spectrum graphics - OpenLibra

OL SOFTWARE
QL Software
Damien Clay takes a look at some new
games for the QL.
QL Hyperdrive
English Software
£14.95
This is the sort of game where
you have to imagine you are a
Formula 1 racing car driver and
you have to dodge past each car
to get into a suitable position lie
1 51 to get to the next stage.
There are five stages and each
one is more difficult than the
last.
The hi res 3D graphics are
very good, flicker free and look
very realistic with good use of
colour. The sound is also very
realistic, and gives you the feeling
that you are actually driving.
It is fairly easy to backup onto
disk with the Sinclair utility disk
supplied with their drive and, if
you know a little about programming,
to another microdrive.
ZX COMPUTING DECEMBER/JANUARY 1 985
There is no backup program on
the cartridge itself though.
Playing the game is fairly
straightforward, all you have are
four controls: left, right, ac
celerate and decelerate, using
the cursor keys. It is up to you
what speed you go, but the
slower you go the less likely you
ore to get onto the next stage
and the faster you go the harder
it is not to crash.
The game is presented very
well and displays the instruc
tions on which keys to use, it
also demonstrates parts of each
stage. It comes in a wallet type
case with space for another
microdrive cartridge. There is a
high score routine which
displays the highest score but
there is no hall of fame.
Overall this is a very good
game and is very good value for
£14.95 considering that
English Software provide a
lifetime guarantee on all their
games.
Graphics * * * * *
Addictiveness * * *
Overall * * * *
Cuthbert in Space
Microdeal
£14.95
This is a typical arcade game
where you, as Cuthbert, have
been sent on a looting mission in
outer space but before leaving
each planet you visit, you must
use your remote shuttle to col
leci 1 5 fuel pods. The colour and
the graphics are very good and
hardly flicker but there is a lack
of sound, all you get is a few
bleeps, which does not make it
very realistic.
It is very easy to make a
backup copy as there is a
backup program on the
microdrive cartridge.
Playing the game is quite sim
pie though the actual movements
of the character are quite
last It is fairly enioyable and
also reasonably addictive. It is
presented very well in a converted
cassette case which un
fortunately does not hold a
backup tape. The program does
not give on screen instructions
but these are provided on the
cassette inlay card.
There is a very simple high
score routine but there is no hall
of fame, which is a pity because
you can't put your name up
when you get a good score.
Overall this game is very good
but a bit expensive, however
with the lack of QL software, if
you have the money to buy it it
is quite enjoyable
Graphics * * * *
Addictiveness * * *
Overall * * * *
OL Cavern
JMF/Sinclair
£14.95
This is one of the best arcade
games I have seen for the QL
and is very well set out. Your oh
lective is to travel the length and
breadth of the cavern in order to
collect all 395 diamonds.
Throughout your journey you
will have to walk, crawl, swim,
travel by boat and fly by jetpack.
The colour and the graphics are
very good and flicker free and
the sound, though limited, is
very good.
The game carries a backup
program on the microdrive car
tridge and instructions are in the
little booklet with extra informa
tion given onscreen from the
start menu.
Play is very enjoyable and ad
dictive, some screens are dif
ficult, some are complex and
some are simple but they are all
excellent and very exciting It is
presented in a wallet type case
with space for a backup
microdrive cartridge. The in
structions are clear and easy to
understand as well as being brief
and well laid out.
There is no high score routine
which is a pity because it does
tend to spoil the program a bit
Overall it is a very good program
and has been well designed and
programmed, I personally think
it is worth every penny and is
well worth adding to your collec
tion.
Graphics
Addictiveness
Overall
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