Amiga Computing - Commodore Is Awesome

C ,1, put the cars back on the track for
you O when you were playing Scalextric?
U Did you ever wonder why moths
beat
L
themselves to death on light
bulbs? The answer to the first problem
D
— and perhaps the second — is
ynow
presented in the form of Powerdrome.
o
u This is a very innovative implementation
n of the old favourite racing
game. Pole Position. Where Powe
v
e
r
f
i
n
d
a
n
y
o
nLook
whai has escaped from Starglider
e
terdrome
really takes off (pun
ointended)
is that the cars have
become jet aircraft which race
around tracks resembling the NI25 of
the future.
The track features bumps, bends,
flyovers, tunnels. chicanes and, just
when you thought it was getting
mean, worse things which I won't
Built by EA. driven by Tree Progs
even attempt to describe. It's more
fun finding out for yourself.
The track is a kind of channel with
banked sides, divided into equal chequered
sections to give the sensation
of speed as they flash past. They also
serve as roadsigns.
If the embankment is coloured red
and white there is a bend ahead, if
the top of a tunnel is yellow and
black then it is curving down
There are seven different tracks,
each with its own set of interesting
features which need a different style
of driving to negotiate.
Hazards to watch out for are
storms — complete with excellent
lightning which impedes your
engines unless you stop off in the pits
for a change of filters — and the other
drivers.
You have four opponents, each in a
different kind of ship. who will all try
to hassle you. Collisions are quite
H like aeroplanes. This is why
choppers E have their wings on the
roof, L spinning around at 280 rpm.
I
The angle at which the blades hit
the air — known as the collective —
C
controls the amount of lift. By using
Othe
joystick you control the overall
Ptilt
of the rotor blades — the cyclic —
Tand
this moves the 'copter fonvards.
E
backwards, left and right.
This is made easier on the Amiga
R
by having an overlay which reminds
S you of the controls needed. Then
athere
are all the weapons to control
rand
select, because not only are you
e expected to fly the thing without crashing.
but you have to shoot lots of
n
people at the same time.
o Before you climb into your S8m
t dollar chopper you select your duty
fassignment
and determine the level
l
o
w
rare but can be nasty when they
happen. Keep a look out in your rearview
mirror.
There is a very workable datalink
option for playing against a similar
minded Powerdrome owner
communicating via modem or serial
cable. The game thoughtfully allows
you to copy it for this purpose.
If the unfortunate should happen
and you prang a wing or, worse still,
the nosecone, you can pop into the
robopits for a speedy repair. Here
entire sections of your ship can be
replaced. You can even get a Quickfit
Gunship
124.95
MicroProse
Sound LLI1111111111111
Graphics
Gamepla‘
Valli,
II I H JIIII III
IIMI
Overall
NN
— 47%
UM
I
of difficulty by specifying weather
conditions and troop strengths.
After a short briefing you can
decide whether or not you want to be
chicken and call in sick. If you do
choose to accept the mission. you
have the opportunity to become a
hero, earn medals and probably get
killed in action.
Start the engine, engage the rotors,
increase the collective, put out the cat
and cross your fingers.
1