Spaced Out
MOTHERSHIP / Softsync, 16K
The object of Mothership is to protect your Starlight Fighter Ship from the attacking Mothership as you race down the Zarway space corridor. You accumulate points by direct hits on the Mothership’s missiles. There are three levels of play, with a one or two player option.
The graphic effects are excellent in this fast-paced, arcade-style game. You can fly your Starlight Fighter through the space corridor (being careful not to crash into the walls), or just lay low and blow up the drone fighters sent out by the Mothership. The one or two player option lets you pit your maneuvering skill against other fighter pilots, and the different levels of play add to the versatility and fun of this game. My high score so far is 16,300. See if you can beat that!
Rating: ★★★
11 Varieties
GAMESTAPE 1 / Melbourne House, 16K
This tape holds 11 games for the unexpanded T/S1000. Although their quality is not uniform, the variety is impressive, and Klingons, Code, Asteroids and Breakout are good enough in themselves to justify purchasing this tape. In Klingons you try to ram the ships approaching you; Code is a guessing game along the lines of Mastermind; Asteroids gives you only one direction control to avoid hunks of debris; and Breakout is a ball and paddle game with a twist. Others include Simon, a word version of the popular children’s game; UFO, a shooting gallery type of game; Bomber, in which you get ten runs to destroy a dam; and Guillotine, which is Hangman revisited. For players accustomed to a larger memory capacity, the games may prove frustrating in their simplicity.
Rating: ★★★
Fore!
GRAPHIC GOLF / Mindware, 16K
Graphic Golf takes you to the first hole on an 18 hole game of golf. As in real golfing, the object is to play each hole under par. The golfer encounters such obstacles as sand traps, trees and water, and must also cope with wind, which can affect the direction of a shot.
This game allows you to play golf in any weather without special equipment. When you tee off at each hole the computer is your caddy, asking you to choose your golf club (choice of wood, iron, or putter), and club size. You are then asked to indicate the direction the ball is to travel (up, down, left, right), the angle it is to take, and the driving force behind your shot. If you lose your ball in the trees or water you must tee off again. Each hole is clearly displayed in graphics, and all 18 are different. After playing each hole you are given a running tally as well as your score for the hole just played. Graphic Golf is an absorbing game which relies on skill and good judgment. The player sets his own handicap so it is possible to increase the difficulty of the game as your skills improve.
Rating: ★★★
Superlative
Wow! This is one of the best programs I’ve ever seen. I couldn’t get to the machine to try it myself because my kids (ages 10 and 11) were always there! The graphics are really effective.
You are at the edge of a large and complicated maze. The maze contains several prisoners who will always help you find the treasure and the exit. There are also a number of swords, which are useful to fight the Mazogs you will encounter.
The game is played in the three levels of difficulty which correspond to difficult through suicidal. You have a view of just a tiny portion of the maze but can request a full screen view at any time.
If you don’t have Mazogs you’re missing the best game for Sinclair computers — it might be the best game for any computer. The whole family loved it!
Rating: ★★★★
Batball
WALLBUSTERS / Beam Software, 1K
This batting game features speed and smooth action. The player has a choice of seven speeds, providing a challenge to experts as well as beginners. The object is to clear all three walls, involving a certain amount of skill. A limitation of the game is that in order to change the speed at which you are playing, the game must be reloaded. Also clearing all three walls ends the game. In play, however, this game should please any batting-game enthusiast.
Rating: ★★½
Treasure Hunt
CAVES OF ZULU / Stuart Software, 16K
This combination word-adventure and maze game was created with humor and imagination. The object is to collect treasures hidden in a maze; as the player travels through, walls and hazards come into view. Each treasure is worth points, although nothing is done with your score other than adding it up. There are three levels of difficulty: level one is almost too easy, level two is good and level three is sometimes impossible. Graphics are used well to accent your moves. However, the game is very slow. There is also a tendency to go into a loop on one or two specific moves. This is, unfortunately, a good idea not reaching its full potential.
Rating: ★★½
War Game
COMBAT FLIGHT / Melbourne House, 16K
Put yourself at the controls of a fighter ship flying over a mountain range with enemy ships approaching. This fast-paced, exciting game offers a variety of targets. At the end of play, the game allows you to enter your name if you have reached one of the top five scores. Despite the similarity of concept to numerous other games on the market, this version offers challenge and excitement.
Rating: ★★★
For Budding Jedis
VAULT OF THE CENTAURS / Orbyte Software, 16K
In Vault Of The Centaurs you must capture the life fuel Zykon which your planet needs for continued survival. But the precious substance is carefully guarded deep within the Vault. The Centaurs are your enemies and they are ruthless, highly-skilled fighters who zealously guard their Zykon.
There are five levels of play in this game, each more difficult than the last. All levels are extremely difficult, and in order to successfully complete your mission you must conquer the Centaurs and penetrate the vault on each successive level. Vault of the Centaurs is fast paced and visually very effective. A cardboard overlay is included in the package which puts the six cursor keys at your fingertips, while covering up the other keys. If you fancy yourself to be Jedi material, then Vault of the Centaurs is a game you don’t want to miss.
Rating: ★★★
Lightning Tour
80 HOURS AROUND EUROPE / International Publishing & Software, 16 K
A refreshing change from space games is 80 Hours Around Europe, which takes you on a whirlwind tour right here on Earth.
The object is to visit 12 European cities in 80 hours with 1,500 British pounds. Sound easy? Well, it’s not. You must obtain a souvenir from each city before you can travel to the next. Getting there is tricky for there are all sorts of unpredictable delays, including losing money in poker games, snow drifts, having to bribe officials, having to return to the last city in order to retrieve a forgotten souvenir.
Upon arrival in each city you must convert a portion of your British pounds into the local currency, then purchase a souvenir as well as transportation to the next city. But buyer beware because the price for souvenirs can fluctuate, which can devastate your budget. There’s no time for sightseeing in this game because the clock ticks away the hours as you conduct your business. The game is self-explanatory, loads easily, and is lots of fun.
Rating: ★★★