Computer + Video Games - Commodore Is Awesome

V)
O
O
LU
ere are very few platform games
lable for the ST — which is
n you think how many
For eight bit
from a
Kong
The
le breaks no
terms of game
eatures, it is fun to play
ere is just enough variation in
.•ach of the l(X) plus locations to
keep you coming back for more.
You are Callum MacGregor,
Chief Inspector of the Federation's
Space Stations. You have been sent
to investigate strange goings-on on
Alpha3. Getting no response and
bring perilously low on fuel you
beam aboard only to find (yes —
got it in one!) the station has been
completely taken over by aliens.
6 was definitely the year of the
ter game with
ioff Construction Set
US Gold's
.d on the C64
to the
tan
ap of eight
e and Roger
ead & 11 and Raid
ow) have conic a fair way
ucing the definitive golf
arcade game for the ST.
Unlike Golf Construction Set,
Le.vderboard is more of an arcade
and less of a true golf simulation.
But what it looses in authenticity it
more than makes up for in ease or
use, crisp well designed graphics
and sheer enjoyment.
Up to four players can play a
round at one, each selecting from
pro, amateur, or novice level. A
not often Psion release a game
achine, let alone the sT,
do one expects
special. Psion
int!
any to
stry,
turned out, Sir
n't do too well so a
piece of programming
enjoyed by precious few.
But you can't keep a good game
down and Psion Chess- has
resurfaced on the ST, faster and
stronger than ever.
Written by Richard Lang, the
program will give anyone from
novice to strong club
player a cracking
game, and with 28
levels of play to
choose from you
should be able
to find a
standard to
SPECTACULAR
Your only means of escape is by
collecting enough Lithium crystals
(conveniently scattered about the
station) to refuel your ship I told
you to carry a spare gallon in the
boot!
Before leaving you must also
activate the station's self-destruct
mechanism using a security disk,
hidden in some inaccessible corner
of Alpha 3,
Apart from a small status area at
the bottom of the screen, the rest of
the display shows a side view of
your current location with exits
indicated by shimmering blue
arrows. Part of the game must be
completed on foot, although you
can jump short distances. The rest
of the station can be more easily
explored using any one ()la number
of jetpacks you may find.
Apart from the crystals there are
ammunition boxes, each of which
Contains four bullets for your gun.
novice's ball will be unaffected by
the wind and cannot be hooked
wherear a mis-directed or mistimed
shot by a pro will be punished.
There are four courses to choose
from which are all substantially
different from each other (unlike
the Commodore version!) each
offering its own set of challenges.
Once all players names are entered
and you have chosen how many
holes are to be played, it's IT tothe
first tee.
The graphics of the course have
been substantially improved over
the C64 version, with the inclusion
of bunkers and trees and the
exclusion of all that water which
surrounded every hole giving you
the feeling of playing the first golf
game after the great flood!
The players' 3D view always
points towards the pin, which may
well be too far away to see, or be
obscured by trees. To help you
suit you.
There are two things about this
program apart from its playing
strength that make it stand out
head and shoulders above the rest_
The quality and clarity of the
graphics and the ease of use_
Whether you play on the 3D
board or elect to use the smaller 2D
one, the design of the pieces in both
colour and monochrome modes is
clear and unlikely to lead to the
confusion between different pieces
sometimes encountered with lesser
products.
In fact, playing in 3D mode, you
quickly forget you're playing on a
screen so realistic is the portrayal of
the game. If you are lucky enough
to have a choice, the monochrome
version, with double the resolution,
is recommended.
Once the game has loaded you
are given control of the standard
gem cursor. Just click the cursor
over the piece you wish to move
and you now have control of that
piece with the mouse.
You can shoot anything that moves
which basically means aliens, most
of which look like designer robots,
although one particular species
bears an uncanny resemblance to
the common seagull!
The platforms are littered with
detonators which blast you up to
the level above, using up vital
energy in the process. Detonators
can be jumped over, but this
requires accurate joystick control.
You often find yourself making
unplanned leaps to the platform
above which can be a nuisance if
there's no way to drop down again.
There are also spikes and
automatic guns in many rooms,
which sap yur energy, as do the
aliens when touched. In fact, as you
get deeper into Space Station, it
becomes increasingly obvious that
guarding against excessive energy
loss is the key to success.
This is one of five ST games
work out what club to use you an•
told how many yards, feet or inches
lie between your ball and the hole.
When you face a different
direction the horizon changes to
suit the new view which is drawn
with all the speed the ST can
muster. It's very fast!
Playing a shot is simplicity itself
and allows advanced players to face
or draw the ball around any
offending trees that may be in the
way_
Having selected aim and club
you press the left hand button and
release when the strength meter
rises to the level you want.
Then click a second time to
determine the level of face or draw
to put on the ball; this can be trick
and requires some practice, which
can be had on the programs
thoughtfully provided driving
range, where yo can hook and slice
to your heart's content.
Having placed the piece on the
desired square simply click a
second time to complete the move.
When the computer makes a
move the relevant piece is smoothly
moved to its new square as if being
pulled by a magnet from under the
board. When you select a new
game, each piece neatly slides on to
its respective starting position
ready for battle to begin.
Even at the default playing level
of 15 seconds per move Chess will
give all but the Club players a
resonable game. At 30 seconds or
minute per move the computer
becomes_ a worthy opponent, even
for a good club player.
Pion Chess has all the features
one would expect to find in a
product of this type, including
clocks, hoard set up, take back
move, offer draw, etc.
As if all the features this program
offers weren't enough there are also
50 famous games selected from the
past 150 years by international
master, William Hartston, who has
available from Eidersoft all of
which feature Midi compatible
sound-tracks, although, one has to
say, the music in Space Station is
decidedly unremarkable!
The graphics are pleasing
without being anything to write
• home about but each !screen is
"busy" enough to maintain interest
and you could find this game
grabbing you when you're not
looking and not letting go until
you've mastered it.
r z E . % N O O N = l l
.
1 1 1 1 - 1 1 p
POMPOM F 0 1 1 i g
=211
= = I P
WPM milm
. t the end of each hole the
leaderboard' is displayed giving an
up to date summary of everyone's
performances so far in the round.
The animation of the golfer is
smooth and lifelike, even if there is
a little flickering by his feet.
Leaderboard is a very playable
golf game which should appeal to
anybody remotely interested in the
game, whether they have actually
been bitten by the bug or prefer the
armchair approach listening to
Peter Allis' dulcet tones on the box.
e
l
m
•
g
1
4
:
1
1
•
1
6
also written a short companion to
the games he has chosen.
This is where the package could
have been better. The beauty and
subtlety of some of the moves in
these games may be lost on many
people who would have benefited
greatly from a fuller commentary
on each game, highlighting specific
moves and explaining why they
were made.
This niggle aside, Pion Chess is
arguably the strongest and
definitely the most friendly chess
program around at the moment and
is highly recommended.