Not sold in stores Star Control II: deep space questing his is the kind of game that Rainbow Worlds, and solving an reminded me of Staif/ight: a picture gives me nightmares. It's so intriguing m1x of puzzles that materi­ fills the top of the screen, and you T much fun, I couldn't quit alize as you roam deep space. Ancient converse by choosing lines from the playing long enough to write the galactic history as well as current window below. The difference is that review. "Let me just discover one events must be studied and inter­ the aliens' remarks, and often your more Rainbow World, and find preted for a clue to the "hidden plot" choice of questions and responses, enough exotic minerals to afford rumored to be found somewhere in are the funniest in role-playing another fusion thrust and fuel tank, hyperspace. history. Some aliens will join your and I can write a much better re­ As in Staif/igbt, struggle to defeat the view," I rationalized as I played until you guide your little Ur-Quan and may past midnight all last week. space ship through provide new ships But the deadline draws near, as it solar systems, that will accompany has for me in the game - you've got galaxies and hy­ and defend yours, or to defeat the Ur-Quan within a set perspace. But the assist in other ways. number of years, or they wipe out action is more Others are in league you and other civilizations and smoothly animated with the Ur-Quan. species from Centauri to Andromeda. and reminiscent of If this is reminiscent of Staif/ight, you the old arcade game Puzzles galore won't be surprised that one of its Asteroids than Break out those index cards: the designers, Greg Johnson, also worked Staif/ight, which was closer to moving amount of information, clues and on Star Control II, along with Paul a piece across a game board. All the advice you must keep track of is Reiche and Fred Ford. Despite other interface lacks is mouse support. 1he enormous. 1he activities in which you similarities, Star Control II is its own keyboard is as effective as the joy­ will engage are fun. The ship itself is game, filled with engaging activities stick, if not more so. a kind of toy, as you can rearrange and provocative puzzles. In combat, you can direct your modules, add new ones and so on. ship to blast alien vessels. 'Ibis also The initial.mystery is the weird red closely resembles as did the The plot Asteroids, shield the Ur-quan have placed original Star Control, but you can Didn't we just go through this? Ur­ around Earth. A human-staffed Star automate combat by having a cyborg Quans Base is in orbit there, however, and take over the controls. Without this are serves as your base of operations, Type: Role-playing option, role-players lacking arcade taking IBM (640K, hard disk, skills would not get far. Systems: over Upon orbiting a planet, you are Continued on page 14 VGA/MCGA required; 386/20 the treated to shimmering fractal graphics recommended, joystick optional; uni­ of the world and a display showing Ad Lib, Sound Blaster, Covox verse. the locations of minerals, objects and Sound Thing, Sound Source, Pro You Contents beings. 1hen you can send a lander Audio, Sound Master II, Media have Master) down to scoot around and collect Advenfure Road ........... 2 to stop things. The lander's movements are them. Lure of the Temptress .... 3 shown in the main map and in a little (Just think of them as Evil Wizards in close-up view beside it Weather and Rex Nebular ................ 4 Space and you'll get the idea.) earthquakes may destroy the lander "Stopping them" means finding and Spellcraft .................... 5 unless it is properly outfitted, which making alliances with other species, requires finding Rainbow Worlds and Crystals of Trazere ........ 6 mining planets, locating elusive selling their location to the Master Waxworks ................... 8 Trader, who also peddles information. Walkthrus: Forge of Virtue, Encounters with aliens also Cobra Mission ... _....... l 0 - Quest for Mail (?) As you read this column, thou­ trolls in an "action adventure" Dear QuestBusters: sands of people are milling about called Trolls. 1he emphasis seems Why am I not receiving Quest­ I aimlessly at the Winter CES in Las to be on action, not adventure. Busters? already sent my new Vegas, most of them standing in address - does your database long lines waiting for hours to see SSl's lalest have a grudge against people who live in Las Vegas? Did you yet another Strike Commander I.egendsofValorand VefJojDarimess lose a bunch of $ during CES? demo at the Origin booth, trying will be introduced at CES. Valoris Enrico Branchini to find out where the parties are a one-character RPG with 3-D tonight. Rust graphics. CUltlma Yes, last time our editor lost the Ceccola is one Underworldstrlkes enttre Widowed Ores and Or­ of those people, again?) 1he Veil of phans Fund at a roulette table in and we'll Darimessdemo Caesar's Place. Tben he was have his report looked more promis­ picked up by the local poltce after on upcoming ing. It's a one­ being mistaken for a fugitive seen adventures - character horror on that night's Unsolved Mysteries, and our tradi­ RPG from Event and we had to sell the tional CES Party Eric the Unready Horizon, who did Tbe Summon­ QuestMobtle to bail him out, then Report, in an ing. upcoming issue. hitch back to Tucson. Tbat's why we got Russ Ceccola to cover Xeen-ophobic? CFS in Vegas thts year! Eric slill the Unready 1he only reason for not jumping Bob Bate's satiric quest, Erle on Dark Side ofXeen, due out the Unready, is now set to ship this quarter, is if you haven't early this year, after missing the finished Might and Magic: Clouds November launch date. We got a ofXeenyet. Not quite true. You look at a beta, visiting such places can move between the worlds of Editor: Shay Addams as the Not So Great Underground both games, even if you install Managing Editor: Dora McCormick Empire, and were pleased to see Dark Side before completing Editorial Consultant: Edgar Schrock Bates take a jocular jab at more Clouds. News Editor: Lloyd Bentsen than just adventure games. He Contributing Editors: Russ Ceccola, also introduces interactive graph­ QBupclate Al Giovettl, Bernie Yee, Fred Philipp, ics and other new features. Clancy Shaffer, Rich Heimlich, We are finally switching over to Stephen King, Ken St. Andre, Brian Reach out and... the IBM for everything. Since its Smith, Bruce Wiley, Duffy, This inception nine years ago, QB has Reviewer Space Quest Vi Tbe Next Mutation, been written and put together on will have "ads" for Sprint. The a Mac Plus, where all the related QuestBusters, the journal of the phone company's logo will applications work was done. 1he world's largest association of appear on high-tech communica­ clone was devoted strictly to adventure gamers, Is published tions gear used by Roger Wilco. games. Since we got a 486/33, monthly by Look Rock Productions. Annual dues: $19 ($6 extra for What next - Air Force recruiting though, it seemed silly to keep Adventure Express). Canada/Mexico: ads in Aces of the Pact.fie? We working on such a slow machine, $26. Overseas: $36. Contents Copy­ also hear that the next Poltce when the clone knocks a day off right 1993 Eldtritch, LTD. All Rights Quest will star Darryl Gates, production time on the Journal, Reserved. Copying without express former LAPD chief. So where will for instance. Still, QB may look permission Is prohibited and punish­ Rodney King fit into the story? rough around the edges for a few able by snow, snow and more snow. issues. 1he mailing list will be Trolling moved to IBM fonnat next month: Member: Capstone, who did Tbe Dark Half if your February issue doesn't and several children's adven­ arrive the 18th, write and we'll South American tures, has licensed those lovable check to make sure your record didn't get lost in the transition. Explorers' Club l mptress As anyone who has followed my appear difficult. But in every case have original concepts but rarely reviews over the past decade is I stumbled across the solution pay heed to production values aware, I am less than thrilled at during my next session without that could lift a good game to the the prospect of playing a Euro­ giving it much though. status of great.) The thunder pean game. After all, didn't we made me jump, and the sound of run the British and French out of The Ratpoclc dripping water almost made me this country 200 years ago? Lure, check my roof for leaks. Interacting with other characters is however, from England's 1he artist employed shadows a big part of the quest. You can Revolution Software, is among the as instrumentally as color, giving ask them about best animated quests of 1992. depth to the things listed in a The tale is commonplace: backgrounds. menu, talk to rescue ye damsel in distress. It's One novel touch them, and even the way the story is told that allows you to tell them to do propels Lure to the top of the look through things. The latter post-Christmas' "must quest" windows and will prove list: each scene is hand-painted in see animated necessary for rich, varied colors and with scenes of some puzzles.