Boldly rambling where no man has ambled before, the Balg strides into the
latest from the author of Dungeons Amethysts Alchemists n Everything and into
the depths of Tulgey Woods all in the name of adventuring. First there's news of
some of the new adventures coming our way, a bumper clue pot and much much
more.
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News
Who said the Amstrad adventure scene was dead? News this month of not one,
not two but four adventures coming your way soon...
Last Days of Doom from Topologika is the third and final
part of Peter Killworth's best selling 'Doom' trilogy - and will be released in
February, price £19.95. As with all Topologika games it is disc only. The
adventure game Hezarim is available on the B side.
Bloodwych from Mirrorsoft has been delayed for quite some time now but looks
finally set to be released (even though a certain other Amstrad magazine gave
it 89% some six months ago!)
(PUT (COLOUR?) PART OF ADVERT HERE)
Julian
Gollop, author of the brilliant games Rebelstar and Laser Squad is currently
working on "Lords of Chaos" a role playing game using a similar game
system to Laser Squad.
CRL are also working on a fantasy role playing game called Tower
of Light. In it you must defeat the Dark Lord by finding the
PUT COVER OF
Adlan, the ROM based adventure creator looks like it
will soon surface...
And Secondcite, whose game The Orifice from Outer Space is reviewed this issue,
have promised us AA'ers 'a new adventure every month!' WOW! Let's hope they can
keep up the quality and humour...
Following the Pilgrim's report on Castle Computers the Balrog has news of some
more Infocom games that still can be obtained.
Castle still have Cutthroats, Ballyhoo and Hollywood Hijinx in stock for £6 each (see mini reviews in AA49) and K&M computers have Enchanter, Leather Goddesses of Phobos and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy available at £20 each. Enchanter comes with the full packaging but the other two games are the 'paperback' versions - for example Hitchhikers does not come with the Don't Panic badge, fluff, miniature space fleet or Peril Sensitive Sun Glasses. Phone K&M on 0695 29046 to check for availability.
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Honorary Balrog the First
No longer can you have HPilg's awarded to courageous and helpful Amstrad
adventurers - the honour is now that of placing the letters HBalg after your
name.
The worlds first Honorary Balrog is Mandy Rodrigues, editor of Adventure Probe
magazine. Not only has she edited one of the best adventure fanzines for many
years, she also writes adventure games (she has had a number one in Denmark!)
and was a great help in the return of the adventure column in AA. Thus Mandy is
a true Honorary Balrog and as such can place the letters HBalg after her name.
Congratulations Mandy - you deserve it! Suggestions for Honorary Balrogs are
welcome: Who do you think deserves such an accolade? Write to HBalg
Nominations, The Balrog, Amstrad Action, Future Publishing Ltd, Beaufort Court,
30 Monmouth Street, Bath, Avon BA1 2AP.
PUT FRONT COVER OF ADVENTURE PROBE HERE.
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Reviews
The Orifice from Outer Space
Secondcite, Flat One, 83 Northern Grove,
£2.50 cass
The Orifice from Outer Space IS a strange game! Written by the same author as
Dungeons Amethysts Alchemists 'n' Everything and Scary Tales it sports a 16
certificate. As with the previous games this game is a parody of traditional
adventures and is very amusing.
You are an unclean and nasty orifice which in a recent survey, nine out of ten
sentient beings in the known universe (who expressed a preference) found
extremely undesirable. You have few friends. In fact, it was one of these
"friends" who offered you the unmissable opportunity of an
inter-galactic package-holiday. But something went wrong when you were
accidently knocked unconscious; when you awake and struggle free of your comfortable
nailed-down crate you discover that the "pleasure-cruiser" is in
flames!
Thus you must escape from the pleasure cruiser before it explodes. This part of
the game is amusing as you encounter the various characters on the ship
including the rather too friendly captain, a young boy and a beautiful kitchen
officer.
Once you have escaped from the ship you land on a planet and once again you
must escape so that you can return home. The only way to the space port is to
collect reading material for the clerk at the Town Hall and so you must explore
the planet to find these items.
Orifice is a fun GACed game, but does it deserve the 16 certificate? Well, it
is quite risque in places, but doesn't really deserve the rating. In fact parts
of the game have been censored (jokingly!) so that you cannot examine yourself
or the naked kitchen officer!
In short, Orifice is a great game, but it suffers from the same criticism as
DAA - it is a touch too easy. The author compares the level of difficulty with
that of the first part of a Level 9 game and reasons that he writes games that
anyone can complete. On saying that, Orifice is only £2.50 and for that price
you just can't lose.
Atmosphere 64%
Interaction 51%
Challenge 46%
Overall 65%
PUT A COUPLE OF SCREEN SHOTS HERE (GAME ENCLOSED ON DISC)
Adventure Compilation: Tulgey Woods, Twelve Lost Souls, Labyrinth Hall.
Len Townsend,
£3 cass £4.50 disc
Tulgey Woods is the first in a planned eight part (that's right fellow Balgs -
eight parts!) adventure saga called 'Superstition, the Covenant.' It is set in
the most notorious of myth and fable woods called Tulgey, (a feared place in
the olden days), the object of the adventure is to seek out and destroy each
member of superstition covenant, eight in all. You must find out which
elements, weapons and such like will be most affective against each member.
Tulgey woods is home to the Wood Witch and she fears the deadly dutch elm
fungi, so no problem there, except once you've collected this fungi it dies
very quickly. The graphics aren't exactly up to Magnetic Scrolls standards but
the olde postcard type pictures add a certain character to the adventure.
Tulgey is quite a difficult adventure and mappers of adventure games will like
it as it is quite easy to become lost.
The other two adventures have been given away free (Tulgey is the major game)
but they are both good in their own way. Twelve lost souls is a 'simple'
treasure seeking game in which you must retrieve twelve souls and return them
to the rightful owners so that everyone can live happily ever after.
Labyrinth hall is a castle and dungeon maze adventure with a difference.
All of the games were written using GAC and support the commands EXAMINE FURTHER
or LOOK CLOSER. Tulgey Woods is clever, whilst the other two are basic - but
they are free after all. Buying three adventures for £3 means you can't go
wrong but be warned that they aren't the best around nor the worst either.
Tulgey Woods shows potential and the Balg looks forward to part two and hopes
it goes all the way to part eight without losing any of its charm or
originality.
Atmosphere 63%
Interaction 52%
Challenge 66%
Overall 62%
PUT A COUPLE OF SCREEN SHOTS HERE (GAME ENCLOSED ON DISC)
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Balrog's Postbag
Hobbit Bugs...
Stephen Farrelly wrote, in desperate for help in the Hobbit 'I have the
ring, small key, large key, gold key, lunch, small sword and curios map and I
don't know where to go next, also there's a place where there's a bow above, a
red dragon, two doors and a web. I can't get open, unlock or go to any of these
objects and I can't move in any direction either.' You have found one of the
many bugs in the game Stephen. In future just avoid this location as once you
enter it you cannot leave and must reset.
Praise for Adventurers
My husband Dave and I, through your column, would like to thank Stuart
Whyte and "The Witch of Wessex" (Joan Pancott - Balg) for all their
help with "Jinxter" writes Patricia Naylor. Well done Joan and Stuart
and keep up the good work!
PAWs for thought
'...Can the PAW use the illustrator?' says Simon Netherwood. The simple
answer is no Simon, PAW is a text and disc only system at the moment. Although
Tim Gilbert told the Balg recently that Gilsoft will soon be releasing a
graphics package for the PAW so that you can have pictures in your games.
A serious letter from Bob Adams!
'I would like you to know that I support your initiative in encouraging
"Home Grown" producers to send you games for review. This is the way
ahead for us, as the commercial software houses withdraw from producing on the
CPC or insist on writing fancy operating systems that we do not want. I have
started a campaign in Probe (oops! There's that name again) to persuade Home
Growers who write on other formats (such as the Spectrum), to convert their
games to run on the Amstrad. With all your contacts and clout, perhaps this is
an idea you could spread far and wide and get a more favourable response than I
have up to now.
A little guidance though when you do a review, don't be too harsh on them and
compare it as if you were reviewing an Infocom. If you complain that it really
wasn't worth your while loading the adventure because it was so bad etc, (even
if true!) all you will achieve is that you will scare off the others, who might
just have an absolutely brilliant game but are too frightened to send it for
review, after what you said previously. Please try to encourage the bad ones to
get better, rather than putting them off writing ever again.'
I am glad you are still with us Bob, even after the Pilgrim 'Balroged' you for
calling him a Skrimball. I am glad you support my reviewing of 'home brew'
adventures as many others who have written in have mentioned. After all
companies such as Level 9 and Topologika started as 'home brew' and hopefully
some of the names today will be as famous in a few years' time as Level 9 are.
Converting games from the Spectrum? What a horrifying idea! But Bob is right, a
lot of the Spectrum PAW games written on the 128K machines are very impressive
and the Balrog would love to see conversions to the Amstrad. In most cases the
conversion is just that of a straight type ac
cannot review them all (although I try) and it will be the more professionally
put together and play tested games that get priority.
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Clue Sniffing with the Balrog
Get a snort of this! A simmering pot of goodies, positively bubbling over
with problem-solvent. So get stuck in and get out of the woods with the Balg...
And in case your wondering, these clue-ettes come to you courtesy of Dave Harvard, Wendy Watters, Simon Netherwood, Paul & Timothy Stitt, Jerome Young and Uncle Balrog himself.
Adventure Quest
Wave the sling at the giant.
"Say open sesame" at the canyon blocked by slab.
Boggit
Say "LUX" to kill the trolls, the sword is in the cauldron. Insert battery from torch and the sword glows. Kill beholder with cigarette.
To enter house: At South Junction: Turn Buck West, Turn Buck East, Turn Buck North. (Refer to rear of photo of Uncle Buddy, note directions given in rhyme!)
Drop the log at the chasm to c
Questprobe
Change to thing, close eyes, enter tent, get cannon, leave tent, open eyes.
Rebel Planet
To leave the ship: Control the airlock with your watch, some things on the ship are red herrings. Remember, your card is very useful, especially if you want to go where Superman changes his clothes.
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Just for Laughs
Some very funny responses this month come from the intrepid Grue and Antcrusher.
Ballyhoo
Show dead mouse to elephant
Tried calling Infocom (492-6000) on the phone?
Tried to roll up the toupee?
Read the various historical accounts of your past
Infidel
Light torch
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HELP!
Daniel Tish is stuck in the first part of Rigel's Revenge - Where is the uniform he asks??...
Stephen Braithwaite is desperate for some help in Venom - anyone want to help him out?
Stephen Farrelly wants help in Kentilla 'I have killed the Urga-Mauls
(searched everyone) the large one twice, I killed the cave-zat and Rescued Timandra.
Elva made a bow but what I do with it? I can't find Zelda or the boat and I
couldn't tie the rope to the stalactite so will you please try to help me.'
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Lords & Ladies of Adventure
Here they are again, and welcome Douglas Thompson, the Grue and Paul &
Timothy Stitt to the most prestigious column in Adventureland. The Grue
deserves a mention - he is what is known as an Infomaniac as he loves Infocom
games. Any Infocom game players will instantly recognise the name of the Grue
and he is the ideal person to ask any of your problems.
Atalan, Brawn Free, DAA 'n' Everything, Emerald Isle, Forest at the World's
End, Gremlins, Fantasia Diamond, Red Moon, Heroes of Karn, Inca Curse, Jewels
of Babylon, Message from Andromeda, Mordons Quest, Mindshadow, Never Ending
Story, Planet of Death & Trial of Arnold Blackwood.
Bob
All Infocom games!
The Grue,
Bards Tale, Colour of Magic, Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, Nightmare, Quest for
the Golden Egg-cup, Shadows of Mordor, Times of Lore, Werewolf Simulator and
Wizard Warz.
Apache Gold, Boggit, Dodgy Geezers, Doomdark's Revenge, Heroes of Karn, Knight
Tyme, Kobyashi Naru, Message from Andromeda, Questprobe, Ship of Doom, Spytrek,
Terrormolinos, Never Ending Story, Warlord & Wizbiz.
Paul & Timothy Stitt,
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Contacting the Balg...
The Balg is always delighted to receive correspondence from readers on all
aspects of adventuring. You can write to him c/o Amstrad Action, Future
Publishing Ltd, Beaufort Court, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath, Avon BA1 2AP.