 The aliens have landed and snatched Dave Nicholls's body - they obviously forgot their glasses! But it's OK, he's grabbed it back in time to go walkabout in Ashkeron. | |
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Smother mouldy, green bap with mouldy, green mustard and throw at mouldy old vendor! (Tee-hee!)FUNHOUSE Pacific Software / £3.99 This game's a real body snatcher - once it's got a hold on you it'll be difficult to throw it off. It is night in an abandoned amusement park when an alien spaceship crash lands. But instead of dashing around on the dodgems and whirling on the Waltzer, these aliens have a much more sinister aim. They gradually take over the surrounding neighbourhood, kidnapping all the inhabitants. Now, controlling them is a central brain (sounds a bit like YS - we couldn't afford one each. Ed) and it's your task to destroy it. At least it makes a change from most other adventure games where it's usually my brain that gets destroyed. Watch out too for a wandering hermit called Herman who'll occasionally lend a helping hand if you get into a spot of bother. Although Funhouse was written with The Quill, UDGs have been used to produce simple graphics and there's a rather natty semi- script redefined character set. If I have a gripe, it's more with the version of The Quill that was used than with the game itself. After a while the messages that appear between commands become very tedious - I don't want to keep reading 'I await your command' every other go. (I have enough of that at work every day!) The latest version of The Quill allows you to redefine all these messages. Putting gripes aside, Funhouse is an excellent game and at this price it has to be a good buy. |
ASHKERON! Mirrorsoft / £5.95 Up till now, Mirrorsoft has made quite a name for itself with its educational software. (Troubleshootin 'Pete's still trying to master the Mister Men game! Ed.). But here's a new departure, an adventure game and a pretty good one at that. You play Stephen the Blacksmith who's been chosen by his fellow villagers to go into the castle of the evil wizard. His task, once there, is to recover the five treasures that'll allow the wedding of the fair Princess Zeraphone to go ahead. For, according to local legend, the marriage will be cursed without them. They're obviously a jolly lot, the local folk. The game makes a special feature of its 'walk-thru' graphics. And what are they, you ask? Well, basically they consist of a fairly normal 
Disguise yourself as a
pantomime carthorse and
you're away! At least the nose-
bag will stop you chomping at
the bit while you wait to get in!screen picture covering part of the screen that scrolls in the direction you travel. The piccies are reasonable, if a little 'blocky'. Watch out too for a couple of other unusual features of the game. There's a joystick option - for entering direction commands - and a randomising feature. Choose this and all the objects appear in different places in each game. Ashkeron is well up to Mirrorsoft's usual standards and buried within it are some tricky problems waiting to be solved. So, if you're just hanging around street corners waiting to rescue another princess in distress, you'll be pleased to know this game gets my royal assent. |
ADVENTURE AID
First, let's meet some of the brains so we can pick them! Martin Mulrasey has somehow found the time to complete Lords of Time and send in the following advice for the less fortunate. To get the keys in time 1, wave the lodestone and then in time 7, use your gauntlet to nab the falling star before trotting off to the spaceship.James Elliot's sent in a long list of the adventures he's cracked, but we've only room for one clue. In The Mountains of Ket he recommends that you wave your wand and say 'Polo' to get round the wall - well, it is in mint condition! Hmmm, just hope that nobody can find holes in that. And well done James, 'cos you're our Star Helper this month so watch out for the three pieces of software winging their way to you.
If Snowball's the game that's currently driving you insane, here's a tip from Harvey Lodder. When you're in danger type 'P' and you'll find yourself in an asylum. To escape you'll have to type 'Pull Machine' and Enter, then retype 'Pull Machine'.
THE CHAMPION ADVENTURERS ...
Lords of TimeMartin Mulrasey, nnn xxxxxxxxxx xxxxxx, xxxxxxxxxxx, xxxxxxxxxxxxx, xxxxxxxx xxn nxx.
The Hobbit, Snowball, Inca Curse, Waxworks, Urban Upstart, Espionage Island, Planet of Death.
Harvey Lodder, nn xxxxxxx xxxxxx, xxxxxxxxx, xxxxxxxxx, xxxxx xxnn nxx.
The Hobbit, Urban Upstart, Quest for the Holy Grail.
Philip Kevin Bugler, nnn xxxxxxx xxxx, xxxxxx, xxxx-xxxx., x. xxxxx xxnn nxx.
Twin Kingdom Valley, The Hobbit, Lords of Midnight, Doomdark's Revenge, Urban Upstart, The Mountains of Ket.
James Elliot, nnn xxxxxxxxx, xxxxxxxxx, xxxxx xxnn nxx.
Espionage Island
Mark Sayens, nn xxx xxxxx, xxxxxxxx, xxxxx xxn nxx.
THE LOST ONES ...
The Wrath of Magra "I can't get out of the valley (stage 1)."K.R. Hill, n xxxx xxxxx., xxxx xxxx, xxxxxxx, x. xxxxxx xxnn nxx.
The Hobbit "How do you kill the dragon?"
Richard Weeber, nn xxxxx xxxxx, xxxxxxxx-xx-xxxx, xx xxxxx, xxxxx xxnn nxx.
Sherlock "How do you stop Inspector Lestrade terminating the game when he arrests Major Ffoulkes?"
Hampstead "What do I need, or where do I go for the cocktail party?"
Andrew Wesley, nn xxxxxxxxx xxxx, xxxxxxxxxxx, xxxxxxxxxx xxx, xxxxxxxxxxxx xxnn nxx.
