softalk-pc-1982-12-reduced

stead of just reading " You see rainbow," you're presented with oneon the screen, in beautiful color. When you "get" an object, it disappearsfrom the screen, and when you "drop" it, there it is again.The machine language routines in this program shift the sceneryvery quickly, and there is sound as well, so when a rattlesnakethreatens, you can both see and hear it.If you have never played a graphics adventure, prepare for apleasant surprise. You will get to see the aforementioned princess,castle, and desert in glowing color. The nature of a graphics adventureinvolves a few minor quirks-objects sometimes seem to befloating in air, and you must often hit the scroll key to see all thetext. But you'll quickly get used to this.To the attractive graphics, there is added the mechanics of aclassic-style adventure game. This is not Zork, and you cannot say"Pick lock with knife," for example. What you can do is say "Picklock," and add "with knife" when the program prompts you.The most interesting thing about this game is the endless opportunityfor dying. You have wonderful opportunities for beingdrowned or poisoned. You can also explore the exciting possibilitiesof being eaten or falling to your death. You are a very cleverfellow if you die only once or twice in the course of this adventure.Fortunately, the game can be saved, so you do not have to restartyour lives from the beginning. This feature also eliminates thetedium of searching the desert for rocks in the first part of the adventure(one of its few dull moments).This was the first full-color adventure ever implemented for amicrocomputer. It is appropriate that it should be the first for thePersonal Computer. Though there are shortcomings, in choosingthis game to market, IBM is going with a classic.Requires 48K and color/graphics adapter.fjAdventure in Serenia, by Ken and Roberta Williams, IBM (Box 1328, RocaRaton, FL 33432; 305-998-2000). $35.Space Strike. By Michael Abrash. Earth is doomed. Waves of alienNew catalog forIBM personalcomputer users ...FEATURINGSOFTWAREReady to use software backed by our FREE TechnicalService Hotline. Programs for financial modeling,word processing, mail lists, and managerialforecasting. All complete with proven documentationand operating instructions.& SUPPLIESHere is your " shop-by-mail" showroom. Diskettes,report paper, ribbons, furniture ... even invoices,statements and checks to match your software!Ready and in-stock for immediate shipment.Send for your FREE catalog today. Or for evenfaster service, call Toll-Free 800-323-0628. (In Illinoiscall 312-377-0990).l/iSiBJ.E Computer Supply CorporationA Subsidiary of Wallace Computer Services3626 Stern Drive• St. Charles, Illinois 60174Computer Supplies and Accessories by Mail forMore Than 35 Years.The IBM Personal Computer is a trademark of InternationalBusiness Machines.invaders are descending, firing as they come. To hold off thesehordes, you have three mobile gun platforms that can be deployedonly in series. There are also a few buildings you can hide behind,but alien gunfire will eventually reduce these to rubble. If you destroyone skyful of aliens, a second, meaner set will replace it.Whole air wings of aliens seem to be stacked up in holding patternsas far as Alpha Centauri, all with a craving for your destruction.As you may have guessed, this is a Personal Computer-adaptationof the classic arcade game Space Invaders. The multicoloredaliens shift across your screen much like those in the original game.As they diminish in number they increase in speed, becomingextremely difficult to hit. The tension-building music is gone, butthere are some exciting sound effects (that can be turned off).Space Strike includes a number of enhancements. Three differentkinds of saucers cross the top of the screen, dropping deadlytorpedoes. When you shoot one, it does not just disappear, it falls topieces in a cloud of wreckage. Even more spectacular is what happenswhen your gun is hit-it explodes, filling the screen with a fireworksdisplay. There are seven levels of difficulty; if you don'twant to start with the " easy" game, you don't have to.Space Strike can be played with either keyboard or joystick. Ifyou use a keyboard, you can designate your own playing keys andthey will automatically be saved to disk for future games. For somereason the arrow keys cannot be chosen. There are a few othersmall glitches. At the start of every game the program displayspoint values of the various aliens and gives you the chance to typein options for play. But it automatically proceeds to the game afteronly a few seconds, giving you little chance to consider your alternatives.Aside from this, Space Strike is problem-free.The Personal Computer has great potential as a game machine,and Space Strike deserves a place in every gamer's library. fJSpace Strike, by Michael Abrash, DataMost (9748 Cozycroft Avenue, Chatsworth,CA 91311; 213-709-1202). $29.95.ViSiBLE COMPUTER SUPPL y CORP.3626 Stern DriveSt Charles, Illinois 60174-9987YES• • • PleasesendmeyourFREECatalogto~ay.NAMECOMPANY NAMEADDRESSCITYSTATETITLEZIPQL-STCMfor the IBM Personal Computer December 198229