mmm Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 http://archive.org/details/computerentertaiOOunse the newsletter r 5916 Lemona Avenue, Van Nuys, CA 91411 > ^©January, 1988 Volume 6, Number 10 $3.50 j In This Issue... A Complete Review of C.E.S.... The first In-depth Look Available! 1987 AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE CES. Impressions We’re still sorting through mounds of press kits, colorful descriptions of new games, and sore feet. ; Computer Entertainer 1987 Index of Product Reviews REVIEWS Include... SNEAK PREVEWS OF... Gun. smoke Ikari Warriors II ...for Nintendo Apache Strike ...for Macintosh Wizards and Warriors Mega-Man ..for Nintendo QBall ...for Amiga Mini-Golf Hat Trick ...for Commodore 64 Maxx Yoke Superhike Challenge ...for IBM Great Basketball Fantasy Zone II ...for Sega Barnyard Blaster Star Raiders II ...for XE Game System THE TOP TWENTY 1. California Games (Epy/Co) 2. Test Drive (Aco/Co) 3. Maniac Mansion (Act/Co) 4. Gauntlet (Min/Co) 5. Skate or Die (EA/Co) 6. Echelon (Acc/Co) 7. Mini-Putt (Aco/Co) 8. Gunship (Mic/Co) 9. Street Sports Basketball (Epx/Co) 10. Paperboy (Min/Co) 11. 4th & Inches (Aco/Co) 12. Beyond Zork (Inf/Ap) 13. Sierra 3D Helicopter Sim (Sie/I) 14. Sub Battle Simulator (Epx/I) 15. Earl Weaver Baseball (EA/Am) 16. C. Yeager Flight Simulator (EA/I) 17. Lurking Horror (Inf/Co) 18. Bard’s Tale II (EA/Ap) 19. Silent Service (Mic/Co) 20. Superstar Soccer (Min/Co) TOP TEN VIDEOGAMES 1. Punch-Out (Nin/NES) Top Gun (Kon/NES) Legend of Zelda (Nin/NES) Goonies II (Kon/NES) Outrun (Sega/Sega) Double Dribble (Kon/NES) Ikari Warriors (SNK/NES) Side Pocket (DE/NES) Great Basketball (Sega/Sega) 10. Mega-Man (Cap/NES) COMING... REVIEWS include... Penguin Land for Sega SNEAK PREVIEW - Fighting Golf Renegade Kamov for Nintendo Wizardy: Return of Werdna for Apple II It was a busy show, but, again, much of the action was off the floor in private suites around Las Vegas. Anyone who just attended the show at the Convention Center missed over half of the new product shown in hotels throughout the city. Nintendo’s booth was so large that they may need their own hall next time! Sega was rocking with Afterburner. Atari and Commodore were nowhere to be found (reportedly, both were in hotel suites). Very little Macintosh and Atari ST software shown (one software executive telling us that ST sales in Europe have flattened considerably and software developers are looking very carefully at the system at this point for plans in additional development dollars). Amiga still the darling of developers, but not much software until there’s more hardware in place. No Atari XE/XL software. Two software companies saying "that market is dead for us...we can’t sell enough to make it worth our while." Meanwhile, potentially the most innovative software was from Activision in the form of Infocomics (see separate story) which had many people buzzing. Up to twenty-two (count 'em!) third party developers for Nintendo with tooooo many baseball games planned (come on guys, we thought you were “controlling” what’s coming out-how many versions of the great American pasttime do we need???) Private meetings behind closed doors as licenses were secured for blockbuster titles. There’s PLATOON, INDIANA JONES, ROBOCOP, and a few more we can't talk about! So, let's get to the news...there's enough here to keep you busy until next month’s newsletter! Infocomics from Tom Snyder Productions & Infocom A creative partnership between Infocom and Tom Snyder Productions (TSP) is about to result in something very different in computer entertainment: Infocomics. Pay attention to that new word, folks, because we think you’re going to be hearing a lot more about it. Infocomics are interactive, and they run on computers, but they are NOT computer games because there are no puzzles to solve, goals to achieve, or arcade sequences to master. They tell a story—more accurately a group of interlinked stories—with minimal graphics and cinematic effects such as pans, wipes, and fades. In our opinion, the most winning feature of Infocomics is the user’s ability to change viewpoint and pickup a part of the story through adifferent character’s eyes. Each Infocomics disk contains at least ten times the images in a standard comic book, provides about four to five hours of entertainment, and costs a mere $12.00. The first three titles are LANE MASTODON VS. THE BLUBBERMEN (spoof of 1930’s pulp science fiction written by Steve Meretzky), GAMMA FORCE in PIT OF A THOUSAND SCREAMS (superhero tale written by Amy Briggs) and ZORKQUEST: ASSAULT ON EGRETH CASTLE (fantasy adventure about travelers manipulated by an evil magician, written by Elizabeth Langosy). All will be available forC64/128, Apple II and IBM/compatibles. This form of computer entertainment came about because Tom Snyder wanted to create something he “could at least get mom to play”—something with a “low nerd factor” (not a lot of options), and something that provided “at least three to five hours of entertainment.” TSP provided the concept, the tecnology, and the artists, while Infocom developed storylines and wrote scripts. Both companies are happy with the initial results of the collaboration, and we expect to see more fascinating developemnts in the future from Infocomics. Sega Shows New 3-D and Lots More Sega’s 3-D Glasses and initial game (MISSILE DEFENSE 3-D) have been such a hit that they’ll soon be packaged with a Sega Power Base, Control Pads and Light Phaser and sold as the “Sega Super System” (MSR approx. $149-$ 159). And speaking of 3-D, Sega had four new 3-D games on display at CES. Could we resist playing them? Of course not! ZAXXON 3-D is a first-person version of the classic arcade hit and features absolutely eye-popping 3-D graphics. The 3-D effect is much stronger than in the early version we saw last June at the Chicago CES. Brand-new 3-D titles were SPACE HARRIER 3-D (essentially the same game as the standard Space Harrier, but with all new backgrounds and enemies), BLADE EAGLE 3-D (a very challenging, multi-level space shoot¬ out), and MAZE HUNTER 3-D (27-level alien maze that requires as much thinking as it does eye- hand coordination). MAZE HUNTER is a one-megabitcartridge; the other three have two megabits of memory. Sneak Preview We got a private showing of two games which were not shown publicly in Sega’s booth. Both are true fantasy role-playing games in which your characters have many options, a quest, and stay alive ISSN #0890-2143 contd ' on Page 13 . 1 r AMIGA Software QBALL (****/****) is a truly three-dimensional game from English Software . distributed by Mindscape which is a hybrid version of pool, nine- ball, and billiards. It’s a pool game inside a cube. You’ll line up your shots in three dimensions (try that for awhile before you run out of the room babbling) with no gravity and eight pockets. Then, adding to the uniqueness, you can rotate the table in three dimensions in real time as you’re making the shotl Let’s see how good your depth of perception is! We strongly suggest you sit and watch the demo screen fora bit before attempting this addictive game. Then, as you try your hand at it, rotate the cube with the direction keys to get an idea of where you want to position the cue ball. Once you’ve lined up the shot you want to make, you can set cue spin for the amount of “English ’ you wish to have (nothing more than a bold guess until you have an idea of what you’re doing). Then you choose whether you wish real or planer mode. The real mode is the full 3-D effect, while the planer mode takes the shotas if you were playing on a real pool table. You’ll also have to set the power you wish to hit your ball at and the amount of friction in the air around the balls. Once you’ve got everything set up, a countdown time begins, set to 60 seconds. When it reaches zero, the shot will be taken, whether or not you’re ready. The amount of time left on the timer directly affects your scoring. Absolutely Absorbing This is the type of game which shows off the Amiga and what it can do, from phenomenal graphics to great music. What looked to be a simple game in 3- D turned into a game which fascinated us as well as frustrating us as we tried, again and again, to accomplish the task of sinking balls into the seemingly impossible holes. It is absolutely wild to spin the cube around, seeing how different the shot looks from the various angles. The packaging boasts 263,144 different viewing angles and, based on our time spent with the game, we won’t even begin to challenge that statement! Anyone who enjoys pool or billiards will find this game a whole new dimension guaranteed to hook you for hours on end! (one player; two player alternating) Recommended (MSR $29.95) COMMODORE 64/128 Software MAGNETRON (**1/2/***) is a space action game from Broderbund in which you must pilot your photon fighter through and around fifty orbiting war bases. You’ll be maneuvering in some pretty light spaces as you get pulled and pushed through the various magnetic forces around these alien bases which are seemingly everywhere. Within the alien fortresses there are four types of walls: solid which your fighter will explode against; brittle which you can destroy but will also explode your fighter if you hit it; elastic which your fighter and weapon fire will bounce off of; and the permeable walls which you can passthrough. It will take you some time to master the movement of yourfighter as the feel is definitely one of no gravity. You‘11 find yourself constantly over¬ shooting your destination as you learn how to fly, turn, and shoot. Galaxy Editor Included If fifty alien fortresses aren’t enough, you can design your own in a endless variety of easy to impossible enemy war bases. You can design the layout, types of walls, placement of the Magnetron Generators, as well as the location, aim and firing power of the alien cannons. Straight-Ahead Action While there are fifty alien bases, the action remains pretty much the same from base to base. The control of the fighter is interesting as you must overcome that feeling of weightlessness. The main plus of the game is the ability to design your own enemy bases, allowing for as much creativity as you can muster. Overall, it’s a good, but not great space game, (one player; joystick required) HAT TRICK (***l/2/***l/2) is one-on-one ice hockey at its best from Cay com. The game’s perspective is from high above the arena so you’re viewing the players from overhead. The premise is quite simple, with the pace of play as frantic as you want. Skate as hard and fast as you can, controlling the puck and shooting it into the opponent’s goal. Do whatever you have to do because there’s no fouls in this one. You can high-stick your opponent, body- check...whatever means it takes. With your joystick you’ll control the one skater as well as your goalie who protects your net. Fast and Furious Hockey fans should enjoy this one-on-one action as there’s no slowdown moving from screen to screen. The whole layout is below you and you can keep up a lightening pace. Graphically it’s simple but extremely effective, and we especially liked the extra touch of the blade marks that began appearing in the ice as the action continued. As the game wore on, the amount of action was borne out by the cuts in the ice! Sports fans will enjoy adding this to their library, (one player; two player simultaneous; joystick required) Recommended (MSR $29.95) MINI GOLF (*★*/***) is Capcom’s version of the popular game of minteture pc-Jf " he caiw ir/clu JcslB holes which are renihiscent J some cf the courses we’ve all played. Unlike any other golf game out there, this one requires split-second timing to aim your shot. There’s a moving cursor which A whirls around your ball, starting in a wide circle and quickly closing in on your ball. If you do not select the angle (by hitting the joystick button) before the cursor reaches your ball, you lose your turn. While we initially looked for a traditional cursor line-up (where you carefully move the cursor to the angle you want it), we quickly found this to be quite challenging as we found, over and over, that our timing was off by a hair and suddenly our aim was straight into the side, a barrier, or something else which just added strokes! Once you hit the joystick button, there's no changing of the cursor. You just adjust for the power of your swing and hit the button again. The game is excellent for hand-eye coordination and we found it challenging as well. You should have lots of fun with this one! (one to four players; joystick required) Recommended (MSR $29.95) Carmen’s on the Loose Again! The irrepressible Carmen Sandiego is up to her dirty tricks once more. This time she and her gang of thieves are loose in Europe, providing players a new series of challenges in Brodefbund’s WHERE IN EUROPE IS CARMEN SANDIEGO? (MSR $44.95 for Apple II and IBM/Tandy, $39.95 for C64/ 128). The program package has several new features, including a “Crimestopper’s Notebook’’ and “Factfinder’s Database,” along with a copy of the Rand McNally “Concise Atlas of Europe.” In conjunction with the release of the new game, Broderbund is sponsoring a consumer sweepstakes (March 1 through May 31, 1988, no purchase required). The Grand Prize is a trip for two to Europe, with four days in London and four days in Paris. The prize includes round-trip airfare, hotel accommodations, sightseeing tours, and reserved theater seats. More Mew Titles from Broderbund at CES Broderbund also previewed the ARCADE GAME CONSTRUCTION KIT ($29.95) for C64/128, an easy-to-use tool fordesigning your own games. The program includes a complete game, LABYRINTH MASTER, along with six ‘starter kits” plus tools for creating games of up to 50 levels from scratch. Users can design their own enemies, tactics, backgrounds and characters, with up to seven animated objects on the screen at the same lime. Broderbund also showed Apple IIGS versions of FANTAV1S10N and THE PRINT SHOP ($59.95 each). And sharing space with Broderbund was their newest affiliated label, Origin Systems. Lord British himself (Richard Garriott) was on hand to explain the intricacies of ULTIMA V ($59.95 for Apple II and C64/128) and the futuristic 2400 A.D. ($39.95 for Apple II), which pits the player against hostile robots. Broderbund Also Shows at MacWorld Expo New, Macintosh versions of Broderbund’s THE ANCIENT ART OF WAR AT SEA ($44.95) and WHERE IN THE WORLD IS CARMEN SANDIEGO? ($39.95) made their debut at the MacWorld Expo held earlier this month. Both programs are scheduled for release in March. New Arcade Conversions from Data East Data East recently announced the release of computer versions of three arcade favorites. KID NIKI is a ninja action/adventure game for C64/128 (MSR $29.95) and Apple II ($34.95). (This title is also available for the Nintendo Entertainment System at $44 available for C64/128 ($29.95) and Atari ST ($44.95). Coming from Microdeal Microdeal, the game-playing division of MichTron, has announced several new titles for the Atari ST, including TANGLEWOOD, which is reviewed in this issue. Other new games on the schedule for early 1988 include SLAY- GON, a graphics adventure featuring a 3-D maze and LEATHERNECK, a combat adventure that permits the simultaneous use of up to four joysticks with a special adapter. Microdeal also plans to release the real-time simulation, INTERNATIONAL SOCCER, a futuristic arcade-style game called OMEGA RUN, a space game sequel to an earlier release, GOLDRUNNER II, and FRIGHT NIGHT, a game based on the movie of the same name. Suggested retail on all titles is $39.95. THE RATING SYSTEM: 4 STARS = EXCELLENT 2 STARS = FAIR 3 STARS = GOOD 1 STAR = POOR * = ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMS (1st set of stars=quality of graphics; 2nd set=quality of game play and entertainment value) ★ = APPLICATION PROGRAMS (1st set of open stars=quality of graphics; 2nd set=quality of performance and suitability of use in home) NA - Not Applicable (i.e. all-text programs not rated for graphics) Computer Entertainer - January, 1988 f THE HUNTFOR RED OCTOBER Coming The star of DataSoft’s display at CES was unquestionably their newly- acquired license for U.S. distribution of the game based on Tom Clancy’s best-selling book, THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER. Set to ship at the end of this month for Atari ST, Amiga, IBM ($49.95), and C64/128 ($39.95), conversions of RED OCTOBER are already in the works for Atari XE/XL, Apple II ($39.95), and Macintosh ($49.95). Following the plot of the book, the game puts you i n the role of Soviet submarine Captain First Rank, Marko Ramius, who wants to defect to the U.S. and take his state-of-the-art submarine, Red October, with him. However, he must keep his crew in the dark about his plans if he is to succeed. DataSoft also showed three other new games. Two are act ion/strategy games. B ATTLEDROIDZ ($24.95 for C64/128, $34.95 for Amiga, Atari ST) is a 3-D game somewhat reminiscent of “Marble Madness,” but with 37 different landscapes to explore. T11E RUBICON ALLIANCE is a first-person space game for C64/128, Apple II ($19.95) and IBM ($29.95). The third new DataSoft game, GLOBAL COMMANDER, is a strategic simulation of resource, military, and politi¬ cal management. The game will be available for C64/128, Apple II ($29.95), IBM, Amiga and Atari ST ($39.95). DataSoft also announced that their existing program, VIDEO TITLE SHOP, for C64/128 ($29.95) and Apple II ($39.95) now has additional value to the user because it comes packaged with GRAPHICS COMPANION 1, which used to be a separate purchase at $19.95. The company also announced the release of GRPAHICS COMPANION 11 ($19.95), an add-on disk for VIDEO TITLE SHOP with a variety of school and business-oriented graphics plus dozens of clip-art items f or many different subjects. _ Activision Shows Variety of Products The Activision suite at Las Vegas was bustling with activity, from the company itself and from its affiliated publishers (Infocom, Gamestar, MicroIIlusions, New World Computing, Sierra, LucasFilm Games, Access Software, System 3, and newest Affiliated Publisher, Firebird). Fans of arcade games will be happy to leam that Activision has acquired the license for the humorous arcade hit, RAMPAGE, which will be available for C64/ 128, Apple II ($34.95) and IBM ($37.95). (IBM owners note: you will be seeing a $3.00 higher price on your version of games from Activision and its affiliates as they will be providing both 5.25-inch and 3.5-inch disks in each package.) RAMPAGE may be the ultimate in all-out destruction, as players control monster-movie creatures on a coast-to-coast contest to see who can destroy the most buildings, smash the most tanks, swat the most helicopters out of the sky, and generally create mayhem. What we saw of this one looked very good. In a somewhat more serious vein, Activision an¬ nounced IBM ($42.95), Apple 11GS ($39.95) and Apple II ($34.95) ver¬ sions of THE LAST NINJA. New from Gamestar is STAR RANK BOX¬ ING II (reviewed in this issue) for IBM ($42.95), C64/128 ($29.95) and Apple II ($34.95). New Solid Gold Titles Recently added to the Solid Gold Software lineup of budget-priced software were HACKER II: THE DOOMSDAY PAPERS (Apple II and 1IGS, Macintosh, IBM, C64/128), THE TRANSFORMERS: BATTLE TO SAVE THE EARTH (C64/128), lnfocom’s ZORK I and HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY (IBM, Apple 11, C64/128, Macintosh), and Gamestaris CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF (IBM) and a combination package of STAR RANK BOXING with ON-COURT TENNIS (C64/128). Pricing on all Solid Gold titles is $19.95 for Apple 1IGS and Macintosh, and $14.95 for all other systems listed. New Presentation Tools from Activision Avoid¬ ing the term “productivity” that so many companies favor, Activision showed what it calls its “Presentation Tools,” a category which includes graphics, sound, animation, text and integration. New to Activision’s line of HyperWare foruse with the Macintosh HyperCard, the company showed FOCAL POINT ($99.95), described as “the ultimate organizer.” FOCAL POINT contains 18 ready-to-use functions and allows you to create your own—plus it keeps them linked to each other in a way that keeps everything in sync, from agendas to budgets, from phone directory to customer lists, and much more. Continuing its strong commitment to the Apple I1GS, Activision showed the much-enhanced PA1NTWORKS GOLD ($99.95) with over 80 new features. (Owners of PAINTWORKS can upgrade for $20 through May 31, 1988 and $40 afterwards. Owners of ANY other Apple IIGS paint program can upgrade for $40.) Also shown was the newly improved THE MUSIC STUDIO 2.0 for Apple 11GS ($99.95) and Amiga ($79.95) with full MIDI support. (Owners of the current THE MUSIC STUDIO can upgrade after April 15, 1988; $10 upgrade for Apple IIGS, $30 for Amiga.) And the company showed TELEWORKS PLUS ($99.95), the first communications program developed specifically for the Apple IIGS. The program includes Macros, a variety of automatic features, communication at up to 9600 baud, and much more. Owners of ANY Apple II communications program can upgrade to TELEWORKS PLUS for $50 (through June 30, 1988). Original WIZARDRY Now Available for Commodore SirTech is about to make a lot of adventure-loving C64/128 owners very happy. The company recently released the first WIZARDRY scenario, PROVING GROUNDS OF THE MAD OVERLORD in aC64/128 version (1541 or 1571 drive). Now all those Commodore owners can find out for l themselves why Apple and IBM owners are so crazy about this program! Computer Entertainer-January, 1988 COMPUTER ENTERTAINER/ VIDEO GAME UPDATE AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE ANNOUNCED It's that time again when the editors of COMPUTER ENTERTAlNERfVIDEO GAME UPDATE choose the winners of AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE Chosen from the over 350 programs the newsletter has reviewed in the last twelve months, this is the Sixth Annual time we’ve met and slugged it out over the best of the best. As usual, some winners were easy to choose, while other categories were extremely tough because of several excellent programs. In some categories, as you can see, awards have not been given in all computer configurations due to lack of, in our opinion, a program deserving of our Award. Not surprising to anyone, there are more award categories in the VideoGame area due to the tremendous expansion of the category. We also found, as we went through all the programs reviewed, that we needed to establish the BEST SIMULATOR category due to the strength in that category, for several computers. Congratulations to all the winners... COMPUTERS PROGRAM OF THE YEAR - ENTERTAINMENT Amiga: TEST DRIVE (Accolade) Apple II: INFILTRATOR 11 (Mindscape) Atari ST: SDI (Master Designer Software distributed by Mindscape) Atari XE/XL: ACE OF ACES (Artech for Accolade) Commodore 64: THE LAST NINJA (Activision) IBM PC/Compatibles: POLICE QUEST (Sierra) Macintosh: DARK CASTLE (Silicon Beach Software) SPORTS PROGRAM OF THE YEAR Amiga: EARL WEAVER BASEBALL (Electronic Arts) Apple II: PURE STAT BASEBALL (SubLogic) Atari ST: WORLD KARATE CHAMPIONSHIP (Epyx) Commodore 64: CALIFORNIA GAMES (Epyx) IBM PC/Compatibles: GBA BASKETBALL TWO ON TWO (Gamestar for Activision) DESIGNER OF THE YEAR Final Frontier Software for SPACE M+A+X SPACE STATION CONSTRUCTION SIMULATOR MOST INNOVATIVE PROGRAM MANIAC MANSION (LucasFilm Games distributed by Activision) EXCEPTIONAL ACHIEVEMENT GRAPHICSfSOUND APOLLO 18 (Accolade) BEST ADVENTUR El FANTASY (Text Only) NORD & BERT COULDN’T MAKE HEAD OR TAIL OF IT (Infocom) BEST ADVENTURE/FANTASY (with Graphics) LEISURE SUIT LARRY (Sierra) BEST SIMULATOR Amiga: FLIGHT SIMULATOR 11 (SubLogic) Atari ST: FLIGHT SIMULATOR 11 (SubLogic) Commodore 64: GUN SHIP (Microprose) IBM PC/Compatibles: CHUCK YEAGER'S ADVANCED FLIGHT TRAINER (Electronic Arts) Macintosh: (tie) FALCON (Spectrum-Holobyte) SUB BATTLE SIMULATOR (Epyx) BEST ACTION I ARCADE-STYLE GAME CAULDRON (By Palace Software for Broderbund) BEST STRATEGY!WARCAME HALLS OF MONTEZUMA (Strategic Studies Group distributed by Electronic Arts) BEST EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM PRESIDENT ELECT '88 (Strategic Simulations Inc.) contd. _ J 3 VIDEOGAMES GAME OF THE YEAR Nintendo: LEGEND OF ZELDA (Nintendo) Sega: OUTRUN (Sega) SPORTS GAME OF THE YEAR Nintendo: DOUBLE DRIBBLE (Konami) Sega: GREAT BASEBALL (Sega) MOST INNOVATIVE PROGRAM Nintendo: FAMILY FUN FITNESS with ATHLETIC WORLD (Bandai) Sega: SEGA 3D GLASSES and MISSILE DEFENSE 3-D (Sega) IBM PC & COMPATIBLES J MAXX YOKE sounds like a hybrid cousin to Maxx Headroom, but, in reality, is a fascinating new control device for all you flight simulator nuts out there. Designed by Alturns Corporation and distributed through the Affiliated Labels program of Elec¬ tronic Arts, this multi¬ function aircraft control yoke is perfect to finish off the complete feel of simulation for such games as SubLogic’s Flight Simulators and Electronic Arts’ own Chuck Yeager's Ad¬ vanced Flight Trainer , as well as other simula¬ tors in helicopter, sub¬ marine, and even auto racing. The sturdy unit clamps onto your desk for additional stability. The unit is self-center¬ ing and turns 60 degrees left/right from center. There’s action buttons on each yoke arm which can be used for such things as weapon de¬ ployment, cursor con¬ trol, trim, etc. (depend¬ ing on the software). In a flight simulator (we tested it with Chuck Yeager ), you’ll begin by sliding the throttle control and then pulling your yoke back to begin your climb. Then, you’re off into the wild blue yonder. Get Out Your Flight Suit! This device is the ultimate for the simulation lover (and there’s lots of you out there...with more new games coming all the time to satisfy you) as, within seconds, you forget your surroundings and feel as though you’ve stepped into a jet cockpit for a flight at Mach 2. When we secured it to our computer desk we immediately felt how substantial the item is...you can fly with abandon and not worry about it falling into your lap or onto the floor, ruining the world you’ve created for yourself. The yoke has a terrific feel to it and we found ourselves quickly flying better than ever as this is the ultimate controller for this type of game. Frankly, we can’t wait unti 1 we have a minute to break out a few favorite games in the auto racing genre so we can fly through our laps! Now...if only someone would come out with a capsule to sit in that rocks back and forth simulating the feel of flight (sorry, we’re losing our sanity!)! With the hefty price, it’s not for everyone, but for anyone who wants to spring for the cost, it is worth it! (available for IBM, coming for Apple 11; works with most simulators using joystick control) Recommended (MSR $129.95) SEARCH AND DESTROY (★*/*★) finds you in command of your own Fletcher class destroyer during World War II in a wartime simulation where you are looking for enemy submarines. From Broderbund . the game features two viewscreens, the first a chart view with your gauges below. The gauges include a radar screen, compass heading, message screen, as well as depth charge information, throttle, etc. You can then move to a Zoom view which is an overhead view of your destroyer with the ship centered on the screen. The message screen gives your information such as what sector the enemy submarine is in, when to change bearings, etc. Nothing Special There’s a lot of submarine/destroyer type simulations out there, and this is just one more. The graphics are simple, as well as the sound. The gameplay really doesn’t have any unusual twists to raise it above the other games of the genre that are already out there. The plus side is the price of the game for value-conscious players, (one player) Not Recommended (MSR $14.95) SUPERBIKE CHALLENGE (★**/★★*) is the latest motorcycle racing game, featur¬ ing split-screen graphics allowing for some heated two-player contests (you can also play solo against the computer). You have your choice from among twelve Grand Prix races with six bikers on each split-screen (the computer controls the other bikes) in this contest from Broderbund . Using either keyboard or joystick, you’ll control your turning, acceleration, braking, as well as shifting up and down, and leaning your bike correctly into and out of turns. On the screen you’ll find your gauges which include gear control, speed, RP*'' it Weil i. Up counter, average time per lap, and an overview map -of the course you’re running. You’ll want to begin by some practice laps as you must leam how to correctly lean to get the most speed, without wiping out. Racing Fans Will Enjoy There’s lots of fast action here, with lightening reflexes the key to success. The fact that you control all aspects of driving, including the shifting, makes this realistically challenging and fun to play. The graphics are quite good and we especially like the split-screen imagery, something that’s been done before but adds excitement, especially to the two-player mode, whenever it’s used. All in all, you should have some fun with this fast and furious biking race, (one player; two-player simultaneous; reviewed on IBM; coming for Atari ST and Commodore 64) Recommended (MSR $19.95) STAR RANK BOXING II (***l/2/***l/2) is an updated and enhanced version of Star Rank Boxing, also from Gamestar. Now distributed through A division , this updated program features bet¬ ter animation, as well as more player control over the boxers. There are three weight classes: welterweight, middleweight and heavy¬ weight and you can create up to Five Fighters of your own in each class. At the beginning, you can choose one of three different modes of play (in addition to watching a demo). In Exhibition, you can play with a friend or computer with the boxers of your choice. In Tournament Play, you match your best Fighter against the computer in one or more bouts leading up to the championship Fight. In that mode, your boxer’s stats are updated and saved for later fights. When you choose your fighter, you can pick one of the boxers on the disk or you can create your own. That newly created boxer will have no stats and will have to start at the bottom of the division you’ve chosen for him. Move on to Training Camp where your man can train on the Light Bag, Heavy Bag, or have him Spar and Run. Once you’re in the ring, you will have a good deal of control over your Fighter as the various movements of the joystick (you can re-assign the movements to the keys of your choice on the keyboard) control the various types of punches as well as covering up, ducking, moving, leaning, and more. Between each round, the three judges’ scores for the two Fighters are displayed for your information. Very Good Action The original boxing game, when introduced in late 1985 was one of our favorites and Gamestar has simply made a good game better. There’s a great deal more fluidity in the movements this time around and any computer boxing fan will appreciate the added movements - both footwork and hands - that have been brought to the new version. As a result of these additions, the game has even more a feel of a good FighL You’ll enjoy being able to create your own boxers and then moving them up through the ranks by winning fights and saving the stats, building your very own stable of ring kings! (one player; two-player simultaneous; reviewed on IBM; coming for Apple II and Commodore 64) Recommended (MSR $39.95) MIXED-UP MOTHER GOOSE (****/★***) is billed by Sierra as a children’s adventure (the First 3-D animated adventure game designed speciFically for young children). Designed by Roberta Williams, the person behind the bestselling King's Quest series, the game has kids helping Mother Goose Find missing pieces to some of her most popular rhymes. Once the child has helped Mother Goose correct the mistakes by locating the missing charac¬ ters and objects and returning them to their rightful owners, the rhyme comes to life on the screen as the on-screen characters perform the rhyme in animation with accompanying music! When moving about the world of Mother Goose, the character easily moves about (joystick or keyboard) and disappears off the side of the screen, with the new screen popping up and the walk continues. If your child wants to enter a castle, house, or whatever, he/she simply walks up to the door and the door will open. The next screen finds the character inside that particular building. By going up to one of the Mother Goose characters, that character will tell the child what is missing or, if that person is a missing piece to the rhyme, the character will tell the child where he or she needs to go. There are many places to go (over 44 screens) so Sierra has provided a colorful map to help your child move around. Simply Delightful Learning Your child will not even know they are learning anything (but they definitely are learning a great deal) as they take an absolutely delightful trip through Mother Goose land. When the game starts, your child can pick a character that looks most like them, as well as typing in their name. That way, every time there’s an encounter in the adventure, the child’s name is used, adding to his or her interest and delight in what’s going on. The graphics are very good, typical of Williams’ graphics we’ve seen in the adult adventures she’s designed. All in all, this is a game which is much more than a game and something your child will undoubtedly return to again and again, (one player; up to 12 children can save their game according to their name; joystick or keyboard; supports EGA, CG A and Hercules Graphic cards) Recommended (MSR $29.95) Computer Entertainer - January, 1988 221 B B*ker St 3-D Battles of WorldRunner Accolade's Comics Ace of Aces Action Fighter Action Max Advanced OCP Art Studio Age of Adventure Airball Construction Kit Alex Kidd/Miracle World Allens; Computer Game Alternate Reality; City Alternate Reality: Dungeon Alternate Reality: Dungeon Alternate Reality: Dungeon Ancient Art of War at Sea Apollo 18 Arctic Antics: Spy Va Spy III Arkanold Astro Warrior Atari XE Game System Athena Award Maker Plus B-24 Balance of Power Bard's Tale Bard's Tale U Bard's Tale n Battle of Chlckamauga Battlecruiser Battlecruiser Battlecruiser Beating House at Blackjack Bismarck: North Sea Chase Black Magic Black Magic Bop’n Rumble Boulder Dash Const Set Boulder Dash Const Set Boulder Dash Const Set Boulder Dash Const Set Boulder Dash Const Set Break thru Bug Hunt Bureaucracy Bureaucracy Bureaucracy Bureaucracy Bureaucracy Bureaucracy Burgertime California Gaines Castlevania Cauldron Certificate Mater Championship Baseball Championship Baseball Championship Wrestling Championship Wrestling Chessmaster 2000 Chip Shot Super Pro Golf Chopliftert C. Yeager'a Adv Fight Trainer C. Yeager’s Adv Fight Trainer Coil Cop Competition Pro Joystick Computer Scrabble Crossword Magic Dan Dare: Pilot of Fu turn Dark Castle Dark Castle Dark Lord Dark Lord Deadly Towers Deceptor Deep Space: Operation Copernicus DefCon 5 Defender of the Crown Defender of the Crown Degas Elite Deja Vu Delta Man Delta Patrol Deluxe Music Const Set DeluxePaint II Demon Stalkera Desert Fox Dig Dug Diner DiskToola Plua Double Dribble Dragon'a Lair Earl Weaver Baseball Echelon Elevator Action Enduro Racer EOS: Earth Orbit Station EOS: Earth Orbit Station Epyx 500XJ Joystick Eternal Dagger, The Eternal Dagger, The Eternal Dagger, The Express Raiders Falcon Family Feud Family Fun Fitness/ Athletic World FIST: Legend Continues Flight Simulator Co-Pilot Flight Simulator n Flight Simulator II Flight Simulator II Football Co NES A P 1 At 1/87 10/87 5/87 8/87 1987 REVIEW INDEX Postcards Postcards Power President Elect 1988 Apl IBM Co Apl 10/87 10/87 4/87 6/87 Sega 1/87 President Elect 1988 Co 6/87 AM 12/87 Fourth & Inches Co 11/87 President Elect 1988 IBM 6/87 ST 10,87 Gangster Town Sega 9/87 Pro Wrestling Sega 1/87 Co 7/87 GATO ST 1/87 Pro Wrestling NES 4/87 ST 11/87 Gauntlet Co 10/87 Project Space Station Apl 12/87 Sega 1/87 Gauntlet ST 11/87 Project Space Station IBM 12/87 Apl 7/87 Gauntlet At 12/87 Pure-Stat Baseball Apl 3/87 St 3/87 OB A Championship Quartet Sega 5/87 Co 8/87 Basketball 2-on-2 IBM 4/87 Rad Warrior Apl 11/87 At 10/87 OeeBee Air Rally Co 10/87 Rad W anior Co 11/87 Apl 11/87 Ghostbusters Sega 1/87 Radio Baseball IBM 1/87 IBM 8/87 Ghosts'n Goblins Co 1/87 Raid on Bungleling Bay NES 10/87 Co 12/87 Golden Path ST 5/87 Rainy Day Games Co 10/87 Co 11/87 Goldrunner ST 7/87 Rainy Day Games At 10/87 NES 10/87 Goonies II NES 12/87 Ram bo: 1st Blood Pt 11 Co 2/87 Sega 3/87 Oradius NES 1/87 Ram bo: 1st Blood Pt II Sega 2/87 XE 11/87 Graphics Integrator 2 Co 4/87 Ring King NES 11/87 NES 9/87 Great Baseball Sega 4/87 Rings of Zilfin ST 10/87 Apl 3/87 Great Football Sega 8/87 Road to Moscow Co 9/87 Co 8/87 Great Golf Sega 12/87 Roadwar 2000 ST 4/87 Apl 9/87 Great Volleyball Sega 9/87 Roadwar Europe Apl 8/87 IBM 10/87 Guild of Thievea ST 8/87 Rocky Sega 8/87 Co 1/87 Guild of Thieves Am 8/87 Rommel Battles for Tobruk At 1/87 Apl 5/87 Guild of Thieves Mac 8/87 Runway USA book 4/87 At 1/87 Guild of Thieves Apl 8/87 Rush'n Attack Co 2/87 Apl 4/87 Guild of Thieves At 10/87 Rush'n Attack NES 4/87 Co 4/87 Guitar Wizard At 5/87 Russia: Great War At 4/87 Guitar Wizard Co 5/87 in East 1941-1945 Apl 9/87 Apl 8/87 Gunship Co 1/87 Rygar NES 8/87 Co 11/87 Gunsmoke Co 11/87 Sanxion Co 8/87 Apl 5/87 Halls of Montezuma Co 11/87 Saracen Apl 4/87 Co 5/87 Halls of Montezuma Apl 11/87 Saracen At 4/87 Co 9/87 Hardball Am 9/87 Saracen Co 4/87 Co 11/87 High Roller ST 4/87 SDI ST 1/87 Apl 11/87 Hollywood Hijinx All 3/87 SDI Am 4/87 IBM 11/87 Dean Warriors NES 6/87 Section Z NES 9/87 At 11/87 Infiltrator At 7/87 Section Z Update NES 10/87 ST 11/87 Infiltrator 11 Apl 11/87 Sega 3-D Glasses Sega 8/87 NES 12/87 Infiltrator 11 IBM 11/87 Sega Control Stick Sega 3/87 XE 11/87 Infiltrator 11 Co 11/87 Sega Sports Pad Sega 2/87 Am 4/87 Instant Pages IBM 11/87 Sentry, The Co 5/87 AP 4/87 Into the Eagle's Nest Co 7/87 Sentry, The ST 10/87 ST 4/87 Intrigue! Apl 9/87 Sesame Street Crayon Series Apl 10/87 Col 23 4/87 Jeopardy Apl 6/87 Shadowgate Mac 6/87 IBM 4/87 Jupiter Probe St 10/87 Shiloh Apl 11/87 Mac 4/87 Karate Chamo NES 1/87 Shiloh At 11/87 NES 5/87 Karate Kid Part 11 ST 1/87 Shiloh Co 11/87 Co 8/87 Karateka 7800 11/87 Shiloh IBM 11/87 NES 6/87 Keys to Solving Adv Games book 8/87 Shooting Gallery Sega 4/87 CO 7/87 Kid Icarus NES 9/87 Shuttle 11 ST 4/87 Mac 3/87 Kid Niki NES 12/87 Side Pocket NES 12/87 Apl 2/87 Killed Until Dead Co 3/87 Sidearms Co 11/87 IBM 3/87 Killed Until Dead Apl 9/87 Siena 3-D Helicopter Sim. IBM 11/87 AP 1 1/87 King of Chicago Mac 1/87 Sigma 7 Co 7/87 sf 1/87 King'a Quest III ST mi Sinbad & Throne of Falcon Am 3/87 Mac 3/87 King’s Quest III IBM mi Skate Or Die Co 11/87 Int 8/87 Knight Ore ST 10/87 Ski Crazed Apl 10/87 7800 9/87 Knight Ore Am 10/87 Sky Runner Co 6/87 IBM 8/87 Kung Fu Kid Sega 10/87 Skyfox 11 Co 12/87 Co 10/87 Kung-Fu Master 2600 10/87 Slalom NES 4/87 Co 12/87 Last Ninja, The Co 10/87 Slap Shot Super F^o Hockey Int 11/87 NES 6/87 Legacy of the Ancients Co 1/87 Soko-Ban IBM 12/87 Mac 11/87 Legend of Kage, The NES 9/87 Solaris 2600 1/87 Mac 5/87 Legend ofZelda, The NES 8/87 Solitaire Royale IBM 10/87 Co 5/87 Leisure Suit Larry IBM 8/87 Solomon’s Key NES 8/87 Mac 1/87 Lode Runner NES 10/87 Sonix 2.0 Am 5/87 Am 11/87 Lode Runner XE 12/87 Space Harrier Sega 4/87 Apl 11/87 Lunar Pool NES 9/87 Space Max Space Co 11/87 Lurking Honor, The All 1/87 Station Const Simulator IBM 9/87 NES 10/87 Make Your Own Murder Party Apl 1/87 Space Quest: Sarien Enc ST 1/87 Co 3/87 Maniac Mansion Co 8/87 Space Quest: Sarien Enc Am 1/87 Maniac Mansion Apl 9/87 Space Quest: Sarien Enc IBM 1/87 IBM 12/87 Marble Madness Apl mi Space Quest: Sarien Enc Mac 6/87 Co 5/87 Marksman/Trap Shooting Sega 1/87 Speed Rumbler, The Co 11/87 Co 6/87 Mean 18 Course VolII IBM mi Spel unker NES 10/87 ST 11/87 Mean 18 Course Vol 11 Am mi Spoace Quest n IBM 12/87 ST 1/87 Mean 18 Course Vol II ST mi Sports Pad Football Sega 9/87 ST 11/87 Mercenary ST 1/87 Spy Hunter NES 10/87 Co 7/87 Metroid NES 9/87 Spy Vs Spy Vol I & II Apl 3/87 Co 8/87 Midnight Magic 2600 4/87 Spy Vs Spy Vol I & II Co 3/87 Am 3/87 Mighty Bomb Jack NES 8/87 Spy’a Adventures: Europe Apl 6/87 Am 2/87 Mike Tyton's Punch-Out NES 11/87 Spy's Adv: N America Apl 6/87 Co 9/87 Mikie Co 5/87 Spy’a Adv: So America Apl 10/87 Co 3/87 Mini-Putt Co 10/87 Sqoon NES 11/87 Int 8/87 Missile Defense 3-D Sega 8/87 Star Force NES 12/87 Int 7/87 MRCA Mach 2 At mi Star Trek: Promethean Co 2/87 Mac 11/87 NBA Co 10/87 Star Trek: Promethean Apl mi NES 11/87 NES Advantage NES 11/87 Star Trek: Promethean IBM mi Co 12/87 New Tech Coloring Book ST mi Star Voyager NES 10/87 Am 8/87 Ninja, The Sega 1/87 Star glider ST 1/87 Co 11/87 Nord & Bert Couldn't Star glider Am 7/87 NES 9/87 Make Head or Tail of It All 9/87 Stationfall All 6/87 Sega 9/87 North Atlantic '86 Mac 1/87 Stinger NES 10/87 Apl 6/87 One-on-One Basketball 7800 11/87 Street Sports Baseball Co 7/87 Co 7/87 Outrun Sega 10/87 Street Sports Basketball Co 11/87 NES 7/87 Over 2000 Movies IBM 10/87 Sub Battle Simulator Mac 4/87 Apl 8/87 Paperboy Co 10/87 Sub Battle Simulator IBM 4/87 Co 8/87 Parallax Co 3/87 Sub Battle Simulator Co 9/87 At 10/87 Pawn, The Mac 1/87 Summer Games 2600 11/87 Co 6/87 Phanusie II ST 3/87 Super Controllers NES mi Mac 12/87 Phan Las ie III Am 10/87 Super Cycle ST 1/87 Apl 7/87 PHM Pegasus Apl 3/87 Super Tennis Sega 3/87 PHM Pegasus Co mi Superstar Ice Hockey Co 5/87 NES 7/87 Pinball W izard ST 10/87 Superstar Indoor Sports: Co 3/87 Pinball Wizard IBM 10/87 Air Hockey,Bowling, book 1/87 Pirates Co 7/87 Dartsjhng Pong Am 12/87 ST 1/87 Plundered Hearts All 9/87 Superstar Soccer Co 11/87 Am 1/87 Plutos Am 11/87 Terrorpods ST 10/87 XE 11/87 Police Quest IBM 12/87 Test Drive Co 11/87 IBM 4/87 Postcards Co 10/87 Test Drive Am 11/87 Computer Entertainer-January, 1988 5 r 1 87 Index (contd.) Test Drive IBM 12/87 Thexdcr IBM 11/87 Thunder Mac 1/87 Thunderchopper Co 11/87 Tiger Heir NES 12/87 Tale Match Pro Wrestling 2600 11/87 Tomahawk Co 12/87 Tomahawk At 12/87 Tomahawk Apl 12/87 Top Fuel Eliminator Apl 8/87 Top Gun NES 12/87 Tower of Doom lnt 4/87 Track & Field NES 4/87 Track APield Co 1/87 Tracker ST 10/87 Trailblazer Co S/87 Trailblazer At S/87 Trailblazer ST 9/87 Triple Challenge lnt 5/87 Trojan NES S/87 Truit &, Betrayal Mac 12/87 Uchi Mata Co 4/87 Ultima] Co S/87 Uninvited Am 4/87 Up Periscope Co 3/87 Uridium Co 3/87 Uridium ST 12/87 Vcgaa Video Poker Apl *87 VidcoTille Shop Co 8/87 Video Vegaa ST 11/87 Volleyball NES S/87 War in So Pacific Apl 2/87 War in So Pacific Co 2/87 Wheel of Portune Co 1/87 Wheel of Portune Apl 7/87 Wico Command Control NES 3/87 Winter Gamea 2600 11/87 Winter Gamea NES 12/87 Wonder Boy Sega 7/87 World Clan leader Board Co 4/87 World Claw Leader Board Apl *87 World Gamea Am 1/87 World Gamea ST 1/87 World Gamea IBM 1/87 World Karate Championship ST 4/87 World Tour Golf Co S/87 Wrath of Denethenor Apl 2/87 Wrath of Denethenor Co 2/87 Xevioua 7800 1/87 Xevioua ST 11/87 Xevioua Apl 11/87 Yie ArKungPu Co 2/87 YieAr Rung Pull Co *87 Z-Pilot Co 1/87 Zanac NES 10/87 Availability Update (contd from Page 14) Slow Or Die CULT) Speed Rumbler (CAP) JULY Tecm o Football (TEC) SECOND HALF Rampage (DE) Robo-Cop(DE) Terminator (SUN) SFC,A DECEMBER *87 x-Fantasy Zone II (SEO) x-Great Basketball (SEO) JANUARY’88 x Penguin Land (SEO) MARCH Altec Adventure (SEC) Global Defense (SEG) APRIL After Burner (SEO) Alien Syndrome (SEG) Maze Hunter 3-D (SEG) Monopoly (SEG) Rescue Mission (SEG) Ztxxon 3D (SEG) MAY Fantasy Zone: The Maze (SEG) Parlour Games (SEG) Wonder Boy: Monster Land (SEG) JUNE Alex Kidd Lost Sun (SEG) Zillion 11: Triformation (SEG) SECOND HALP Blade Eagle 3-D Cube Zone (SEG) Miracle Warn on (SEG) Phantasy Star (SEG) Space Hamer 3 D (SEG) CQMT,\NY CODES ABS . Absolute Entertainment ACC. .Access ACM .Acclaim Entertainment ACO. -Accolade ACT Activision AH..Avalon Hill ARC... Arcadia BAN Dandai BAU. JJaudvillc BRO. Broderbund CAP. Capcorn USA ClN..Cinem aware COS Cosmi DE. Data East DS. ..DaiaSoft EA. ..Electronic Aos EPY.Epyx INF Jnfocom 1RM Jrem JAL. Jaleco KON. Xonami LF Luc u film Games LG.. Leisure Genius UN . UN Toys MD. Micro Deal/MichTron Ml MicTolUusioni MIC MicroPros MIN..Mtndscape N1N.. Nintendo ORI . Origin Systems POL. Polarwarc PSY Psygnosis SEG.. Sega S1E...Sierra SIL...Silicon Beach S/W SIR StrTech SNK. SNK Corn SPE. Spectrum HoloByte SUN Sunsoft TAI. Taito TEC. Tecroo TEN. Tengen TS. Three-Sixty Pacific TW. Trade West ULT...Ultra USG U S Gold Epyx Designated Official Licensee of U.S. Olympic Team You’ll be seeing the familiar U.S. Olympic Committee logo on a new computer game, THE GAMES-WINTER EDITION, because Epyx is a licensee of the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team. We got a good look at work-in-progress on the C64/128 version of the program at the Winter Consumer Electronics Show (CES) earlier this month in Las Vegas. Fans of Epyx’s earlier WINTER GAMES will be pleased to learn that THE GAMES-WINTER EDITION continues the company’s tradition of multi-event sports programs with stunning graphics and plenty of play value. The program is set in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and includes seven events: speed skating, downhill skiing, slalom, luge, ski jump, figure skating, and cross-county skiing. Fortunately for gamers, what we saw is not just a re-make of WINTER GAMES. We were especially impressed by a figure skating sequence with incredibly smooth animation and finer detail than anything in the original WINTER GAMES. Figure skating also contains a selection of musical accompaniments, and the player earns extra points for keeping time with the music! And the downhill skiing event lets the player set TV camera positions on the course, so the player’s first-person view of the downhill run is broken up with “TV coverage” of the action. THE GAMES-WINTER EDITION will be available for C64/128, Apple II and lBM/compatibles (MSR $39.95). A portion of the sales proceeds will help support the U.S. Olympic Team. New Sports Games from Epyx Epyx’s display suite at CES was a busy place because the company was showing many new titles. STREET SPORTS SOCCER (C64/128, Apple 11, IBM $39.95) is the latest in their casual sport series featuring neighborhood teams. This one offers especially fast action. And 4X4 OFF-ROAD RACING has its share of speed, too, along with mud and unpredictable terrain. Players choose their own rig and equip it just the way they want for a multi-race season. ($39.95 for C64/128, IBM, Amiga.) And Epyx had yet another game for the sporting set, THE SPORTING NEWS BASEBALL ($39.95 for C64/128, Apple II, IBM). The game is statistically enhanced and endorsed by the “Bible of Sports,” THE SPORTING NEWS. The game combines action and strategy, features unique batting control, and includes 26 major league ball clubs and a wide variety of players. And More Games from Epyx Epyx also showed a sequel to a game from 1984. The malevolent Elvin returns in IMPOSSIBLE MISSION 11 ($39.95 for C64/128, Apple 11, Atari ST, IBM). Now ensconced in a high-tech office complex, Elvin plans to conquer the world. Die player must avoid surveillance cameras, suicide robots, and lots of other dangers to foil Elvin’s plot. We also got a look at the third in Epyx’s Master Collection line of software for advanced game players. L.A. CRACKDOWN (C64/128, Apple 11, IBM, $39.95) is a topical detective adventure in which the player takes the role of a senior detective directing the actions of a promising young rookie who is hot on the heels of a major drug ring. The action of the game is influenced by how much the rookie has learned under the senior detective’s tutelage. For their latest Maxx-Out action game, Epyx has turned to Palace Software of London for DEATH SWORD ($24.95 for C64/128, Apple 11, Atari ST, IBM). This one is pure hack-and-slash action set in the dark ages, featuring heavy combat and some violent moments. DEATH SWORD was a best-seller in Europe, where it was known as “Barbarian.” (“Barbarian” earned quite a bit of notoriety for the sensational poster enclosed with the game: a muscle-bound man pictured with a very well-endowed and scantily clad woman. More than a few of the posters even made their way to the U.S.. The poster is NOT part of the U.S. version of the game from Epyx.) Epyx Productivity Software New to Epyx’s line of home productivity titles is HOME VIDEO PRODUCER, a program that allows the user to add text, graphics, and special effects to home videos ($49.95 for C64/128, Apple 11, IBM). The program includes a number of pre-designed segments for the ease of “fill-in-the-blanks” use, or individual effects can be created from a variety of graphics, typefaces, and borders. STICKER MAKER for Apple 11 and IBM ($34.95) lets the user create all kinds of stickers in a variety of shapes and sizes. The program includes more than 100 detailed graphics, fonts, borders, and background patterns, or the user can import graphics from “Print Magic,” “Graphics Scrapbook,” “PC Paintbrush,” “Print Shop,” or “Newsroom” compatible disks. Epyx also showed a new version of PRINT MAGIC for IBM ($59.95), which includes a free add-on disk of holiday graphics. Epyx Will Distribute Titles from US. Gold in US. U.S. Gold, which has been distributing Epyx software in Europe, will now have some of its titles distributed in the U.S. by Epyx. The first three U.S. Gold titles will be DIVE BOMBER ($39.95), a World War 11 torpedo bomber mission with the goal of sinking the Bismarck; STREET CAT ($24.95), a whimsical contest of feline athletics to select the baddest cat in town; and METROCROSS ($24.95), a very fast obstacle race through a three- dimensional, 24-level setting. All three U.S. Gold Titles will be available for C64/128 and Atari ST. DIVE BOMBER and STREET CAT will also be available for IBM and Amiga; DIVE BOMBER is the only one to be available for Apple II. Still More from Epyx! At CES, Epyx announced their new Consumer Electronics Division. Its first series of products is a line of VCR games and audio cassette board games. VCR CALIFORNIA GAMES, VCR GOLF, and PLAY ACTION VCR FOOTBALL ($39.95 each) are the debut products for use with your video cassette recorder. Each includes a video cassette, gameboard, and cards. VCR CALIFORNIA GAMES has players competing in a race from San Francisco to San Diego, earning money when their car breaks down by competing in Califomia-style sporting events. PLAY ACTION VCR FOOTBALL makes you the coach, choosing plays and watching the outcome, which is based on statistical probabilities. VCR GOLF lets upto four players call the shots and watch four separate pictures on a TV screen, showing each player’s results simultaneously. HEAD-ON FOOTBALL and HEAD-ON BASEBALL ($19.95 to $24.95 each) areboardgames with play-by-play highlights on audio cassette to make the action more lively. The Latest from Cosmi Cosmi has announced three titles scheduled for early 1988 release. NAVCOM 6: THE GULF DEFENSE (MSR $24.95 for C64/128) puts the player in charge of the futuristic Weapons Control Center aboard a U.S. Navy warship in the Persian Gulf. The goal is to escort oil tankers through the straits of Hormuz, detecting and destroying mines and defending against Iranian air and sea attacks. THE PRESIDENT IS MISSING is due for C64/128 ($24.95) and IBM ($29.95). The program is a mystery adventure accompanied by an audio cassette containing the kidnappers’ demands and mystery clues. The player controls the central computer of the Counter- terrorist branch of the C.l.A. and must not only recover the missing president but also unravel the sinister plot behind the crime. The third in Cosmi’s lineup of topical games is CORPORATE RAIDER ($24.95 for IBM), a simulation of the world of corporate boardrooms, hostile takeovers, and modern-day financial empire-building. Sneak Previews from Strategic Simulations Away from the CES convention floor in Las Vegas, Strategic Simulations, Inc. showed sneak previews of the official computer version of the classic ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS fantasy role-playing game, which will not be released until mid-year. SSI also plans a joystick-controlled action game based on AD&D, along with a dungeon masters utility program to be used with traditional, non-computer AD&D games. A pre-release version of QUESTkON 11 was aiso previewed by SSI. Computer Entertainer - January, 1988 Mindscape Shows CITADEL CITADEL, a new fantasy role-playing game for Macintosh (MSR $49.95) from Mindscape, made its pre-release debut at CES and MacWorld Expo earlier this month. Featuring three-dimensional graphics and digitized sound, CITADEL is set in an imaginary place and time and sets the player on a quest to explore the catacombs within a buried structure. Players who enjoy creating their own characters should have a good time with CITADEL, because it allows selection of the characters’ lineage, race, social class and more, causing characters to be “bom,” and then developed through continued interaction with the story. Mindscape also showed a pair of titles for Amiga: IMPACT (described by a Mindscape spokesman as “an improved ‘Arkanoid’") and HARRIER COMBAT SIMULATOR (the new name for the game formerly known on other systems as HIGH ROLLER). New from Thunder Mountain Mindscape’s budget software division, Thunder Mountain, showed its first- ever games with retail pricing of $14.95. (All previous Thunder Mountain titles have been priced at $9.95.) Shown at the new price point were TAI-PAN (Atari ST, C64/I28), based on James Clavell’s novel of 19th century China; WINTER CHALLENGE (Amiga, Atari XE/XL & ST, C64/128, IBM), a series of five olympic-style sports events; TAU CETI: THE LOST SPACE COLONY (Atari ST, C64/128, IBM), a space adventure; IMPLOSION (high¬ speed action/ adventure for C64/128); HEAD OVER HEELS (C64/128, IBM), a 3-D graphic adventure; WIZBALL (action game for Atari ST, C64/ 128, IBM); and MUTANTS (futuristic game in war-tom world for C64/I28). Thunder Mountain also had some new $9.95 titles, several of which were recognizable as re-releases of former titles from other companies. These include MURDER BY THE DOZEN and FELONY (Apple II, C64/128, IBM, Macintosh), ARMY MOVES and DOC THE DESTROYER (C64/128), and THE RAILROAD WORKS (Apple II, C64/128, IBM). MicroProse Spotlights RED STORM RISING Like many other software developers at CES, MicroProse showed its products in a hotel suite away from the convention floor in Las Vegas. The starof the MicroProse “mini show” was clearly the upcoming RED STORM RISING, based on Tom Clancy’s best-selling book of the same title. The author himself was present, since he collaborated on the game with Micro- prose designer/programmer Sid Meier ("Silent Service,” “F-15 Strike Eagle,” "Pirates!”). The partnership is a natural one, since Clancy is a computer gamer himself and already had played MicroProse games before working on RED STORM RISING with Meier. Slated initially for release on C64/128 (MSR $39.95), the game of modem nuclear submarine warfare will also be available later for IBM and other systems. According to Sid Meier, the difference between "Silent Service” and RED STORM RISING (both games of submarine warfare) is "like the difference between the P-51 Mustang in World War II and today’s F-15.” The new game incorporates the high-tech gear of modem warfare, introducing totally new gaming elements. The realism of RED STORM RISING is further enhanced by the input of Larry Bond in bringing the book to the computer screen. Bond is the author of the boardgame, Harpoon, which was a significant part of the inspiration of Clancy’s book. New Releases Coming from MicroProse The company showed new versions of several existing titles, including PIRATES! for IBM and 128K Apple 11 ($39.95 each) and a much-enhanced version of GUNSHIP for Atari ST ($49.95) with “state-of-the-art 3-D flight and combat simulation,” improved cockpit configuration and a view out of the cockpit window that is 25% wider than the initial Commodore and IBM versions. GUNSHIP, already a solid hit (over 200,000 sold and certified “Gold” by the Software Publishers Association (SPA), is expected to be a good test of the game market for the Atari ST. According to several publishers with whom we’ve spoken, software sales have been somewhat below expectations in the Atari ST format. And although ST software sales have been stronger in Europe where the ST has achieved more market penetration than in the U.S., a number of software publishers believe that ST sales have decreased somewhat even in Europe since the introduction of the Amiga 500. Other new versions of existing titles coming from MicroProse include PROJECT: STEALTH FIGHTER and AIRBORNE RANGER for IBM and Atari ST, PIRATES! for Apple I1GS, and GUNSHIP for Apple II and Amiga. MIGHT AND MAGIC Coming to Macintosh New World Computing, one of Activision’s Affiliated Publishers, has announced the release next month of a Mac version of MIGHT AND MAGIC: SECRET OF THE INNER SANCTUM ($59.95). The new version will takea full advantage of the Mac interface, allowing the player to explore 50 areas with 13,000 locations and experience the game’s elaborate combat system. TV-Based Games from Box Office A new company, Box Office, showed four games based on TV shows: ALF, CAPTAIN POWER, HIGH ROLLERS, and THE $100,000 PYRAMID. All are available for IBM, Apple II and C64/128 (MSR $14.95 each). ^ _ MACINTOSH Software SOLITAIRE ROYALE (***l/2/***l/2) has now shipped for Macintosh from Spectrum Hololivte . A collection of eight popular solitaire games, the Macintosh is an especially appropriate computer for the game due to the ease you can play the games with your mouse. The games included are Pyramid, Golf, Comers, 3 Shuffles & A Draw, Reno, Klondike, Canfield, and Calcula¬ tion. The three children’s games included are the classic game of Concentra¬ tion, Pairs, and The Wish. Anyone who enjoys card playing will gel hooked for hours in front of their computer with this program. The graphics are crisp and easy to read, and you can engage in tournament play, (one player; multi-player in tournament play; also available for IBM; coming for Amiga) Recommended ($34.95) APACHE STRIKE (***I/2/****) is a deceptively simple-looking game from Silicon Beach Software which we bet you’ll have trouble walking away from! Simply pilot your helicopter through the canyon walls of enemy cities and destroy their Strategic Defense Computers (SDC) before they are used to launch a nuclear attack. With your mouse you’ll climb, dive, careen around comers, and control your machine guns and missiles. There are enemy copters and tanks to be destroyed as you seek the SDC. Some Designer Notes With the review copy we received some interesting notes from designer Bill Appleton (the programmer of Enchanted Scepters and World Builder). With this game he’s been able to produce 3-D animation at ten frames per second with hidden surfaces removed, meaning that surfaces behind others are not rendered on the screen (this is opposed to “wire-frame” imaging popular in many coin-op games such as Star Wars where all the lines are shown). It’s a fascinating effect that provides a tremendous gaming experience. Meanwhile, RealSound, developed by Silicon Beach, is in strong presence here beginning with the opening screen and continuing in the game itself. The sounds of the helicopter blades is as real as it gets short of having an actual chopper in your li ving room. As we began, we had to learn how to control our mouse movement as the copter swayed side to side, perilously close to the building walls. As we got the hang of it we quickly found that we had a very real sense of flying our copter through narrow city canyons (just wait until you try to turn a corner the first time-a guaranteed slam into the side of a building!). You can begin on Level 1, Level 20, or Level 40. That way, if youhave just a few moments before leaving for the office, you can enter at a level which suits your aggressiveness and expertise! We guarantee that you’ll be late for work if you’re not careful though...it’s a tough game to quit! (one player; runs on the 512E, Plus, or SE-be sure to read the instructions regarding memory requirements when booling the game) Recommended (MSR $49.95) Byte Size Software: Computer Productivity the Easy Way While wandering the miles of aisles at CES, we ran into a company called Publishing International whose founder, Brad Fregger, had a radical idea. While most other developers of software for the 1BM/MS-DOS environment are trying to create bigger programs with lots and lots of features, Fregger reasoned that many computer owners just want to USE their computer easily and quickly, with a minimum of fuss (and expense). From this comes the concept of Byte Size Software: single-function packages at a reasonable price (most are $19.95) which are very easy to use, require no technical knowledge, and are not copy-protected. The line includes Byte Size Word Processor, Stock Portfolio, Phone & Address Filer, Time & Expense Log, Calendar, Calculator, Floppy Disk Log, Hard Disk Log, Home Inventory, Recipe Finder, Coupon Finder, Gift List and Telecommunications. Nothing fancy: just programs that do one thing and do it well, so that the consumer can simply boot the disk and use the program right away. Fregger measures the success of the concept by the yardstick of phone calls to his company for help in using the programs— two or three a day instead of the 20 or 30 that would be considered “normal” for the number of programs sold. He just may be onto something good! Computer Entertainer - January, 1988 7 APPLE II Software ] COMMODORE 64/128 Software WINGS OF FURY (****/**★*) is a beauty of a World War II air battle game from Broderbund! You’re flying the F6F Hellcat, loaded with bombs, aerial rockets and machine guns as you must accomplish various missions. You’ll have to defend your carrier against torpedo bombers, raid enemy islands, deal with enemy planes in dogfights, sink enemy ships, and more. You begin by taking off from your aircraft carrier, then, once airborne, you’ll have to deal with the enemy. Your control panel will provide the various informa¬ tion you need such as fuel, amount oi weapons left, 3D view which includes an artificial horizon indicator. Flying will require precise use of your joystick as you can maneuver, dive, climb (or stall) with movements in 8 directions. Once your mission is completed, you must return to your carrier and land safely, catching one of the “arrester hooks” to bring you to a halt before careening off the other end of the flattop. Beautiful Animation We were enthralled immediately as we began our taxi off the carrier’s deck. There were Navy Signal Officers on deck with flags giving us the go-ahead as we gained speed (if you don’t get enough speed, you will end up in the drink). Then it was a precise lift-off with our joystick as we headed into the skies above. Once airborne, there were dogfights to engage in, enemy ships, and more...all with terrific gameplay action and great graphics. This is a game of action which any Apple owner should enjoy a great deal, especially with the fine graphic detail, (one player; joystick required; 128K) Recommended (MSR $34.95) DONDRA: A NEW BEGINNING (***l/2/***l/2) is a new graphics and text adventure by Sean Barger fo r Spectrum HoloBvte . Designated as the first in the Questmaster Series, the game will let you take a character who has completed the game into future Questmaster modules. For now, however, the task at hand is to save the universe from the evil Colnar, which can only be accomplished by finding the Crystal Prism of Heheutotol. As the last of the Tellasien race, the task falls to you to journey through Dondra and release the undead of Dondra from their bonds. The game is a first-person trip through the many locales of Dondra, depicted in very attractive graphics with many animated sequences. Keyboard entry of text is your mode of interaction with the story. The parser is fairly sophisticated, accepting full sentences and multiple commands. Like most parsers, it falls short at times when it responds to an item just mentioned in the story with something like “you don’t see that here.” One of the qualities we liked best about the game is its way of adding urgency to the completion of certain tasks. There are times in the game when you must act—and act quickly—or certain disaster will strike. Your progress in the game is measured by experience, which is affected by elapsed time and the number of objects acquired. Your experience score is also negatively affected by the number of ti mes your character is terminated and by the number of times you choose to save the game. This last feature makes the player think twice about those cautious “saves” typically made before entering what appears to be a dangerous situation. Altogether, we found DONDRA a very good adventuring experience with more than the usual feel of the importance of keeping a character alive and making all the right decisions in a real-time sense. The challenge is not just to complete the quest, but ideally to complete it as quickly as possible and with few (if any) saves. This emphasis makes you play DONDRA somewhat differently than you may have done with other role- playing advnetures. (Solo play; Keyboard; 3 double-sided 48K disks; Blank disk required for saving.) Reviewed on Apple II; planned for C64/I28, IBM, Apple 1IGS. Recommended. (MSR $34.95) ATARI ST Software TANGLEWOOD (A***/***) is an all-graphics adventure from Mi¬ crodeal that requires absolutely no text entry. According to the story, your weird Uncle Arthur has just ten days to recover the documents which show that he owns the mining rights on the planet of Tanglewood. Of course, Uncle Arthur has turned to you for help because of your talent with computers. It seems that a rival company has stolen the documents and hidden them in the Opposition Center. To reach your eventual goal, you must control Arthur’s five mobile units, all in various states of disrepair, to explore the surface and depths of Tanglewood. Along the way, you hope to discover Dog Crystals for their useful properties, and perhaps even the rare Ice Emerald. And you must follow the many (and strange) Tanglian rituals if you hope to be trusted by the locals. As you send the quirky little mobile units on their exploratory paths, you must avoid the Opposition’s mobiles, along with many other dangers to be discovered. The game plays a bit like a maze on the surface of the planet, with more to be discovered within the buildings and beneath the surface. There is a vast territory to explore and plenty of puzzles to solve. The game is a bit eccentric and doesn’t take itself too seriously, which makes it all the more fun to play. This is the best we’ve seen from Microdeal in some time. (Solo play; Mouse; Pause; Blank disk required for saving.) Available for Atari ST only. Recommended. (MSR $39.95) STRIKE FLEET l**El/2 J.**El/2) is a modem naval task force simulator from Lucasfilm Game s (distributed bv Electronic Arts) that lets the player command an entire fleet of naval warships and their weaponry (including helicopters) in any of ten scenarios. To familiarize yourself with the game and the systems of your ship, begin with the “Stark Realities” scenario. This gives you a chance to practice such basics as setting your course, choosing and deploying weapons, and changing your viewpoint to a different ship (in this case, one of your helicopters). Those who have played Lucasfilm’s “PHM Pegasus” will recognize similarities, such as the ability to slow down or speed up the pace of the game (often a very handy feature). Once you’ re famil iar with the basics, you can try out a real mission—or even a series of missions in a full campaign. The missions are as current as today’s news, with tasks such as escorting reflagged Kuwaiti tankers through the Persian Gulf or battling an Argentine task group for control of the Falkland Islands. Depending on the scenario, you may command up to 16 ships and four helicopters at a time, changing your viewpoint to the bridge of any ship in your fleet as circum¬ stances and your overall strategy demand. You are in charge of outfitting the fleet for your chosen mission and then seeing the mission through. And you get plenty of choice for your fleet: 52 ships from 10 ship classes and a wide variety of modem weapons. At the end of each mission or campaign, you are awarded a rank based on your performance. (It is also possible to be court-martialed in the case of utter failure.) Fans of naval warfare will find that STRIKE FLEET offers them a wealth of options, timely mission scenarios, and many, many hours of satisfying play. (Solo play; Joystick & keyboard.) C64/I28 version reviewed; coming soon for Apple II, IBM/Tandy. Recommended. (MSR $29.95) THE TRAIN (***l/2/***l/2) is an intriguing, first-person action/adven¬ ture from Artech Digital Entertainments o f Canada for Accolade . Set in World War II, the game casts you in the role of a French Resistance leader who attempts to capture a Nazi-controlled war train and take it through enemy lines to your Allied friends at Riviere, Normandy. On board the train is a secret cargo: the entire plundered art collection of France, which is headed for Berlin. The game proceeds in stages, beginning with the taking of the train. Then its off on a dangerous ride, with you as engineer and chief gunner on the train. A fellow Resistance fighter accompanies you and offers hints as you take enemy stations and bridges, race through the countryside, shoot at attacking Nazi fighter planes, avoid treacherous ambushes, communicate with other mem¬ bers of the Resistance to switch tracks, and try to get the train and its precious art cargo in one piece to meet the advancing Allies. THE TRAIN has a wonderful blend of action, intrigue, strategy, and high adventure that’s a lot like being in the middle of a World War II movie. (In fact, there was a movie with the same premise as this game.) It’s an entertaining game with a very good story. We have just one complaint: the instructions could be a little more explicit on how to get the train started moving after it is taken at the first station. (Solo play; Joystick.) Available for C64/128 only; planned for IBM, Amiga, Macintosh. Recommended. (MSR $29.95) CARD SHARKS (*★**/***) by Mike Lorenzen for Accolade takes the standard computerized card games and adds a little personality to them. The program offers Hearts, Blackjack, and three varieties of Poker (Five Card Draw, Seven Card Stud and Texas Hold’Em), an animated dealer, and a choice of animated opponents, each with his or her own personal style and strategy of playing cards. There is obviously nothing new in the card games themselves. What is different about CARD SHARKS is the choice of opponents. There are three members of the local card club and three famous world leaders: Reagan, Gorbachev, and Thatcher. The other players react to their wins and losses, employ their own strategies, and chatter freely. The world leaders are perhaps more amusing because they are familiar to all of us, and Mike Lorenzen has done a good job of capturing each leader’s public personality in their com¬ ments during the games. The dealer, too, has his amusing moments when he gloats over a house win or frowns over a loss. There are an awful lot of card- playing computer simulations available, but at least thisone has a fresh approach. (Solo play; Joystick.) Available for C64/128only; planned for IBM, Apple II & I1GS. MSR $29.95 New from Accolade Accolade showed a variety of new products at CES, including CARD SHARKS and THE TRAIN for C64/128, which are both reviewed in this issue. The company also showed the C64/I28 game, POWER AT SEA (MSR $29.95), which is a strategy and arcade-style action game based on the World War II Battle of Leyte Gulf. The player’s mission is to infiltrate and secure Leyte Gulf, which is under enemy control. The game’s battle sequences cover the gamut of ship-to-ship, ship-to-air, air-to-ship and ship-to-land confronta¬ tions. Accolade’s latest A vantage product, PLASMATRON ($14.95) forC64/ 128 also made its debut. It is a multi-level, arcade-style action game with a science fiction theme. The object is to neutralize all enemy life on a hostile empire colony in space. Accolade also previewed a cute and colorful arcade- styU game, BUBBLE GHOST for €64/ 12K, Alan ST, Apple UGS, ISM and Amiga. This one has you directing a bubble-blowing ghost through 36 hazard- filled chambers. V. J 8 Computer Entertainer - January, 1988 Larry Bond and HARPOON In last month’s issue, we told you a little about the upcoming war simulation computer game from Three-Sixty Pacific which is based on the boardgame, HARPOON. At CES earlier this month, we were fortunate enough to get a look at portions of the game (IBM version) with Larry Bond as our guide. Bond was the creator of the boardgame on which the computer game is based, the very same boardgame that inspired Tom Clancy to write THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER and led to Bond’s eventual collaboration with Clancy on his second book, RED STORM RISING. Bond is also involved with the design of the computer game, and he is obviously very excited about the project. As he told us, “This is my baby—and P ve been waiting to get it on computer for eight years.” It turns out that an attempt was made at a HARPOON computer wargame some years ago, but the existing systems simply couldn’t handle the amount of data required to do justice to the game. It was not until the appearance of the more advanced 16-bit systems that a HARPOON computer game became possible. (The only systems for which HARPOON will be available are IBM, Macintosh, Amiga, Apple IIGS and Atari ST.) Visually Oriented Bond walked us through several features of the HARPOON game, emphasiz¬ ing that it’s not necessarily aimed at “hardcore wargamers.” The designers’ aim is to make HARPOON understandable, enjoyable, and accessible to even the average computer owner with little or no knowledge of traditional wargaming. The game is very visually oriented, with a multitude of pull-down menus for access to the game’s many functions and its pictorial database of modem Soviet and NATO ships, planes and missiles. Bond took us through a portion of the database, which includes digitized photos along with descriptive text. We recognized many items as current as today’s news—AWACS planes and Exocet missiles, for example. Bond lingered on the unique functions of the player’s Staff Assistant in the program, a character who provides information and hints and can even direct portions of the action for the player. We were fascinated by what we saw and look forward to the opportunity to spend some time with the completed program in a few months. Anniversary at Electronic Arts Electronic Arts with its thirteen affiliated labels has become a Consumer Electronics Show in itself—and the company celebrated its five-year anniver¬ sary at this year’s Winter CES. They threw a very nice party for themselves, invited lots of folks (even Jack Tramiel of Atari showed up), and put up a nifty display of program packaging artwork, promotional T-shirts and other EA memorabilia. (Only in the computer software industry can a five-year walk down memory lane qualify as “nostalgia!”) And besides all that, they showed us lots of new programs. In the ever-expanding line of “Deluxe” creativity programs, EA announced an IBM/Tandy version of DELUXE PAINT II (MSR $149.95) and the continuation of the “Desktop Video Revolution” for Amiga with DELUXE PRODUCTIONS ($199.95) for combining high reso¬ lution graphics with simple animations to create professional-quality presen¬ tations and DELUXE PHOTO LAB ($99.95) for creating and manipulating images of photographic quality. The PHOTO LAB uses all of Amiga’s graphic modes, including the 4096-color HAM (hold and modify) mode and can handle images up to 20 times larger than the Amiga screen. The enhanced DELUXE PRINT II was also introduced for Amiga ($79.95) and Apple IIGS ($49.95). Fun and Games In the fun and games department, E A announced that two new celebrities have joined forces with the company in product development efforts: football coach John Madden and basketball star Michael Jordan. JOHN MADDEN FOOT¬ BALL ($44.95), initially to be available for Apple II this spring, will let you be player or coach. The program will feature a 3-D field, real players, and a host of other features. Other new programs for Apple II include BARD’S TALE III: THIEF OF FATE ($49.95) with automapping, dozens of new spells, and the option to create male or female characters; DEATHLORD ($49.95), an epic adventure with a Japanese theme and the ability to transfer characters from “Ultima,” “Wizardry,” or “Bard’s Tale;” WASTELAND ($49.95), a post- World War III adventure that calls on survival skills; LucasFilm Games’ STRIKEFLEET ($29.95); and CHUCK YEAGER’S AVANCED FLIGHT TRAINER ($29.95). On the C64/128 front, EA introduced DAN BUNTEN’S SPORT OF WAR ($34.95), which will be playable as a solo game or by two people with modems (even if your opponent has an Apple II or IBM instead of a C64); STRIKEFLEET ($29.95) from LucasFilm Games (reviewed in this issue); and SKYFOX II: THE CYGNUS CONFLICT ($29.95) space age sequel to SKYFOX). IBM/Tandy owners can look forward to a complex new space adventure with context-sensitive conversations with game characters, FUTUREMAGIC, and to their own versions of SKYFOX II ($39.95), SPORT OF WAR and LucasFilm Games’ PHM PEGASUS. And for Amiga, watch for a new jet simulator, INTERCEPTOR ($49.95), which features fluid anima¬ tion, lots of graphic detail, digitized sound, a choice of two jets to fly (F-18 Hornet or F-16 Falcon), and a variety of weaponry. The graphic adventure, RETURN TO ATLANTIS ($49.95) is very close to release (finally!), and Amiga owners will also have the chance to play WORLD TOUR GOLF ($39.95), FERRARI FORMULA ONE ($49.95), and THE BARD’S TALE II: THE DESTINY KNIGHT ($49.95). E A Affiliated Labels Many of the E A Affiliated Labels companies were showing new products at CES, and some have been covered separately in this issue. Other new products include the arcade-style games AAARGH ($39.95, Amiga) in which the player becomes Computer Entertainer - January, 1988 an out-of-control monster and ROCKFORD ($39.95, IBM/Tandy), the sequel to the “BoulderDash” games—both from Arcadia. Interstel introduced EMPIRE ($49.95 forlBM/Tandy, Amiga, Atari ST), a game of interplanetary imperialism that combines combat, exploration, and advanced artificial intel¬ ligence. The company also showed FIRST EXPEDITION ($49.95, IBM/ Tandy), a game in which an explorer sets out to chart the unknown; GONE FISHIN’ ($39.95, Atari ST), a tale of a small business owner who would rather 'fish than tend the store but must balance both; and SOLARSIM ($34.95, IBM/ Tandy), which is a planetarium for your computer. Software Toolworks introduced SECRETARY BIRD ($49.95, IBM/Tandy), an integrated business software package with simplified DOS interface and TWIST AND SHOUT! ($49.95 for Apple II and IBM/Tandy), a program that will print almost anything sideways. Strategic Studies Group of Australia showed THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR, VOLUME I ($39.95 for Apple II and C64/I28), which covers six decisive battles that spanned the first half of the Civil War. Virgin Games introduced computer versions of two popular boardgames: SCRUPLES ($39.95) and MONOPOLY ($39.95). Both will be available for C64/128, with additional versions for Atari ST (SCRUPLES) and IBM/Tandy (MONOPOLY). Cinemaware Shows THREE STOOGES, ROCKET RANGER Although Mindscape will continue to distribute Cinemaware’s initial re¬ leases (“Defender of the Crown,” “S.D.I.,” “Sinbad and the Throne of the Falcon”), Cinemaware is now officially on its own with its 1988 and subse¬ quent releases, which were shown publicly for the first time at CES. We coaxed a fellow Computer Entertainer staff member to accompany us to Cinemaware’s suite, since we were curious to see the reaction of someone who had not yet been exposed to THE THREE STOOGES or ROCKET RANGER. He laughed uproariously at the Stooges’ computerized antics and proclaimed ROCKET RANGER very impressive. He later confided that he had never seen such side-splitting humor in a computer game—nor had he had so much fun at CES. Both titles are scheduled for release this month for Amiga, and the C64/ 128 version of THE THREE STOOGES is also due this month. C64/I28 owners should also watch for Cinemaware’s WARPSPEED, a fast-loading cartridge that offers several improvements over previous cartridges of this type, including 40/80 column operation, compatibility with all disk drives including the 1581 (even double-sided 1571), and advanced-user features such as a full-featured mini-assembler—altogether 36 built-in features. 1988: The Year of Naval Warfare Computer gamers who enjoy naval warfare simulations, particularly those that involve submarines, are in for a real treat in 1988. Tom Clancy’s two blockbuster best-selling books have both been turned into computer wargame simulations: THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER, developed in Europe, will be released first for C64/128, Atari ST, Amiga and IBM by Datasoft (versions for Apple II, Atari XE/XL and Macintosh to follow later in the year), and RED STORM RISING, created by author Tom Clancy and programmer/designer Sid Meier, is coming from Microprose for C64/128 and IBM (with other versions to follow). And if that’s not enough excitement for naval warfare buffs, a computer version of Larry Bond’s boardgame, HARPOON, is being developed by Bond with Three-Sixty Pacific, Inc., initially for IBM and Macintosh (Versions for Amiga, Atari ST, and Apple IIGS to follow.) The Harpoon boardgame provided Tom Clancy with the inspiration for his first book, and Larry Bond was co-author of the second book by Clancy. All of this flurry of activity around the two books and boardgame is bound to generate new interest in the books among computer gamers (and reviewers!). West German Ban on SILENT SERVICE to Be Challenged The award-winning MicroProse submarine simulation, SILENT SERVICE, wasbanned from sale to minors by the German Federal Office for Examination of Harmful Publications. The legislation authorizing this agency to oversee materials which might be deemed harmful to youth is being challenged by MicroProse on the grounds that it does not apply to computer software, and that the agency relied only on videotapes showing selected sequences of the simulation rather than actually playing the game. Sierra Will Support Games in Color for Macintosh II Beginning with LEISURE SUIT LARRY IN THE LAND OF THE LOUNGE LIZARDS, Siena’s 3-D adventure games on the Macintosh will support color on the Macintosh II. Existing games will be converted early this year, and all future releases will support color, according to the company. 9 r TUI VlDCO Ci AM 1 lyil^PAITl Nintendo Makes Big Impression at CES Befitting the leader (70% market share) of the revitalized video game market, Nintendo had one of the largest booths at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show. Seventeen of the 23 licensees shared space with Nintendo, and yet the booth still had an open and spacious feeling about it. Spending time in that booth could lead to only one conclusion: something good MUST be happening in video games. And indeed it is. For Christmas 1987, Nintendo was the number-one best-selling toy, both in terms of dollar volume and in unit volume. (Included in Nintendo sales was THE LEGEND OF ZELDA, the first software title since the rebirth of video games to sell one million units.) The videogame industry as a whole (Nintendo and its licensees, Atari, Sega, Intellivision) had a $1.1 billion year in 1987, with Nintendo and its licensees accounting for $750 million. It will be a little difficult for even the most skeptical to ignore video games in 1988. New from Nintendo Within its gigantic booth, Nintendo showed its reconfigured hardware pack¬ ages: the ACTION SET (MSR $119.95) with control deck, control j)ads, Zapper light gun and game pak with two titles (SUPER MARIO BROS, and DUCK HUNT) and the CONTROL DECK SET ($99.95) with Control Deck, control pads and 164-page OFFICIAL PLAYER’S GUIDE. Also displayed for the first time was the new NES Max ($24.95), a joypad with rotating thumb control and two turbo buttons for doubling the speed of the action buttons. Nintendo also showed fournew games forthe first half of 1988: ICE HOCKEY with first-person perspective, DRAGON WARRIOR (role-playing game set in a medieval kingdom, the American version of “Dragon Quest,” the second most popular game of all time in Japan), R.C. PRO-AM (auto racing game based on radio control style racing on 32 different tracks), and what must surely be the jewel in the crown, ZELDA II-THE ADVENTURE OF LINK (role- laying adventure with battery backup). All the new games are priced at 42.95, except ADVENTURE OF LINK at $49.95. All four looked very good, with LINK of special interest because we have so many ZELDA fans among our readers. Although it is not possible to play deeply into an adventure game in a show setting, we were pleased to see that ADVENTURE OF LINK offers even more graphic detail than ZELDA. We expect that LINK will be the most heavily anticipated Nintendo title since ZELDA itself and MIKE TYSON’S PUNCH-OUT!, so be aware that your favorite game store is likely to sell out quickly and often. The Licensees There are now 23 Nintendo licensees, with eight added at the time of the January CES. Not all licensees had games to show or even to announce, but those who did show new titles kept us very busy? The licensees just announced are GameTek, Jaleco USA, Inc., Milton Bradley Co., Mindscape, Inc., Tengen, Inc., Trade West, Inc., Ultra Software Corp., and Vic Tokai, Inc. Since there are so many, we will cover the licensees and their new products alphabetically by company, including both the new and the existing licensees. First of all, the licensees who did not announce new titles include Activision, Broderbund, Irem, Milton Bradley and Romstar. (That leaves us only 18 to go?) Acclaim Entertainment The company has recently released WIZARDS & WARRIORS ($34.95), which is reviewed in this issue. At CES, Acclaim announced that it had obtained the rights to publish the Nintendo video game version of RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD PART II ($34.95). Programming is underway for an expected spring release on a game with many missions, which will combine animated graphics and action with on-screen text helping the player to unravel the plot. Bandai America AEROBICS (approx. $29.95) for use with the Family Fun Fitness mat and DRAGON POWER (approx. $34.95) are the newest in the Bandai lineup. DRAGON POWER will be a one-megabit cartridge, an adventure based on an old Japanese legend in which two characters search for seven crystal balls. Capcom USA The lineup for this company increases by fourtitles (plus the recently released MEGA MAN, which is reviewed in this issue). The new games are GUN- SMOKE (added back to the schedule after being dropped last year), BIONIC COMMANDO (cartoon-style action game about special commando unit armed with shotguns and bionic arms), SPEED RUMBLER, and 1943 (World War II air action at the Battle of Midway, with the objective to destroy the battleship Yamato). The new Capcom titles all carry a list price of $34.95. Data East USA With all the new titles they have released just recently, Data East has just one more due soon: KARNOV ($34.95). Along with the other licensees, Data East is expected to announce its titles for the second half of 1988 at CES in Chicago this June. FCJ Two new titles were announced: DR. CHAOS ($34.95) and ULTIMA ($42.95). The first is an action/adventure set in a haunted house in which you must rescue Dr. Chaos, who was trapped by the weird results of a scientific fcXpdriiTrfnl £tJ»ehaywirt. ULTIMA* CliiienLly a beSl-Stller Oh the Nintendo Famicom in Japan, is based on the familiar computer role-playing adventure, “Ultima III,” by Lord British. Both games will allow the player to re-start where the last game left off, thanks to an internal battery. GameTek As announced in a previous issue, this company will introduce games based on popular TV game shows: JEOPARDY!, WHEEL OF FORTUNE, HOL¬ LYWOOD SQUARES, and PASSWORD ($44.95 each). From what we saw of these at CES, the games have excellent graphics and should provide lots of family fun. Jaleco USA This new licensee will introduce CITY CONNECTION ($29.95), an ob¬ stacle-filled car race around the world from New York to Tokyo. The company’s second game looks like a real blockbuster: the 3-megabit BASES LOADED, a life-like baseball game with voice. Konami This is the company that claimed the number-one spot in sales of all the Nintendo licensees during 1987. They aim to hold on to that position with the release of two arcade hits that feature two-player cooperative action, CON¬ TRA and JACKAL ($34.95 each). Both are loaded with action and looked to be up to Konami’s usual high standards. UN Toys Coming this spring are TOWN & COUNTRY SURFING & SKATEBOAR¬ DING ($34.95), featuring wacky characters from Town & Country Surf Designs, and MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ($34.95) with playing and coaching options. Mindscape The first two releases are BAD STREET BRAWLER ($29.95), a Nintendo version of the title that was known as “Bop’n Rumble” on computers, and a home version of the Atari-Namco arcade adventure, INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM ($34.95), which closely follows the plot of the movie. SNK Corporation of America The newest from this company is IKARI WARRIORS II: VICTORY ROAD ($42.95), which is sneak-previewed in this issue. SNK also expeas to release TNK 3 this spring, along with a 4-player golf simulation, FIGHTING GOLF. SunSoft XENOPHOBE ($36.95) was previewed at CES, and it’s a unique, split-screen science fiction game that puts you up against a whole horde of nasty, alien lifeforms. And SunSoft brings the Zapper light gun right into today’s headlines with FREEDOM FORCE ($34.95), a one-megabit game that lets you save an airport from a whole army of terrorists. This one is definitely not for the squeamish, but it should be very popular with those who enjoy the more violent games. Taito America RENEGADE ($34.95) is on the way—honest. Lots of anticipation has built up for this title, and it certainly looked good. Also coming from Taito is Bubble Bobble ($34.95), a cute action/adventure in which a pair of dragons are out to rescue their lady friend. Tecmo The company is planning to release TECMO BASEBALL and TECMO FOOTBALL along with STAR FORCE II, plus several others that we’ve been asked not to divulge at this time. Tengen GAUNTLET is coming to the NES, thanks to this company. We saw it, we played a little of it, and we think you’re going to love it. (This game has a password feature and two-player cooperative action.) Tengen also plans R.B.I. BASEBALL, based on the Atari-Namco coin-op. Both games, $39.95 each. TradeWest This company will bring the extremely popular martial arts arcade hit, DOUBLE DRAGON ($44.95), to the NES. The company also plans NES versions of the coin-op games SUPER DODGE BALL and TOUCHDOWN. Ultra Software Corporation This wholly-owned but independent subsidiary of Konami is now a licensee in its own right. Its first two titles will be METAL GEAR, a spy adventure with plenty of action and strategy, and SKATE OR DIE, the fabulous computer skateboarding game that has been licensed to Ultra by Electronic Arts. Vic Tokai This company’s titles are not likely to appear before mid-year, and there may be some name changes. There are two adventures, AIGINA’S PROPHECY and CHESTERFIELD, plus a version of the Nichibutsu coin-op, TERRA CRESTA, and the action/adventure GOLGO 13, which features shooting, martial arts action, and adventure. Phew!! And that just about wraps it up for planned releases by Nintendo and its licensees for the first half of 1988. Game Tip to Return Next Month As yea may havt r.tffcttl* KIh last month and this month we did not run the usual game tip. Rest assured, the “Japanese Game Fanatics’ Tip of the Month will return next month. 10 Computer Entertainer - January, 1988 IKARI WARRIORS II: VICTORY ROAD (A***/****) is, of course, the sequel to the extremely popular IKARI WARRIORS (both games by SNK Corn. of America) . We expect that VICTORY ROAD will be every bit as big a hit as its predecessor, because it features equally good graphics and gameplay as the first game. Paul and Vince, the two commandos who saved the Colonel in the first game, are rejoined in the beginning of VICTORY ROAD as they head home in the special plane given to them by the General. Something very strange happens in flight over the ocean, catching the plane in a time warp and dropping the two men back to Earth thousands of years into the future. The evil Zang Ziphas enslaved the people of Earth, and Paul and Vince must fight again in the cause of freedom. The settings are far removed from the jungles of the first game, and the enemies are hordes of strange aliens, but the principal is the same. With every weapon they have or can find, they must fight their way through to the end in order to save their planet. Machine pistols burst, grenades explode, and the overhead perspective of the action is a three-dimensional treat. The action is fast and very challenging, whether you play alone as Paul or cooperatively with a friend controlling Vince. For all the many fans of IKARI WARRIORS who yearn for more, VICTORY ROAD is just what they’ve been waiting for. (Solo or cooperative 2-player modes.) Reviewed on Nintendo Entertainment System. Recommended. (MSR $42.95) GUN.SMOKE (**1/2/**) was originally dropped from Capcom’s sched¬ ule and has now re-appeared for shipment later in February. This action game takes us back to a Wild West mining town during the gold rush era. Your character, Billie Bob, is out to gun down all the bad guys as he walks, guns blazing, through Main Street, as well as an indian village, riverbank, and other areas around the gold mining town. As he goes and kills the bad guys, he picks up the loot some of them have stolen for bonus points. He can also hit the barrels with his guns for additional bonus points and more bullets. Too One-Dimensional After blazing our way through a few of the levels, we found that there just wasn’t enough happening to keep our interest peaked. We do feel, however, that young boys (probably ages 8 to about 12) would enjoy the action as they could pretend to be that guy in the White Hat defending the Wild West against the guys in the Black Hats. It’s definitely not a game for adults! (one player; also available for Commodore 64; continue feature) Not Recommended (MSR $34.95) NINTENDO Software MEGA-MAN (**1/2/***) is the latest action game from Capcom for Nintendo in which you, as Mega-Man, are pitted against the powerful leaders and fighting forces of Monsteropolis, a multi-layered land of robot-like Humanoids created by misguided experiments on humans by Dr. Wright There are seven heavily-guarded societies which your Mega-Man must go up against in order to win. Dr. Wily, Dr. Wright’s assistant who turned disloyal and re-programmed Dr. Wright’s Humanoids in order to control the world, is the seventh empire leader which must be destroyed. Before reaching Dr. Wily, you must get through the other six humanoids and their empire. There’s Cutman, designed to function as a lumberjack, powerful enough to cut through giant forest timbers. There’s Iceman, impervious to the sub-zero temperatures. Gutsman, a powerful enemy, can lift huge boulders. Bombman clears the lands for Dr. Wright’s construction projects with his powerful explosives. Fireman melts things with his flame-throwing torch while Elecman is loaded with electrical power. You’ll have to climb, jump, and traverse through the various empires, avoiding traps, weapons, and the like, as you attempt to destroy the enemies in each of the empires. Non-Stop Action This game will please the action lovers out there as you must work through all sorts of perils, as you climb, jump, and fight your way through the various levels. The graphics are good; however, there is a good bit of flickering in the Mega-Man character as he races through his paces. There are times where he becomes extremely light on the screen as other characters and objects are moving around him. That is our only reservation on the character as each of the worlds features different and interesting perils, scenery, and objects to deal with. It will take you awhile to reach the seventh level so you’ll be able to enjoy it for several hours of fast action, (one player; two-player alternating; continue feature) (MSR $34.95) SEGA Software GREAT BASKETBALL (***l/2/***l/2) is the latest sports game for Seea owners and it’s another good one. You’ll field a full compliment of players on the court as you go against either the computer or a friend. The game Computer Entertainer - January, 1988 begins with the traditional jump shot. Time your jump right and try to tip it to a teammate. The action begins and it’s fast and furious. On offense you can move the ball either by dribbling (be careful not to travel) or by passing. You can pass to a teammate who has an arrow above his head. If he doesn’t appear to be in the right position, just keep the ball yourself and move in towards the basket. Watch out for the opposing team as they will attempt to steal the ball. If you pass when there’s no arrow over one of your player’s heads, the ball will be up lor grabs as it falls to the boards. On defense, try to block a shot, but don’t run into the ball carrier or you’ll find yourself called for pushing. If you commit the foul when the opponent is in the act of shooting, he’ll be awarded two free throws. Of course, you can also have that opportunity if you’re fouled while shooting. You’ll move to the Foul Shot Screen where you’ll see an arrow moving back and forth above the basket. Use that to gauge the direction of your shot. There’s also a bar which controls the touch of the shot. Eight Teams There’s eight teams in the tournament with your goal being to beat the other seven and win the Gold Medal. As you move through the tournament, your team sharpens its skills; however, so does the computer’s teams. Each team has varying characteristics, beginning with 20 “Vitality Points” which includes speed, jumping ability, shooting and passing expertise. When you win a game you receive one Vitality Point for each point of the margin of victory. These points become critical as you move up in the ranks and you can distribute those points among the four characteristics as you see fit, so it becomes more than just a basketball confrontation. You’ll have to exercise judgement as you maneuver your team’s victories. In the two-player mode you pick two teams of the eight and go head-to-head, instead of tournament play. One difference in this game from the real thing is the timing. The game is divided into two halves of three minutes each (with the cheerleaders coming out at half time for a cheer). If the game is tied at the end of the six minutes, there’s a 90-second overtime played. You’ll keep playing overtimes until the tie is broken. Great Action This is another solid entry into the sports category for Sega owners. While it doesn’t have the graphic clarity of Konami’s Double Dribble (for Nintendo), it is a solid game nonetheless. We found the game to have good gameplaying depth, with an announcer yelling out fouls and jump balls. All in all, a fine basketball game for anyone sporting a Sega, (one player; two player simultaneous) Recommended (MSR Approx. $38.00) FANTASY ZONE II (**★*/*★★★) for Sega owners, takes us back to Opa- Opa’s homeland ten years after his original visit (in Fantasy Zone) when he was called in to save the Zone from its enemies. Peace is at stake once again as a group of Blackhearts have joined forces to take over again. Opa-Opa, in a much more difficult battle of wits and strength, must enter several warp gates before being able to reach and destroy the Blackhearts. This time there are eight different rounds (each one with three to five scenes each) which are connected by the gates. After you destroy an enemy base, the gate will appear and you can pass from scene to scene within the round. Along die way, you’ll need to pick up important items in order to fight the enemy, becoming more powerful as you progress. You’ll want to collect currency and gold coins which will be useful later when you shop by entering the Shop Cloud. There you can purchase things such as shots, bombs, and speed. There are also Hidden Shops in three of the rounds where you can buy “other unique equipment.” It Whirls , Spins , and Dazzles We were taken with the original Fantasy Zone , as obviously were many, many Sega owners. After all, that’s why we have a sequel (and, in fact, another one is in the works - Fantasy Zone-The Maze - planned for later this year). This sequel takes the original premise, keeps the dazzle, and expands upon the storyline. There is so much going on graphically that it is fun to just watch the mini-demos which you can enjoy if you don’t start up your game right away (there’s even a "Star Wars" type prologue which rolls down the screen giving you all the background on this new adventure). The colors and whimsical- looking characters are just stunning. The gameplay is very tough and will take you sometime before you work your way through the various rounds. This game is a real beauty and there’s just that more to play than the original since this is a two-mega cartridge, (one player; two-mega cartridge) Recommended (MSR approx. $45.00) ZILLION (****/***l/2) from Sega combines action with a heavy dose of strategy fora winning combination. You are J.J., member of the White Knights planetary peacekeeping force, and you are needed to keep the Norsa Empire from taking over your planet. Armed with your powerful Zillion Laser, you must infiltrate the Norsa stronghold, collect the five floppy disks containing the Norsa plan, and then destroy the main computer. Along the way, you must find and rescue your fellow White Knights, Champ and Apple, so that they can help in the quest. Norsa headquarters is a giant labyrinth of rooms, corridors, and elevators guarded by Norsa Warriors. Each room has its own computer and a code to be discovered so that you can operate it Memory plays a significant part in your success, as you must remember the symbols that will activate each computer, giving you access to another room or some special aids. We really enjoyed the solid blend of strategy and action in ZILLION, making us exercise our minds as well as our hand-eye coordination. This game features beautifully detailed graphics, good music, and enough play value to keep most gamers happy for many, many hours over repeated sessions. (Solo play; Continue feature) Recommended. (MSR approx. $38) J 11 r ATARI XE Game Software Initial Games forXE Game System Ship We recently received a shipment of seven newly available games for the Atari XE Game System so, rather than spread reviews out over the next couple of months, we’ve decided we should look at all of them this month as we have been the first to say that “software makes the system.” By the way, any of you who own an Atari XE or XL computer, you’ll be glad to know that these cartridge-based games will also work in your computer. (In answer to a question we’ve already gotten, these cartridges will NOT work in your 2600, 7800, or 52001) BALLBLAZER ( AAAA/AAAA) has always been a favorite of ours and it was a treat to have a chance to play it again. For those who don’t remember this popular game which was introduced on the Atari 5200, it’s a high-speed game in the year 3097 in which you and your opponent are strapped into hovercraft- like vehicles, skimming over a playfield as you attempt to score the most points during a timed competition. Designed by Lucatfilni Games for Atari, you play on a split-screen with each screen showing the view from inside each of the two Rotofoils. Initially, you’ll be captured by the music, “Song of the Grid,” an infectious song which adds to the gaming pleasure enormously. The Plasmorb (a ball-like object which is what you want to get between your opponent’s goal posts by pulling it into your Pull field and blasting it through the goal-easier said than done), is blasted onto the screen, the pulsating music continues, and it’s off at speeds which seem dizzying at times. Still a Beauty While many games do not hold up against the new and dazzling technology, this is a definite exception as it is still as absorbing as the first day we saw it in the Spring of 1985 (then for the 5200). There’s rarely been a game (other than on the music-loving Amiga) which can hold a candle to the sounds of this one which has been programmed to greatly enhance the pulse and frenzy of the game. We still find it a hard one to pull away from. There are three playing modes available: regulation game, practice mode, and spectator mode (you’ll have fun watching the two droids going at each other at lightening speed), (one RESCUE ON FRACTALUS ( AAAA/AAAA ) is the second game designed b \ Lucas film Games for Atari (again, originally for the Atari 5200). This one also holds up well as an all-time perennial favorite as you must fly your ship to the hostile planet Fractalus in order to rescue downed pilots. As the game begins, you’re in the cockpit of the ship as you catapult out into space. Then, you’ll see twinkling stars in black space until your view is obscured by a yellow cloud layer around Fractalus. The cockpit instruments come to life as the planet’s craggy surface comes into view. Flying now becomes hazardous as you must watch the terrain carefully. Of course, there’s the enemy to worry about also. The Jaggies may fly their saucers directly at you or shoot what appears to be eerie streaks of green light (high energy beams) from their mountaintop positions. While you must defend yourself, remember you’re on a mission of mercy as you attempt to find the pilots’ emergency beacons on your Long Range Scanner. Once close enough, you must land your fighter, turn off your engines and shields. If you’re in the right spot and close enough, you may be able to see the pilot running towards your ship. Then you’ll hear a metallic “knock, knock** as the pilot raps against the hull of your ship. Open the airlock which will close automatically once the pilot is inside. The second set of knocks is the pilot’s “AOK” signal that it’s safe for you to take off. Each level has a quota of pilots which you must rescue. As you reach Level 16 and above, you’ll encounter the Fractalus 9-minute day and night cycle, forcing you to fly by instruments at night. A Strong Title When released in limited quantities for the Atari 5200, it sold out immedi¬ ately, with 5200 owners still looking for the game. As many times as we played it in its’ 5200 guise, we still receive a scare or two as there are several surprises in this game! It still stands out as original, with ever-changing, 3-D terrain graphics, realistic flight simulation, great music and sound effects. It’s a very complete game guaranteeing many hours of enjoyment, (one player) Recommended (MSR $19.95) BLUE MAX (AA1/2/AA1/2) was originally designed by Synapse Software (now folded into Broderbund) in disk, cartridge, and cassette form for the Atari computer in 1983. This game, while good, does not hold up as well against the games of today as the Lucasfilm games. The premise finds you piloting a World War I biplane/bomber as Max Chatsworth of the Royal Air Force. Done in a three-quarter perspective, you begin by rolling down a runway. Once airborne, you’ll skim low over green countryside and blue river as you fly a strafing run in an attempt to take out some anti-aircraft installations. All the while, you’ 11 encounter enemy aircraft coming at you, as well as fire from tanks and ships below you. If you catch some bullets yourself, you’ll have to reach a friendly runway to land and repair (as well as refuel). Then it’s back into action with your Final targets being three specially marked areas along the river. Two Many Fine Games Since Wnile we feltthiswas abuly fine game in 1983, it doesn't huld up tu that same ___ 12 high standard over 4 years later as, understandably, there have been many terrific games of the same genre which have been introduced in the interim. While we feel it’s been released for the XE Game System because it was an award-winner of its time, it does feel a bit dated to us. The action is good, and the graphics decent, but in this age of truly competitive high-quality games, it doesn’t reach the same heights, (one player) MSR $19.95 HARDBALL (AAA1/2/AAA1/2) is the award-winning baseball game de¬ signed by Accolade and now distributed through Atari for the XE Game System. Extremely popular in every computer format which it was released for, the game is a pitting of batter and hitter into a duel which features big graphics and very good game playing. Your view is takes you behind the pitcher. Within the Manager’s Decision screen, you can choose options such as player substitutions, exchanging of positions, in office, shifting outfield, normal or double play depth, etc. Then it’s on to the view of the field (an overhead shot of the entire diamond is shown in the lower comer, showing men on base, etc). As pitcher, you make your choice among eight pitching styles and the location of the pitch. As batter, you choose the location of your swing as well as whether you want to bunt, hit away, or try stealing (if you have a man on base). Once your batter hits the ball, the screen changes to show a perspective of the field. The fielder who is in line to catch/field the ball flashes and (if you’re playing defense), you’ll have to move your joystick to manuever your flashing man to get the ball. Then, also with the joystick, you’ll direct the ball to the correct base in an attempt to throw the runner out. One of the Best Baseball Games This has always been one of our favorite action baseball games available for any system, and it’s still fresh and fun to play. The graphics are quite good, with the large players so typical of Accolade design. The nuances such as the catcher’s mitt adjusting for the ball as he tries to get the man out at home plate make this a truly satisfying game of baseball. The same minor problem exists with this version as all the others we’ve tested in that the throws coming in from the outfield seem just a bit sluggish. This has been true of every version so, obviously, it’s in the original design. It’s not enough to keep you from enjoying the game immensely, however, and we know you’ll really enjoy the two-player option as you square off against a friend, (one player; two-player simultane¬ ous) Recommended (MSR $19.95) DAVID’S MIDNIGHT MAGIC (AAA/AAA) is an oldie but a goodie, desi gned b v Broderbund and now di stributed bv A tan for their game system. Nothing more than a pinball game, but addictive nonetheless. You’ll control the four flippers with your joystick (not too much manuevering, however, or you’ll cause a “TILT!” If you get good enough, you can play with up to three balls at the same time! Now that’s pinball madness. Up to four players can play this game which has been around for years but still becomes addictive! (one to four players) Recommended (MSR $19.95) STAR RAIDERS II (AAA/AAA) is for all of you Star Raider fans in this sequel where you must pilot the Liberty Star and destroy the entire Zylon Master Force. You’ve got to annihilate the Zylon Attack bases or else their slaves will build fully armed replacement squadrons. Similar to the original Star Raiders, this game features two screens - a Galactic map and forward view from your cockpit window. Instead of using the video touch pad which was included with the original game for various systems, you’ll engage some of your options via the keyboard on your XE Game System. Very Similar to Original It’s been quite a while since we’ve played the original Star Raiders, but this is very similar to that classic. Much of the action is the same, with the enemy, of course, being new. The graphics are colorful, with the planet’s bright blues and greens below you. For those who love an action space game, this fits the ticket, (one player) (MSR $19.95) BARNYARD BLASTER (AAA/AA1/2) is the new game in the batch from Atari which is played with the light gun. There are three different screens, with a bonus screen if you score high enough in a round. The first screen finds you back behind the bam where there’s a fence with several bottles and cans lined up. This is good target practice as the targets remain steady. Occasionally, you’ll see a gopher pop up in the field behind the fence for a quick second (he can appear in any of the screens) which will get you a lot of points if you’re quick enough to shoot him while his head is above ground. The second screen is the cornfield where, in addition to the watermelon and pumpkins you can shoot at, there are rabbits and crows moving through the scene. The third screen is the bam in which all sorts of small animals scamper about, making your accuracy more important. The bonus screen finds you outside the bam with Grandpa throwing ten bottles into the air for you to shoot down before it disappears. Still Jitters While the graphics are crisp and colorful, and the gameplay fun (we always enjoy tile gun games, reguidless ul "the »y stern), vc still the ___ J Computer Entertainer - January, 1988 r “jumpiness” in the screen every time we took a shot (something we initially encountered in Bug Blaster). We received a concerned letter from Atari indicating that we must have some sort of problem with our system but we're still baffled. We've now tried the game on a Sony 25”, Mitsubishi 45”, Toshiba 19” (all models two years or newer), and a brand new Panasonic color monitor. While the problem is much more pronounced on the Panasonic, we had definite jumpiness on all the systems. The least jumpiness occurred on the Sony and was, therefore, not too bothersome. However, most people do not have the luxury of moving their game system around to several televisions to get the best stableness! Regardless of that, we would recommend this game only for children as there is not enough variety (the same three screens, with the bonus screen between each, repeat over and over) to hold your attention for long spans. It’s a very easy game for an adult to master. Children, on the other hand, will enjoy seeing all the farm animals, Grandpa, etc., which should hold their attention for a much longer time, (one player) (MSR $19.95) If You Have A Yen For Games Anyone who has read the newspaper (or watched network news) has been hearing about the problems of the U.S. dollar overseas. In the past year alone, the dollar has lost about 25% value against the Japanese Yen (we visited Japan in October, 1986 with the Yen at 170 per dollar; now it hovers around 125! Two years ago, the Yen was worth over 250!!) Now you ask, what does that have to do with my gaming?? Unfortunately, everything as all the hardware, software, and peripherals for all Nintendo product as well as Sega is manufac¬ tured in Japan and then shipped to the United States. Price Increases Were Inevitable We’ve been waiting, holding our breath, for a price increase that we saw as inevitable as the companies can only absorb so much dollar decline. We started to get an feel for what was bound to happen over the past month or two as Adventures of Link. (Nintendo’s big title planned for March release) encoun¬ tered a price increase from a suggested retail of $44.95 to $49.95. The same thing began happening with a few other Nintendo third party titles such as SNK’s Ikari Warriors II. Sega Raises Prices A cross the Board While the games for Nintendo seemingly are going up only on titles newly announced (and, therefore not out yet), Sega has just announced a major price increase which was effective January 1,1988. Unfortunately, they did not pre- wam anyone so stores were left with no product after Christmas facing re¬ stocking at the higher prices immediately. While Sega does not publish Suggested Retail pricing, they have given us approximate pricing and, based on dealer pricing, we can give you a guide. If you see a Sega game (old title or new) in your local gaming store at '87 pricing, grab it! Either the store still has some old inventory at the old prices, or their buyer didn’t adjust the pricing on the shelf. If it’s the latter, you can be sure they will do so the minute they discover their mistake as the increases are so substantial in many cases, that stores simply will not be able to absorb the additional cost. The Sega Light Phaser/Power Base Set will now retail in the area of $129.00 (old pricing was around $119.00). The 3D Glasses, now renamed Segascope 3D Glasses have jumped from about $55.00 to approximately $67.00. Control Sticks moved from $15.00 to $19.50 while Light Phasers, formerly $34.00, are now $36.00. The Sports Pad encountered a big jump from $60.00 to about $80.00. In software, the Sega Cards moved from $30.00 to $32.00 while the One-Mega Cartridges are now $38.00, up from $35.00. Two-Mega Cartridges are now $45.00 (formerly $40.00) and the game paks for the Segascope 3D Glasses have moved into a pricing category of their own (they used to be the same pricing as the two-Mega Cartridges) at a whopping $52.00 approximate retail. Monopoly and Penguin Land (both featuring batteries), as well as the 4-Mega Cartridge, After Burner (which had not been priced previously), clock in at about a $60.00 retail. Boy, do we hope the dollar stabilizes against the Yen!!! (If not, you can be sure we’ll see some dramatic changes in Nintendo pricing as well.) Sega Recap...contdfrom Page 1 through the conservation of hit points. Both are currently available in Japan and are in the process of translation. (All text was Japanese in the games we saw.) They are MIRACLE WARRIORS (possibly to be known as WARRI¬ ORS’ QUEST), a two-megabit game with battery backup, and PHANTASY STAR, a four-megabit game with battery. PHANTASY STAR is especially notable for the fact that its central character is female—Star is a young girl out to avenge the death of her brother. What we saw of both games made us definitely want to see more—and have the chance to play them for ourselves! More New Games from Sega Even without the new 3-D games, Sega had a very impressive lineup of new titles, including their first-ever four-megabit cartridge, AFTER BURNER. This one is an incredibly fast-paced aerial dogfighting game that should be a very big hit. Many of you have asked about MONOPOLY, the game for up to ten players with a battery in the cartridge. We saw this one in finished form, and it looks outstanding. Views switch from an overhead of the entire game board to a side-on view of the game pieces as they travel around the board. Landing on a square reveals who owns it, how many houses or hotels have been built, and whether there are any mortgages. This should be another winner for Sega and Tonka, the company which now markets and distributes Sega products in the U.S.. Another game with battery backup is PENGUIN LAND, a maze adventure in which you guide a penguin to return the valuable penguin egg to the penguin spaceship. You can also design your own mazes with this one. (Editor’s note: the first shipment of a small quantity of this game had just been air-shipped to the U.S. as we went to press.) AZTEC ADVENTURE sends you on a quest to find the hidden Aztec Paradise. In CUBE ZONE, you must defend your moon against an evil alien space fleet. GLOBAL DEFENSE lets you defend your country against incoming missiles via a space defense satellite network. RESCUE MISSION features jungle-based guerilla warfare as you attempt to rescue your unit from the enemy. PARLOUR GAMES includes billiards, darts, and bingo for many hours of family fun. ALIEN SYNDROME puts you in charge of rescuing your spaceship crew from an alien fortress before it blows sky high. Titles which have been mentioned previously, WOODY POP and BMX TRIAL, have been cancelled. Several Sequels Shown Sega was also showing sequels to several popular games. The third in a series, FANTASY ZONE: THE MAZE, sends Opa Opa into a dangerous maze to defeat the evil Menons. ALEX KIDD: THE LOST STARS sends Alex on a mission to recover the Miracle Stars and get back the stolen constellation. WONDER BOY: MONSTER LAND sends the familiar character on a quest to discover the secret of the evil dragon. And ZILLION 11: TRI FORMATION brings back J.J. to penetrate the evils of a new Norsa labyrinth. Altogether, a very impressive new lineup from Sega. NINTENDO Software WIZARDS & WARRIORS (****/***l/2) isthe latest from Acclaim, and it’s definitely a winner. It is based on the sort of classic theme that gamers love so well: Kuros, the Knight Warrior (that’s you) must rescue a princess from the evil wizard, Malkil. Wielding the Brightsword, you fearlessly enter the woods of Elrond, not dreaming of the tests that await you in woods and lava caves, tunnels and ice caves, and finally within Castle IronSpire itself, the lair of the Supreme Wizard. The game is full of treasures, weapons, monsters of all kinds, and lots of magic. There are secret doors to hidden places, and special weapons and objects that only work in certain places or on specific creatures or objects. The knight warrior runs, jumps, and wields his Brightsword (or other weapon he may find) through a wide variety of screens. We got pretty thoroughly hooked on this game and played for quite a while, but we have only begun to explore its possibilities. (Fortunately, the game has a “continue” feature, because you do get killed a lot. Continuation in this game is from the exact spot where you were killed, not from the beginning of the level.) Those who love an adventure will really enjoy WIZARDS & WARRIORS. (Solo play; Continue feature.) For Nintendo System only. Recommended. (MSR $34.95) BACK ISSUES A VA1LABLE Don’t miss out on all the great back issues! We’ve been covering entertain¬ ment software for over five years and we’ve reviewed hundreds and hundreds of titles. Most issues are still available (Voll, #1,2,3, and 4 are available as xeroxed copies only at a cost of $2.50 each). Send $2.00 for each back issue you want. Buy six or more, and they’re just $1.50 each. Make certain you have a complete set! You can also purchase the SPECIAL EDITION, published in Spring, 1987 in celebration of our Fifth Anniversary. It covers everything from a look at videogaming to capsule reviews of some of the top games of all time. This Special Edition is $2.00. J Computer Entertainer - January, 1988 13 — ATARI XE1XL DECEMBER ’87 x-Gauntlet (MIN) x Phantasie II (SSI) Video Title Shop(DS) JANUARY ’8g Bismarck: N Sex Chue (DS) Sow of Liberty (SSI) FIRST QUARTER Jewels of Darkness (FIR) Paperboy (MIN) Spy vs Spy 3 Arctic (EPY) Tmlblater (MIN) Ullimxl (ORI) SECOND QUARTER Hum for Red Ooober (DS) ATARI SI DECEMBER '87 X' Dari Castle (TS) x-Siar Tret Rebel Universe (SS) x Teal Dnve (ACO) JANUARY *8* Leatherneck (MD) Slaygon (MD) x-Speed Buggy (DE) x Tanglewood(MD) FEBRUARY Fright Night (MD) Goldruimer II (MD) Gun ship (MIC) Hum for Red October (DS) Int'I Soccer (MD) Omega Run (MD) Univ Military Sim (FIR) MARCH Dive Bomber (USO) Metrocross (USG) Sherlock: Riddle/Ciowo Jewels (INF) Street Cat (USO) APRIL Rocket Ranger (CIN) Three Stooges (CIN) JUNE Ak Reality 2: Dungeon (DS) SEPTEMBER Beyond Dari Castle (TS) FIRST QUARTER Award Maker Plus (BAU) B-24 (SSI) Bard's Tale (EA) BattleDroidz (DS) Black Lamp (HR) Bubble Ghost (ACO) Championship Baseball (GAM) Fran kn’Ernest Adv (POL) Global Commander (DS) Gndiron (BS) Impossible Million D (EPY) Karateka (BRO) King of Chicago (CIN) Leisure Suit Larry (SIE) Lock On (DE) Music Construction Set (EA) Pluto* (MIN) Police Quest (SIE) Q Ball (MIN) Rings of Triton (MD) Shadow World (MD) Shard of Spring (SSI) Sinbad/Throne Pale on (ON) Spy v* Spy 3. Arctic (EPY) ST Art/Film Director (BRO) 10ih Frame Bowbng (ACC) Thexder (SIE) 3D Hebeopter Simulator (SIE) SECOND QUARTER Death Sword (EPY) THIRD QUARTER Harpoon (TS) COMMODORE 64/128 DECEMBER’87 x Airbome Ranger (MIC) X-Apollo 18 (ACO) x-BoiderZone (INF) * Darkhora (AH) x Demon Sulken (EA) x-Dragon't Lair I All (EA) x-Might A. Magic (NWC) x Outrageous Pages (EA) X-PxpetClip HI (EA) x Project Stealth Fighter (MIC) x-Shirley Muldowney/Top Fuel Chill (COS) x Skyfox II (EA) x-Tobnit Clash of Armour (DS) x-Wttardry/Proving Grounds (SIR) x-Wooden Shipa/Iron Men (AH) JANUARY ’88 Black Jack Academy (MI) x-Card Sharks (ACO) Dark Castle (TS) x Hat Trick (CAP) x Kid Niki (DE) X Magnetron (BRO) X-Mini Golf (CAP) Panzer Strike I (SSI) xPlastnatron (ACO) x Power at Sea (ACO) Sherlock: Riddle/Crown Jewels (INF) x-Speed Buggy (DE) Sur Rank Boxing D (OAM) x-Strike Fleet (EA) Three Stooges (ON) x-Train: Escape to Normxndy (ACO) FEBRUARY' Paery Tale Adventure (MI) Fire Power (MI) Niveom 6: Gulf Defense (COS) President Is Missing (COS) MARCH Gamma Porce-Pu/Thousand Screams (INF) Home Video Producer (EPY) Hunt for Red October (DS) L.A. Crackdown (EPY) Lane Mastodon Vs Blubbermen (INF) Metrocross (USG) PaperCbp Publisher (EA) AVAILABDLITYUPDATE Rampage (ACT) Street Cat (USO) The Games-Winter Edition (EPY) Zorkqueat: Egreth CasUc (INF) APRIL Arcade Game Construction Kit (BRO) Dan Bumen’s Spom of War(EA) Dive Bomber (USG) Red Storm Riling (MIC) Rocket Ranger (ON) MAY Where/Europe Is Carmen Sandiego (BRO) SEPTEMBER Beyond Dark Castle (TS) FIRST QUARTER Bard's Tale III (EA) B allle of Chickam auga (GDW) BauieDioidz (DS) Bubble Ghost (ACO) Circus Charlie (KON) Destroyer Escort (MIC) Druid I (HR) 4X4 Off Road Racing (EPY) Global Comm ander (DS) Golden Path (HR) Goofy’s Word Pact ary (SIE) Gndiut (KON) Iron Horae (KON) Jail break (KON) King of Chicago (ON) Lock On (DE) Old Scorn (DS) Rockford (ARC) Rubicon Alliance (DS) SJDJ (ON) Sin bad A Throne/Falcon (CIN) Sons of Liberty (SSI) Super Basketball (KON) Swotds A Sorcery (DS) Trojan (CAP) Victory Road (DE) War in S Pacific (SSI) SECOND QUARTER Death Sword (EPY) Ebonstar (MI) Galactic Invasion (MI) Street Sports Soccer (EPY) Impossible Mission II (EPY) Land of Legends (MI) Planetarium (MI) Sporting News Baseball (EPY) AMIGA DECEMBER ’87 x Alt Reality: City(DS) x Beyond Zodt (INF) x Graphics Studio (ACO) x King of Chicago (ON) x-Q-Bail (MIN) x Shadowgate (MON) X Superstar Indoor Sports (MIN) x Thexder (SIB) JANUARY ’88 DeluxeWrite (EA) x-Galactic Invasion (MI) Land of Legends (Ml) x Mcebius (ORI) Rocker Ranger (ON) Three Stooges (ON) PEBRUARY Aargh (ARC) Ebowtar (MI) Hunt for Red October (DS) Metropolis (ARC) Planetarium (MI) Return to Atlantis (EA) Road Warriors (ARC) MARCH Bard's Tale II (EA) Perrin Formula One (EA) Music Studio 2.0 (ACT) Sherlock. RidcUe/Crown Jewels (INF) Street Cat (USG) World Tour Golf (EA) APRIL DeluxcPhotoLib (EA) DeluxcPimt II (EA) DeluxePicdudjon* (EA) Interceptor (EA) MAY Dive Bomber (USG) JUNE Alt Reality 2: Dungeon (DS) SEPTEMBER Beyond Dark Castle (TS) FIRST QUARTER Award Maker Plus (BAU) Black Cauldron (SIE) Chimpionship Baseball (GAM) Donald Duck's Plxygrd (SIE) GATO (SPE) GPL Chimpshp Pocxbiil (GAM) Into Eagle’s Nest (MIN) Kimpfgmppe (SSI) Leisure Suit Larry (SIE) Ortrito (SPE) Police Quest (SrE) Rockford (ARC) Silent Service (MIC) Street Sports Basketball (EPY) Superstar Soccer (MIN) 10th Prime (ACC) SECOND QUARTER BauleDroidx (DS) Bubble Ghost (ACO) 4X4 Off Road Racing (EPY) Global Comm ander (DS) Gun ship (MIC) THIRD QUARTER Harpoon (TS) x Border Zone (INF) x-Chuck Yeager Fit Sim (EA) x Darkhorn (AH) x Leisure Suit Larry- 128K (SIE) X Talisman (POL) x-Wing* of Pury (BRO) x -W izardry/Return Weidna (SIR) JANUARY ’88 Force 7 (DS) x-Ikari Warrior* (DE) x Kid Niki (DE) King’s Quest HI 128K (SIE) Pirnes (MIC) Sherlock: Riddle/Crown Jewels (INF) Tobruk: Dash of Armour (DS) x-2400 AD. (ORI) FEBRUARY Strike Fleet (LF) MARCH Bard's Tale HI (EA) Dive Bomber (USG) Gtmmx Porce-Pu/Thousand Scream* (INF) Home Video Producer (EPY) Lane Mastodon V» Blubbermen (INF) LA. Crackdown (EPY) Rampage (ACT) Star Rank Boxing H (GAM) Wasteland (EA) Where/Europe Is Carmen Sandiego (BRO) Zorkqueat. Egreth Castle (INF) APRIL Last Ninja, The (ACT) FIRST QUARTER Ancent Art of War (BRO) B 24 (SSI) Commando (DE) Global Commander (DS) Golden Path (HR) Into Eagle's Nest (MIN) Knight Ore (HR) Old Scores (DS) Panzer Suite! (SSI) Hiaraoh's Revenge (EA) Rubicon Alliance (DS) Sow of Liberty (SSI) Spy vs Spy 3: Arctic (EPY) Street Sports Baseball (EPY) Street Sporu Basketball (EPY) SubBxole Simulator (EPY) Superstar Ice Hockey (MIN) Superstar Soccer (MIN) Super Sunday (AH) Swords 4 Sorcery (DS) Ultima I (ORJ) War in S Pacific (SSI) SECOND QUARTER Death Sword (EPY) Dream Zone (BAU) Hunt for Red October (DS) Impossible Mission II (EPY) John Madden Football (EA) Sporting Newa Baseball (EPY) Sticker Maker (EPY) Street Sports Soccer (EPY) The Games Winter Edition (EPY) FOURTH QUARTER Gunship (MIC) x Beyond Zork (INF) x Pantavisicm (BRO) x Graphics Studio (ACO) x Roadwir 2000(SSI) JANUARY ’88 Black Jack Academy (MI) Defender of Crown (ON) Tomahawk (DS) FEBRUARY Fire Power (MI) MARCH DeluxeJhint II (EA) Last Ninja, The (ACT) Music Studio 2 0 (ACT) Paintwork* Gold (ACT) Sheriock Riddle/Crown Jewel* (INF) Teleworks Plus (ACT) APRIL Dark Castle (TS) MAY Rocket Ranger (ON) Three Stooges (CIN) FIRST QUARTER Bubble Ghoal (ACO) DeluxeWrite (EA) Destroyer (EPY) Drawing Table (BRO) Hacker II (ACT) Hot & Cool Jazz (EA) Iwunt Music (EA) It's Only Rock'nRoD (EA) King of Chicago (CIN) King’s Quest (SIE) King’s Quest D (SIE) King's Quest HI (SIE) Leisure Suit Lany (SIE) Mean 18 (ACO) Newsmaker (BRO) Police Quest (SIE) Prim Shop (BRO) SDJ (CIN) ShowOff (BRO) Silent Service (MIC) Sin bad A Throne/Falcon (CIN) Sub Battle Simulator (EPY) 3D Helicopter Simulator (SIE) World Tour Golf (EA) SECOND QUARTER Dream Zone (BAU) Ebonstar (MI) Faery Tale Adventure (MI) Galactic Invasion (MI) Land of Legends (MI) Planetarium (MI) Title Shop Graphics Comp (DS) Video Title Shop (DS) POURTH QUARTER Puturem agic (EA) Pirates (MIC) MACmQRK DECEMBER ’87 x-Apache Strike (SIL) x Border Zone (INF) x Defender of Crown (CIN) x Falcon (SPE) x Jewela of Darkness (FIR) x-Silieon Dreams (HR) x Solitaire Roy ale (SPE) x Trust & Betrayal (MIN) FEBRUARY ’88 Might and Magic (NWQ MARCH Ancient Art of War at Sea (BRO) Fire Power (MI) Sherlock; Riddle/Crown Jewels (INF) Where in World/Carmen Sandiego (BRO) JUNE Harpoon (TS) FIRST QUARTER Android Arena (SIL) AutoDuel (ORI) Award Maker Plus (BAU) Beyond Dark Castle (SIL) Citadel (MIN) King's Quest III (SIE) Knight Ore (HR) Leisure Suit Larry (SIE) North Atlantic '86 (SSI) Oibites (SPE) Police Quest (SIE) Roadwar 2000 (SSI) SDJ (CIN) Sinbad A Th rone/Falcon (CIN) Ultima IV (ORI) SECOND QUARTER Hum for Red October (DS) IBM PC/Tandy 1000 DECEMBER ’87 x Alt Reality City (DS) x-Guild of Thieves (HR) X Might A Migic (NWC) x-Mixed Up Mother Goose (SIE) x Police Quest (SIE) x Rockford (ARC) x-Shard of Spring (SSI) X SDJ. (CIN) X- Superstar Indoor Sports (MIN) x Test Drive (ACO) JANUARY ’88 x-Hat Trick (CAP) X Ikari Warriors (DE) Pirates (MIC) x-Search A Destroy (BRO) Sherlock. Riddfe/Crown Jewels (INF) Sow of Liberty (SSI) x-Slar Rank Boxing II (GAM) x Superbike Challenge (BRO) x Trojan (CAP) FEBRUARY Corporate Raider (COS) Faery Tale Adventure (MI) Pire Power (Ml) Hunt for Red October (DS) President Is Missing (COS) MARCH Bismarck. N Sea Chase (DS) Dive Bomber (USG) Gamma Poroe-Pit/Thousand Screams (INF) Home Video Producer (EPY) L.A Crackdown (EPY) Lane Mastodon Vs Blubbermen (INF) Last Ninja, The (ACT) Rampage (ACT) Skyfox II (EA) Street Cat (USG) Where/Europe It Carmen Sandiego (BRO) ZorkqueiL Egreth Castle (INF) APRIL DcluxePaini II (EA) Harpoon (TS) Rocket Ranger (ON) MAY Futuremagic (EA) Three Stooge* (CIN) JUNE Alt Reality 2 Dungeon (DS) SEPTEMBER Airborne Ranger (MIC) Beyond Dark Castle (TS) Red Storm Rising (MIC) Stealth Pighier (MIC) FIRST QUARTER Award Maker Plus (BAU) B 24 (SSI) Bop'N Wrestle (MIN) Bubble Ghost (ACO) Championship Baseball (GAM) Commando(DE) Earl Weaver Baseball (EA) 4X4 Off Road Racing (EPY) Globa! Commander (DS) HardBall (ACO) Into Eagle's Nest (MIN) King of Chicago (CIN) Lock on (DE) Lords of Conquest (EA) Metropolis (ARC) Operation Market Gdn (SSI) Phamasie (SSI) Prim Magic (EPY) Rad Warrior (EPY) Rubicon Alliance (DS) Sinbad A Throne/Falcon (CIN) Spy vi Spy 3. Arctic (EPY) Sur Fleet 2 (INS) Supenur Soccer (MIN) Tag Team Wrestling (DE) Univ Military Sim (FIR) Victory Road (DE) SECONDQUARTER Dan Bun ten's Sport of War (EA) Death Sword (EPY) Ebowtar (MI) Galactic Invasion (MI) Impossible Mission II (EPY) Land of Legend* (MI) PHM Pegasus (LF) Planetarium (MI) Sporting News Baseball (EPY) Sticker Maker (EPY) Street Sports Soccer (EPY) The Games-Winter Edition (EPY) iMKiuyisim DECEMBER ’87 Commando (INT) Learning Pun Album 2 (INT) Pole Position (INT) Slam Dunk Super Pro Basketball (INT) ATARI 2600 FOURTH QUARTER ’87 [Boxing] (AT) Cracked (AT) Crossbow (AT) Desert Falcon (AT) Skateboardin' (ABS) Super Stunt Cycle (AT) Q - working title only FIRST QUARTER *88 Commando (ACT) ATARI 7800 DECEMBER ’87 x-Deseit Falcon (AT) POURTH QUARTER ’87 Atari Team Wrestling (AT) B allblazer (AT) GATO (AT) Hat Trick (AT) Impossible Mission (AT) Midnight Magic (AT) Summer Games (AT) Super Huey (AT) Winter Games (AT) JANUARY’88 Skyfox (AT) Touchdown Poctball (AT) ATARI XE GAME SYSTEM DECEMBER *87 x B allblazer (AT) X-Barnyard Blaster (AT) x Blue Max (AT) x-Dxvid’i Midnight Magic (AT) x Hardball (AT) x-Rescue on Fractal us (AT) x Star Raider* II (AT) JANUARY’88 x Batilczone (AT) mamna DECEMBER 1 87 x-Gotcha (UN) x Jaws—The Revenge (UN) X-Karate Kid (UN) x Meg a Man (CAP) January’88 Kamov (DE) Renegade (TAJ) x- Wizards Sl Warriors (ACM) FEBRUARY Contra (KON) Dragon Warrior (NIN) Freedom Force (SUN) Ice Hockey (NIN) NES Max Joy pad (NIN) Pro Am Racing (NIN) Victory Road (SNK) MARCH Adventure of Link (NIN) Aerobics (BAN) Double Dragon (TW) Dragon Power (BAN) Fighting Golf (SNK) Guntmoke (CAP) Ultima (FQ) Wheel of Fortune (GT) Xenophobc (SUN) APRIL Bad Street Brawler (MIN) Bases Loaded (JAL) Ciry Connection (JAL) Dr Chaos (FCI) Gtuntlet (TEN) Indiana Jones-Temp WDoom (MIN) Jackal (KON) Maj League Baseball (UN) Rambo (ACM) RJ)J. Baseball (TEN) Surfing/Skateboarding (UN) Tecmo Baseball (TEC) TNK 3 (SNK) MAY Bionic Commando (CAP) Bubble Bobble (TA1) Metal Gear (ULT) Return of Donkey Kong (NIN) Super Mario Bros 2 (NIN) JUNE Dragon Ninja (TEC) Hollywood S quires (GT) Password (GT) Platoon (SUN) Price Is Right (GT) Cont ^©February, 1988 Volume 6, Number 11 $3.50 j In This Issue.., Chip Shortage in Japan Delays New Games ADVENTURE OF LINK Delayed Again ’88 Sierra Plans New for Nintendo from Activision REVIEWS Include... SNEAK PREVEW OF... Fighting Golf ...for Nintendo Renegade Kamov Jaws Karate Kid ...for Nintendo Speed Buggy ZigZag M1SL Superstar Soccer ...for Commodore 64 Tetris Gauntlet ...for IBM Penguin Land ..for Sega Battlezone ...for XE Game System Slam Dunk Basketball ...for Inlellivision THE TOP TWENTY 1. Spy vs Spy III:Arctic Antics (Epy/Co) Test Drive (Aco/Co) Paperboy (Min/Co) Mini-Putt (Aco/Co) Gauntlet (Min/Co) Maniac Mansion (Act/Co) Skate or Die (EA/Co) Leisure Suit Larry (Sie/I) California Games (Epy/Co) Gunship (Mic/Co) Street Sports Basketball (Epx/Co) 12. Police Quest (Sie/I) 13. Beyond Zork (Inf/Ap) 14. Tomahawk (DS/Co) 15. Sub Battle Simulator (Epx/I) 16. Earl Weaver Baseball (EA/Am) 17. C. Yeager Flight Simulator (EA7I) 18. Bard’s Tale II (E AJ Ap) 19. 4th & Inches (Aco/Co) 20. Beyond Zork (lnf/Co) TOP TEN VIDEOGAMES 1. Punch-Out (Nin/NES) Wizards & Warriors (Acc/NES) Top Gun (Kon/NES) Goonies II (Kon/NES) Kamov (DE/NES) Double Dribble (Kon/NES) Legend of Zelda (Nin/NES) Ikari Warriors (SNK/NES) Mega-Man (Cap/NES) 10. Fantasy Zone II (Sega/Sega) COMING... REVIEWS include... Master Ninja First Expedition ...for IBM And, of course, Our Normal Surprises! ISSN #0890-2143 2 . 3. 4. 5. 6 . 7. 8 . 9. 10 . 11 . 2 . 3. 4. 5. 6 . 7. 8 . 9. One of the most eagerly awaited games of 1988 is ZELDA II-THE ADVENTURE OF LINK. The level of anticipation for this game is so great that we’ve heard some pretty wild stories: a number of “sightings” of the game in various stores (not true) and various store clerks telling customers that they’ve “just sold out and expect more in a week or two” (also not true). The real story is that all you adventurers will have to wait a little longer, since the game has been re-scheduled for the May to June time period. According to sources at Nintendo and their licensees, there is an “accelerating PC chip shortage” in Japan which is affecting release dates on new games as well as the re-stocking of existing titles which were cleaned out of many stores by the hungry hordes of consumers who bought Nintendo systems at Christmas. Before we went to press on this issue, we were given delayed release dates on a number of new titles for the Nintendo system, and we expect that there will be many more over the next several months. Be sure to check the Availability Update for any changes, which will be published as we learn of them. Interactive Game-Playing Network to Debut Interactive Game Network, Inc. has recently announced a patent-protected technology that will allow TV viewers in the U.S. and Canada to compete against each other in live game shows and sports programs. Development is being funded by a coalition of major broadcast and entertainment companies, including National Broadcasting Company, United Cable Television Corp., Le Groupe Videotron, United Artists Communications, Inc., General Electronics, Ltd., and the Paul Kagan Ventures Fund. Unlimited Participation CEO and president of Interactive Game Network, David Lockton, was the founder of Dataspeed, Inc., a pioneer of digital data broadcasting which was acquired by Lotus Development Corporation in 1985. Lockton says that his company’s new system “will ultimately allow an unlimited number of the 100 million Americans tuned in to TV and cable game shows and sports events to actually participate and compete ‘live’ from their living rooms. Working non-cxclusively with leading companies developing TV programming, personal computer games, video games and interactive toys, we will offer a home entertainment system using a wireless hand-held device which offers an entirely new way for people to creatively spend their leisure time at home.” The People Involved Others involved with the project are the company chairman, John D. Lockton, Jr. (formerly president of Warner-Amex Cable and executive vice-president of Pacific Bell) and an impressive list of board members. These include Thomas S. Rogers, NBC vice president of planning and business development; Mark L. Schneider, vice president of corporate development at United Cable; Peter Sprague, chairman of National Semiconductor; Jim Levy, founder of Activision; John E. Fox, chairman of Regency Electronics; and Mike Korodi, developer of Warner Cable’s CUBE. Technical advisers to Interactive Game Network include Professor Nicholas Negropontc, head of MIT’s Media Laboratory; Apple Fellow and Xerox PARC founder Alan Kay; and Jerry Rubin, founder of Mead Data Central and currently group vice-president of Times-Mirror Corporation. New Game System? We have heard from several sources that there is a new game system in Japan, and that it might be introduced to the U.S. market in the future. Made by NEC, which already sells products in the U.S. such as computers and monitors, the game system is described in highly complimentary terms by those who have seen it. One of its most impressive features is said to be its ability to animate extremely large figures (full-screen height). Predictably, the system is not compatible with either Nintendo or Sega. 1 Adventure Plus Education in DISCOVERY from Microillusions Microlilusions recently released DISCOVERY for Amiga, a pro¬ gram for youngsters that combines the fun of adventure gaming with the challenge of educational software. The player’s goal is to collect fuel crystals and restore a crashed ship to usefulness. Joystick skill is a must, but there is also the challenge of answering questions on spelling or math at several grade levels. A science expansion disk is also available, and other expansion disks are planned. More Adven¬ ture from Microlilusions At CES, Microlilusions showed a variety of new products in the Activision suite, since the company is now one of Activision’s Affiliated Publishers. New adventures included LAND OF LEGENDS (MSR $49.95), slated to be the first in a series of fully animated adventures with dungeons, monsters, and three kinds of magic spells, and EBONSTAR ($39.95), a seek-and-destroy space adventure for up to four players. The company also showed GALAC¬ TIC INVASION ($24.95), a space dogfight that pits galaxy against galaxy in a game for solo play or for tow players head-to-head or via modem. PLANETARIUM ($69.95) features over 9000 stars in a powerful, accurate, and graphically spectacular home planetarium. All four titles will be released initially for Amiga, with versions for C64/ 128, Apple I1GS, and lBM/Tandy to follow this spring. Microlilusions Conversions Amiga owners have been enjoying Microlilusions games, but owners of IBM, Apple IIGS and C64/128 computers will also get a chance at FAERYTALE ADVENTURE ($49.95), a fantasy role-playing game with 19,000 different graphic screens. FIRE POWER, an arcade-style tank battle game, will be available for C64/128 and Apple IIGS ($24.95) and IBM ($27.95). The card-playing tutorial for up to five players, BLACK JACK ACADEMY ($39.95) comes to C64/128 and Apple IIGS. The adult-themed ROMANTIC ENCOUNTERS AT “THE DOM E” ($39.95) a fantasy about a high-tech singles’ club, will be available for C64/128 and Apple II. Microlilusions for Musicians and Artists The company also showed M USIC-X ($299.95), a professional music sequencer for Amiga with advanced features such as keyboard map¬ ping, real-time recording of systems exclusive data, and full graphic- oriented and event-oriented editing of sequences. For the artistically inclined, Microlilusions showed CELL ANIMATOR ($149.95) for Amiga, the first module of an integrated video animation system which will be called PHOTON VIDEO. CELL ANIMATOR lets users store drawings on disk so that each frame can be called up repeatedly and manipulated within a sequence after being “shot” only once. PHOTON PAINT ($99.95) is a full-featured Hold and Modify (HAM) paint program for Amiga. Utilizing the HAM protocol, the program allows all of the 4096 colors accessible on the Amiga to be used on the screen atone time. The program also includes other unique features, including the ability to move the menu containing the brush gadgets and color palette anywhere on the screen—or even remove it entirely during painting operations. Top Designer Joins Accolade Well-known Steve Cartwright has just joined Accolade as Senior Designer in which he will be responsible for developing new concepts in game design and organizing teams of designers, coordinating all aspects of the creation and development of new games. Steve’s work is well-known from his early days creating forthe 2600 (Barnstorming, Seaquest and Frost Bite) and then on to computers with games such as Hacker 1 and Hacker 11, Aliens, and Gee Bee Air Rally. ^^COMMODOR^64/n^oftware^J SPEED BUGGY (***/**★) is an arcade-style racing simulation from Data East which allows you to race on any one of five tracks included, each with more difficult terrain and sharper curves than the last. You gain bonus points and time by running over flags, jumping over obstacles and driving on two wheels. You’ll need to avoid the fallen trees, boulders, walls, etc. which racing against the clock. Your buggy has two gears - high and low - as you make your way through the course. Good Graphic Detail The game has very good sound effects as well as crisp, colorful 2 graphics. Once you get used to the handling (mainly how to get your buggy up on two wheels to slip through tight spots), you’ll find it extremely easy to handle. You will need fast reflexes; however, as the obstacles come fast and without warning. It’s a nice variation on a racing theme which should provide for several hours of enjoyment (one player; joystick required; Atari ST version coming) Recommended (MSR 529.95) MISL SOCCER (***/***) is the latest in sports games from Minds cape, this one officially licensed from the Major Indoor Soccer League (M1SL). This game allows you to play, coach, or be the general manager. As the player, you ’ll take on control of either the goalkeeper or midfielder. As midfielder, you’ll need to know the eight joystick positions which represent the members of your team so you can pass accurately. You can also shoot the ball. There’s an indicator bar that will come up on screen which will cycle up and down. The bar indicates towards which side of the goal your shot will travel. Use that bar to help aim your shot. You can also, with a little practice, head the ball (leap into the air and strike the ball with your head) or pull off a bicycle kick. As the goalkeeper, you must guard the net within the goalkeeper’s box. Catch the ball and throw it back out. As the coach, you’ll do all the things necessary to make your team strong such as setting the lineup, substitute players and call the plays. Under offensive plays you have three choices...pass, shoot, or mix. Within the defensive mode, you’ll choose among Defend 1, Defend 2, Cover 1 and Cover 2. All the strategies are covered in the booklet which come with the program. Finally, as General Manager you’ll want to improve your club with trades and recruitments as you try to turn an expansion club into a league power. Good Movement On Field The game flows with a very good movement on field as up to twelve players at a time are on the field and moving (you, of course, are only controlling one). The gameplay is fast and challenging with many options available for the type of play you choose. The graphics are good with figures which are a little larger and more detail-orientated than some games of this type. Overall, it’s a good all-around soccer game providing not only good gameplay, but the statistical options of coaching and managing a team as well, (one player; two player simultaneous; joystick required) Recommended (MSR $34.95) PLASMATRON (***1/2/***) is the latest from the A vantag e • budget line of Accolade . A Defender -type space game, the premise is simple but fun. You pilot a Plasmatron fighter to explores a deserted colony which was one part of a hostile empire. As you fly through this j THERATING SYSTEM: 4 STARS = EXCELLENT 2 STARS = FAIR 3 STARS = GOOD 1 STAR = POOR * = ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMS (1st set of stars=quality of graphics; 2nd set=quality of game play and entertainment value) * = APPLICATION PROGRAMS (1 st set of open stars=quality of graphics; 2nd set=quality of performance and suitability of use in home) NA - Not Applicable (i.e. all-text programs not rated for graphics) Computer Entertainer - February, 1988 alien colony, you come across every type of enemy attack ship. As you move through the landscape, there are more and more waves of enemy attacks, each more ferocious than the last. There’s everything from meteor attacks from above to fires in the alien cities spewing out deadly smoke. Fast reflexes and constant shooting are the only things which will save you. Beautiful Graphics The graphics in this horizontally scrolling game are quite gorgeous as they are bright and varying from screen to screen. There is all sorts of interesting detail to the various alien cities, mountainscapes, etc., which, if you’re not careful, will take your eye away from the ever present waves of enemy attacks. Certainly the premise is not new but the background is very rich and for the price, it’s a great little space game for your library! (one player; joystick required) Recommended (MSR $14.95) ZIG ZAG (***/***l/2) is one of the games brought to us through Spectrum HoloBvte y s International Series (see story in this issue). This game, from the United Kingdom is a maddening trip through narrow passageways of the Matrix of Zog somewhere in the 12th dimension. In this game which will probably drive you daffy, you are the supreme star pilot who must survive to locate the Eight Crystals of Zog. You begin innocently enough down a corridor (you can stay on the ground or, with your joystick, raise your fighter up) and suddenly there’s a blank wall. Boing...you bounce off it and return to where you started. Then you notice little triangles in the center of the floors (called prisms) which have to be hitjust right in order to turn your fighter down another corridor. We promise you that you’ll bounce around several times before you master the precise way to hit these little devils (we also had the experience that, after moving around several turns, we suddenly hit a wall...turned back around and our ship backed right through all the corridors hitting the triangles on the way out). There are ramps, traps, and disappearing barriers, as well as the inevitable aliens which are out to stop you. As you work your way through the maze, there are three special zones: Save Zone, Death Zone, and Shop Zone. If you enter the Save Zone, you will be shown the opening screen in which a special save code will be shown. You can jot these codes down and use them later to return to the part of the maze that corresponds to that code. The Death Zone is just that - don’t enter it! The Shop Zone contains many items which can make the difference in your success or failure. You can purchase such items as U-turns, allowing you to turn around without striking a wall or prism; Zapps which destroy all the aliens on the screen at the time; maps of the parts of the maze you’ve already visited; x-ray vision for seeing through walls; infrared vision for seeing in the dark; as well as extra lives, missiles, etc. Maddeningly Addictive This is another one of those “just ten more minutes” type of games that finds you sitting in front of the computer for hours. While billed as an arcade game, it requires careful thought and skill (as opposed to just “aim and shoot”) as you attempt to maneuver around the various corridors, bouncing off prisms in just the way to head down a new corridor. We found ourselves, more than once, bouncing back and forth helplessly as we attempted to get the ship in the right place to bounce off the prism. The packaging tells us there are 1400 screens which could take a lifetime to bounce through. Somehow we can picture a maniacal British scientist in a back room somewhere design¬ ing this little gem, laughing hysterically! (one player; joystick re¬ quired) Recommended (MSR $24.95) APPLE II Software IKARI WARRIORS (***/**l/2) has been a popular arcade game and now finds its way to the Apple II from Data East . This commando- style game finds you deep in the jungles of Southeast Asia, attempting reach the village and conquer the enemy leader. You begin in the jungle where your warrior is faced with enemy guerilla fighters. In order to get through the jungle, you must work your way around obstacles, avoid enemy Fire and attack the oneoming enemy. You have a gun and hand grenades and you can pick up additional weaponry on the way to the village. You can also use a tank at eertain strategic locations to help | in your battle. Packaging Very Misleading We were going to let slide the pictures on the package which depict the arcade version (definitely NOT the Apple version) because, after all, the fine print indicates this is the arcade version pictured. However, Computer Entertainer - February, 1988 when we got into the game and discovered that this version is definitely one-player only, we went back to the packaging whieh clearly states it is an interactive 2-player game. Talk about misleading information! Anyone who knows and loves lkari Warriors realizes that one of the strong points of the game is the two-player cooperative effort which plays such an important part of the game. While all the versions allow for one-player, all the other versions we’ve seen (Nintendo and IBM) also have the 2-player cooperative which helped make it the hit in the arcades. While we can’t speculate as to whether the Apple couldn’t handle the programming for the two-player version, the packaging should have been corrected. There eould be a lot of disappointed gamers when they get home with their new Apple game and find they can’t play it with a friend! The gameplay in the one-player mode is quite good, so don’t get us wrong-just make the packaging accurate! (one player ONLY) (MSR $34.95) DEATHLORD (***/***1/2) is a graphic adventure of epic pro¬ portion from Electronic Arts. Built in a style somewhat reminiscent of the “Ultima” series, DEATHLORD features an Asian theme, highly complex characters, a world of 16 continents, the passing of time and changing of weather and climate conditions, 128 different kinds of monsters, 84 magic spells, 157 dungeon levels, and a whole armory full of Japanese weaponry and armor. The player can send as many as six adventurers into the countryside to seek the Deathlord and attempt to end his reign of terror over the land of Lorn. For your first, get- acquainted game it’s easiest to use the game’s ready-made party of adventurers. After you’ve gotten a bit of a feel for the game, however, you’ll want to conjure your own characters or transfer experienced ones from “The Bard’s Tale,” “Ultima 111,” or any of the first three “Wizardry” scenarios. (Conjuring a character involves determining race, attributes, moral alignment, class, and sex.) Once your ideal party is set, you have a great many hours of adventuring ahead. Many elements of the game will be familiar to experienced adventurers, but there are a few different twists in DEATHLORD. For example, it’s not always necessary to do battle with every monster you meet. Sometimes it’s possible to negotiate with them. And we really appreciated the ability to create macros, which allow you to chain a group of com¬ mands for faster execution and better gameplay. In fact, this game is remarkably easy to learn and begin playing for such a large program. However, it is definitely NOT an easy game to win, so seasoned adventurers will find more than enough challenge. (Solo play; Key¬ board; Blank disks required.) Apple 11 version reviewed; coming soon for C64/128. Recommended. (MSR $49.95) WIZARDRY: THE RETURN OF WERDNA (***1/2/****) is the fourth WIZARDRY scenario from Sir-Tech . The package cau¬ tions that this program is for expert players only and requires previous experience with the first WIZARDRY scenario, PROVING GROUNDS OF THE MAD OVERLORD. Believe them, folks. This is one diabolically difficult game that is three times larger than all three of the previous WIZARDRY scenarios combined. Assuming that the player is indeed an expert, Sir-Tech states that time needed for completion (you should do so well!) is approximately 125 to 150 hours. Becoming an Evil Character for a Change If for some reason you have not yet tasted the joys and frustrations of the WIZARDRY series, you are not ready for THE RETURN OF WERDNA. However, the availability of the fourth scenario gives you a good excuse to find out what you’ve been missing. In the first scenario, your party of adventurers in the employ of Trebor, the Mad Overlord, defeated the evil wizard, Werdna, and nabbed the magical amulet from him. Werdna now lies heavily guarded at the bottom of a ten-level dungeon, and his lust for the amulet stirs him from his torpor at the beginning of the new game. Best of all, you get to be an evil character this time, taking the role of Werdna himself as he seeks the amulet and his revenge on Trebor. And your guards are 500 genuine WIZARDRY adventurers collected by Sir-Teeh from player submis¬ sions over the years. Rebuild your magical powers, gather monsters to help you against the enemy, and prepare to battle the do-gooders who stole your amulet! The lineage of this game is impeccable, its theme of role-reversal an intriguing twist on the usual adventures, and its execution is the best yet in the WIZARDRY series. It’s a game by and for the only the most expert of adventurers. (Solo play; Keyboard; Blank disks required.) Available for Apple II only. Recommended. (MSR $59.95) 3 [ r MULTI-SYSTEM Software IBM PC & COMPATIBLES ] TETRIS (****/***l/2) is the latest in Spectrum HoloBvte’s International Series and features the first entertainment software every to reach the West from the Soviet Union. With Soko-Ban from Japan (reviewed in December, *87), Zig Zag (reviewed in this issue), and now Tetris, we are convinced that Spectrum is trying to make us go a little daft! But, we're getting a little ahead of ourselves. A game of skill requiring fast thinking and quick reflexes, Tetris was designed by a 30- year-old Soviet, Alexi Paszitnov, a researcher at the USSR Academy of Scientists (now known as Academy Soft). The original program¬ ming was done by Vagim Gerasimov, an 18-year-old student of Computer Informatics at Moscow University. Described by Phillip Adams of Sphere Inc. (Spectrum HoloByte is a division of Sphere) as the Rubik’s Cube of software (we tend to agree), it’s a race against time as you try to rotate and/or flip moving pieces to fit as they descend from the top of the screen to the bottom. You must try to make the pieces fit precisely with te others for form a complete row with no blank spaces. The quicker you position each piece and make it drop, the better your score. The name “Tetris” comes from the four squares making up each of the different shapes that descend from the top of the screen while the player attempts to rotate and manipulate as they fall. As complete rows are formed, they automatically disappear from the screen. When ten rows have been successfully removed, the player advances on to a higher level where the pieces fall even faster! There are ten difficulty levels, five heights to start from*, help screen, as well as other features. A RAM resident version of the game is included in each IBM package which can be loaded into memory and called up for a few minutes of play between working on a spreadsheet. A keystroke will return the player to his work (and the boss will not be the wiser!) Addictive , Maddening , Stunning From the last few games we’ve seen from Spectrum HoloByte we’re convinced that they’re trying to see if we are coordinated. After some of these games, we’re wondering if we are or not! This is one tough, tough game which is so deceptively simple that you’ll think “no problem!” Think again! You will go nutty trying to better your last score, and we assure you you’ll have more than a little trouble walking away from it. By the way, instead of simply featuring the area where these various shaped cubes descend, the designer has given us stunning backgrounds of Russia to enjoy as we’re playing. You’ll by awestruck by the beautiful graphics of Red Square, a Russian Space Station, the USSR Ice Hockey Team, among others. This is a truly different type of puzzle game which is guaranteed to drive you crazy - it’s awfully good to fine hone your hand and eye coordination! (one player; reviewed on IBM and Commodore 64/128; IBM version includes both 5-1/4” and 3-1/2" disks) Recommended (MSR $34.95-IBM; $24.95-Commodore) (*-in IBM version only) New Hint Book for Adventure Gamers M.K. Simon, author of KEYS TO SOLVING ADVENTURE GAMES (Prentice Hall paperback), has completed a sequel to the first book. Book II follows the formatof the original, providing maps, hints, and some complete solutions for a group of current adventure games. The clearly drawn maps are labeled with numbers which refer the reader to a scrambled list of clues. Because no two clues from adjacent areas of a single game appear near each other in the master list of clues, it’s impossible to learn more than you want to find out and therefore spoil the fun of solving most of the adventure for yourself. For beginners and the hopelessly lost, complete, step-by-step solutions are provided for all but seven of the games covered in Book II. Maps and hints are included for “Breakers” and “Essex” (Broderbund/Synapse); “Deja Vu,” “Uninvited” and “Shadowgate” (Mindscape); “Enchanted Scepters” (Silicon Beach); and “Space Quest” (Sierra). Maps, hints and complete solutions are provided for “Arazok’s Tomb” (Aegis); “Bureaucracy,” “Hollywood Hijinx,” “Moonmist” (all four vari¬ ations), “Stationfall” and “The Lurking Horror” (lnfocom); “Fellow¬ ship of the Ring: Part I & II” (Addison-Wcsley); “Goldfinger,” “High Stakes” and “Indiana Jones” (Mindscape); “Gunslinger” (Datasoft); and “The Pawn” (Firebird). We recommend both of Simon’s excellent books to adventurers looking for a little or even a lot of help with their games. MINI-PUTT (***/***) has been converted by Accolade for IBMers so they, too, can play a wacky round of miniature golf. There are four courses on the disk, each filled with insane holes which are filled with walls, water, bridges, gates, and just plain crazy layouts which make your ball ricochet all over the place. You can also choose individual holes to practice on. Your weekend duffer is a silly looking fellow with a golfer’s tarn on his head...all decked out for a day on the mini-links. The views included are an overview of the hole, a view of our golfer, as well as a play screen window of the immediate area. As you’ll find in most golfing games, there is a power bar and accuracy bar to help plan your shot. Just Good Fun This is one of those games which will test your patience but certainly entertain you for many hours as you whack away at hole after hole, wondering if you’ll ever see par. The graphics are colorful with each hole being a little wilder than the last. You should be able to have a lot of fun with this game (one to four players; 256K; CGA/EGA or Hercules MGA required; joystick optional; also available for Commo¬ dore 64/128) Recommended (MSR $29.95) GAUNTLET (**l/2/***), adapted now for the IBM by Mind¬ scape. is a adaptation of the coin-op game from Atari Games. The game features dungeons and treasures, nasty creatures, and plenty of action. You choose which of four heroes you wish to play, each with their own strengths and qualities. In an interesting cooperative ven¬ tures, in the two-player version, you each choose a different hero and then work together facing the dangers in the dungeon. Even if your friends comes over in the middle of your adventure, he can still take on a hero (already chosen by the computer) and work with you. Your goal is to explore all the dungeons, destroy as many of the creatures as possible, while collecting all the treasure you can. It's Exciting It’s a fast-moving game which has held much of the arcade feel in the home adaptation. We still don’t like the graphics too much, however, as the characters are not clearly defined. However, the gameplay over¬ shadows our concerns there and we especially like the two-player Computer Entertainer - February, 1988 IBM PC & COMPATIBLES I cooperative mode, something we’d like to see more of. When (!) you master all of the dungeons, you can purchase Mindscapc’s add-on disk with 500 new mazes entitled GAUNTLET: THE DEEPER DUN¬ GEONS. (one player; two-player cooperative; 256K; color or en¬ hanced graphics adaptor required; joystick optional; also available for Commodore 64/128, Atari XE/XL; coming for Atari ST) Recommended (MSR $39.95) TOMAHAWK (***/**l/2) is Datasoft's latest helicopter simula¬ tor, now translated for the IBM. You’re at the controls of an AH-64A Apache helicopter in which you can engage air-to-air or air-to-ground attacks. There are thirteen on-board computers helping you combat enemies and all sorts of weather conditions. You can take on a training mission before you try combat and there are four levels of play. In this 3D real-world display, you’ll fly over buildings, trees, mountains, enemy tanks, guns, etc. (all vector-graphics). The map, accessible whenever you need to refer to it, is a grid divided into 16 rows of 8 sectors. Each sector contains 8 enemy targets, guns and/or tanks, giving a total of 1024 targets across the map. You can choose your missions day or night, various weather turbulence with crosswinds, etc. Enjoyable While we still do not feel this is the best of the genre (as we originally reviewed it for Commodore 64 in December, 1987 issue), it is a good combat simulator. The vector graphics are more pleasing on the IBM than the Commodore due to the graphic capabilities of the two machines (the Commodore handles full graphics better than the IBM, therefore, that’s what we tend to look for). This is one of those games that we would suggest you take a look at in the store before purchase, if that’s possible (one player; joystick optional; 256k; both 5-1/4” and 3-1/2” disks enclosed; also available for Commodore 64/128, Atari XE/XL, Apple II) (MSR $29.95) ELITE (***l/2/***l/2) was F ire bird's first entry into the U.S. market back in the middle of 1986 for Apple and Commodore. This conversion works extremely well on the IBM machine because of the subject matter as well as the vector-type graphics. A combination INTO THE EAGLE’S NEST (****/***l/2) has been a big hitfor the various computer systems it’s already available for and now Minds cape has taken this program by Pandora and converted it for the IBM market. Set in World War II in the secret Nazi fortress known as the Eagle’s Nest, the game finds the player infiltrating the heavily guarded Nazi stronghold to rescue three captured allied saboteurs, save art treasures, and blow up the Eagles Nest. As you attempt to infiltrate the Nest, your view is from above as you see the floorplan scrolling in four directions below you. Of course, there are Nazi guards every¬ where and you’ll have to shoot most of them to accomplish your objectives. Obviously, they will attempt to hit you as well. You begin the game with 99 rounds of ammunition, but you can find more stashed m the fortress. You’ll have to find keys to get through the steel doors, shoot your way through wooden doors, as well as finding first aid kits, food, etc. There are eight increasingly difficult missions - each mission requiring that your search all the rooms to find your captured friends. Non-Stop Action We’re glad to see that IBMers will have the opportunity to play this . xally fine game as the action is non-stop while there’s some good adventuring as well. There’s plenty of surprises and suspense around 'very comer and the graphics are just terrific. The detailing makes it a pleasure to play, (one player; 256K; color or enhanced graphics adaptor required; also available for Amiga, Apple II, Atari ST, Corn- nod ore 64/128) Recommended (MSR $34.95) space action/strategy/trading computer game, the action takes place in deep space. Not unlike some more recent releases such as Space M+A+X , you must navigate among the stars as well as trade between countless planets. Your multiple goals include trade with interplane¬ tary locals for profit, building the equipment and armaments of your ship, and increasing your combat rating to at least “dangerous,” perhaps all the way to “elite.” Your status with the law can change too if you decide to take the “quick and dirty” route to increased wealth by trading in illegal goods or preying on innocent ships. Your ships is equipped with a wide range of instruments which help you to achieve your goals (that is, once you learn how to utilize them). In addition to the normal gauges such as altimeter, radar, compass, etc., there’s also galactic charts and the Worldata link. The former lets you know where you are and where you’re trying to go and the latter supplies planetary information on worlds you might be considering for possible trade deals. Part of the strategy is knowing the type of political and economic climate on a potential trade for the best success. The planetary status reports supplied by Worldata link also contain bits of key information about the planet or its inhabitants-some of it quite humorous as the English can be! Included in the package arc a very complete Space Trader’s FlightTraining Manual, a Ship Identification Chart as well as a novella which sets the scenario for the game. Great Gaming We enjoyed this game when it first was released in 1986 and the new version feels just as fresh now, fitting right into the games of the genre available more recently. With the huge number of destination planets, Computer Entertainer - February, 1988 5 large quantities of friendly and enemy craft to encounter in space, plenty of opportunity for combat, as well as all sorts of ways to amass wealth and fame, ELITE offers a terrific blend of action and strategy -with just a bit of humor tossed in. This is a perfect game for IBMers! (one player; joystick and/or keyboard; also available for Commodore 64/128 and Apple II) Recommended (MSR $39.95) A Report from Ami Expo Many new entertainment packages for the Amiga were debuted or shown at the Ami Expo, which was held in Los Angeles, Calif. January 16-18, 1988. Apparently the huge success of the Amiga 500 and the abrupt softening of the Atari ST software market have encouraged many developers to switch to the Amiga, or at leastto broaden their line to include the Amiga. For example, MichTron (along with its enter- tainmentdivision, Microdeal) has been an exclusively Atari developer but showed a new Amiga version of its ST classic, TIME BANDITS. Some of Best Games from Microillusions MicroIIIusions showed some of the best game software. Their LAND OF LEGENDS (MSR $49.95) is dungeons-and-dragons style gaming at its best. It has the dungeon look of "The Bard’s Tale” and the tilted overhead viewpoint of “Ultima Ill’s” battles scenes, yet it accepts word commands like an adventure game and can be controlled by a mouse. Players can import characters from “Bard’s Tale” or “Ultima III.” EBON STAR ($39.95) is a space shoot-’em-up with a twist. A satellite warps the grid into a synthetic black hole as it moves randomly about the play field. One to four players shoot rubber-like bullets at their opponents in order to knock them into the gravitational hole. In addition, MicroIIIusions showed a sophisticated paint package called PHOTO PAINT ($99.95) and CELL ANIMATOR ($149.95) for doing animation in desktop video productions. Full-Color Comic Strips One of the more interesting graphics packages was Gold Disk’s COM1CSETTER ($99.95), a desktop publishing program for creating full-color comic strips. Naturally, one would need a color ink-jet printer to take full advantage of the program. Some Good Games, Some Not So Good While the arcade game ARKANOID ($49.95) from Discovery Soft¬ ware is a virtual clone of the coin-op except for the ability to start on any of the first twenty levels, many othercompanies showed mediocre translations of Commodore 64 games. Top Down Development showed two forgettable games: a “Pac-Man” clone called FOOTMAN ($29.95) and a vertically scrolling space shoot-’em-up called Vyper ($29.95). ANCO debuted GRID START, a “Pole Position” look-alike, and KARTING GRAND PRIX, an overhead racing game. Micro- Partners showed C64 translations like MISSION ELEVATOR, EWESTERN GAMES, and an “Arkanoid” clone called CRYSTAL HAMMER. In a somewhat more serious vein, Aegis demonstrated their new PORTS OF CALL ($49.95), an economic simulation in which you play the owner of a tramp cargo ship. The object is to roam the world’s harbors, take on freight, and transport it to make a profit. Even a small company like ASDG was attempting to enter the lucrative game market with an “Asteroids” variation calaled CUBEMASTER ($34.95 - Spring ’88). Each of the colored asteroids does different things to the player’s jetpack-controlled man. For example, a collision with a red block depletes the shield while a collision with the yellow block confuses. There is a red ball villain that periodically comes out to attack your man. Running C64 Software on Amiga Last but not least was ReadySoft’s solution to running all of your old C64 software once you trade up to the Amiga. The 64 Emulator ($39.95) is a hardware device that plugs into the serial port and connects to your 1541 disk drive. The trouble is that it’s a little on the slow side. While business programs run satisfactorily, arcade games tend to run at half speed or less. Keep your C64 unless it breaks. Blending Video with Computer Graphics This report would not be complete if one failed to note the prolifera- tiion of products to merge video imagery with computer graphics. At the bottom were the video titlers like V1DEOTITLER (Aegis) and TV TEXT (Brown-Wagh). A-Squared was marketing LIVE!, which al¬ lows one to frame grab color images (6 frames/second) right off your video camera. Then there was the incredible MANDELA (Very Vivid, Inc., $335), a software product which can be combined with LIVE! and a color camera to allow a person to become part of the animated graphics show. It combines the imagery in colorful ways and allows the live imagery to control the graphics and sounds. The live actor can touch a ball, have it bounce around the screen, or tap a magical drum on the screen and hear its sound. The demonstrations were proof that the Amiga is entering the video revolution and will be a presence in some live stage shows. —Jeffrey Stanton Nothing To Do with Computers Regular readers of Computer Entertainer have seen software reviews by Jeffrey Stanton from time to time. A man of many interests and wide-ranging talents, Jeff is not only a respected reviewer, but also photographer, engineer, and sometime historian of Venice, California. Even though it has absolutely nothing to do with computers, we wanted to let you know about Jeff’s latest book, VENICE OF AMERICA: “CONEY ISLAND OF THE PACIFIC.” It’s a fascinating look at this eccentric beach town that once had gondolas on its canals and a whole succession of amusement parks and attractions on its piers. The large- format book is full of historic photos, all beautifully reproduced. It tells the stories of the old Venice that will never be seen again, and it tells of the new Venice that tourists flock to see and experience. The book is a must for anyone interested in amusement parks and the history of seaside resort towns. Although it may be difficult to find in your local bookstore, it can be ordered directly from the author for $17.95, postage included ($19.00 for California residents, including tax). Write to Jeffrey Stanton, 3710 Pacific Ave. #16, Venice, CA 90291. /"* ■ New in the Arcades Atari has just introduced a new space action game called Bias - teroids , a follow-up to their 1979 classic, Asteroids. In this new game, players blast their way through four different galaxies filled with asteroids and other challenging obstacles. After each galaxy has been cleared, the player meets Mukor, the green slime monster who taunts, “Mukor controls this galaxy.” The player can choose from four different starting difficulties. With the press of a button, the player can change his ship into three different sizes, each with its own advantages and disadvantages for different game play situations. In the “hidden source of energy” feature, crystals concealed within red asteroids provide the player with the energy needed to continue the outer space adventure. The game features Atari’s new Housequake sound system, with the deep rumbling sound effects felt through the vibration of the cabinet. Vigilante from Data East focuses on street fighting. As Vigilante the player fights the thugs and deadbeats with his nanchucks and experiences an actual street fight as he tries to save his love, Madonna. Computer Entertainer - February, 1988 r - Firebird Acquires Eight Titles from Bantam Software Eight familiar titles from the software publishing division of Bantam Books now belong to Firebird and will be re-released as part of Firebird’s budget range of recreational software (MSR $9.99 each). The programs are THE FOURTH PROTOCOL (Commodore 64/128 only); THE CAVE OF TIME and ESCAPE (C64/128 and Apple II); I, DAMIANO (Apple II and IBM); and four titles for Apple II, C64/ 128 and IBM: FANTASTIC ANIMALS, CREATIVE CONTRAP¬ TIONS, ROAD RALLY, and SHERLOCK HOLMES. (Firebird’s products are distributed by Activision.) Use ADVANCED ART STUDIO to Win Trip to Paris In further news from Firebird, the company recently announced a contest for users of the ADVANCED ART STUDIO, a graphics and drawing program for C64/128 and Atari ST. The contest is co¬ sponsored by AHOY! magazine for Commodore users and ATARI EXPLORER for ST users. First-prize winners in each division will receive a trip to the Louvre Museum in Paris, France (including airfare and hotel accommodations). Fifteen runners-up in each format will have their works published in the appropriate sponsoring publication. The deadline for entries is June 1, 1988. Two New Affiliated Labels Sign with Electronic Arts Quantum Computer Services, Ine. and Paragon Software are the newest members of the Electronic Arts affiliated labels program, expanding the number of publishers associated with EA to fourteen. Quantum’s RABBIT JACK’S CASINO GAMES, which includes the QUANTUMLINK STARTER KIT (MSR $14.95), lets Commodore 64/128 owners play on-line simulations of Las Vegas-style games and explore the fun of communicating with other Commodore owners. Paragon’s initial products to be distributed by Electronic Arts include ALIEN FIRES-2199 A.D. (MSR $39.95), a futuristic role-playing adventure game for Amiga, TWILIGHTS RANSOM, and MASTER NINJA: SHADOW WARRIOR OF DEATH ($34.95), a martial arts graphic adventure for IBM PC and compatibles. Electronic Arts will also distribute Paragon’s OUT OF THE BLUE DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM for IBM PC and compatibles. RETURN TO ATLANTIS for Amiga—Finally! Yes, it really has been three years in the making, but Electronic Arts has finally released RETURN TO ATLANTIS (MSR $49.95), de¬ scribed by the company as an “Undersea Ad venture on a Grand Scale.” The role-playing game casts the player as an agent for The Foundation. The agent must complete fourteen missions, each a game in itself, in order eventually to discover the secret of Atlantis. Infocom Announces Solid Gold Series Likening them to paperback versions of your favorite traditional novel, Infocom has announced unabridged but repackaged versions of two ofits best-sellers: ZORKIandTHEHITCHHIKER’SGUIDETO THE GALAXY (MSR $14.95 each). To help those who may be new to interactive fiction, thegames will include on-screen hints. Available for Apple II, IBM PC and compatibles, Macintosh and Commodore 64/128, the Solid Gold titles will join Activision’s Solid Gold series. (Infocom products are distributed by Activision.) Novels Based on Infocom Gatnes And speaking of paperbacks, a series of novels based on six of the best¬ selling Infocom titles will soon be published by Avon books. Con¬ ceived and produced by Byron Preiss Visual Publications, the stories are not novelizations of the games but original adventures in familiar Infocom settings. The first two releases are expected in May of this year: WISHBRINGER, written by Arthur Byran Cover, and PLAN- ETFALL by Craig Shaw Gardner. T wo Disks in Infocom Games for IBM Infocom has announced a small price increase for IBM versions of all new releases. Suggested retail of IBM versions of Infocom games will now be $42.95 because the packages will include both 5.25-inch and 3.5-inch disks. The first Infocom title packaged with two disks is SHERLOCK: THE RIDDLE OF THE CROWN JEWELS, which is reviewed in this issue. A New from Absolute Entertainment Absolute Entertainment, a new company which has previously intro¬ duced new games for the Atari 2600 (TITLE MATCH PRO WRES¬ TLING and SKATEBOARDIN’ (A RADICAL ADVENTURE ON WHEELS), has just announced its first two computer titles. CROSS- BONES (MSR $39.95) is an eight-level action-adventure set in the middle ages which features high-resolution graphics and realistic sound effeets for Commodore 64/128, IBM PC and compatibles, and Apple II. X-15 ALPHA MISSION ($29.95) forC64/128 is an arcade- style flight simulation program featuring NASA’s X-15 in a mission to destroy a terrorist-controlled space station. Absolute Entertainment’s programs are distributed by Activision. ’88 Plans From Sierra Ten ne wproducts as well as conversions of some existing product has just been announced by Sierra. Among the new products announced are Manhunter and Gold Rush, two 3D animated adventures. Gold Rush , which promises to be historically accurate and loaded with real-life adventure, is the story of one man who pioneers his way from New York to the gold fields of California in his quest to trike it rich. Two completely different games make up this epic adventure, as the player chooses from one of two routes that can take him to the California gold country. You can travel by ship to Panama, where you must land and journey on foot (nope, the Canal hasn’t been built yet). Forge the rugged jungles of Central America as you head for the Pacific Ocean where you will travel by ship once again as you make your way up the coastline to San Francisco. Or, you can travel across the heartland of American by wagon train and face everything from the mountain ranges to hostile American natives. Initially available for MS-DOS machines, versions for the IIGS, Macintosh, and Amiga will follow. Manhunter , a foreboding science fiction epic, is the latest creation from the authors of The Ancient Art of War. A dark vision of our planet’s future, Manhunter evolves around the life of a detective in New York City two years after alien invasion and consequent world takeover. The hero of the the story is contracted by the newly founded alien dictatorship as a bounty hunter, his goal being to track down and destroy a ring of human saboteurs and militants out to end the alien rule. The game includes split-screen animation and advanced window¬ ing effects. This also will be initially available for MS-DOS machines with Apple IIGS, Macintosh, and Amiga versions to follow. Telecommunications Entertainment to Continue Sierra has been very successful with its 3-D Helicopter Simulator which allows you to play with a friend across the room or across the country via modem hook-up. Therefore, it’s inevitable that the next in the scries would be introduced. ..Sierra’s 3-D Tank Simulator. It allows you to wage full-scale warefare with your friend or, used in conjunc¬ tion with 3-D Helicopter Simulator, you can engage in air-to-ground combat. Meanwhile, for all you Helicopter Simulator owners, there’s a Mission Disk HI being finished which will include three dangerous challenges. There’s a timed race course, obstacle course protected by enemy missile launchers, and a mission that requires the pilot to successfully land in enemy territory. More New Titles Silpheed is a 3-dimensional space extravaganze which Sierra prom¬ ises will redefine arcade excitement with a multitude of increasingly difficult scenarios and energetic musical soundtrack. This is the scond hit title in Sierra’s licensing agreement with Game Arts of Japan (the firstbcingThexdcr). It’s planned for MS-DOS machines and the Apple IIGS. King’s Quest has grown into one of the most popular adventure series around so it’s appropriate that The Perils of Rosella, King’s Quest IV will be introduced. With over 10 man years of development in its creation, it will be released for the MS-DOS machines, with versions for the Apple IIGS, Macintosh, and Amiga to follow. More Follow-Ups More sequels are planned as the third ehapter in the Space Quest trilogy is in the works, as well as a Police Quest adventure that is much broader in scope than its predecessor, as well as more silly escapades for your friend and ours, Leisure Suit Larry. Computer Entertainer - February, 1988 7 r MULTI-SYSTEM Software ] AMIGA Software ] KID NIKI (**/**l/2 for C64/128, ***/**l/2 for Apple II) from Data East is a martial arts action-adventure based on the arcade game of the same name. The player takes the role of the spike-haired, pint- sized Ninja warrior, Kid Niki, in a quest to rescue his girlfriend, Princess Margo, from the Stone Wizard. Kid Niki’s weapon is a fearsome spinning sword that helps him cut his way through myriads of enemies in the seven levels of the game. He runs and jumps his way through the horizontally scrolling adventure screens, finally meeting up with a “boss” enemy at the end of each level. Conventional Action-Adventure This is a very conventional action-adventure with nothing special to elevate it above the average for this type of game. It follows one of the typical formulas—rescue the main character’s girlfriend from a bad guy while making your way through lots of enemy fighters sent by the chief bad guy to thwart your progress. The Apple version fares somewhat better than the Commodore from the graphic standpoint, with clearly defined characters and music and sound effects that are about as good as possible for the system. The Commodore version, however, suffers from under-utilization of the system’s capabilities. Graphics are fair, at best, and the music is very disappointing. There are definitely better arcade-style games available, especially for C64/ 128. (Solo play; Pause for Apple only; Joystick or keyboard; Continu¬ ation feature.) C64/128 (MSR $29.95) and 128K Apple II ($34.95) versions reviewed. Also available for Nintendo Entertainment System (MSR $44.95). Not recommended. DECISIVE BATTLES OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR: VOLUME ONE, BULL RUN TO CHANCELLORSVILLE (***/****) should prove irresistible to those who love strategic wargaming. Designed by the talented team of Roger Keating and Ian Trout of Strategic Studies Group of Australia (distributed by Elec¬ tronic Arts in the U.S.), the game covers the battles of First and Second Bull Run, Shiloh, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. As with all SSG games, a clear and easy-to-follow tutorial gets you into the game quickly and painlessly. Playable by one against the computer or by two friends, the game makes you an Army Commander of Corps, Divisions and Brigades. Artificial intelligence allows for the use of subordinates, or you can personally command all units. The program also includes SSG’s Warplan, a construction kit that allows you to restructure historic battles or create your own original battles, and Warpaint, a complete graphics editor for customizing icon and terrain symbols in both shape and color. The American Civil War is a source of endless fascination for wargamers, who will not be disappointed with Keating and Trout’s characteristically excellent portrayal of the period. (Solo or 2-player competitive; Keyboard.) C64/128 and Apple II versions reviewed. Recommended. (MSR $39.95) SHERLOCK: THE RIDDLE OF THE CROWN JEWELS (NA/ ***1/2) by Bob Bates of Challenge . Inc, for Infocom is a celebration of the famous sleuth’s 100th anniversary as a character in mystery fiction. Now he has become the star of a piece of interactive fiction, and the player has the privilege of taking the role of Dr. Watson. The story opens with Holmes in a blue funk. His housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson, has summoned you in hopes that you can bring him out of it. There has been a visitor from the government, bearing the bad news that the crown jewels have been stolen just 48 hours before the scheduled beginning of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. What better to arouse Holmes from his mood than a mystery to solve? And so the game is afoot, with Watson in charge of the investigation while Holmes contributes his inestimable aid. The two of you travel all around London, seeking to unravel the clues provided by—who else— Professor Mori arty! It’s all wonderful fun in the best lnfoeom tradition, with the added bonus of well-loved characters, lots of historical information about Victorian England, and even on-screen hints. SHERLOCK is a must for anyone who ever wished they could help the immortal Holmes solve a mystery! (Solo play; Keyboard; Blank disk required.) Available now for IBM, C64/128 and Apple II; versions with sound to be available soon for Apple 11GS, Macintosh, Atari ST and Amiga. Recommended. (MSR $42.95 IBM; $34.95 C64/128; $39.95 others) _ 8 FIRE POWER (**/**/1 /2) from Microlllusions recreates the clas¬ sic game of tank warfare on a scrolling, split-screen battlefield. The | object is to capture the opponent’s flag, which is hidden in one of his buildings. Naturally, finding it is somewhat hazardous as the enemy playfield is replete with mines, gun emplacements along fortified walls, and enemy helicopters that constantly harass and fire missiles at your tank. A radar screen helps in finding the flag, since it and the enemy mines appear as green dots. Of secondary importance is the rescue of your comrades held prisoner in several nondescript build¬ ings, whieh mustbe blown up to set the prisoners free. Points are scored by transporting them safely aboard your tank to the Red Cross Center. Playing Modes While one person can play against the computer, the game is much more playable with two people—either in the same room or playing by modem. The two-player game pits one tank directly against the other in a split-screen display, whereas the single-player game has no computer-controlled enemy tank. Two-player competition via modem is novel, works in real-time with no slow-down in gameplay, and may be the best reason to buy the product if you don ’ t have someone to play against in your household. Unconventional Steering Method The tank’s joystick steering system take some getting used to since it is different from that of any other previous tank game. FIRE POWER automatically steers the tank in the direction one points the joystick. Frankly, this makes precise aiming difficult, since the tank tends to turn in an arc rather than pivoting about its treads. If you do get stuck, you can reverse by pulling back on the stick. On the other hand, tanks in all other known tank games since the type debuted back in 1978 on the j Atari2600 have been steered by left/right joystick movement and “up” to move forward. The FIRE POWER system lacks the complex ability to rotate the tank turret in any direction other than forward, and one does need to be careful in reversing while firing lest one inadvertently lay a proximity mine beneath the tank and not be able to clear the area rapidly. Graphics and Game Play The graphics in FIRE POWER are fine for a game with an overhead¬ scrolling terrain playfield. The tank can drive beneath the trees, but this doesn’t seem to camouflage the tank from the hovering helicopters. The sound is realistic: digitized helicopter and explosion sound effects. Game play, especially in the one-player mode, leaves something to be desired. The helicopters are extremely dumb and easy to shoot down. Similarly, enemy gun emplacements can only fire at 45-degree angles and won’t fire in their own defense. This leaves them vulnerable and allows one’s tank to sneak in. Playing against another person is much more of a tactical game. FIRE POWER is a nice attempt to update the , classic arcade-style game. However, it is flawed by a weak solo game 1 mode that should have had computer-controlled enemy tanks to battle. It is also marred by a control system that makes close, accurate combat difficult. (Solo or 2-player competitive; Modem Play; Joystick.) Reviewed on Amiga and coming soon for other systems. MSR $24.95 —Jeffrey Stanton MOVED?? Don’t forget to tell us so you don’t miss any issues. Send us your new address, along with your old zip code and subscriber number (the last FOUR digits of your mailing label) and we’ll do the rest. BACK ISSUES A VAILABLE Don’t miss out on all the great back issues! We’ve been covering entertainment software for over Five years and we’ve reviewed hun¬ dreds and hundreds of titles. Most issues are still available (Voll, #1,2,3, and 4 are available as xeroxed copies only at a cost of $2.50 each). Send $2.00 for each back issue you want. Buy six or more, and they’re just $ 1.50 each. Make certain you have a complete set! You can also purchase the SPECIAL EDHION, published in Spring, 1987 in celebration of our Fifth Anniversary. It covers everything from a look aLvi^t-gaming to capsule reviews of some of the top ^amesofalltime. This Special Edition is $2.00. J Computer Entertainer - February, 1988 — the Video IIpdatc A Day in the Life of a Game Cartridge—Revisited Five years ago, when the frustration level of our readers was being tested by delays in release dates of ColecoVision, lntellivision, and Atari games, we ran a semi-serious article about all the things that can go wrong before a new game cartridge finally appears in stores. With today’s new generation of video games also subject to delays in release dates, we thought it was time to run that article again—but with a few changes to bring it up to date. And by the way, these release-delaying factors are not exclusive to videogame cartridges, because they also affect many disk-based computer games as well. In the Beginning An individual designer or design team gets an idea for a great new game. The idea is taken to the bosses in the company, and all agree that it’s a dynamite concept that will be a big seller. The designers go to work immediately but soon run into unanticipated problems in imple¬ menting the design. (A variation on this scenario is the decision to convert an existing title to a new format. This can be just as subject to unforeseen design problems as a game designed “from scratch.”) Meanwhile, the company’s marketing department is eager to start pre¬ selling the game and pushes for a release date. They get their date, slot the new title into the company’s published release schedule, and start planning a big campaign with ads to appear a month or two before the release. Meanwhile, the design team is not making the progress expected of them. However, the release date has been publicized and the game fanatics are ALREADY calling every store looking for the game. They figure that if they’ve heard about it, it MUST be out! Delays and More Delays The release date is pushed back a month as it becomes obvious that the game won’t be finished in time, due to minor programming problems and changes suggested by various people within the game company. The release is delayed again when the sample packaging fails to win approval from the marketing department. Meanwhile, the game itself is completed and ready for testing. The game’s release is bumped a third time as programming glitches are found which must be corrected. Then someone notices that the game’s newest release date nearly coincides with that of a potential blockbuster due to be released by a competitor! A strategic decision is made to delay the release yet again. In the meantime, the competitor’s game is also delayed, and the marketing department collectively gets a few more gray hairs. And gamers, not knowing any of the behind-the-scenes problems, become more impatient. There are rumors that someone has seen the game in a store somewhere. Some store clerks are telling customers that the game is “sold out” and should be back in stock before long. Worse yet, someone in the game company’s customer service department hasn’t received the latest updates and has been telling callers that the game has just been released! Bumped YetAgain\ Disaster strikes again when the instruction booklet comes back from the printer with a couple of major errors. Or in the case of a Japanese game being brought to the U.S. market, the instructions have been translated from Japanese to English. Unfortunately, the translation was done in Japan by someone with less-than-perfect knowledge of Eng¬ lish, and portions of the booklet are awkwardly phrased and don’t make a lot of sense. As the instruction booklet is hastily corrected, the final delay occurs as the game itself is ready to go into production. Manufacturing is delayed by a strike at the duplication company—or a shortage of chips in Japan—or a bad batch of diskettes—or any of several other potential problems. At this point, the combined frustra¬ tion level is monumental. Everyone from the game company’s man¬ agement to distributors, retailers, and game consumers wants this game on dealer’s shelves. It finally appears, albeit six months later than the originally announced release date, and in quantities too small to satisfy pent-up demand. Many gamers have to wait for a second or third shipment, meanwhile driving retailers and the game company’s cus¬ tomer service department crazy because every store has sold out of their initial allotment. But the marketing department is happy. They have a hit! A Fictional Account This is a fictional account, and it is rare for any one game to haven’t even mentioned. So, the next time you’re told that a release date has been pushed back, try not to take out your frustration on your local game dealer or the game company’s customer service depart¬ ment. They aren’t holding outon you. They wantyou to have that game just as much as you want to play it! New lntellivision Games for 1988 INTV Corporation recently announced its lineup of new games for 1988, with more new titles than ever before slated to be introduced in a single year. New to the series of “Super Pro” sports games (MSR approx. $20 each) are SUPER PRO SKIING (1-6 players on built-in courses or design your own), SUPER PRO DECATHLON (10 events for 1 to 4 players), SUPER PRO WRESTLING (one-on-one or tag team), SUPER PRO MONSTER TRUCK RALLY (design your own big-wheel truck for mud, monster hills, or rolling over piles of cars), SUPER PRO VOLLEYBALL (doubles play for 1 or 2 players), SUPER PRO EUROPEAN BIKE RALLY (sprints and distance events on a 10-speed), SUPER PRO POOL/BILLIARDS (Eight Ball, Rota¬ tion, Straight Pool, Billiards and Bumper Pool for 1 to 4 players), SUPER PRO AUTO RACING (overhead racing for 1 or 2 with built- in or design-your-own tracks), and SUPER PRO HORSE RACING. Other new lntellivision titles for 1988 include KARATEKA (the classic movie-like karate game licensed fromBroderbund), FLIGHT SIMULATOR (fly a single-prop trainer or engage in a World War II dogfight against enemy biplanes), and MS. PAC MAN (based on the classic arcade game). See Availability Update for projected release dates. Classic Atari 2600 Games Revived by Activision Activision has recently re-released some classic Atari 2600 games of their own, plus some titles originally done by Imagic. The newly- added titles are THE ACTIVISION DECATHLON, ROBOT TANK, ATLANTIS, DEMON ATTACK, and MOONSWEEPER. These games are distributed primarily to nationwide toy store chains, such as Toys’R’Us and Kaybee Toys. Activision to Introduce New Games for Nintendo After its initial release of SUPER PITFALL for the Nintendo Enter¬ tainment System (NES) at the end of 1987, Activision plans to introduce two new NES titles, which were shown at this month’s 85th American International Toy Fair in New York City. The first new title is PREDATOR, an adaptation of the hit 20th Century Fox film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. As the leader of an elite military rescue team deep in the jungles ofSouth America, you are stalked by an alien hunter from another planet. PREDATOR is said to feature arcade-style animation, exciting battle action, and a final confrontation with the alien manhunter that’s filled with action and suspense. ZOMBIE HUNTER is a fantasy arcade adventure in which players explore an ancient world of mystery and danger. As the Zombie Hunter, you must battle bizarre inhabitants of this world, such as elf soldiers, axe- maidens, prehistoric birds, and the dreaded zombies themselves as you gather treasures and make your way to the castle of the Beast. Thegame is said to feature 3-D graphics, special effects, and arcade-quality sounds and animation. TradeWest: Video Games from Texas One of the newest Nintendo licensees is TradeWest, a company based in Texas that intends to bring only the very best of their arcade titles to the NES. Their first title is DOUBLE DRAGON (MSR $44.95), now expected to be in the stores this June. This extremely popular coin-op game features the finesse of martial arts fighting with the sometimes “down and dirty” techniques of gang-style street-fighting. The home mia ia a iiCLiunui dH/u ujlil, emu 1 L icuc iui any uut gamt, uw version will have three play modes: solo against the computer, two experience all of these delays. However, each of these delay-causing players taking turns against the computer, or two players in one-on-one events is a realistic possibility, along with a number of others we [ competition. Tne one-on-one mode is exeiu^ive 10 the NES version, Computer Entertainer - February, 1988 — since it is not part of the arcade game. And by late summer, TradcWest expects to have its second NES game, JOHN ELWAY’S QUARTER¬ BACK, ready for home play. This game is based on the coin-op, QUARTERBACK, which is currently the highest-grossing game in the arcades. The endorsement by Elway, popular quarterback of the Denver Broncos, is expected to gain the NES version of the game plenty of notice among football fans. TradeWest is also working with Electronic Arts to produce disk versions of both DOUBLE DRAGON and JOHN ELWAY’S QUARTERBACK for Commodore 64/128 and possibly other computer systems. A Preview Look It’s always been tough getting artwork for game screens when we review the product, so we were especially amazed when Nintendo sent along line art (often not done at all) on anticipated games and acces¬ sories that won’t be available, in some cases, until May or June. We were so excited to get this artwork, and we’ve been getting sooooo many requests from our readers on “what does it look like,” that we arc running these screens early. Please check the Availability Update for anticipated release dates. By the way, we expect a couple of screen photographs from Sega shortly on AfterBumer, as well as a couple of upcoming 3D games. When they get in, we will run those also. Use your sword to ward-off enemies you'll encounter as you explore the endless terrain of the Kingdom in Zelda II -The Adventure of Link. A never ending Gold Pak Adventure. It's fast skatin,' hip checkin! high scoring action. Choose a country for you and your opponent and get ready to face-off at center ice to become top goal scorer in Nintendo's Ice Hockey The new NES Max, a small lap controller featuring Turbo buttons. Its you against four other all-star racers in this R.C. competition. Choose from 32 courses and face hair-pin turns and oil slicks that are sure to test your driving skills to be the winner in R C. Pro-Am. The b Official Nintendo Player’s Guide The new configuration for the NES Control Deck, featuring the Official Nintendo Player’s Guide which has reviews of over 90 games for your NES. 10 Computer Entertainer - February, 1988 NINTENDO Software SNEAK PREVIEW ) RENEGADE (**1/2/**) is an eagerly awaited title fromTaito with a street-fighting theme. You are the Renegade, a sort of good guy/ vigilante type who’s out to clean up the riff-raff in the city. Playable at any of three difficulty levels, the game has four stages of play. The first stage sets you against street punks on a subway platform, the second takes you to the wharf for a showdown with outlaw bikers, the third is an alley fight against Kung Fu females, and the fourth lets you go against the hoodlums of the streets. In each stage the action is three against one, and the bad guys will go after you with everything they’ve got. Your weapons are your fists and your killer kicks—along with a few extra moves such as a shoulder throw and the old knee-to-the-groin gambit. Make no mistake about it, RENEGADE is definitely violent. But violence seems to be very popular with gamers at the moment, and the designers are obliging the gamers’ desire for vicarious violence. Too Repetitive With practice, we managed to get far enough into the game to get a feel for its pacing and playability. We had expected to like RENE¬ GADE simply because it was one of those titles that many gamers seemed so eager to have. Now that we’ve played it for ourselves, however, we just don’t understand why there was so much advance interest. It’s not that we have a problem with the violence, because we’ve played and enjoyed other violent games. However, RENE¬ GADE seems to be just too much of the same thing over and over again. Even with the special powers that can be earned, the different settings, and the variety of fighting moves, we just couldn’t get over the feeling that there was too little game stretched over too many stages of play. Playing this game gave us the same feeling we’ve experienced while watching a TV movie that seemed thin on content and fat with filler— about 15 minutes worth of plot made to fill an hour of time. If you simply must have RENEGADE, that’s up to you, but we would recommend trying a friend’s copy before you decide to buy this one. (Solo or 2-player alternating; Pause.) Available for NES only. Not recommended. (MSR $34.95) KARNOV (***1/2/****) is the latest from Data East, and we think it’s their best game yet. KARNOV is an action adventure in which a fireball-shooting circus strongman attempts to recover the Lost Treas¬ ure of Babylon for his village. The treasure was stolen by the evil dragon, Ryu, and its up to Kamov to get it back. His trip through nine levels of play is a bizarre journey through monster-infested country¬ side. He runs, jumps, climbs, swims and flies through a variety of settings. And he meets some of the most wonderfully grotesque creatures we’ve ever encountered in a video or computer game. As Kamov makes his way through the countryside, many options can be collected to help him in his travels. There are ladders for reaching the unreachable, special boots that make him jump higher, extra weapons, and many other items that are useful or even necessary to his quest. The game is full of surprises, too, so it’s not exactly the same every time you play. And you will want to play this one again and again. KARNOV is highly challenging, imaginatively programmed, graphically inter¬ esting, and just plain fun to play. And it has dinosaurs among its wonderful cast of monsters. How could you not love a great game that has dinosaurs in it? (Solo play; Pause; Continuation feature.) Available for NES only. Recommended. (MSR $39.95) Many Delays Expected in New Games for NES Largely due to the current PC chip shortage in Japan, delays are expected in release dates for many NES games. Nintendo announced revisions in their entire schedule for the first half of 1988, delaying ZELDA Il-THE AD VENTURE OF LINK, SUPER MARIOB ROS. 2, R.C. PRO-AM RACING and ICE HOCKEY. RETURN OF DON¬ KEY KONG has been moved to the second half of the year, and DRAGON WARRIOR has been removed from the first-half lineup. We do not know if or when DRAGON WARRIOR will be released. We expect that Nintendo’s licensees will also be affected, and we have already learned thatTradeWest’s DOUBLE DRAGON and SunSoft’s FREEDOM FORCE have been rescheduled. As always, when we receive revised schedules from the manufacturers, the information appears in the Availability Update. V___ I FIGHTING GOLF (***l/2/***l/2) is a “surprise” title shown at the Winter C.E.S. by SNK and planned for release in the next several weeks. The title may throw you off a bit (it did for us) as it is simply a golf game for one to four players. It’s a pretty straight-forward game of golf where you can choose to practice or play on a U.S. or Japanese course. Once you’ve chosen which one of four players you wish to represent, it’s on to the links where you ’ll have all sorts of views to help you in your game. You can flip through a view from the tee, overhead of the entire hole, or the green. Once you’re ready to tee-off, you must choose the club you wish to use and position the cursor for the direction of your shot. You ‘11 see your player from right behind them as well as a split-screen overhead shot of the entire hole. Once the ball is hit, the view will change to show where the ball is heading and where it lands. There’ll be a small inset picture of your golfer as you move on. Once you reach the green, you’ll deal with the slope and speed of the green. Throughout your afternoon on the links, you’ll have to watch for sandtraps, water traps, bunkers, and more. There’s a leader board in which high scores are posted. Very Complete This is a very complete golf game and, in fact, offers more than the original Golf made by Nintendo. The timing on your swing is pretty tricky so you’ll have to practice to get it right. The graphics and multiple screens are quite nice allowing you to really get into the game. All in all, it’s great fun for golfing fans (one to four players) Recommended (Estimated MSR $42.95) SEGA Software PENGUIN LAND (***/***) is the first cartridge from Sega to have a built-in lithium battery. The game is a maze adventure which appears to have a childish theme: Overbite, the penguin commander, must rescue Penguin Eggs and return them to the penguin space ship. Despite its cutesy theme, however, the game is far from child’s play. There are 50 levels of subterranean mazes, the first 30 accessible by player choice at the beginning of the game. The mazes consist of rock blocks and breakable ice blocks, and they’re populated by bears and condor-like birds that are dangerous to the eggs. Each maze covers several screens which scroll gradually downward, and figuring your way through them without getting Overbite killed or the egg scrambled is quite a series of puzzles. When the game is paused, you have the ability to scroll through the maze of your current level. This helps you to plan your moves without stopping for extended periods during the actual game. (Stopping while playing is dangerous, because it brings on the condor-like bird, which drops bricks on your egg.) The battery in the cartridge is not used for saving your progress in the game, but instead for saving mazes which you design. PENGUIN LAND con¬ tains a game editor in which you can build your own mazes to add new levels to the game. The battery’s capacity is fifteen custom mazes, and the mazes can be saved at any stage of completion. Good Choice for Older Players PENGUIN LAND will appeal most to those gamers who love to solve puzzles. Although eye-hand coordination is certainly a factor in your success, the ability to visualize solutions and find your way through tough spots is much more important. As a result, we think that PENGUIN LAND is a good choice for older players who appreciate a mental challenge more than a physical one—despite the somewhat childish theme of the game. We found PENGUIN LAND enjoyable to play, although we would prefer to see a little more variety in the enemies placed within the mazes. It is a good puzzle game, though not a great one. However, the ability to build your own mazes adds value to the basic game and extends it appeal. (Solo play; Pause.) MSR approx. $50-55. Japanese Game Fanatics’ Tip of the Month This month’s tip adds a continuation feature to Acclaim’s popular helicopter action game for the Nintendo system, TIGER HELl. Immediately after you lose your last helicopter, and before the title screen reappears, simply push the A and B buttons at the same time, holding them both down for about 10-15 seconds. The game will then re-start where you lost your last helicopter. 11 Computer Entertainer - February, 1988 - and the other is Chozen; this game is straightforward combat without the stages and bonus techniques of the basic game.) Four Stages JAWS (**1/2/**) is arecententry from LIN Toys into the Nintendo arena which trades more off the name than game quality or depth. You begin in a schooner on a map, navigating around islands. You want to avoid fighting Jaws if possible; however, if he touches the boat (his fin will appear out of nowhere), you’ll be forced to go up against him. Usually, though, you’ll be going up against smaller sea creatures. When the boat “hits” something, the view will change to a side view and you *11 go underwater as a diver. There you ’ll shoot at the stingray- type creatures, trying to collect shells which will increase your energy level. Once you’ve played the side view screens a number of times, the screen will change into a bonus screen where you can collect the conch shells by bombing the jellyfish with your airplane overhead. There are two harbors in the map scene where you can go and pick up a transmitter (so you can track Jaws with sound) or additional energy - both available depending on the number of conch shells you have. Once your score reaches a certain level, the mini-sub will appear on the map scene which you can use until it is attacked by Jaws or one of the other sea creatures. The final scene is one in which you confront Jaws with you boat - drive the front of your boat into him and you win. Repetitive Back and forth your diver goes, shooting the creatures, catching shells. There just isn’t enough to this one to hold your interest. We found ourselves quickly tiring of the game. There needs to be more variation in what is encountered in the ocean depths. The graphics are not bad, but pretty simple in rendition. The game gets a lot of requests, mainly from the title. This is a case where the licensed name is stronger than the game it represents, (one player) Not Recommended (MSR $39.95) GOTCHA (***/***) is the latest game for the Zapper light gun which pits you against enemy commandos in three stages - the forest, Bronx, and a winter scene. The game, from LIN Toys . finds you pitting your shooting skills against an enemy who fires back at you. In the first scene, the enemy hides behind trees and runs through the forest in army fatigues, taking a ready stance to fire at you if you don’t fire first. In the background, some commandos work through the trees carrying ammo. Shoot them and get more ammunition for your gun. In the second stage, you ’re up against hardcore city thugs who fire at you through windows and run down the street to take aim. Finally, in the winter scene, you’ll be up against the enemy who’ll come up from behind the fort or log cabin to attack you. Always A Demand fora Gun Game We know our Nintendo owners love games they can use with their zappers and this one offers some good shooting. There are three levels of skill so you can move slowly or quickly through the challenge. Unlike other gun games available, you can lose by being shot by the enemy. The other games are over when you run out of ammo or miss too many of the shots. This gives you that additional challenge, knowing you must gun down the enemy before giving him time to set his sights on you. This a good addition to the library of gun games for the Nintendo (one player) Recommended (MSR $39.95) THE KARATE KID (**l/2/**l/2) is a martial arts action adven¬ ture from LIN Toys which is based on the second “Karate Kid” movie. The basic game is played in four main stages with three bonus stages. The player controls Daniel-San against Chozen and his followers. (There is also a one-on-one game in which out: phytr is Dam'd-San The first stage of the game is a karate tournament with four succes¬ sively more difficult opponents. Daniel-San’s weapons are the usual kicks and punches plus four powerful “crane kicks” which will be familiar to anyone who has seen the Karate Kid movies. Winning the tournament leads to the next stage, Daniel-San in Okinawa. This portion is a scrolling action-adventure in which enemies must be defeated karate-style as Daniel-San makes his way to the final screen of the stage, where Chozen is waiting for him. Along the way, extra Crane Kicks and Drum Punches can be gathered by touching symbols that appear briefly. Occasional dark doorways lead to one of three bonus stages, where additional Crane Kicks and Drum Punches can be earned. Bonus stages involve catching flies with chopsticks, breaking ice blocks, and practicing the Drum Punch technique by dodging a swinging hammer. The third stage, The Typhoon Strikes, adds wind- driven sticks and backward-flying birds to the expected enemy fight¬ ers. At the end, Daniel-San must defeat Chozen and rescue a child who is trapped on a tower. The final stage is the Summer Festival, where Daniel-San fights his enemies among the ruins of a castle by the sea, meets up with Chozen again, and must rescue Kumiko. Better-than-Average Portrayal of Movie Theme The UN designers have done a better-than-average job of portraying a movie theme in a game. This could have been just another tourna¬ ment-style martial arts game, but the addition of the action-adventure sequences makes the game more interesting and playable. However, the graphic portrayal of the martial arts fighting is not as authentic and smoothly animated as we would like to see. Especially in the first stage, the tournament, we found it disconcerting that the two fighters would simply freeze in mid-air when the winning blow was delivered. Also, sound effects are minimal in this game, and the music of the introduc¬ tion is nowhere near what this system is capable of producing. The movie story is faithfully portrayed, but the game itself could have been stronger with better animation and perhaps a little more variety in the martial arts moves. (Solo, 2-player alternating, or 1-on-l; Pause.) Available for NES only. MSR $39.95 ATARI XE Game Software BATTLEZONE (*l/2/**) is an old warhorse that has been resur¬ rected for the Atari XE Game system. Compared to what’s out there now, it shows its age. The premise is simple...you must save the world from power-hungry rebels who have sent out a fleet of robot war machines. All you have is a vintage military tank which must seek out and destroy these enemies. You can maneuver pretty well, with the ability to turn completely around. The controls onboard include a radar which will let you know if an enemy is nearby. Once you get the enemy within your gunsights, fire away. Doesn't Hold Up Against New Games This was, of course, one of the venerable hits in the Atari stable. Unfortunately, as gaming as moved forward with graphics and game- play becoming more and more sophisticated, this game has not “aged” well. It features vector graphics which are sparse at best and there is nothing challenging about the gameplay. Simply move your tank and shoot. The game just isn’t good enough to make up for the graphics which are no longer acceptable, (one player; cartridge) Not Recommended (MSR $19.95) Computer Entertainer - February, 1988 INTELLI VISION Software Availability Update...continued from Page 14 i COMMANDO (★★/★A) is one of two new games for Intellivision by INTV Corp . Due to the limitations of the system, this one just docs not translate. You are a lone commando in enemy territory attempting to rescue prisoners of war. Your only weapons are a machine gun and a limited number of hand grenades. The enemy is attacking from every angle - from behind bushes, barricades, and from trenches. Your goal is to reach the gates of the enemy stronghold, enter, and rescue your comrades. Just Doesn't Have It Perhaps we’ve been looking at the games for Nintendo and Sega for too long, but this game just doesn’t have what it takes, even with the realization that the system is limited. We’ve seen Commando for several systems and found the gameplay and graphics rich. This version is quite a jolt as the graphics are exceedingly spare (we’ve seen better on Intellivision) and the gameplay monotonous. We just couldn’t get into it. (one player; two player alternating) Not Recommended (MSR $19.95) SLAM DUNK SUPER PRO BASKETBALL (**l/2/***l/2), also from INTV Corp .. is, on the other hand, rich in gameplay and : challenges the abilities of the Intellivision. This is a multi-tiered game allowing you to enter into the many aspects of the sport of basketball. First, as owner, you assemble your players from a pool of over 70 choices with the stats based on real pro players. You also have a budget to stay within so you must watch the salaries. As manager, you decide when to put your players into the game and when to pull them. When it’s time to play, you can battle against the computer or a friend with the real rules of the game. There’s a 24-second clock, time-outs, 3 point half-court shots, fouls, free throws, as well as five different play levels. Passing is done by zones. In other words, each half court is divided into 9 zones which correspond to your keypad. Very Complete Anyone who enjoys basketball will find that all the elements are here, from the ability to set up your own team to substitutions, and full team play. The action is fast and furious with lots going on. You’ll be able to play a very satisfying game of basketball as you look down on the entire court proceedings (one player; two player simultaneous) Recommended (MSR $19.95) Pnce Is Right (GT) Skate Or Die (ULT) Speed Rum bier (CAP) Zombie Hunter (ACT) JULY Super Mano Bros 2 (NIN) Tecmo Football (TEC) AUGUST John Elway's Quarterback (TV/) SECOND HALF’88 Rampage (DE) Return of Donkey Kong (NIN) Robo-Cop (DE) Terminator (SUN) SEGA DECEMBER ’87 x Fantasy Zone II (SEG) x Great Basketball (SEG) JANUARY *88 x Penguin Land (SEG) MARCH Artec Adventure (SEG) Global Defense (SEG) APRIL After Burner (SEG) Alien Syndrome (SEG) Maze Hunter 3-D (SEG) Monopoly (SEG) Rescue Mission (SEG) MAY Fantasy Zone: The Maze (SEG) Parlour Games (SEG) Zaxxon 3D (SEG) JUNE Alex Kidd: Lost Stan (SEG) SECOND HALF Blade Eagle 3 D Cube Zone (SEG) Miracle Warn on (SEG) Phantasy Star (SEG) Rampage (DE) Robo Cop (DE) Space Harrier 3 D (SEG) Wonder Boy Monster Land (SEG) Ziflicm II Tn/ormation (SEG) ARC. Arcadia AT ..Atari BAN Bandai BAU. Baudville BRO Broderbund CAP Capcom USA CIN .Cmemawarc COS Cosmi DE Data East DS.DalaSoft EA Electronic Arts EPY Epyx Fa pci FIR firebird GAM Gamester GDW. Game Designer’s Workshop GT.GameTek INF Jnfocom INS. Jnlentel INT INTV Corp 1RM Jrcm JAL. Jaleco KON Konami LF Lucas film Games LG .Leisure Genius UN UN Toys MD MicroDeal/MKhTron MI.. Microllhisions MIC.. MicroPros® MIN Mmdscape NIN.Nintendo NWC. Mew World Computing ORI...Origin Systems PAR Paragon POL. Polarwarc PSY Psygnotis SEG Sega SIESiem SIL Silicon Beach S/W SIR SirTech SNK SNKCorp SPE. Spectrum HoloByie SPN Spinnaker SPR Springboard SS. Simon &. Schuster SSG ..Strategic Studies Gp SSI Strategic Simulations ST Software Toolworki SUB Sublogic SUN Sunsoft TAI.Taito TEC. Tecmo TEN Tengen TS Three-Sixty Pacific TW Trade West ULT. Ultra USG U S Gold UXB UXB S/W NOTE: Programs noted "x" have shipped as of press time but may not yet be distributed nation wide Projected shipping dates are provided by manufacturers and subject to change CQMTANTLCQQLS. ABS Absolute Entertainment ACC Access ACM Acclaim Entertainment ACO Accolade ACT. Activision AH Avalon Hill Does this copy belong to a friend? Why not get your own subscrip¬ tion and save each issue for future reference. Send this coupon in with a check, money order, or bankcard information and we’ll get you started right away so you can get all the news, previews, and reviews before you can get them anywhere else! Name:_ Address:_ City:_ State:_ Zip:_ Top Gun Shooting Contest Konani has just announced its Top Gun Shoot Out Contest in which you can become a finalist, receiving an all-expense-pad trip to New York City for the Finals aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid in May, 1988! The player with the highest score there will win $5,000; the second place finisher will win $2,500; the third place winner will receive $ 1,200 and the fourth place player will win $600. To enter, simply run up your highest score and photograph the screen. Send that in with an entry form (either in your game box or at a special display at your videogame store). If you can’t find a form, send the photo in with your name, address, and telephone number (don’t forget your area code) hand¬ printed or typed on a 3x5" card to: TOP GUN SHOOT OUT CON¬ TEST, P.O. Box 728, Benton Harbor, Ml 49022. Good Luck and if any of our readers reach the finals, let us know! -One Year FIRST CLASS - $25.00 One Year THIRD CLASS-S21.00 One Year FOREIGN AIR - $38.00 Bankcard # (all digits): Expriation Date: _ Phone #: ( ) _ Check/M.O. Enclosed _ Visa/MC/Amex Cardholder Name (Print): Cardholder Signature (required):^ Send to: COMPUTER ENTERTAINER 5916 Lemona Avenue Van Nuys, CA 91411 (818) 761-1516 tOfdcr y^ur subscription by phone with bankcard - OuAwde California call 1-800-228-4336) Computer Entertainer - February, 1988 13 JANUARY *88 Biimarck: N Sc* Chue (DS) Son* of Liberty (SSI) FIRST QUARTER Jewels cf Darkness (FIR) Paperboy (MIN) Spy vs Spy 3: Arctic (EPY) Trailblazer (MIN) Ulumal(ORI) SECOND QUARTER Hunt for Red October (DS) ATARI ST JANUARY *88 Leatherneck (MD) xPolioc Quest (SIE) Slaygon (MD) x-Speed Buggy (DE) x-Tanglewood (MD) FEBRUARY Pright Night (MD) Goldnmner II (MD) Gumhip (MIC) Hunt for Red October (DS) Int’I Soccer (MD) Omega Run (MD) x-Shadowgale (MIN) Univ Military Sim (FIR) MARCH Dive Bomber (USG) Mcirocross (USG) Sherioct Riddle/Crown Jewels (INF) Street Cat (USG) APRIL Rocket Ranger (ON) Three Stooges (CIN) JUNE All Reality 2: Dungeon (DS) SEPTEMBER Beyond Dark Castle (TS) FIRST QUARTER Award M alter Plus (B AU) B-24 (SSI) Bard's Tale(EA) BartleDroidz (DS) Black Lamp (FIR) Bubble Ghost (ACO) Championship Baseball (GAM) Frank VEmesl Adv (POL) Global Commander (DS) Gridiron (BS) impossible Mission II (EPY) Kanreka (BRO) King of Chicago (CIN) Leisure Suit Larry (SIE) Lock On (DE) Music Construction Set (EA) Philos (MIN) Q-Ball (MIN) Rings of Triton (MD) Shadow World (MD) Shard of Spring (SSI) Smbad/Thrcme Falcon (CIN) Spy vs Spy 3: Arctic (EPY) ST Art/Film Director (BRO) 10th Frame Bowling (ACC) Thexder (SIE) 3D Helicopter Simulator (SIE) SECOND QUARTER Death Sword (EPY) THIRD QUARTER Harpoon (TS) COMMODORE 641128 JANUARY '88 X-Black Jack Academy (MI) x Card Sharks (ACO) Dark Castle (TS) x-Hal Trick (CAP) x-Kid Niki (DE) x-Magnetron (BRO) x-Mim Golf (CAP) Panzer Strike! (SSI) x-PIasmatron (ACO) x-Power at Sea (ACO) x-Sherlock Riddle/Crown Jewels (INF) x-Speed Buggy (DE) Star Rank Boxmg D (GAM) x-Steallh Mission (SUB) x-Strike Reet (EA) x-Tetris (SPE) Three Stooges (CIN) x-Train. Escape to Normandy (ACO) FEBRUARY CroMbcmea (ABS) x-Decisive Battles/Civ War (SSG) Faery Tale Adventure (MI) Pile Power (MI) Navcom 6 Gulf Defense (COS) President Is Musing (COS) X-15 Alpha Mission (ABS) MARCH Gamma Porce Pil/Thousand Screams (INF) Home Video Producer (EPY) Hunt for Red October (DS) LA. Crackdown (EPY) Lane Mastodon Vs Blubbermen (INF) Meuocross (USG) PspcrClip Publisher (EA) Rampage (ACT) Street Cat (USG) The Gamea-Wmier Edition (EPY) ZoTkquejl Egreth Castle (INF) APRIL Arcade Game Construction Kit (BRO) Dan Bimten'a Spoilt of War (E A) Dive Bomber (USG) Red Storm Rismg (MIC) Rocket Ranger (G.V) MAY Where/Europe Is Carmen Sandiego (BRO) SEPTEMBER Beyond Dark Castle (TS) UKo'f v UaR 1FR Bard's Tale III (EA) Battle of Chickamauga (GDW) BauleDroidz (DS) Bionic Commando (CAP) B1»lTtterfCAP) Bubble Ghost (ACO) Circus Charlie (KON) Destroyer Escort (MIC) Dondra. New Beginning (SPE) Druid I (FIR) 4X4 Off Road Racing (EPY) Global Commander (DS) Golden Path (FIR) Goofy's Wotd Pactary (SIE) Gradius (KON) Iron Hone (KON) Jailbreak (KON) King of Chicago (CIN) Lock On (DE) Old Scores (DS) Rockford (ARC) Rubicon Alfcanoc (DS) SDJ (CIN) Smbad A Throne/Falcon (CIN) Sons of Liberty (SSI) Street Football (CAP) Super Basketball (KON) Swords A Sorcery (DS) Trojan (CAP) Victory Road (DE) WannS Pacific (SSI) SECOND QUARTER Death Sword (EPY) Ebonsttr (MI) Galactic Invasion (MI) Street Sports S ocoer (EPY) Impossible Mission II (EPY) Lsnd of Legends (MI) Sky Travel (MI) Sporting News Baseball (EPY) Street Fighter (CAP) THIRD QUARTER Sarge (Cap) Stocker (CAP) AMIGA JANUARY '88 x-Black Jack Academy (MI) DeluxeWrite (EA) x Galactic Invasion (MI) x-Mocbius (ORI) Rocket Ranger (CIN) Three Stooges (CIN) FEBRUARY Aargh (ARC) x Alien Fires 2199 A. D. (PAR) Hunt far Red October (DS) Metropolis (ARC) Planetarium (MI) x Return to Ails mis (EA) Road Warn on (ARC) Time Bandits (MD) MARCH Bard's Tale 11 (EA) Ebonsttr (MI) Ferrari Formula One (EA) Music Studio 2 0 (ACT) Sherlock Riddlc/Crown Jewels (INF) Street Cst (USG) World Tour Golf (EA) APRIL DeluxePhotoLab (EA) DeluxePnnt II (EA) Delux eProduaioni (EA) Interceptor (EA) MAY Dive Bomber (USG) JUNE All Reality 2 Dungeon (DS) SEPTEMBER Beyond Dark Castle (TS) FIRST QUARTER Award Maker Plus (BAU) Black Cauldron (SIE) Championship B aseball (GAM) Donald Duck’s Playgrd (SIE) GATO (SPE) GFL Champahp Football (GAM) Into Eagle's Nest (MIN) Ktmpfgruppe (SSI) Leisure Suit Larry (SIE) Oibiter (SPE) Police Quest (SIE) Rockford (ARC) Silent Service (MIC) Street Sports Basketball (EPY) Supemar Soccer (MIN) lOih Frame (ACC) SECOND QUARTER BauleDroidz (DS) Bubble Ghost (ACO) 4X4 Off Road Racing (EPY) 4th A Inches (ACO) Global Commander (DS) Gun ship (MIC) Land of Legends (MI) Pinball Wizard (ACO) THIRD QUARTER Apollo 18 (ACO) Harpoon (TS) Power at Sea (ACO) Train, The (ACO) APPLE lit flic JANUARY '88 Force 7 (DS) x-Iktri Wairion (DE) x Kid Niki (DE) King’s Quest III-I28K (SIE) x-Piraics (MIC) x-Sheriock. Riddle/Crown Jewels (INF) Tobruk Clash of Armour (DS) x 2400AD (ORI) FEBRUARY x Detrhloid (EA) x Decisive DxtUeVCiv War (SSG) x Strike Fleet (LF) x Supemar Indoor Sports (MIN) x Superstar Soccer (MIN) MARCH Bard's Tale m (EA) Dive Bomber (USG) Gamma Porce Pil/Thousand Screams (INF) Home Video Producer (EPY) Lane Mastodon Vs Blubbermen (INF) LA Crackdown (EPY) Police Quest I28K (SIE) Rampage (ACT) Star Rank Boxmg II (GAM) Wasteland (EA) WhereuEurope Is Carmen Sandiego (BRO) Zorkquest: Egreth Castle (INF) APRIL Crear bones (ABS) Last Ninja, The (ACT) PI RST QUARTER Ancient Art of War (BRO) B-24 (SSI) Commando (DE) Global Comm ander (DS) Golden Path (FIR) Imo Eagle’s Nest (MIN) Knight Ore: (FIR) Old Scores (DS) Panzer Strike! (SSI) Pharaoh's Revenge (EA) Rubicon Alliance (DS) Sons of Liberty (SSI) Spy vs Spy 3: Arctic (EPY) Street Sports Baseball (EPY) Street Sports Basketball (EPY) Sub Battle Simulator (EPY) Superstar Ioc Hockey (MIN) Super Sunday (AH) Swords A Sorcery (DS) Ultima 1 (ORI) War in S Pacific (SSI) SECOND QUARTER Death Sword (EPY) Dream Zone (BAU) Hum for Red October (DS) Impossible Mission II (EPY) John Madden Football (EA) Sky Travel (MI) Sporting News Baseball (EPY) Sucker Maker (EPY) Street Spotu Soccer (EPY) Test Dnve (ACO) The Games Winter Edition (EPY) THIRD QUARTER Card Sharks (ACO) FOURTH QUARTER Gun ship (MIC) APPLE IIGS JANUARY *88 x-Black Jack Academy (MI) Defender of Crown (CIN) Tomahawk (DS) FEBRUARY Fire Power (MI) MARCH Delux ePnnt II (EA) Last Ninja, The (ACT) Music Studio 2 0 (ACT) Paint works Gold (ACT) Sherlock Riddle/Crown Jewels (INF) Teleworks Plus (ACT) APRIL Dark Castle (TS) MAY Rocket Ranger (CIN) Three Stooges (CIN) FIRST QUARTER Bubble Ghost (ACO) DeluxeWrite (EA) Destroyer (EPY) Dondra New Beginning (SPE) Drawing Table (BRO) Hacker II (ACT) Hot A Cool Jazz (EA) Instant Music (EA) It’s Only Rock’n Ron (EA) King of Chicago (ON) King’s Quest (SIE) King’s Quest II (SIE) King's Quest III (SIE) Leisure Suit Larry (SIE) Newsmaker (BRO) Police Quest (SIE) Print Shop (BRO) SDJ. (CIN) ShowOff (BRO) Silent Service (MIC) Smbad A Throne/Falcon (CIN) Sub Bittle Simulator (EPY) 3D Helicopter Simulator (SIE) World Tour Golf (E A) SECOND QUARTER Dream Zone (BAU) Ebons tar (MI) Faery Tale Adventure (MI) 4th A Inches (ACO) Galactic Invasion (MI) Land of Legends (MI) Mini Puu (ACO) Sky Travel (MI) Pm ball Wizard (ACO) Title Shop Graphics Comp (DS) Video Title Shop (DS) THIRD QUARTER Card Sharks (ACO) FOURTH QUARTER Furore magic (EA) Pirates (MIC) mCUSIQUi JANUARY x Jewels of Darkness (FIR) x-Sibcoti Dreams (FIR) FEBRUARY Might and Mage (NWQ Police Quest (SIE) MARCH Anc ent Art of War at Sea (BRO) Fire Power (MI) Sherlock Riddle/Crown Jewels (INF) Where in Worid/Cumen Sandiego (BRO) JUNE Harpoon (TS) FIRST QUARTER Android Arena (SIL) Award Maker Plus (BAU) Beyond Dark Castle (SIL) Citadel (MIN) King's Quest in (SIE) Knight Ore (FIR) Leisure Suit Larry (SIE) North Atlantic *86 (SSI) Oibiter (SPE) Roadwar 2000 (SSI) SDJ. (CIN) Smbad A Throne/Falcon (ON) Ultima IV (ORI) SECOND QUARTER 4th A Inches (ACO) Hunt for Red October (DS) Sky Travel (MI) THIRD QUARTER AutoDuel (ORI) Train, The (ACO) IBMKtTanih LOW JANUARY'88 x Black Jack Academy (Ml) x-Guild of Thieves (FIR) x Hat Trick (CAP) x-Ikari Warriors (DE) x-Pawn, The (FIR) Pirates (MIC) x Search & Destroy (BRO) x Sherlock. Riddlc/Crown Jewels (INF) Sons of Liberty (SSI) x Star Rank Boxing II (GAM) x Supcibike Challenge (BRO) x-Tetris (SPE) x-Trojan (CAP) FEBRUARY Corporate Raider (COS) Elite (FIR) Faery Tale Adventure (MI) Poe Power (MI) x-First Expedition (INS) x Gauntlet (MIN) Hunt for Red October (DS) X-Into Eagle’s Nest (MUM) x Naater Ninja (PAR) x-Mini Putt (ACO) President Is Musing (COS) x-Tomahiwk (DS) MARCH Alien Furs 2199 AD. (PAR) Bismarck N Sea Chase (DS) Dive Bomber (USG) Gamma Force-Pil/Thousand Screams (INF) Home Video Producer (EPY) LA Crackdown (EPY) Lane Mastodon Vs Blubbermen (INF) Last Ninja, The (ACT) Rampage (ACT) Skyfox II (EA) Street Cal (USG) Where/Europe Is Carmen Sandiego (BRO) Zorkquest: Egreth Castle (INF) APRIL Crossbones (ABS) DeluxePaint II (EA) Harpoon (TS) Rocket Ranger (CIN) MAY Futuremagic (EA) Three Stooges (CIN) JUNE Alt Reality 2 Dungeon (DS) SEPTEMBER Airborne Ranger (MIC) Beyond Dark Castle (TS) Red Storm Rismg (MIC) Stealth Fighter (MIC) PI RST QUARTER Award Maker Plus (BAU) B 24 (SSI) Bion* Commando (CAP) Bop’N Wrestle (MIN) Bubble Ghost (ACO) Championship Baseball (GAM) Commando (L)E) Dondra. New Beginning (SPE) Ear! Weaver B aseball (EA) 4X4 Off Ro*l Racmg (EPY) Global Commander (DS) HaidBall (ACO) Hat Tnck (CAP) King of Chicago (CIN) Lock on (DE) 1-ords of Conquest (EA) Metropolis (ARC) Operation Market Gdn (SSI) Phan las ie (SSI) Prmt Magic (EPY) Rad Wamor (EPY) Rubicon Alliance (DS) Sale Arms (CAP) Smbad A Throne/Falcon (CIN) Spy v» Spy 3: Arctic (EPY) Star Fleet 2 (INS) Superstar Soccer (MIN) Tag Team Wrestling (DE) Uruv Military Sim (FIR) Victory Road (Dc) SECOND QUARTER Card Sharks (ACO) Dan Bumen’s Sport of War (EA) Death Sword (EPY) Ebonstar (MI) 4th A Inches (ACO) Galactic Invasion (Ml) Impossible Mission II (EPY) Land of Legends (MI) PHM Pegasus (LF) Sporting News B aseball (EPY) Sticker Maker (EPY) Street Sports Soccer (EPY) The Gamea-Winter Edition (EPY) THIRD QUARTER Apollo 18 (ACO) Power at Sea (ACO) Sarge (CAP) Stocker (CAP) Train, The (ACO) LY[ELLIVISIQN. JANUARY Pole Position (INT) FEBRUARY Super Pro Skiing (INT) MARCH Super Pro Decathlon (INT) APRIL Super Pro Wrestling (INT) MAY Super Pro Monster Truck Rally (INT) JUNE Karateka (INT) JULY Super Pro Volleyball (INT) AUGUST Super Pro European Bike Rally (INT) SEPTEMBER Fight Simulator (INT) OCTOBER Super Pro Pool/Billiards (INT) NOVEMBER Ms Pac Man (INT) DECEMBER Super Pro Auto Racing (INT) Super Pro Horse Racing (INT) ATARI 2600 FOURTH QUARTER *87 [Boxing] (AT) Cracked (AT) Crossbow (AT) Desert Falcon (AT) Super Stunt Cycle (AT) D - working title only JANUARY '88 x Skateboardin' (ABS) MARCH Commando (ACT) ATARI 7m DECEMBER '87 x-Desen Falcon (AT) FOURTH QUARTER '87 Atari Team Wrestling (AT) B allblazer (AT) GATO (AT) Hat Trick (AT) Impossible Mission (AT) Midnight Magic (AT) Summer Games (AT) Super Huey (AT) Wmter Games (AT) JANUARY *88 Skyfox (AT) Touchdown Football (AT) ATARI XE GAME SYSTEM JANUARY '88 xB at tie zone (AT) A7AT£A7>fl JANUARY'88 x Kamov (DE) x Renegade (TAJ) X Wizard* A Warriors (ACM) FEBRUARY Contra (KON) MARCH Aerobics (BAN) Dragon Power (BAN) Fighting Golf (SNK) Prcedom Force (SUN) Gun smoke (CAP) Ioc Hockey (N1N) Jeopardy (GT) NES Max Joy pad (NIN) 1943 (CAP) Pro Am Racing (NIN) Ultima (FQ) Victory Road (SNK) Wheel of Fortune (GT) APRIL Bad Street Brawler (MIN) Bases Loaded (JAL) City Connection (JAL) Dr Chaos (FCI) Gauntlet (TEN) Indiana Jones Temple/Doom (MIN) Jackal (KON) Maj League Baseball (UN) Rambo (ACM) RJ3 J. Baseball (TEN) Surfing^S kale boarding (UN) Tecmo Baseball (TEC) TNK 3 (SNK) Xenophobe (SUN) MAY Bionic Commando (CAP) Bubble Bobble (TAI) Metal Gear (ULT) JUNE Adventure of Link (NIN) Double Dragon (TW) Dragon Ninja (TEC) Hollywood Squares (GT) Platoon (SUN) Predator (ACT) ...continued on Page 13 S’ . © 1988 Computer Entertainer and Video Game Update. $35 annually in U.S. funds for 12 issues, published monthly, via first class mail. Foreign $42 airmail. Send payment to; Computer Eniertatner, 5916Lemona Avenue, Van Nuys, CA 91411. (818)761-1516. Computer Entertainer accepts no advertising from any software manufacturer. The philosophy of this newsleiter is io provide the reader with honest evaluations of products on the market. It is our intention to act as an independent walchdog, providing critical commentary and analysis. The opinions are solely those of Computer Entertainer and are not influenced by the manufacturers. To describe a program, we may use existing literature from the manufacturer, but thal will have no bearing on the ralirtg system. Any reproduclton, duplication, or re-publication of this copyrighted work without written consent of Computer Entertainer is strictly prohibiled. Any violation of applicable copyright laws will be vigorously prosecuied and subjecl to civil and criminal penalites.This work may not ^be changed or altered in any way. 14 Computer Entertainer - February, 1988 jr SUBSCRIBER BUYING SERVICE ) Program Cost Sys/Format Quantity Total Battlczonc (Atari XE Game-cartridge) 14.80 Blackjack Academy (I) 31.70 Blackjack Academy (Am;Co;GS) 28.80 Commando (Int) 18.40 Death lord (Ap) 36.40 Decisive Battlcs/American Civil War (Ap/Co) 28.80 Elite (I) 28.80 Elite (Ap;Co) 18.70 Fighting Golf (NES) - price estimated;may change 32.90 FirePower (Am;GS*) 18.70 FirePower (I”) 20.30 Gauntlet (I) 28.80 Gauntlet (Co;At) 22.30 Gauntlet (ST) 36.40 Gotcha (NES) 30.90 Ikari Warriors (Ap) 26.10 Ikari Warriors (Co*) 22.30 Ikari Warriors (NES) 32.90 Jaws (NES) 30.90 Karate Kid (NES) 30.90 Kamov (NES) 30.90 Kid Niki (Ap) 26.10 Kid Niki (Co) 22.30 Kid Niki (NES) 30.90 Mini Putt (I;Co) 22.30 Penguin Land (Sega) 43.90 Plasmatron (Co) 11.20 Renegade (NES) 30.70 Return of WSerdna (Ap) 43.60 Shadowgate (ST;Am;Mac) 36.40 Sherlock:Riddle of Crown Jewels (Co) 26.10 Sherlock-.Riddle of Crown Jewels (Ap;Am*;ST*;Mac*;GS*) 28.80 SherlockrRiddle of Crown Jewels (I) 31.70 Slam Dunk Super Pro Basketball (Int) 18.40 Speed Buggy (Co) 22.30 Speed Buggy (ST*) 32.90 MISL Superstar Soccer (Co) 26.10 Tetris (I) 26.10 Tetris (Co) 18.70 Tomahawk (I;Co;Ap) 22.30 ZigZag (Co) 18.70 RENEW YOUR SUBSCRIPTION SO YOU DON’T MISS AN ISSUE! 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Monday-Friday (closed Saturday, Sunday, Holidays) from 9:30am* 5pm (WEST COAST TIME) J Computer Entertainer - February, 1988 15 From: BUSINESS REPLY MAIL FIRST CLASS PERMIT NO. 715 NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA 91607 POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES Computer Entertainer 5916 Lemona Avenue Van Nuys, CA 91411 Seif Mailing folder. Fold Here COMPUTER SOFTWARE SALE We’ve been buying product from stores going out of business. All product brand new. Act quickly...many titles in extremely small quantities. All subject to prior sale. All Sales Final Sale expires March 15, 1988 or whenever supplies are gone, whichever is First. Commodore $412$ Road war Europa 7.00 Shiloh 9.00 AtarLSX Alternate Reality: City 9.00 Sanxion 5.00 Sons of Liberty 7.00 Airball Construction Set 7.00 Amnesia 6.00 Scrabble 6.00 Street Spts Baseball 8.00 Alternate Reality: City 8.00 Apollo 18 14.00 Shiloh 7.00 Tag Team Wrestling 7.00 Defender of the Crown 12.00 Arctic Antics 12.00 Sidearms 5.00 Xevious 8.00 Gauntlet 13.00 Beamrider 10.00 Skyfox II 13.00 Guild of Thieves 11.00 Bop N Rumble 8.00 Spiderbot 5.00 Annie IIGS Kings Quest 9.00 Boulder Dash Construction 7.00 Sub Battle Simulator 11.00 DeluxePaint II 25.00 Marble Madness 9.00 Cauldron 14.00 Tag Team Wrestling 7.00 816/Paint 11.00 President Elect 8.00 Chuck Yeager 15.00 Thunderchopper 8.00 List Plus 15.00 Roadwar Europa 7.00 Coil Cop 5.00 Top Gun 5.00 Paper Models:XMAS Kit 9.00 Uridium 8.00 Commando 6.00 Touchdown Football 8.00 Roadwar 2000 8.00 Wargame Construction Set 9.00 Cyrus Chess 4.00 Ultima I 10.00 Tass Times/Tonetown 15.00 Wizard’s Crown 8.00 Deja Vu 6.00 Zoids 8.00 Xevious 7.00 Delta Man 4.00 IBM Demon Stalkers 8.00 AnDle II Ace of Aces 7.00 Macintosh Destroyer 8.00 Ace Reporter 4.00 Advs in So America 5.00 Apache Strike 14.00 Dragons Lair 10.00 Ardy 3.00 Amnesia 7.00 Defender of the Crown 8.00 Express Raider 5.00 B-24 7.00 Arctic Fox 8.00 Guild of Thieves 9.00 Fast Tracks 10.00 Balance of Power 9.00 Bard’s Tale 6.00 Hacker II 9.00 Firework Celebration 12.00 Battle in Normandy 6.00 Boulder Dash Construction 8.00 Hardball 8.00 4ih & Inches 10.00 Bop N Wrestle 8.00 Dark Castle 11.00 HyperCard 25.00 Ghosts & Goblins 5.00 Boulder Dash Construction 8.00 Defender of the Crown 12.00 Pawn, The 10.00 Golf 6.00 Bruce Lee 7.00 Earl Weaver Baseball 14.00 Silicon Dreams 8.00 Graphics Magician Jr 5.00 California Games 11.00 FileNotes 6.00 Thunder 7.00 Hacker II 13.00 Choplifter/David GBA champ Basketball 16.00 Trust & Betrayal 13.00 Halls of Montezuma 6.00 Midnite Magic 6.00 Ghosts & Goblins 7.00 Infiltrator II 9.00 Chuck Yeager 12.00 Guild of Thieves 10.00 Amiga Instant Music 9.00 Commando 7.00 Gunship 9.00 Dark Castle 11.00 Into the Eagles Nest 9.00 816/Paint 10.00 Hacker 9.00 Guild of Thieves 13.00 Jeopardy 5.00 Eternal Dagger 7.00 Hardball 9.00 Hardball 10.00 Jet 7.00 Gamemaker Sports Lib 9.00 Hat Trick 11.00 Into the Eagles Nest 12.00 Karate Champ 7.00 GBA Champ Baseketball 13.00 Jewels of Darkness 7.00 Jewels of Darkness 11.00 Kung Fu Master 7.00 GFL Champ Football 14.00 Lords of Conquest 7.00 Lurking Horror 10.00 Labyrinth 14.00 Golf 4.00 Mech Brigade 6.00 Plutos 8.00 LodeRunner 6.00 Guild of Thieves 10.00 Newsroom Pro 15.00 Q-Ball 15.00 Might and Magic 9.00 Hacker 11 15.00 Paper Models:XMAS Kit 8.00 Roadwar Europa 9.00 Ms Pac-Man 7.00 Halls of Montezuma 8.00 Pawn, The 10.00 SDI 10.00 Ole 4.00 Infiltrator II 8.00 Rebel Charge at Chickamauga7.00 Outragious Pages 11.00 Intrigue 6.00 Rings of Zilfin 6.00 Atari XEZXL Paper Models: XMAS Kit 9.00 Karate Champ 8.00 Roadwar Europa 7.00 Goonies 7.00 PaperBoy 12.00 Kung Fu Master 7.00 Robot Rascals 6.00 LodeRunner 5.00 Paperclip III 12.00 Match Wits 4.00 Search & Destroy 5.00 Phantasie II 7.00 Pastfinder 7.00 Panzer Strike 7.00 SDI 6.00 Rainy Day Games 5.00 Pawn, The 10.00 Pathwords 5.00 Shard of Spring 6.00 PlayNet 2.00 Postcards 7.00 Shiloh 7.00 BOOKS Postcards 11.00 Print Magic 9.00 Soko-Ban 11.00 Kings Quest Hints 4.00 Project Space Station 12.00 Project Space Station 9.00 Space Quest 7.00 CP/M Primer 4.00 Rad Warrior 7.00 Rad Warrior 6.00 Street Spts Basketball 8.00 Pascal Prgms Rainy Day Games 4.00 Roadwar Europa 7.00 Superbike Challenge 7.00 for DataBase 3.00 Realms of Darkness 7.00 Rocky Horror Pix Show 8.00 Superstar Indoor Sports 11.00 Earl Weaver Baseball 4.00 Road to Moscow 6.00 i-' -ush Hiear War in Fast 7.0' Talisman 6.00 16 Computer Entertainer - February, 1988 Computer Entertainer the newsletter f - 5916Lemona Avenue, Van Nuys, CA 91411 . s ^ ©March, 1988 Volume 6, Number 12 $3.50 j In This Issue ... Cinemaware working on CDI VideoGame Shortages Continue New Title from Capcom for NES Sneak Plans for Computer Conversion for NES Activision License for SEGA! REVIEWS Include ... Contra T&C Surf Designs NES Max Zinger Joystick ...for Nintendo Jet ...for Amiga Power at Sea Stealth Mission Winter Challenge ...for Commodore 64 Master Ninja First Expedition ...for IBM Aztec Adventure Global Defense ...for Sega Pole Position ...for Intellivision THE TOP TWENTY 1. Gauntlet (Min/Co) 2. California Games (Epy/Co) 3. Test Drive (Aco/Co) 4. Paperboy (Min/Co) 5. Mini-Putt (Aco/Co) 6. Spy vs Spy IlI:Arctic Antics (Epy/Co) 7. Maniac Mansion (Act/Co) 8. Sherlock: Riddle /Crown Jewels (Inf/Ap) 9. Skate or Die (EA/Co) 10. Leisure Suit Larry (Sie/I) 11. C. Yeager Flight Simulator (EA/I) 12. Gunship (Mic/Co) 13. Street Sports Basketball (Epx/Co) 14. Police Quest (Sie/I) 15. Beyond Zork (Inf/Ap) 16. Tomahawk (DS/Co) 17. Sub Battle Simulator (Epx/I) 18. Wizardry:Return of Werdna (Sir/Ap) 19. Into Eagle’s Nest (Min/I) 20. Test Drive (Aco/ST) TOP TEN VIDEOGAMES 1. Punch-Out (Nin/NES) 3. Top Gun (Kon/NES) 2. Wizards & Warriors (Acc/NES) 5. Kamov (DE/NES) 7. Legend of Zelda (Nin/NES) 4. Goonies II (Kon/NES) 6. Double Dribble (Kon/NES) 8. Ikari Warriors (SNK/NES) 9. Castlevania (Kon/NES) 10. Winter Games (Acc/NES) •N__ Milton Bradley Announces Games for NES First announced as a new Nintendo licensee at the Winter Consumer Electronics Show in January, M ilton Bradley has disclosed its first three game titles to be released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in July. (Prices have not been set at this time.) All three are conversions of existing titles, one a hit from the arcades and two based on best-selling computer games. The arcade hit is the Atari/ Namco favorite, MARBLE MADNESS. This action-skill game is set in a three-dimensional Escherian world of ramps, tilted planes, and drop-offs into the black void of space. If the conversion is a good one, this game should be a very popular one with NES owners. Rounding out the initial trio of Milton Bradley games for the Nintendo system are a pair of multi-events sports games licensed from Epyx, the computer software company that virtually owns this category of gaming. WORLD GAMES is a tour of sports events associated with specific countries, such as cliff diving at La Quebrada in Acapulco, Mexico, sumo wrestling from Japan, and the caber toss from Scotland. CALIFORNIA GAMES explores the sports and special ambience of the Golden State, from surfing and skating by the Pacific to BMX racing on the desert. SHANGHAI Licensed to Sega After the success of GHOSTBUSTERS, Sega has licensed another computer entertainment hit from Activision, SHANGHAI. The game is an electronic rendition of the oriental pastime of Mah- Jongg, a game which was once banned in Philadelphia because of its long-ago association with thieves, cutthroats and brigands. The game is simplicity itself: 144 intricately decorated tiles are stacked in a five-level, dragon-shaped pyramid, and the object is to remove the tiles until all are gone or no further moves can be made. The computer version of SHANGHAI has hooked many a gamer for hours upon hours of fascinating playtime, and the Sega version is likely to do the same. It should certainly appeal to Sega owners looking for fewer demands on their eye-hand coordination and a little more emphasis on involvement of their minds in a game. Interactive Video in Development at Hasbro Watch for a new interactive game/video system from Hasbro Electronics. The system, which is expected to be available for Christmas 1988, is said to incorporate real, movie-like video images with digital overlays. Industry sources claim that Hasbro intends to position its system, which is expected to sell for approximately $200, against the Nintendo Entertainment System. One of the people involved in the project is David Crane, one of the founders of Activision who left that company to join Hasbro several months ago. Another Computer Conversion for Nintendo We’re sworn to secrecy until the companies involved are ready to make their announcement, but one of 1987’ s most popular computer titles will be available for the Nintendo Entertainment System this fall or winter. This one sounds especially promising as a Nintendo game, since there’s nothing else quite like it available now. As soon as the companies are ready to make the title public, you’ll read about it here! Cinemaware Working on CDI Game Although we know that many of the major entertainment software companies have CDI (Compact Disc-Interactive) projects in development, most have not been willing to talk “on the record” about specifics. The exception is Cinemaware, whose design team is working with American Interactive Media on a CDI version of ROCKET RANGER, a title that is also due for release in several computer formats this year. Don’t look for the CDI version of ROCKET RANGER to appear anytime soon, however, since most estimates place the commercial release of CDI at twelve to eighteen months in the future. 6 ISSN #0890-2143 1 COMMODORE 64/128 Software Q*BERT (***/***) is a perennial favorite and now makes its way to Data East’s “Moving Target Series,” a low-cost line of arcade-style games. Q*Bert is a character just about everyone is familiar with as he springs up and down the various steps of a pyramid-type structure. As he hops about, the steps change color and he must avoid the various baddies who bounce after him atte mpting to keep him from completing the pyramid. Still a Favorite This is one of those games which holds up, year after year, as something that you pull out when you want to test your dexterity in a game of light-hearted fun. Certainly, many of you already have this title in your collection. If you don’t, the price is definitely right and you’ll enjoy it for years to come (solo play Joystick required; Commo¬ dore 64/128) Recommended (MSR $9.95) TNK III (**★/*★*) is the second in the Data East “M ovine Tgreet” series. In this game, you’re in command of TNK 111, an experimental super-tank. You’ve got advanced weaponry in this one-man army, but you’ll need every bit of it as you battle tanks, bombers, and guerilla combat troops. You’ll land on a beach and then set out through the enemy terrain which scrolls both vertically and horizontally. You’ll have to use your best judgement in deciding the quickest and most efficient route as you attempt to break through the dictator’s defenses in order to free the country from his hold. When you lose a tank, a screen shows you an overhead map which indicates where you are in relation to where you still have to travel. Good Action This is a fine arcade-action game requiring quick thinking and fast reflexes. You’ll find the enemy coming out of the most unpredictable places, making it necessary to be constantly aware. The graphics are quite nice as you look down on the action below you. You’ll be negotiating around bunkers, over bridges, and more as you continue you fight against the enemy, (one player; joystick optional; available for Commodore 64/128; coming for Nintendo fromSNK who licensed it to Data East for this version) Recommended (MSR $9.95) STEALTH MISSION (★★★/**★) is the newest flight simulator from Si/ bLoeic which stresses that this focuses on strategy in response 2 to consumer complaints on games which “mismatch” strategy and action in simulations. Boasting easy flight control, ease of navigation, and automatic landing and refueling systems, you can spend your time really flying, in combat, with three different jets: an F-19 Stealth fighter, the experimental forward-swept wing X-29, and the Navy F- 14 Tomcat. There are eight different missions included with ten difficulty levels. You can fly during the day, dusk, or night flight. Before choosing which mission you wish to enter, you can load a SubLogic Scenery Disk (not necessary). Then, once you’ve chosen the mission, you’ll need to choose which aircraft, as well as the armaments you want to put aboard. You’ll have to choose carefully as you must watch the weight, as well as outfitting the jet with the best selection of weapons for the mission chosen. As you wait to roll down the runway, you’ll note the full cockpit instrumentation giving you all the onboard information needed for your flight. In fact, you’ll find all the usual SubLogic accuracy and depth of controls, various navigaitional aids, etc. Through keyboard controls, you have multiple external views from your cockpit window. Missions include a conflict in the moun¬ tains; enemy forces which have taken over ancient ruins as a headquar¬ ters; a battle at sea where you are stationed on an island; and the marathon bomber in which you must fly long distances for fuel and arms (unless you can steal them from the enemy). Easier Than Most SubLogic Simulators It was immediately evident that we didn’t need flight school to get off the ground (don’t get us wrong...you still have to have some skill) which we enjoyed as we could quickly get into the real reason for the mission. The combat action is very good and the ability to use a realtime pause feature gives you the time you need to adjust strategies during the game. The fact that the program does not have to constantly access the disk for information allows for fast, continuous play. The graphics are very typically SubLogic in 3D animation. If you enjoy the difficulty of the Flight Simulator series, you will not find the challenge here; however, it’s good strategy and limited simulation skills which make this a good program (one player; available for Commodore 64/ 128) Recommended (MSR $49.95) WINTER CHALLENGE (**l/2/**l/2) is the latest Mindscape Thunder Mountain release which features five winter events: ski jump, downhill, bobsled, giant slalom, and biathlon. You can choose to compete in just one event or any combination, including all five. After you’ve completed in an event, you can either move on to the next event or retry the one just completed. The game opens with a brief “opening ceremony” and then moves out to the snow. In the ski jump, your initial view is from behind the jumper. Once he takes off, the screen is a side view as you manipulate him for the longest jump possible and a stylish landing (the first few jumps looked like “Eddie THE RATING SYSTEM: 4 STARS = EXCELLENT 2 STARS = FAIR 3 STARS = GOOD 1 STAR = POOR * = ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMS (1st set of stars=quality of graphics; 2nd set=quality of game play and entertainment value) * = APPLICATION PROGRAMS (1 st set of open stars=quality of graphics; 2nd set-quality of perfoimance and suitability of use in home) NA - Not Applicable (i.e. all-text programs not rated for graphics) J \ l Computer Entertainer - March, 1988 the Eagle” for us!). Other events, such as the bobsled, will require the use of the joystick as you work the joystick back and forth for either skiing or moving down the bobsled run. Good Challenge While not as challenging and graphically stunning as Epyx’s Winter Games , this game is a good challenge and the price is right! The response from thejoystick is good, but not terrific, but again, it’s a great way to own a winter gaming disk at a price which fits everyone’s pocketbook! (one player; joystick required; reviewed on Commodore 64; coming for Atari ST) Recommended (MSR $14.95) POWER AT SEA (***l/2/***l/2) puts you in command of a U.S. Convoy in October, 1944 as you go against the Japanese in the Pacific. This Accolade game is a combination strategy and action game in four game sequences, as you attempt to infiltrate and secure Leyte Gulf in the Philippines which is under enemy control. Your fleet consists of a battleship, cargo/troop ship, and aircraft carrier with fighter bombers. The game begins on the bridge as you access four different areas to determine strategy and direct the fleet: navigation/map screen; com¬ munications; fleet status; and weapons. The four battle sequences include ship-to-ship, air-to-ship; and ship-to-land. While on the bridge (picture 1), you can access the four different operations by either Picture 1 hitting a function key or directing your captain’s head toward which of the four officers who are controlling the operations. Within the navigation map you plot the course the fleet will take. Once you place the markers, you bring up the speed indicator and set sail, “all ahead full.” Make certain you monitor your communications man as all the incoming messages from Command Headquarters come in here, as well as spotting of enemy aircraft, ships, etc. If you’re away from the bridge checking one of the other screens, the enemy alert will come through as high pitched beeps. If it’s time to man weapons, you must quickly go to your weapons operator and issue your battle orders. Speed and Strategy This is a simulation which has plenty of graphics and action to keep you wrapped up in the action. We liked the bridge feature where our captain moves from officer to officer “entering” the different aspects of command. Your strategy can dictate whether you’ll win or lose. Of course, your fighting abilities are critical also. This is more than just action and shooting as you must carefully plot your course and act on the situations as they come up, including damage control. All in all, it’s a good game combining the necessity to think through your plans and then acton them, (one player; joystick required; reviewed on Commo¬ dore 64) Recommended (MSR $29.95) PANZER STRIKE (NA/****) is the latest war simulation from Strategic Simulations Inc (SSI) . An advanced level construction set of World War II German, British, and Russian combat, it allows you to create your own maps, troops, and missions. A single scenario requires 30 minutes to 2 hours with a campaign taking from 5 to 30 hours. There are several actual historical scenarios included from the Eastern Front, Western Front, and the North African campaign. The tactical game boasts virtually every ground weapon used in those theaters, including mine fields, pill-boxes, and dragon’s teeth. Each game consists of an orders phase and combat phase and is menu-driven for additional ease. The documentation includes a tutorial which helps you through a tutorial scenario included on the disk to help familiarize yourself with the program. Also, there is extensive documentation included with a manual which breaks down all the various weaponry, troop information, etc. As is typical with all SSI games, the programs are multi-leveled in their objectives and play and are definitively made for the lover of strategy games. This campaign was designed by Gary Grigsby who has brought us Kampfgruppe, Battlegroup, Warship, and Battlecruiser. If you’re an advanced player of strategy games, you’ll find yourself happily strategizing for many, many hours over this one. The “construction set” aspect of the game adds additional value to it. (one player; reviewed on Commodore 64; also available for Apple II in 64K) Recommended (MSR $49.95) ABC Winter Sports Game If you’re going into withdrawal after the Calgary games and you need more, you can play ABC Winter Olympics VCR game from Mind- scape. Included are downhill skiing, bobsledding, hockey, speed skating, etc (nine events in all), in which you vie for the gold, silver, and bronze medals. Included in the $49.95 package is a VHS tape which allows for “live-action” scoring, for a different game each time; playing board, cards, medals, and everything needed for your home Olympics game. Soccer Also A va 'dable Also available from Mindscape ($39.95) is M1SL Soccer Shootout. This is another interactive VHS video game in which the outcome changes from game to game, featuring actual M1SL soccer footages. If you can’t find these interactive games in your favorite toy or video store, you can buy them direct from Mindscape (include $5.00 each for shipping and handling). The address is PO Box 1167, Northbrook, IL 60065. Computer Entertainer - March, 1988 3 MULTI-SYSTEM Software BLACKJACK ACADEMY (*r*l/2/*r**) is an interesting program from Microillusions which teaches you the game of blackjack, as well as providing hours of blackjack fun for everyone from novices to pros. Up to five people can gather around the table as you play by Las Vegas, Reno, or Atlantic City rules, as well as being able to make your own table rules. Menu-driven for ease, the program has one-line help screens for all the various options that you as a a blackjack player will encounter. You’ll learn about splitting and doubling-down as well as insurance, when to hit and when not to, card counting, and money management. You can also choose to speed the play from very slow to very fast once you’ve got the hang of it and simply want to go a few rounds with the dealer. With the various rule options, as those who play blackjack know the rules vary slightly from one gambling city to another, you can really getcomfortable before sitting down at an actual table and plunking down your hard-earned money. If you already know the game, you can simply play the game and completely avoid all the on-line help screens which pop up at the stroke of a key. (one to five players; reviewed on C64 and IBM; also available for Amiga, Apple II; IBM version comes with 5-1/4” and 3-1/2" disk at $42.95) (MSR $39.95) AMIGA Software JET (****/★***) has just been converted by SubLogic for the Amiga computer and it takes advantage of the Amiga’s graphics and sounds to make it a truly en- h a n c e d product The premise re¬ mains the same as you can fly ei¬ ther an F-16 Fighting Falcon or the carrier- based F-18 Hornet, both equipped with full-screen Heads-Up Display. There’s multiple 3D window displays which allow you to view from the cockpit, spot plane, tower, full screen, map, and missile’s-eye view. You can practice your flying techniques in the free flying mode and then test your combat skills as you move into a variety of strike scenarios or move into a dogfight against Soviet MiG-21 and MiG-23 fighters. In the combat mode, you‘II have a full arsenal of various missiles and bombs to load your fighter with. There are nine levels of difficulty and seven scenarios, not counting the multi-player dogfight. This multi-player feature is new to the Amiga version whereby you and a friend can fly and dogfight together via modem in two different locations! Dogfighting with a friend across town is tremendous fun. Of course, you can load other SubLogic scenery disks for a change of pace. Conversion a Beauty All of a sudden, the jet has definition, the landscapes arc filled in with Culora, and the viewj> are just teiiific. The Ilying experience of any ___._ 4 SubLogic flight simulator is always a challenge and this one is no exception. The graphics just add so much to the enjoyment! You can use the mouse and joystick if you wish and they’ve corrected the older Commodore 64 manual here by listing exactly what functions you can control with the joystick and how to do it This is a great addition to any Amiga library (one player; two player simultaneous with two computers and modem; joystick optional; also available for Commo¬ dore 64; IBM; Atari ST) Recommended (MSR $49.95) IBM PC & COMPATIBLES MASTER NINJA (***l/2/***l/2) is a graphics animation adven¬ ture from Paragon Software . distributed by Electronic Arts . In the game, the player assumes the role of a ninja warrior sent on a quest to recover a precious magical sword stolen by an evil Japanese warlord. In the game, you must travel through over 25 chambers of the warlord’s castle battling his evil ninja warriors, samurai guards, ninja priests, curses, and deadly tigers. Throughout your quest, you must draw on your martial arts skills as well as your use of historic nina weapons to kill your opponents, recapture the sword, and assassinate the warlord. You begin your adventure outside the castle in a courtyard. You immediately must go up against a Koga Ninja scout, beginning with full strength. You, or the opposing ninja will die when all the strength is gone. As you conquer the enemy, move your character to the far right on the screen and he will move forward to the next obstacle. Through¬ out the game, there are various pause screens which temporarily suspend play allowing you to view the next obstacle through your ninja’s eyes. In some situations, you should then become aggressive, while other situations require conservative play. When you reach theMeditation Room, partial strength can be regained through medica¬ tion. Beautiful The game features very large, animated characters which move fluidly through the over 20 martial arts movements. It’s a combination of chops, blocks, kicks, punches, and rolls, as well as the ninja weap¬ ons such as knives, throwing stars, blow dart guns, and a bow and arrow which give the game plenty of realistic martial arts action. When doing battle, your characters fill the screen and the background graphics are excellent. Overall, it’s a fine game which plays extremely well, (one player; available for IBM PC and compatibles) Recommended (MSR $34.95) FIRST EXPEDITION (**1/2/***) is a real-time first-person graphics adventure set on the futuristic ocean world of YQrland. Distributed by Electronic Arts and developed by JntersteL you take i the role of a young explorer, Braun, who must brave the perils of a sea long ago abandoned by your people in search of three Sun Spheres that will ultimately save your planet from destruction. Braun’s craft is stocked with food, fuel, ammunition, and scanning rockets which you must stock before leaving the base island; the game becomes a test of skill in navigation, survival and discovery. There are several islands, all with different situations - some friendly and some not as you must sell and trade in order to fund your expedition. While at sea, there are other problems to be dealt with such as fog and storms, seaweed, whirlpools, as well as the possibility that you could be taken by a hostile craft. At night you’ll have to navigate by the stars. You have a computerized first mate who will be invaluable as he gives you advice. Computer Entertainer - March, 1988 _ When you reach the islands, you will find that buildings contain artifacts or treasure boxes, some of which are guarded by stalking Biobotic robots. If, in your quest to save Yorland, you find yourself unable to go on due to lack of food or fuel, you can call for a Rescue. Within this adventure inside an adventure, you then become the rescuer whose objective it is to save Braun. If you finally recover the three Sun Spheres and save Yorland, you can then choose to select randomrescue missions so you can continue to play further adventures within the game. In this adventure you do not work with vocabulary; instead, you’ll use the keyboard of the computer to give various commands via function keys or one letter (i.e. you lift your anchor by hitting the “A” key) Interesting Adventure This is an interesting story which is relatively easy for those who have trouble with adventures. The fact that you don’t have to guess at vocabulary helps a great deal. It’s a fascinating journey to strange islands as you try and solve the locations of the Spheres. The package includes everything needed for your adventure including an interesting booklet, ‘The Years of Terror^’ which sets the storyline for you. In addition, there’s a laminated map, compass, and complete set of instructions. lBMer’s should enjoy this journey into the sci-fi world of Yorland. (one player; package includes 5-1/4" floppy and 3-1/2" disks) Recommended (MSR $49.95) Paintworks Goldfor IIGS Activision has just introduced Paintworks Gold, a paint and anima¬ tion program for the Apple IIGS which adds over 80 new features not available in Paintworks Plus. Among the features included are two pages for creating art allowing image copying from one picture to another; color masking allows you to protect colors or objects from being painted or altered; slippy colors allow users to capture and move colors or objects with the lasso tool without disturbing the surrounding area; 3D perspectives are easily created by pointing to any side of an object and dragging it closer or further away. There’s also a selected vanishing point to make all 3D automatic. Gradient color blending allows you to create smooth transitions with four gradient patterns; color cycling has been added to give users the choice of two animation techniques, true frame by frame animation or simulated animation by cycling user defined color sets; variable-zoom FatBits; multiple trans¬ parent colors; realistic shadow and contour creation, just to name a few. The retail is $99.95. Upgrade Available If you are a registered owner of Paintworks Plus you can upgrade to Paintworks Gold for $20.00 through May 31,1988 and $40.00 there¬ after. If you own any other IIGS paint program, you can get Paintworks Gold for $40.00. Anyone who wishes to upgrade should send a check (add $3.50 for shipping and Calif, residents add 6.5% tax) and page one from their existing paint program manual to: “Paintworks Upgrade”, Activision, PO Box T, Gilroy, CA 95021-2249. EXCHANGE PROGRAM Electronic Arts has introduced a unique exchange program for anyone who has moved from an 8-bit computer to a 16-bit computer and has the old software laying around. To qualify for the program, you must upgrade from an Atari 400/800, Apple II, Commodore 64/128 to a 16-bit computer (Atari ST, Apple IIGS, Amiga, IBM/Tandy). You must send your old EA manual cover from the original version to Electronic Artis with a check or money order for half the price of the 16-bit version. To get further information, call Electronic Arts at 800- 245-4525 (in Calif. 800-562-1112) Monday through Friday between 8am and 5pm Pacific Time. \ The News from Origin Systems ULTIMA V: WARRIORS OF DESTINY is finally a reality. The Apple 11 version (MSR $59.95) shipped recently and is distributed by Broderbund. The latest Ultima promises twice as much animated detail as its immediate predecessor and an underground world as large as Britannia itself. The adventurer’s task is to free Britannia from the oppression of its new and tyrannical ruler, Blackthorn, who took command when Lord British became lost on an expedition to the newly discovered underworld. The fifth Ultima features more detailed inter¬ action and conversation with characters in the quest, many new battle options, plenty of magic, and animated special effects. IBM and Commodore 64/128 versions of ULTIMA V are in development and expected to be available sometime this summer. New Clue Book from Origin Also justreleased by Origin is acluebook with maps and solutions for 50 of the most popular adventure and fantasy role-playing games. QUEST FOR CLUES ($24.99) was edited by Shay Addams and includes solutions for such games as BARD’S TALE I and 11, UL¬ TIMA IV, KING’S QUEST III, MIGHT AND MAGIC, PH ANTAS1E 1, II and III, BUREAUCRACY, UNIVERSE II, THE PAWN, and many others. The book is distributed by Broderbund. f New in the Arcades Sega’s Thunder Blade is the second in an ongoing series of high action simulator products. It features a fully armed jet- helicopter gunship engaging hostile fire from aerial and surface targets. There’s a throttle lever allowing the helicopter to accel¬ erate or “hover” while working through obstacles. It will be in arcades as both a stand-up unit and a unit in which you sit down at the controls, simulating the pilot’s seat in a real helicopter. Vs, Top Gun is the newest from Konami, a top-secret mission in which you’re in command of an F-14 jet fighter. You’ll be aiming at enemy jets, submarines, aircraft carriers, etc. as the radar monitor signals the positions of the enemy planes as well as telling you if you’re running low on fuel, etc. After success¬ fully completing missions, you must return to the aircraft carrier and guide you jet in for a perfect landing. Also from Konami is Super Contra , a two-player interactive game with a scenario beginning one year after the original Contra battle with the Red Falcon Organization. The culprits are back, more deadly than ever. The player must blast through five stages including a battlefield whee there are heavily guarded fortresses, underground cannons, and a giant helicopter which dispatches enemy soldiers. There’s also an enemy base, ajungle, the Alien’s Lair, and the Penultimate Battle where hidden aliens attack from both sides so the player must move carefully to avoid being chewed up by giant mouth which appears randomly on the gorup. V_____ J Buy 2, Pick 1 Free Electronic Arts kicks off a promotion running between April 1st and June 30th where you purchase two software titles from a qualified list published by Electronic Arts and that qualifies you to select a third title for free. Check your local store for details or call EA at 1-800-245- 4525 (in California call 1-800-562-1112). They will also beruning ads in several computer magazines with all the details. _ J Computer Entertainer - March, 1988 5 IBM PC & COMPATIBLES ) WHERE IN EUROPE IS CARMEN SANDIEGO? (***1/2/ ****) is the latest in the very popular Carmen Sandiego series of sleuthing games from Broderbund . Carmen and her gang of slightly comical thugs (Patty Melt, Oly O’ Leahy, and others) are up to their old tricks, stealing national treasures as they crisscross the 34 countries of Europe. The player starts as a rookie gumshoe for the Acme Detective Agency, gradually moving up in rank as crimes are solved and perpetrators punished. There is a time deadline for solving each crime, with clues gathered from witness interviews, calls to tipsters, and examinations of various sites. Clues often involve bits of geographical or cultural information hinting at the culprit’s latest location. Help is available to the player in the form of the included Rand McNally “Concise Atlas of Europe” and the program’s built-in “Factfinder’s Database.” (The database can help narrow the possibilities when information such as flag colors, currency, and language are fed in.) Another new feature in this third Carmen Sandiego game is the “Crimestopper’s Notebook” within the program, which lets the player keep track of clues about the culprit, such as hair and eye color and favorite hobbies. When enough information is recorded in the note¬ book, the player can get a warrant for the culprit’s arrest. Without the warrant, the criminal cannot be apprehended when the player catches up with him or her. As in previous Carmen Sandiego games, each successive case is a little more difficult to solve, and there’s a tremendous amount of geographical and cultural knowledge to be gained while having a whole lot of fun. Entertaining for A ll Ages We have enjoyed Carmen Sandiego as she and her band of thieves travelled the world, then the U.S. A., and now the continent of Europe. Broderbund’s design team adds a few more creative touches with each new series of crimes to solve, with the result that each new game offers something new blended with the familiar overall design. WHERE IN EUROPE offers all the fun, challenge, and educational bonuses of its predecessors, adding the handy Crimestopper’s Notebook and the Factfinder’s Database. The whimsical touches and attractive graphics add to the enjoyment, with more animation and sound effects in the third game than ever before. Once again, Broderbund has provided a game that’s entertaining for all ages to play and has the added benefit of imparting useful knowledge. Whether you buy the program for its gaming or educational value, don’t miss the latest escapades of Carmen Sandiego and her crazy gang! (Solo play; Keyboard or joystick.) 128K Apple II version reviewed. Also available for IBM/ Tandy 1000 and compatibles (Hercules & EGA supported) and planned for Commodore 64/128. Recommended. (MSR $44.95) Graphics Studio for Amiga and GS Accolade has just released its paint program and graphics editor, The Graphics Studio. The program features a double screen size drawing area plus a full screen clipboard, text capability compatible with all IIGS or Amiga font options and a color cycling tool for producing animated pictures. Other features include flipping and rotating, X and Y coordinates, pattern editing and storage, mirror symmetry effects, etc. Standard drawing tools such as lines, boxes, ellipses, rays, poly¬ gons, etc. are, of course, included. Retail pricing is $49.95 for the Amiga version and $59.95 for the IIGS version. MULTI-SYSTEM Software ] i LANE MASTODON VS. THE BLUBBERMEN (***/***l/2) from Infocom and Tom Snyder Productions is a whole new approach to the concept of entertainment software for computers, the first in a series of programs dubbed “Infocomics” by their creators. This is definitely not a game, since it includes no puzzles, arcade sequences or other game-like elements. It is simply a story, with a single ending and no user control over the final outcome, much like a book or a movie. Unlike a book or movie, however, Infocomics allow the user to jump into the story in many different places to switch points of view, suddenly seeing the development of the story through a different character’s eyes. This is the key point and probably the most powerful hook in the program’s overall concept. Even for Computer Illiterates Even a completely computer illiterate person can enjoy an Infocom¬ ics story, because there is nothing more complicated here than simply booting the disk and occasionally pressing a key or two to proceed through the story, move backward or forward, change points of view, or set a “bookmark” for future continuation of the story. All instruc¬ tions are contained in the introduction on the disk itself, so there is no need for a manual. It’s even possible to boot the disk and do absolutely nothing but read and enjoy the whimsical humor of this 1930s space- opera spoof. But it would be a shame to miss the enjoyment of flipping back and forth through the story, taking paths that let you see the exposition of the story through the eyes of various characters. Wonderfully Funny The story itself is wonderfully funny—not surprising when you learn that it was written by one of Infocom’s most humorous writers, Steve Meretzky (“Leather Goddesses of Phobos,” among others). It follows the adventures of the bumbling accountant-tumed-superhero, Lane Mastodon, as he saves Earth from the threatened invasion of the Blubbermen of Jupiter. With far more luck than skill, Lane miracu¬ lously survives one harrowing experience after another as he leads the Revolutionary Thin Men against the porcine plotters. The basic story is told from Lane’s point of view, but it’s great fun to step into the shoes of his young companions, Ivory and Lambert, or those of the Thin Men, the Blubbermen, or a number of others. The graphics are drawn in comic-book style as lightly fieshed-out line drawings. There’s plenty of animation and sound to bring the situations to life, and cinematic techniques such as fades and pans add further graphic interest. It’s a novel approach to computer entertainment software and one that appears to have plenty of potential, particularly at its very low price. Infocomics present a new direction for storytelling, one of man’s oldest pastimes. It’s not difficult to see the Infocomics concept as a peek into the future when storytelling is likely to take take further new directions with the advent of new technologies such as Compact Disc- Interactive (CD1) and Digital Video Interactive (DVI), (Solo play; Keyboard.) Available for Apple II, Commodore 64/128, IBM PC & 100% compatibles. Recommended. (MSR $12) Award Maker Plus Ships for ST Baudville has just shipped the Atari ST version of Award Maker Plus, designed to produce awards and certificates. In addition to designing all soTts uf styles me laded m the piOgiam, you can import pictures and custom borders from D.E.G.A.S. Retail is $39.95 || D r in u ,211 fe In \k ■a Computer Entertainer - March, 1988 IBM PC & COMPATIBLES ) THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER (★**/***) is a submarine combat simulation based on Tom Clancy’s best-selling book of the same title. Licensed from Grand Slam Entertainments Ltd , of Great Britain by Datasoft and distributed by Electronic Arts . the program lets the player become Captain Marko Ramius in command of the Soviet nuclear ballistic missile submarine (or “boomer”), the Red October. For anyone who has read the book, the scenario will be instantly familiar since it follows the plotline of the novel very closely. Ramius has been charged with testing the new Red October sub with its revolutionary, ultra-quiet drive system. Along with a few trusted officers on the boat, Ramius has decided to defect to the U.S. and take the Red October with him. His object is to keep from being found by the restof the Soviet fleet, keep his real goal secret from his unsuspect¬ ing crew members, and stage a fake leak in the boat’s nuclear power plant to justify a rescue by American ships in U.S. territorial waters. This is no small set of tasks to be accomplished, and they are all in the player’s hands. Goals Accomplished in Stages The complex series of goals is accomplished in stages, with the first step to navigate the undersea dangers of the Reykjanes Ridge where Russian, U.S., and NATO forces lie in wait. Once free of this area, the Red October must head for the U.S. Eastern Seaboard as quickly as possible to minimize chances of detection by the now fully alerted Soviet fleet. Encounters with ships of any nation must be avoided at all cost once the Red October reaches open seas. The player as Ramius is in full command of all systems on the sub, although he can delegate tasks to his officers. Once the player has learned the mechanics of the boat’s systems, the thrill of the game is in the cat-and-mouse aspect of the chase. Here, the game does a good job of portraying the suspense of the original story and will please those who enjoyed the book. In the IBM version we reviewed, it is worth noting that some features are missing in the 256K version: sub hydrophonics system, on-screen ship recognition chart (a paper chart is provided), and help screens. These features are enabled i f you play the game on a 512K system. (Solo play; Keyboard or joystick; minimum 256K, CGA required; Blank disk required for game-saving.) IBM PC/compatibles version reviewed; also available for Amiga, Atari ST. Planned for Commodore 64/128, Apple II, Macintosh, Atari XE/XL. Recommended. (MSR $49.95) TWILIGHT’S RANSOM L**EL*E) is an illustrated text adven¬ ture by Paragon Software . distributed bv Electronic Art s. Set in the fictional Liberty City, the adventure casts the player in the role of Ron Mulligan, a young graphic artist in love with Maria Chavez, a Salva¬ doran immigrant working as a waitress and attending night classes at the local college. Ron heads for Maria’s apartmenton a Saturday night, only to find her place ransacked and the young woman missing. While he is in her apartment, the phone rings: kidnappers demanding that you deliver the “goods” they seek, or they will kill her. At your own apartment, you find a note from Maria along with bank statements showing deposits and withdrawals in very large amounts on a foreign bank. Ron has no idea what Maria is involved in, but it certainly doesn’t look good. He takes to the streets of Liberty City, seeking clues to find and rescue his Maria. This requires lots of map-making and note¬ taking on the part of the player—and plenty of caution in avoiding the more dangerous side of Liberty City at night. Good Concept Badly Executed TWILIGHT’S RANSOM is an adventure with a good concept at the heart of its story, but the program is not well executed. The parser is reasonably sophisticated and emulates Infocom interactive fiction in a number of ways. For a text adventure to succeed, however, it must do more than simply ape the style of Infocom’s interactive fiction. It must be well written, and this one is not. The writing struck us as the sincere effort of an imaginative individual who has not yet learned the craft of of writing. The program would have benefited greatly from a good job of editing for style, grammar, and spelling. We encountered so many glaring errors, even within the first few screens of the text, that we found it impossible to become really involved with the story. Without that involvement, it is impossible to really enjoy an adventure fully. (Solo play; Keyboard; CGA required for graphics display; Blank disk required for game-saving.) Available for 256K IBM PC/compatiblcs only. Not recommended. (MSR $34.95) ^^OMMODORE64/128Softwar^J QUESTRONII (***★/****) is the long-awaited sequel to one of the best in SSI's stable of fantasy role-playing games. The game assumes (but does not require) that you have defeated the evil magi¬ cian, Mantor, and saved the land of Questron from the Evil Book of Magic. However, since that terrible book was not destroyed on your last quest, that is the job that faces you now. But it turns out that the Book is so evil that it cannot be destroyed. The only way, according to the Great Wizard Mesron, is to travel back to a time when the book did not yet exist. Through Mesron’s magic, you are sent back through time and space to Landor, where Mantor has ordered six mad sorcerors to create the Evil Book of Magic. It is up to you to find the sorcerors and prevent them from completing Mantor’s bidding. You must also find Mesron’s Hall of Visions, a special place where Mesron can reach back in time to offer guidance in your quest. Easy to Learn and Control To those who have enjoyed the original QUESTRON, there will be much that is familiar about the sequel. The game is set in a vast landscape encompassing two continents dotted with towns, castles, and scary, three-dimensional dungeons. Your adventuring character is a little more detailed and rounded than the typical stick-figure charac¬ ters in such games. In fact, the graphics in general are exceptionally well drawn and look much better than the typical adventure of this type. There are scores of fanciful monsters, many characters to meet and interact with, and many unique modes of travel (even by llama!). Although the game is complex and large in scope, it is very easy to learn and control. On-screen menus keep choices literally at your fingertips instead of buried in a fat manual. All the better to get you playing right away! Fantasy gamers won’t want to miss this one! (Solo play; Joystick or keyboard; Blank disks required.) Commodore 64/128 version reviewed. Also planned for Apple II, IBM PC/compatibles, Atari ST and Amiga. Recommended. (MSR $39.95) __ ) Computer Entertainer - March, 1988 7 COMMODORE 64/128 Software JINXTER (***l/2/***l/2) is an amusing illustrated text adven¬ ture by Magnetic Scrolls for Rainbird Software of Great Britain, distributed in the U.S. by Activision . (Magnetic Scrolls is the same group of developers who created “The Pawn” and “The Guild of Thieves.”) The game puts you in Aquitania, a normally happy place brimming over with luck and good cheer. Unfortunately, the magical charm bracelet that protects Aquitania by limiting the power of a secret masonic society of Green Witches has lost its seven charms. The Green Witches have been gaining power, luck has been turning bad in Aquitania, and guess who has been nominated to find the charms and link them together? You, of course! The Guardians grant you the little luck left in Aquitania, which protects you against accidents, and they send you off to find the charms. Should be a piece of cake, you’re told. Why, you’ll probably be back by teatime. You’re off on a quirky adventure full of madness and a heavy dose of irreverent British humor, but it’s highly unlikely that you’ll be back anywhere near teatime. We had a good time with this one, even though some of the madness left us wondering about the state of the designers’ sanity. JINXTER is like no adventure you’ve ever explored, because no one has ever written one quite so wacky. The game is not for everyone, but many will love its offbeat humor. Hint: if you love Monty Python, you’re ready for JINXTER. (Solo play; Keyboard; Blank disk required for game-saving.) Commodore 64/128 version reviewed; coming for Apple 11 (text only). Other versions coming soon at $39.95: Atari ST, lBM/Tandy (EGA required for graphics), Amiga, Macintosh. Recommended. (MSR $34.95) ATARI ST Software scary. There was no sense of suspense, as there should have been since we were supposed to be infiltrating a secret complex housing a project designed to help Cybordynamics conquer the world. The graphics are nicely detailed, although that is hardly enough to keep a gamer’s interest for long. We suggest that you pass on this one. (Solo play; Mouse.) Available for Atari ST only. Not recommended. (MSR $39.95) UNINVITED Now Available for Atari ST Developed first for Macintosh by ICOM Simulations for Mindscape, UNINVITED is now available for Atari ST (MSR $49.95). It’s a totally mouse-driven graphic adventure done in the style of a Gothic horror tale, which is set in a haunted house of truly scary proportions. In typical ICOM style, the story draws you in easily, since you interact directly with many objects pictured on the screen. If you like adventure games and horror stories, this game will suit you perfectly. New Versions of Dark Castle Three-Sixty is now shipping two new versions of the award-winning DARK CASTLE (originally designed for Macintosh by Silicon Beach Software). The Atari ST version features the advanced sound and graphics available on the 16-bit machines while the Commodore 64 version allows the player to use either the keyboard or joystick. The suggested retail for the ST game is $44.95 while the C64 game is $34.95. Fantavision In New Versions Broderbund is releasing an Amiga and IBM PC version of its animation and special-effects generator, Fantavision. With the pro¬ gram, you can create smoothly animated cartoons and “movies.’’These new versions include a library of digitized sounds and music allowing realistic sound tracks. Suggested retail for both new versions is $59.95. SLAYGON (★**/**) is a three-dimensional maze exploration game from Microdeal . You are in charge of the Slaygon, a highly sophisticated military robot designed for infiltration. You and the robot have been charged with the task of infiltrating the headquarters of Cybordynamics, a high tech firm that is working on a new strain of toxic virus which could annihilate all human life, allowing Cybordy¬ namics and its allies to capture the world without using nuclear weapons. Your goal is to direct the Slaygon among the miles of hallways and rooms in the Cybordynamics complex, find the five override codes, and enter them into the company’s computer system console. This will disable the computer, cause the main reactor cooling system to fail, and lead to the destruction of the complex. As you maneuver the Slaygon, there are objects to find and use, robots to avoid, locked doors to get through, and plenty of exploration to be done. All the while, you must watch the Slaygon’s energy level, conserving energy as much as possible through minimal use of Slaygon’s energy-eating features, such as shields and cloaking device. Nothing Original Or Compelling We didn’t find anything original or especially compelling about this game. We felt that we spent a little too much time wandering the maze of corridors without running into anything very interesting or even 1988 Plans from Interstel Several new programs are in the works at Interstel including Star FleetII, a sequel to the strategic war simulation, Star Fleet I. Plans call for Apple II, IIGS, Macintosh, Atari 8-bit; Atari ST; Commodore 64 and Amiga, and IBM versions. Also on the boards across several systems is Empire, a game of strategic conquest and empire building and Gone Fish'N is a simulation of the sport of bass fishing! Working Titles Programs which are being developed under “working titles” (mean¬ ing the titles may change before they are released) include Screen Editor for the IBM which is used to make charts, data forms, tutorials, and demos; Dragon Force (Drastic Response Assault Group Opera¬ tions Nexus) in which you lead your team on harrowing missions; and Scavengers , which places you in the 22nd Century where the world is a land of radioactive waste and mutant beasts. 8 Computer Entertainer - March, 1988 THf WllPi® CAM! llPDATf NINTENDO Software TOWN & COUNTRY SURF DESIGNS (***/**l/2) from LIN Toys features “DA BOYS/* the crazy group of skating and surfing characters from the Town & Country Surf Shop in Pearl City, Hawaii. The cartridge includes three games: Street Skate Session, Big Wave Encounter, and a combination of both events inT&C Wood and Water. The first is a skateboarding game featuring the characters Joe Cool and Tiki Man as they hit the streets for a timed skateboarding obstacle course. This game has very good animation in the characters and their boards as they jump and skate their way through a series of maneuvers. Big Wave Encounter lets you play Thrilla Gorilla or Kool Kat as you try to stay on your board and avoid obstacles such as seagulls and kids on rafts while nabbing bananas for bonus points. This is definitely the weaker of the two events because the graphic animation is less realistic and the game itself has less variety. Overall, this is an uneven cartridge with a good skateboarding sequence and a surprisingly static session in the waves. (1 or 2 players; Pause.) Available for Nintendo Entertain¬ ment System only. Not recommended. (MSR approx. $39.95) NES MAX is a diminutive new controller from Nintendo that im¬ proves on the basic Control Pad in several ways. The cross-shaped control pad itself has been replaced with a 360-degree, swiveling k “Cycloid” button that is a lot easier on the thumb. The A and B action buttons have been set at an angle in the controller, making them easier to use without twisting your wrist. And additional turbo action buttons provide instant repeat firing power. The yoke-shaped controller base itself is thoughtfully designed for comfort, with ridges in just the right places to allow for easy gripping. Many players prefer a pad-style controller to a joystick, and they should find the NES MAX even better to use than the original Control Pad. In use, the NES MAX is every bit as responsive as the Control Pad it is designed to replace. ZINGER Joystick from Beeshu.Inc . is designed specifically to work with the Nintendo System, providing a more traditional joystick type of control for the system. Its basic design is similar to a number of others, but this is the first design of this type made to be used with the NES. The squarish base is provided with four suction-cup feet for table-top use, although it can also be hand-held. Two “A” action buttons are pro¬ vided, one on each side of the base for ease of use by right- and left-handed play¬ ers. Two “B” but¬ tons are posi¬ tioned on the stick, one each under the thumb and forefinger. The player can use either one, according to per¬ sonal preference. The stick itself is about five inches tall above the base, with sculp¬ tured finger grips on its front sur¬ face. Two slide switches on the base activate a separate, single-speed rapid-fire func¬ tion for each action button. The Start/Pause and Select functions are handled in an unusual manner. Twisting the stick to the right activates the former, while twisting to the left works the latter function. The model we tested was in two shades of gray with red action buttons, although the ZINGER is also available in four different “hot” color combinations. Performed Well The ZINGER performed very well in tests with a variety of NES games. Although we usually prefer a joystick with a somewhat shorter throw than the ZINGER has, its extra length didn’t slow us down a bit. The arrangement of action buttons worked quite well, and the perform¬ ance of the rapid-fire function was adequate. We had been concerned that the unusual means of activating the Start and Pause functions might lead to unintentional pausing in mid-play, but it never happened. The twisting action required to pause the game is apparently stiff enough that it doesn ’ t happen during normal gameplay. We judged the ZINGER to be a good joystick that is well suited to those who prefer a true joystick to Nintendo’s Control Pad. (1 year warranty) Recommended. (MSR approx. $18) ^ Recommended. (MSR $24.95) j Computer Entertainer - March, 1988 SEGA Software i AZTEC ADVENTURE (***1/2/***) from Sega is a multi-level search for the treasure of the Aztec Paradise. The player controls the explorer, Nino, as he travels the strange landscapes of Central America and meets Aztec demons, monsters and spirits. Although he starts out with just a sword, Nino can collect other weapons such as bombs and fireballs. He can also collect other special objects and money, which is used to buy enemies and turn them into allies (for a while, at least). Somewhat Reminiscent of“Zelda” AZTEC ADVENTURE is pictured from an overhead perspective that makes the game somewhat reminiscent of Nintendo’s “The Legend of Zelda.” Other elements in the game-play also reminded us a little of “Zelda.” However, we did not find that special charm and variety of play that sets “Zelda” apart from others, even though AZTEC ADVENTURE is a good game in its own right. The Aztec theme is an interesting one and allows for some different enemies from the usual adventure monsters. Altogether, this is an enjoyable action- adventure, though not a great one. (Solo play; Pause.) Available for Sega Master System only. Recommended. (MSR approx. $35) GLOBAL DEFENSE (***l/2/***l/2) has just been released in initially very small quantities by Sega. While some of you think of this game as being titled “S.D.I.,” that was just a working title and you won’t see those initials anywhere on the packaging. This is the new name for the same game that has been under development. In this action game, earth is under attack from secret bases hidden far off in the galaxy. These forces have sent out deadly missiles to annihilate the planet. As the operator of the Global Defense satellite, you must fight a battle in space against tougher and tougher waves of alien armament. There are ten stages: five offensive and five defensive. In theoffensive stages (from the earth, moon, asteroid belt, Saturn, and finally the hidden planet) you must shoot everything that appears as they enter from the right side of the screen. What makes it difficult is that you must line up your firing from a moving cursor which you must position in the area of the enemy (in other words, you don’t just fire from the satellite madly as you must aim with the cursor). The enemy weapons will be destroyed as long as the cannon beam hits from directly or they touch an explosion cloud. If an enemy escapes your fire, one unit of your Damage Meter will turn red (lose all the units and you lose your satellite). There are also stationary enemy bases which should be destroyed as well. If you destroy all the enemy weapons in the offensive half, you go directly to the next offensive screen. If any enemy objects escaped your fire, you go to a Defensive half where you must hover high over the planet you are defending and attempt to shoot down the enemy before they can strike. For every enemy weapon which hits the territory you’re defending, you lose another unit of your damage meter. There are three satellites sent into space to help you. One increases your speed and the speed of your firing cursor; the second reduces the damage on your meter by five units; and the third gives you bigger laser bursts to cover more area. Frenzied Action The action is constant and frenzied. You’ll undoubtedly have to lose some satellites getting used to the firing cursor which really takes skill to use correctly. It’s a natural situation to just shoot directly from the satellite and keep forgetting the location of the cursor. Do that and you guarantee that your satellite will be blown up within seconds! The graphics are quite beautiful with the outline of the various worlds below and all sorts of enemy armament coming at you in all sizes and shapes. The explosion bursts are colorful as the action continues in its’ relentless patterns. If you like space shoot-’em-ups, this should be right up your alley! (one player) Recommended (MSR approx. $38.00) Changes in Capcom’s NES Lineup Capcom recently announced that they have dropped SPEED RUM- BLER from their list of planned releases for the Nintendo system in 1988. It has been replaced by LEGENDARY WINGS, an action- adventure that sounds promising. It’s a futuristic story featuring a giant supercomputer named “Dark,” which was built by mankind to rule the planet. Dark was a good ruler for hundreds of years until it malfunc¬ tioned and became a ruthless tyrant, building robots and armies to keep man away from its super fortress. Two young winged men, characters borrowed from Greek mythology, are charged with the task of finding Dark’s fortress and destroying the computer. The game will be for one player or for two cooperating as a team to destroy Dark. Game Show Titles Delayed GameTek has been caught in the wave of delays in new releases for the NES. JEOPARDY! and WHEEL OF FORTUNE have been bumped to June, with the remaining titles (PASSWORD, THE PRICE IS RIGHT and HOLLYWOOD SQUARES) pushed to the second half of 198 8. The company also plans to add the populargame show, HIGH ROLLERS, to its lineup of family-oriented titles. And for the younger set, the KidTek line will feature the children’s TV game show, DOUBLE DARE, along with NES versions of the classic Milton Bradley board games, CHUTES AND LADDERS, CANDY LAND, and GO TO THE HEAD OF THE CLASS. SNK Schedules IRON TANK and FIGHTING GOLF for NES IRON TANK (MSR $44.95), which was originally known as TNK 3 in the arcades, is scheduled for a spring release from SNK Corp. FIGHTING GOLF, the one-to-four player golf game which was sneak previewed in our February issue, is now set for June. A Note About Game Screens We use them whenever possible; however, because we often get review copies before they are even available for sale, the companies don’t always give us screen artwork. If we can find a good rendition within the documentation, we’ll use that as we know how important the screens are to you. We also know, however, you don’t want to wait an additional month or two for the review just so we can get a picture! So, if there' s no screen sho wn, we were not able to get it for yon. Computer Entertainer - March, 1988 Some Game Screens from Sega Last month when we ran some pictures from Nintendo we indicated that we were expecting some game screen pictures from Sega. We’ve just received a few and want to run them for our Sega owners. Zaxxon 3D Maze Hunter 3D Space Harrier 3D AfterBurner Japanese Game Fanatics’ Tip of the Month This month we have tips for the two NES boxing games, courtesy of subscribers Peter Chin and Vance Allyene of Leigh’s Computers in New York City. Their store carries Nintendo games and accessories, and they tell us that nearly all the employees have Nintendo systems at home. In MIKE TYSON’S PUNCH-OUT!!, use the pass-key code “075 541 6113” to bring up an opponent you won’t soon forget! And in RING KING, enter a player and train him for a while. Then when you are asked for the code dial Lu you continue from whc,n >oa last placed, enter the word “ANTAWATUYOI” for a surprise. We Goofed! There was a major error in the tiny print of last month’s Availability Update, and we were amazed at how many of our eagle-eyed readers found it! Two Data East titles, RAMPAGE and ROBO COP, were mistakenly included as “second half of 1988” releases for the Sega system. Data East is creating games for the Nintendo system only, not for the Sega system. Our apologies to Data East, Sega, and to all of our Sega-owning readers who got their hopes up. No, the erroneous listings were not intentional, but we couldn’t have devised a better test of how closely our subscribers read their issues! Video Game Delays, Shortages Continue There have been further delays in the release dates of new titles for the Nintendo Entertainment System along with widespread reports of shortages in both hardware and software. The story at Sega is much the same, with consumers nationwide complaining of lack of availability in their local stores. (Please check the Availability Update for changes in release dates that have been announced since last month’s issue.) Nintendo Announces Production Increases In a recent letter to its dealers, Nintendo announced its plans to meet escalating demand by increasing its production for 1988.The company had originally planned to ship 5 million units of hardware this year, but that figure has been upped to 7 million. Planned software shipments of 15 million cartridges will be increased to 25 million, not including additional cartridges to be produced for Nintendo’s licensees. Al¬ though the chip shortage continues in Japan, Nintendo’s parent com¬ pany in Japan has secured an additional chip supply, the source of which was not disclosed. MOVED?? Don’t forget to tell us so you don’t miss any issues. Send us your new address, along with your old zip code and subscriber number (the last FOUR digits of your mailing label) and we’ll do the rest. s - Computer Entertainer - March, 1988 11 NINTENDO Software | 1 INTELLIVISION Software CONTRA (***l/2/***l/2) takes you into the jungle for a battle against an evil force of evil henchmen which arrived from some other planet thirty years ago. From Konami . this game pits you and your cunning guerilla warfare abilities against the alien soldiers equipped with extra-terrestrial firepower. You must make your way through eight defense zones, swimming, climbing, etc., as you continually confront the enemy and wipe-out the heavily guarded detection sen¬ sors which await you at the end of each zone. These sensors are designed to warn the Red Falcon, the crudest lifeform in the galaxy, that you are approaching so he can send out stronger reinforcements. There are six super weapons available to you throughout the defense n*.-S 9 s ? S; . C-V Tak Jungle Base 1 Waterfall Base 2 POLE POSITION (***l/2/***l/2) is the latest for the Intelliv- ision crowd from Jntv Corz?. This is a title known to millions and, atone time or another, available for virtually every machine made. That doesn’t take anything away from it as it’s truly a classic title which has found its* way comfortably onto the Intellivision for a fine racing game on the system. In this version, there are four tracks to choose from: Fuji Speedway (the classic Pole Position track), Madison 500, Grand National, and Monaco Grand Prix. You begin by trying to qualify for the big race by taking a lap around one of the four tracks. If you finish fast enough, it’s on to one of the top five starting positions in the big one. In the Big Race, if you finish the first lap below certain levels, you receive bonus time for the next lap. Each lap becomes more difficult as more cars appear which you must maneuver around. You have a low and high gear which are accessed via the side action keys. There is a little gear shift knob in the upper right comer along with lap number, your speed, score, and time remaining. Maneuver around the curves, avoid the signs and other cars, and drive as fast as you can! Fine Adaptation This is a fine adaptation with good gameplay action for anyone who enjoys an afternoon at the living room racing track. The responses are just great as you really control your car. Graphics are quite good as there’s even some detail on your car which gives it more sense of realism. This is a terrific “new” title for your Intellivision library, (one player) Recommended (MSR approx. $20.00) Snow Field Energy Zone Hangar Zone Allen's Lair zones, if you can capture them! The defense zones include such treacherous terrain as a jungle, waterfall, snow field, and others, with the final zone being Red Falcon’s lair. Fine Action and Graphics This is a straight-ahead action game which requires all the skill you can muster. The aliens come at you from every which way and only the fastest responses will save you! The action is non-stop and very challenging. The graphics are quite good as well, as you scroll horizontally from zone to zone with our hero weaving, climbing, jumping, and battling his way through enemy territory. In the one- player mode, you can become either Lance, code-named Scorpion , or Bill, code-named Mad Dog. In the two-player mode, you’ll play as a team to survive the attacks. If you like action, you should find many hours of exciting play here, (one player; two-player simultaneous) Recommended (MSR $39.95) “Easter Egg” Discovered in Atari’s DESERT FALCON A1 Backiel of Ridgewood, NJ, a long-time Computer Entertainer subscriber and avid game collector, has discovered an “Easter Egg” in the Atari 2600 DESERT FALCON. (For those of you unfamiliar with the term, an “Easter Egg” is any kind of surprise left by a programmer in a game. Typically, the gamer must perform a special sequence of actions to find the Easter Egg, which is often a display of the programmer’s name or initials.) According to Backiel, if you go for a swim while possessing and invoking a super power such as “Quick Shots,” you may see the DESERT FALCON programmer’s initials, BP, for a few seconds—if you find the right spot (top portion of the lake) and don’t lose your power. He suggests that the easiest way to find the Easter Egg is to get “Invincibility” (e.g. Bird-Cane-Feather) in the novice version. This way you’ll have more time to search by moving side to side and gradually upward in the lake until you force the initials to show up just above your character’s head. A Note About Your Mailing Label ... We get a lot of questions about Subscriber numbers, when a subscrip¬ tion is coming due, etc. Here’s a quick read on how to decipher your mailing label, telling you everything you need to know! The label will look something like this -P059010026R947. The four digits following the P tell you when your subscription expires (in this case, May of 1990.Thenextfive digits are your zip code. The last four digits (always including a letter, in this case R947) is your subscriber number. That number will always remain the same, unless your subscription has expired for more than one month (then, upon your renewal, a new number is assigned automatically by the computer) J Computer Entertainer - March, 1988 ✓- Conid. from Page 14 x-Twilight’s Ransom (PAR) x-Univ Military Sim (FIR) x-Where/Europe Is Carmen Sandiego (BRO) ZorkquesU Egreth Castle (INF) APRIL Crossbones (ABS) DeluxePaint II (EA) Harpoon (TS) Rocket Ranger (CIN) MAY Futuremagic (EA) Three Stooges (CIN) JUNE Alt Reality 2: Dungeon (DS) SEPTEMBER Airborne Ranger (MIC) Beyond Dark Castle (TS) ' Red Storm Rising (MIC) Stealth Fighter (MIC) FIRST QUARTER Award Maker Plus (B AU) B-24 (SSI) Bionic Commando (CAP) Bop’N Wrestle (MIN) Bubble Ghost (ACO) Championship Baseball (GAM) Commando (DE) Dondrac New Beginning (SPE) 4X4 Off-Road Racing (EPY) Global Commander (DS) Gold Rush (SIE) Hat Trick (CAP) King of Chicago (CIN) Lock on (DE) Lords of Conquest (EA) Manhunter (SIE) Metropolis (ARC) Operation Market Gdn (SSI) Phantasie (SSI) Pirates (MIC) Print Magic (EPY) Rad Warrior (EPY) Rubicon Alliance (DS) Side Arms (CAP) Sinbad & Throne/Falcon (CIN) Sons of Liberty (SSI) Spy vs Spy 3: Arctic (EPY) Star Fleet 2 (INS) Superstar Soccer (MIN) Tag Team Wrestling (DE) Victory Road (DE) SECOND QUARTER Card Sharks (ACO) Dan Bunten’s Sport of War (EA) Death Sword (EPY) Ebonstar (MI) 4th & Inches (ACO) Galactic Invasion (MI) Impossible Mission II (EPY) Jet (SUB) Land of Legends (MI) PHM Pegasus (LF) Sporting News Baseball (EPY) Sticker Maker (EPY) Street Sports Soccer (EPY) The Games-Winter Edition (EPY) THIRD QUARTER Apollo 18 (ACO) King’s Quest IV (SIE) Power at Sea (ACO) Sarge (CAP) Sierra 3-D Tank Simulator (SIE) Silpheed (SIE) Stocker (CAP) Train, The (ACO) Ultima V (ORI) mm s,m Super Pro Skiing (INT) MARCH x-Pole Position (INT) Super Pro Decathlon (INT) APRIL Super Pro Wrestling (INT) MAY Su^er^Pro Monster Truck Rally (INT) Karateka (INT) JULY Super Pro Volleyball (INT) AUGUST Super Pro European Bike Rally (INT) SEPTEMBER Flight Simulator (INT) Computer Entertainer - March, 1988 OCTOBER Super Pro Pool/Billiards (INT) NOVEMBER Ms. Pac Man (INT) DECEMBER Super Pro Auto Racing (INT) Super Pro Horse Racing (INT) AlAKLim FOURTH QUARTER *87 [Boxing) (AT) Cracked (AT) Crossbow (AT) Super Stunt Cycle (AT) [) = working title only JANUARY ’88 x-Skateboardin’ (ABS) MARCH Commando (ACT) umm™™ ,g7 Atari Team WresUing (AT) Ballblazer (AT) GATO (AT) Hat Trick (AT) Impossible Mission (AT) Midnight Magic (AT) Summer Games (AT) Super Huey (AT) Winter Games (AT) JANUARY ’88 Skyfox (AT) Touchdown Football (AT) x-BalUezone (AT) NINTENDO FEBRUARY" x-Contra (KON) x-NES Max Joypad (NIN) MARCH Aerobics (BAN) Dragon Power (BAN) x-Gunsmoke (CAP) x-Ice Hockey (NIN) Ikari H/Victory Road (SNK) R.C. Pro-Am Racing (NIN) x-T&C Surf Designs (LJN) APRIL B ad Street Brawler (MIN) Indiana Jones-Temple/Doom (MIN) Jackal (KON) Maj League Baseball (UN) Rambo (ACM) R.B.I. Baseball (TEN) MAY Bases Loaded (JAL) City Connection (JAL) Gauntlet (TEN) Iron Tank (SNK) Metal Gear (ULT) JUNE Adventure of Link (NIN) Cycle Shooting (TAI) Double Dragon (TW) Dragon Ninja (TEC) Fighting Golf (SNK) Freedom Force (SUN) Jeopardy (GT) Legendary Wings (CAP) 1943 (CAP) Predator (ACT) Ultima (FCI) Wheel of Fortune (GT) Xenophobe (SUN) Zombie Hunter (ACT) JULY Bionic Commando (CAP) Dragon Ninja (TEC) Super Mario Bros 2 (NIN) Tec mo Baseball (TEC) Tec mo Football (TEC) AUGUST Dr. Chaos (FCI) Skate Or Die (ULT) SEPTEMBER Bubble Bobble (TAI) John Elway’s Quarterback (TW) OCTOBER Super Star Force (TEC) NOVEMBER Pro-Wrestling (TEC) SECOND HALF ’88 Hollywood Squares (GT) Password (GT) Platoon (SUN) Price Is Right (GT) Rampage (DE) Return of Donkey Kong (NIN) Robo-Cop (DE) Terminator (SUN) x-Aztec Adventure (SEG) x-Global Defense (SEG) APRIL After Burner (SEG) Alien Syndrome (SEG) Maze Hunter 3-D (SEG) Monopoly (SEG) Rescue Mission (SEG) MAY Fantasy Zone; The Maze (SEG) Parlour Games (SEG) Zaxxon 3D (SEG) JUNE Alex Kidd: Lost Stars (SEG) SECOND HALF ’88 Blade Eagle 3-D Cube Zone (SEG) Miracle Warriors (SEG) Phantasy Star (SEG) Space Harrier 3-D (SEG) Wonder Boy: Monster Land (SEG) Zillion II: Triformation (SEG) NOTE: Programs noted “x” have shipped as of press time but may not yet be distributed nation-wide. Projected shipping dates are provided by manufacturers and subject to change. COMPANY CODES ABS... Absolute Entertainment ACC...Access ACM...Acclaim Entertainment ACO...Accolade ACT...Acti vision ARC... Arcadia AT... Atari BAN...Bandai BAU...Baudville BRO...Broderbund CAP...Capcom USA CLN... Cinema ware DE...Data East DS...DataSoft E A...Electronic Arts EPY...Epyx FCI...FCI FIR...Firebird GAM... Games tar GT...GameTek INF...Infocom INS...Interstel I NT...INTV Corp. JAL.Jaleco KON...Konami LF. .. Luc as film Games LG. ..Leisure Genius LJN...UN Toys MD.. .Mi croDeal/MichT ron MI...MicroIllusions MIC...MicroProse MIN...Mindscape NIN...Nintendo NWC.New World Computing ORI...Origin Systems PAR... Paragon PSY...Psygnosis SEG... Sega SIE...Sierra SIL..Silicon Beach S/W SIR...SirTech SNK...SNK Corp SPE...Spectrum HoloByte SPN...Spinnaker SPR... Springboard 55.. .51mon & Schuster SSG...Strategic Studies Gp 551.. .5trategic Simulations ST...Soft ware Toolworks SUB ...Sublogic SUN...SunSoft TAI...Taito TEC...Tecmo TEN...Tengen TM...Thunder Mountain TS...Three-Sixty Pacific TW...Trade West ULT...Ultra USG...U.S. Gold A Does this copy belong to a friend? Why not get your own subscrip¬ tion and save each issue for future reference. Send this coupon in with a check, money order, or bankcard information and we'll get you started right away so you can get all the news, previews, and reviews before you can get them anywhere else! Name: Address: City:_ State:_ Zip:_ _One Year FIRST CLASS - $25.00 -Check/M.O. Enclosed _One Year THIRD CLASS-$21.00 _Visa/MC/Amex _One Year FOREIGN AIR - $38.00 Bankcard # (all digits):_ Expriation Date:___ Phone #: ( ) _ Cardholder Name (Print):- Cardholder Signature (required):_ Send to: COMPUTER ENTERTAINER 5916 Lemona Avenue Van Nuys, CA 91411 (818) 761-1516 (Order your subscription by phone with bankcard - Outside California call 1-800-228-4336) ___/ 13 JANUARY’88 Bismarck: N Sea Chase (DS) Sons of Liberty (SSI) FIRST QUARTER Jewels of Darkness (FIR) Paperboy (MIN) Spy vs Spy 3: Arctic (EPY) Trailblazer (MIN) Ultima I (ORI) SECOND QUARTER Hunt for Red October (DS) mm Fright Night (MD) Goldmnner II (MD) Gunship (MIC) Int’l Soccer (MD) Omega Run (MD) x-Shadowgate (MIN) x-Slaygon (MD) Univ Military Sim (FIR) x-Uninvited (FIR) MARCH Dive Bomber (USG) x-Hunt for Red October (DS) Metrocross (USG) Sherlock: Riddle/Crown Jewels (INF) Street Cat (USG) APRIL Rocket Ranger (CIN) Three Stooges (CIN) JUNE Alt Reality 2: Dungeon (DS) SEPTEMBER Beyond Dark Castle (TS) FIRST QUARTER Award Maker Plus (BAU) B-24 (SSI) Bard’s Tale (EA) BattleDroidz (DS) Black Lamp (HR) Bubble Ghost (ACO) Championship Baseball (GAM) Frank n’Ernest Adv (POL) Global Commander (DS) Gridiron (BS) Impossible Mission II (EPY) Karateka (BRO) King of Chicago (CIN) Leatherneck (MD) Leisure Suit Larry (SIE) Lock On (DE) Music Construction Set (EA) Plutos (MIN) Q-Ball (MIN) Rings of Triton (MD) Shadow World (MD) Shard of Spring (SSI) Sinbad/Throne Falcon (CIN) Spy vs Spy 3: Arctic (EPY) ST Art/Film Director (BRO) 10th Frame Bowling (ACC) Thexder(SIE) 3D Helicopter Simulator (SIE) SECOND QUARTER Death Sword (EPY) Jet (SUB) Jinxter (FIR) THIRD QUARTER Harpoon (TS) RE 64/128 Crossbones (ABS) x-Decisive Battles/Civ War (SSG) Faery Tale Adventure (MI) Fire Power (MI) Navcom 6: Gulf Defense (COS) President Is Missing (COS) X-15 Alpha Mission (ABS) MARCH x-Black Jack Academy (MI) x-Dark Castle (TS) Gamma Force-Pit/Thousand Screams (INF) Home Video Producer (EPY) Hunt for Red October (DS) x-Jinxter (FIR) L.A. Crackdown (EPY) x-Lane Mastodon Vs Blubbermen (INF) Metrocross (USG) x-Panzer Strike! (SSI) PaperClip Publisher (EA) x-Q*Bert (DE) x-Questron II (SSI) Rampage (ACT) Sinbad & Throne/Falcon (CIN) Street Cat (USG) The Games-Winter Edition (EPY) Three Stooges (CIN) x-TNK 3 (DE) x-Winter Challenge (TM) Zorkquest: Egreth Castle (INF) APRIL Arcade Game Construction Kit (BRO) Dan Bunten’s Sportt of War (EA) Dive Bomber (USG) Red Storm Rising (MIC) Rocket Ranger (CIN) MAY Where/Europe Is Carmen Sandiego (BRO) SEPTEMBER Beyond Dark Castle (TS) FIRST QUARTER Bard’s Tale III (EA) Battle of Chickamauga (GDW) BattleDroidz (DS) Bionic Commando (CAP) Black Tiger (CAP) Bubble Ghost (ACO) Circus Charlie (KON) Destroyer Escort (MIC) Dondra: New Beginning (SPE) Druid I (FIR) 4X4 Off-Road Racing (EPY) Global Commander (DS) Golden Path (FIR) Goofy’s Word Factory (SIE) Gradius (KON) Iron Horse (KON) Jail break (KON) King of Chicago (CIN) Lock On (DE) Old Scores (DS) Rockford (ARC) Rubicon Alliance (DS) S.D.I. (CIN) Sons of Liberty (SSI) Star Rank Boxing II (GAM) Street Football (CAP) Super Basketball (KON) Swords & Sorcery (DS) Trojan (CAP) Victory Road (DE) War in S Pacific (SSI) SECOND QUARTER Deathlord (EA) Death Sword (EPY) Decisive Battles/Civ War V2 (SSG) Ebonstar (MI) Galactic Invasion (MI) Street Sports Soccer (EPY) Impossible Mission II (EPY) Land of Legends (MI) Sky Travel (MI) Sporting News Baseball (EPY) Street Fighter (CAP) THIRD QUARTER Sarge (Cap) Stocker (CAP) Ultima V (ORI) Road Wamors (ARC) Time Bandits (MD) MARCH Bard’s Tale II (EA) Ebonstar (MI) Ferrari Formula One (EA) x-Graphics Studio (ACO) x-Hunt for Red October (DS) x-Jet (SUB) Music Studio 2.0 (ACT) Rocket Ranger (CIN) Sherlock: Riddle/Crown Jewels (INF) Street Cat (USG) Three Stooges (CIN) World Tour Golf (EA) APRIL DeluxePhotoLab (EA) DeluxePrint II (EA) DeluxeProductions (EA) Interceptor (EA) MAY Dive Bomber (USG) JUNE Alt Reality 2: Dungeon (DS) SEPTEMBER Beyond Dark Castle (TS) FIRST QUARTER Award Maker Plus (BAU) Black Cauldron (SIE) Championship Baseball (GAM) DeluxeWrite (EA) Donald Duck’s Playgrd (SIE) GATO (SPE) GFL Champshp Football (GAM) Into Eagle’s Nest (MIN) Kampfgruppe (SSI) Leisure Suit Larry (SIE) Orbiter (SPE) Police Quest (SIE) Rockford (ARC) Silent Service (MIC) Street Sports Basketball (EPY) Superstar Soccer (MIN) 10th Frame (ACC) SECOND QUARTER BattleDroidz (DS) Bubble Ghost (ACO) 4X4 Off-Road Racing (EPY) 4th & Inches (ACO) Global Commander (DS) Gunship (MIC) Jinxter (FIR) Land of Legends (MI) Pinball Wizard (ACO) THIRD QUARTER Apollo 18 (ACO) Harpoon (TS) Power at Sea (ACO) Train, The (ACO) mm 1EUIC ittXry Aargh (ARC) x-Alien A.D. v i'Ak) Metropolis (ARC) Planetarium (MI) x-Retum to Atlantis (EA) x-Deathlord (EA) x-Decisive Battles/Civ War (SSG) x-Strike Fleet (LF) x-Superstar Indoor Sports (MIN) x-Superstar Soccer (MIN) MARCH Bard’s Tale III (EA) Dive Bomber (USG) Gamma Force-Pit/Thousand Screams (INF) Home Video Producer (EPY) x-Lane Mastodon Vs Blubbermen (INF) L.A. Crackdown (EPY) Police Quest- 128K (SIE) Rampage (ACT) Star Hank Boxing II (GAM) x-UltimaV(ORI) WjstUanJ \EA) x-Where/Europe Is Carmen Sandiego (BRO) Zorkquest: Egreth Castle (INF) APRIL Crossbones (ABS) Last Ninja, The (ACT) FIRST QUARTER Ancient Art of War (BRO) B-24 (SSI) Commando (DE) Global Commander (DS) Golden Path (FIR) Into Eagle’s Nest (MIN) King’s Quest IB-128K (SIE) Knight Ore (FIR) Old Scores (DS) Panzer Strike! (SSI) Pharaoh’s Revenge (EA) Rubicon Alliance (DS) Sons of Liberty (SSI) Spy vs Spy 3: Arctic (EPY) Street Sports Baseball (EPY) Street Sports Basketball (EPY) Sub Battle Simulator (EPY) Superstar Ice Hockey (MIN) Super Sunday (AH) Swords & Sorcery (DS) Ultima I (ORI) War in S Pacific (SSI) SECOND QUARTER Death Sword (EPY) Decisive Battles/Civ War V2 (SSG) Dream Zone (BAU) Hunt for Red October (DS) Impossible Mission D (EPY) Jinxter (FIR) John Madden Football (EA) Sky Travel (MI) Sporting News Baseball (EPY) Sticker Maker (EPY) Street Sports Soccer (EPY) Test Drive (ACO) The Games-Winter Edition (EPY) THIRD QUARTER Card Sharks (ACO) FOURTH QUARTER Gunship (MIC) APPLE iigs FEBRUARY Fire Power (MI) x-Graphics Studio (ACO) MARCH Defender of Crown (CIN) DeluxePrint II (EA) x-Fantavision (BRO) Last Ninja, The (ACT) Music Studio 2.0 (ACT) x-Paintworks Gold (ACT) Sherlock: Riddle/Crown Jewels (INF) Teleworks Plus (ACT) APRIL Dark Castle (TS) MAY Rocket Ranger (CIN) Three Stooges (CIN) FIRST QUARTER Bubble Ghost (ACO) DeluxeWrite (EA) Destroyer (EPY) Dondra: New Beginning (SPE) Drawing Table (BRO) Hacker II (ACT) Hot & Cool Jazz (EA) Instant Music (EA) It’s Only Rock’n Roll (EA) King of Chicago (CIN) King’s Quest (SIE) King’s Quest II (SIE) King’s Quest III (SIE) Leisure Suit Larry (SIE) Newsmaker (BRO) Police Quest (SIE) Print Shop (BRO) S.Di. (ON) ShowOff (BRO) Silent Service (MIC) Sinbad & Throne/Falcon (CIN) Sub Battle Simulator (EPY) 3D Helicopter Simulator (SIE) Tomahawk (DS) World Tour Golf (EA) SECOND QUARTER Dream Zone (BAU) Ebonstar (MI) Faery Tale Adventure (MI) 4th & Inches (ACO) Galactic Invasion (MI) Land of Legends (MI) Mini Putt (ACO) Sky Travel (MI) Pinball Wizard (ACO) Title Shop Graphics Comp (DS) Video Title Shop (DS) THIRD QUARTER Card Sharks (ACO) Silpheed (SIE) FOURTH QUARTER Futuremagic (EA) Pirates (MIC) mssm Might and Magic (NWC) Police Quest (SIE) MARCH Ancient Art of War at Sea (BRO) Fire Power (MI) Sherlock: Riddle/Crown Jewels (INF) Where in World/Carmen Sandiego (BRO) JUNE Harpoon (TS) FIRST QUARTER Android Arena (SIL) Award Maker Plus (BAU) Beyond Dark Castle (SIL) Citadel (MIN) King’s Quest III (SIE) Knight Ore (FIR) Leisure Suit Larry (SIE) North Atlantic ’86 (SSI) Orbiter (SPE) Road war 2000 (SSI) S.D.I. (CIN) Sinbad & Throne/Falcon (CIN) Ultima IV (ORI) SECOND QUARTER 4th & Inches (ACO) Hunt for Red October (DS) Jet (SUB) Jinxter (FIR) Sky Travel (MI) THIRD QUARTER AutoDuel (ORI) Train, The (ACO) v im tfrr Corporate Raider (COS) Elite (FIR) Faery Tale Adventure (MI) Fire Power (MI) x-First Expedition (INS) x-Gauntlet (MIN) x-Into Eagle’s Nest (MIN) x-Naster Ninja (PAR) x-Mini-Putt (ACO) President Is Missing (COS) x-Tomahawk (DS) MARCH Alien Fires-2199 A.D. (PAR) Bismarck: N Sea Chase (DS) Dive Bomber (USG) Gamma Force-Pit/Thousand Screams (INF) Home Video Producer (EPY) x-Hunt for Red October (DS) x-Jinxter (FIR) L.A. Crackdown (EPY) x-Lane Mastodon Vs Blubbermen (INF) Last Ninja, The (ACT) Rampage (ACT) Skyfux II (EA) Street Cat (USG) Contd. on Page 13 S' © 1988 Computer Entertainer and Video Game Update. S35 annually in UJ5. funds for 12 issues, published monthly, via first class mail. Foreign $42 airmail. Send payment to; Computer Entertainer, 5916 Lemona Avenue, Van Nuys, CA 91411. (818) 761 -1516. Computer Entertainer accepts no advertising from any software manufacturer. The philosophy of this newsletter is to provide the reader with honest evaluations of products on the market. It is our intention to act as an independent watchdog, providing critical commentary and analysis. The opinions are solely those of Computer Entertainer and are not influenced by the manufacturers. To describe a program, we may use existing literature from the manufacturer, but that will have no bearing on the rating system. Any reproduction, duplication, or re-publication of this copyrighted work without written consent of Computer Entertainer is strictly prohibited. Any violation of applicable copyright laws will be vigorously prosecuted and subject to civil and criminal penalties. This work may not b^hange^^lteredinattyway^^^^^ mm 14 Computer Entertainer - March, 1988 SUBSCRIBER BUYING SERVICE Program Azrec Adventure (Sega) Blackjack Academy (I) Blackjack Academy (Am;GS*) Blackjack Academy (Co) Contra (NES) Dark Castle (Co) Dark Castle (ST,Am,I,Mac) Fantavision (Am;I;GS) Fantavision (Ap) First Expedition (I) Global Defense (Sega) Graphics Studio (GS) Graphics Studio (Am) Hunt for Red October (I,Am,ST, Ap*,Co*,Mac*,At*) Jet (Am,I,Mac*,ST*) Jet (Ap,Co) Jinxter (Co,Ap*) Jinxter (I,ST*,Am*,Mac*) Lane Mastodon vs Blubbermen (Ap,I,Co) Master Ninja (I) NEX Max (NES) Paintworks Gold (GS) Panzer Strike (Co) Power at Sea (Co) Q*Bert (Co) Questron II (Co) Slaygon (ST) Stealth Mission (Co) T&C Surf Designs (NES) TNK III (Co) Twilight’s Ransom (I) Uninvited (ST,Mac,Am,I*) Where in Europe/Carmen Sandiego (Ap,I) Winter Challenge (Co) Zinger Joystick (NES) Cost Sys/Format Quantity Total 29.80 _ 31.70 _ 28.80 _ 26.10 _ 29.25 _ 26.10 _ 32.90 _ 43.60 _ 36.40 36.40 _ 29.80 _ 43.60 _ 36.40 _ 36.40 36.40 _ 28.80 _ 26.10 _ 28.80 _ 9.10 _ 26.10 18.70 _ 74.50 _ 28.80 _ 26.10 _ 7.50 _ 28.80 _ 28.80 36.40 _ 31.90 7.50 _ 26.10 _ 36.40 32.90 _ 11.20 13.60 RENEW YOUR SUBSCRIPTION SO YOU DON’T MISS AN ISSUE! One Year First Class Renewal 21.00 One Year Third Class Renewal 18.00 Two Year First Class Renewal 38.00 One Year Overseas Air Mail Renewal NAME:_ ADDRESS:_ CITY_ STATE_ZIP_ Phone_Subscriber #_ _Check/MO _Bankcard....Expiration Date_ Card #:_ Signature:_ KEY: *=preorder;AM=Amiga;At=Atari XE/XL;Ap=Apple II; Co=Commodore 64/128;I=IBM PC/compatibles;Mac=Macintosh ST=Atari ST; NES=Nintendo; SEGA=Sega; Int=Intellvision Sub-Total_ 61/2% Tax (CA only)_ Shipping:_ TOTAL ENCLOSED:_ Shipping Chart: UPS - $2.00 for 1st item; 500 each additl item (48 states) POSTAL: $3.75 for 1st item; 750 each additl item (US/APO/FPO) CANADA: $4.75 1st item; 750 ea additl item FOREIGN: Please consult us Save time and PHONE your order in at 1-800-228-4336 (outside Calif.) Monday-Friday (closed Saturday, Sunday, Holidays) from 9:30am-5pm (WEST COAS.T TIME) i Watch for our Brand New “VOICE MAIL” System on the 800 line soon. You’ll be able to call 24-hours-a-day to place orders! J Computer Entertainer - March, 1988 15 r From:_ BUSINESS REPLY MAIL FIRST CLASS PERMIT NO. 71S NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA 91607 NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE r r Computer Entertainer 5916 Lemona Avenue Van Nuys, CA 91411 Self Mailing folder. Fold Here Nintendo Game Licensees We’ve gotten quite a few requests for address and phone information for the various companies who have agreements with Nintendo to provide games for the Nintendo system. Here’s an up-to-date list which you should save for future reference! Acclaim Entertainment 189 South Street Oyster Bay, NY 11771 516-922-2400 Activision 2350 Bayshore Frontage Rd Mountain View, CA 94043 Bandai America 12951 East 166th St Cerritos, CA 90701 213-926-0947 Broderbund Software 17 Paul Drive San Rafael, CA 94903 415-492-3200 Capcom USA 1283-C Mountain View/Alviso Rd Sunnyvale, CA 94089 408-745-7081 Data East 470 Needles Drive San Jose, CA 95112 408-286-7074 FCI 645 Fifth Avenue Olympic Tower New York, NY 10022 212-753-1911 Irem Corp 7310 Center Avenue ^Huntington Beach, VA 92647 714-895-3483 SNK Corp Gametek 246 Sobrante Way Sunnyvale, CA 94086 150 South Pine Island Rd 408-736-8844 Suite 505 Plantation, FL 33324 Sun Corp. of America 305-454-7771 SunSoft Division Jaleco USA 2250 Elmhurst Rd Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 3076 Centennial Ln 312-228-0451 Highland Park, IL 60035 312-432-2991 Taito America Konami 660 S Wheeling Rd Wheeling, IL 60090 815 Mittel Drive 312-520-9280 Wood Dale, IL 60191 312-595-1443 Tecmo Inc UN Toys Victoria Business Park 18005 KS. Adria Maru Ln 200 Fifth Avenue Canon, CA 90746 New York, NY 10010 213-329-5880 212-243-6565 Milton Bradley Co TengenInc 675 Sycamore Drive Subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. Milpitas, CA 95035 Springfield, MA 01101 408-434-1788 413-525-6411 Mindscape Inc Tradewest Inc 2400 S. Highway 75 3444 Dundee Rd Corsicana, TX 75110 Northbrook, IL 60062 214-874-2683 312-480-7667 Romstar Inc Vic Tokai Inc Los Angeles World Trade Center 3043 Kashiwa Street 350 So. Figueroa St, #350 Torrance, CA 90505 Los Angeles, CA 90071 213-539-2744 213-617-2850 Its In • c l I |.