadwar 2000, Wil disk sizes included except Shadowgate. Rich low, M &M, Bard 1, more. Want Wasteland, QB Map Kit (includes US/APO shipping) ard Robillard, 52 S Main St, Baldwinville, Kit A: (for text/graphic games) $8 Zak McKracken, Battletech. Robert Garcia, 34 MA01436 Ridge Rd, Barrington Hills, IL 60010 Kit B: (for role-playing games) $8 Each kit contains 75 sheets of mapping ATARI $20 @: Starflight w/clue book, Star Com paper designed for that kind of game, ST--$15 @:Warlock's Quest, Uninvited, plus a plastic mapping template that re mand, King's Quest 3 w/cluebook. $15 @: By Sorcerer Lord, ChronoQuest. Jim Holling Fire & Sword, Wizard's Crown, Roadwar worth, POB 27, Kelso, WA 98626 duces the amount of redrawing the same 2000, Starfleet 1. T. Dauer, HQ V Corps maze over and over and over. DEH, AETV-EHP-PP, APO, NY 09079 8-bit: Eidolon, Koronis Rift, 7 Cities of Gold, Mapping Template $2 (includes Queston--$8@. ST: A. Reality (w/hints), shipping except overseas, which is $2). Must trade: IBM version of M & M for Apple Gauntlet, Hacker 2, Roadwar 2000, Universe version. Frank Lee Linne, Care Inn of Seguin, 2--$15@. M. Riley, 6407 Halsey Dr, Woo US orders, enclose $3 shipping & han 1219 Eastwood Dr, Seguin, TX 78155 dridge, IL 60517 dling for the book. $6 to Canada & APO, $12 overseas. AZ residents add 5% sales $10 @:The Pawn, M & M 1. Romance of the Trade/sell: Manhunter, Obliterator, Chrono tax. Send checks payable to QuestBust 3 Kingdoms, $20. Tim Berta, POB 1218, San Quest, Heroes of Lance, Wizard's Crown, ers, with your street address, not a Post Juan Batista, CA 95045 Star Trek 3, more. Marc Manderino, 410 W Office Box. Lake Summit Dr, Winter Haven, FL 33884 $25 @: Ultima 5, Future Magic (both w/

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