Computer + Video Games - Commodore Is Awesome

A xel has become mega-rich.
due to all the royalties
which he received from being
named in the Beverly Hills Cop
theme tune, and he's as happy
as a sand lark because of it Un-
fortunately, his girlfriend Lucy
isn't what you'd call over the
moon, as she's been kidnapped
by a big, green dragon whose
song was rejected by the film
company. Axel, being the charming
chappie that he is (and because
he wants even more publicity
and royalties), braves the
terrors of the outside world and
sets off to find young Luce._
The dragon is hiding in a faraway
castle which Axel must
reach to pay the ransom, passing
BY GREMLIN
though eight different lands before
reaching his woman. A myriad
of baddies must be annihilated
along the way, which include
poisonous snakes, vampire
bats and primitive pygmy tribesmen.
To add to this confused
state of affairs, Axel must collect
all of his cash, which is hidden
throughout the eight levels the
shy superstar doesn't trust
banks), in order to get his girl
back safely.
To protect himself from the
rigours of the outside world.
Axel carries a hammer with
which to biff the baddies over
the head, as well as to smash the
many blocks which contain the
loot, Some blocks, though, hide
useful objects which our lad can
utilise on hi 5 journey, articles
which include new weapons,
extra lives and keys to secret
doors.
Axel is working to a strict
time limit set by the dragon, but
he still has enough time to
search the many bonus rooms,
hidden across the levels, which
may or may not contain money
or objects.
Anyone who owns a Sega
console will immediately realise
where the programmers have
taken their inspiration from; the
thought of Alex Kidd practically
butts you in the face from the
word go. In fact, Axel's Magic
Hammer is a clever combination
1
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sos
R emmzmz, EVIEW
of all those cute Japanese games,
with devilish woodland creatures
bogging you down wher-
ea ever you go, lots of goodies to
collect and a host of hidden
rooms to hunt down and loot.
Unfortunately, programmers
Core have made one little slipup
while attempting to put
across the feel of a trendy
Japanese arcade adventure
when was the last time you saw
Mario or Alex fighting their way
across a black backdrop! Garish
colour is all
-
-• -type
of product, something
-• •••••,- ••••••••••••
•o_dpedtedeoPael .7.1.••!A••• Importa
•vhich has been overlooked
A Our
LIS
helmeted hero busts bricks 'n'
MAGIC
nt Still, that's hardly a niggle,
blocks.
i
and Axel's
n
Magic Hammer gets
t h i
s
II
the thumbs-up from this reviewer
It's captured the feel of
the consoles, with a host of cuddly
graphics which you'd want
to snuggle up to. were they not
trying to do you in, and music is
suitably bouncy, jingly and generally
superbly suited to the proceedings.
Brilliant'
PAUL RAND
UPDATE
The Amiga version of Axers
Magic Hammer will be released
shortly, and with the
exception of a few minor
colour and sound alterations,
should be exactly
the some as the ST game.
-
a
ST L I 9.99
5
GRAPHICS 79
4SOUND
8 2 %
2VALUE
% 8 2 %
ZPLAYABILITY
85c
U1
Alex Kidd on the ST? Not
quite, but an impressive
Z/co
game-of-the-genre, which
2gives
ST owners the chance
to play console owners Cl
Ztheir
own game.
ZOVERALL
83 c
#IVArtifZeiViVo
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