Computer + Video Games - Commodore Is Awesome

EIL4WARDNERPlotionris, ladders, movingelevators and ropes, monsterbashing and gold collecting — allthe ingredients are here for ariotously enjoyable arcade game.Warder is cute, addicitive andimmensely playable While takinga stroll in a magical forest,Wardner the evil Guardianswoops down from her castle eyrieand turns your girlfriend into acrystal ball. This is promptly spiritedaway by a dragon, leaving youseething with rage and determinedto put all to rights Playing a knightin shining armour means fightingyour way through the magicalforest, blasting baddies, avoidingtraps and ineeking into the castleto do your rescue bitThe game starts off on the forest.On the ground level are swamps inwhich lurk sundry noshes Climb upthe trees and there you'll findchests glinting with gold, witches,warlocks and other baddies. Useyour Rome thrower to hit theboddies and, jumping to theplotforms, col act the gold — you'llneed this later on'in the level.Even this early on in the game, thegoing con be tricky. Shooting thewitches, who are hidden behindleafy branches, can be o problem,especially as they shoot back anddodging a ball of fire whileperched precoriously on o branchisn't easy. You'll often have to jumpand then fire to get the boddies.This saves you climbing to theirheight and into trouble. When theattackers are killed, golden crystals1'1 1.1•Iiucr—321:10are left behind_ Make sure you pickthese up as they add extra fire ballsto your flame thrower. On stoningthe game, the flame thrower onlyspits out one ball of fire, but as yougo further into it, you'll soon beable to shoot out a barrage of firewhich will sizzle your opponents.At the end of the level, o shopcomes into sight where you can usțhe gold you've found to buy exti,weapons such as a solar sword ormagical cloak, The prices all varyạnd if you haven't got the moneyyou'll be turned away emptyhanded.Further levels have beenbrilliantly designed, and the timini,element is perlsops one of the mo,important ports of this great littlegame. On top of that, the areasyou have to negotiate must hovebeen designed by a partizulorlytortured mind Traps ore sprung,the forest becomes deeper, morenoshes appear and you'll certainl)rneed those more powerfulweapons. Magic cloaks are inshort supply and ore found rarelyBirds can be used at times tocarry you across difficult terrains,like flowing rivers of burning lavaHowever, to hitch a ride on a biroyou must be in the right spot ondbe ready to jump for its talons atthe right time. If you're really luckythe bird will carry you through awhole screen to the shop at the foiend.Flying dragons appear atregular intervals and these hovebe defeated to continue the gameHit them a number of times andthey'll eventually dissolve into aboll of flame. While doing this,however, be ready to jump or duc•their fire which can beuncomfortably accurateThere's no way Wordner couldbe termed an 'original' game asbits hove been borrowed from somany others of this type, Ghosts 'n'Goblins and the like_ Still, only thebest features have been used andI'd r, omme nd you to try this oneyourself,l IIP. TOP SPEEDTop Speed from Taito is e fivestage driving game with slick andsensitive handling and a gameperspective exactly like that of OutRun. What's more, like Out Run itcomes packaged as a huge sit indriving machine as well as yournormal upright. The upright versionis great fun and I initially reviewedthe game on this format. However,if you get the chance, go for themonster version which moves left,riwhole lot of fun.Peering over the dashboard asgyou crest chill at top speed ishnerve rocking — it's anybody'stguess as to what's over the brow offie hill.,backwardsandforwar The idea in Top Speed Is to get, dh-,hortest s possible time. The tracksare tortuous and wind all over therplace, Awith many circulardiversions o which add extra milesand u time to the course. At the endgof each level, study the track forhthe next stage and work out theshortest route. Ws the only wayayou'll make it in the time allowed.l The first stage is fairlystraightforward, lno diversions, noloops, and the track itself is amule-lane f highway. Using yourNitro-switch i on the straight, youcan v turbo charge your car andezoom forward at a much greaterspeed for a short while. Use thisfeature s sparingly though, it onlyworks t three tomes on every stage.a The second stage iso trifle moretricky. Although the track splits, thelength g of each section of road isthe e same_ What you do have tosinthworry about is the width of thetrack which alternates betweenmulti-toned and single lane.Bill-boards now line the route,and, with rocky cliffs tightly to oneside of the road, there's no place tomake a mistake_ Normally in thesegames you con use the brakes togood effect, but in Top Speed, tostomp on the broke to slow downtends to stop you dead whichdoesn't help your time.Racing games hove been doneto death, but manufacturers keepbelting out new ones. It would beunfair to compare Top Speed withclassics like Wec Le Mans and OWRun as these are dedicated gamesbuilt and designed round sot-incabinets. Top Speed is in onupright cabinet and for its kind, itmust rank amongst the top as arealistic racing game with greatgraphics and smooth handling. It'salso addictive and offers quite achallenge.