(C) Fedorov "Chasm" Vladimir
(C) Music D.J. Music
Review, however.
Hello everyone! That is to say, hi! Today I will introduce you to a new batch of gaming software that has appeared on our flea market. I want to clarify right away that this list may become somewhat outdated by the time you read my musings, but as practice shows, my section is needed for the users of our city, and therefore it will be here. It turned out that our magazine ADVENTURER is the most read in the city of Rybinsk. Even such monsters as the well-known ZX-FORMAT and SPECTROFON are in much less demand. As one of our regular readers said: "Why should I buy magazines from other cities when we have our own?!"
ADV: And this rules! (Although it doesn't hurt to know what's happening in other cities...)
Of course, it's flattering to hear this, however, it should be noted that we certainly strive to provide maximum information for our readers (which we do as best as we can), but on the other hand, we also really don't want to repeat ourselves and provide information that has already appeared in other publications, where, by the way, you can also find quite a lot of interesting things. Therefore, in the "Review," I will provide reviews of those games that I have not encountered in similar sections of other magazines. Well... After rereading what I've written, I noticed, as always, that I've "poured water" for a whole kilobyte again. So: one, two, three, four, five - let's start reviewing.
KOMANDO 2
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MICROTECH SYSTEMS 1992
In the long-ago times, when there were very few Spectrums in our city, there was a gaming salon in the foyer of the "Central" cinema. There were two "native" SPECCY with rubber "keyboards," and there were always many people hanging around, eager to see this little miracle, and sometimes to play. The biggest hit at that time was a game called COMMANDO. People played it until they lost consciousness, showering enemies with lead left and right. Seeing a familiar title among the new releases, but with the prefix "2," I initially thought it was yet another worthless remake, but after loading this game, I drastically changed my opinion. The game not only retained its spirit but, on the contrary, gained many advantages: the graphics are significantly improved, the idiotic death upon contact with enemy soldiers is removed, and the game is brought to a logical conclusion (in the original version, the game was looped, which did not provide moral satisfaction from seeing the final message about how cool you are). In general, the game has experienced its second birth. I highly recommend it to all shooting enthusiasts - you won't regret it.
ADV: A tip for those who are not strong in Polish (or is this game in Slovak?): after selecting the keys, a message "POZOR ! ..." will appear, which means that after the game starts, the keys cannot be redefined. To start the game, you need to press ENTER.
SOUND 50%
GRAPHICS 100%
PLAYABILITY 90%
PEDRO NA OSTROVE PIRATOV
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GOLD STORM 1992
Another game from Eastern Europe. This time it's an arcade adventure. You play as a certain Pedro (probably from Brazil, where there are so many wild monkeys), who desperately needs pirate treasures. Or maybe he just wants to escape from this island (I don't know which is closer to the truth, as I didn't delve deeply into the game). The game is quite well made, with beautiful colorful graphics, smooth-moving sprites, many items and locations - in general, if the game had been made in universally understandable English, it could successfully compete with such masterpieces as DIZZY and SEYMOUR.
SOUND 100%
GRAPHICS 100%
PLAYABILITY 90%
DIRT TRACK RACER
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ZEPPELIN GAMES 1991
As the name suggests - this is racing. There seem to be many similar games, but this one is still captivating. You will compete in driving skill with a buggy on rough terrain, while picking up bonus points, which you can use at the end of the track to repair your car and equip it with various gadgets, like a turbo booster, a more powerful engine, or a body made of a more durable alloy. The graphics in the game, as is typical of later ZEPPELIN games, are very well drawn, and the movement of the cars is smooth (though if you bash your vehicle, it will start coughing and jerking). In general, a pretty nice game - I recommend it.
SOUND 50%
GRAPHICS 100%
PLAYABILITY 80%
DOUBLE DRAGON 2 "THE REVENGE"
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VIRGIN, AMERICAN TECHNOS 1989
It's interesting to live in Russia - only in our software market can the first part of a game appear first, then the third, and finally the second. In principle, no one needs to introduce the game from this series, everyone knows that it's about fighting. It should be noted that the first part was made somewhat shamefully, the third - although carefully, but sluggishly. The second part, in terms of technical execution, is right in the middle - fast graphics without noticeable glitches during movement. Recommended for those who love to beat faces virtually. It should be noted that it's better to acquire the version by Max Iwamoto, as it is fully functional, unlike others.
SOUND 80%
GRAPHICS 80%
PLAYABILITY 80%
STUNT MAN SEYMOUR
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CODEMASTERS, REFLECTIVE DESIGNS 1992
Do you love CODE MASTERS games? I do too. But there can be a sad exception to the rule. In the early nineties, almost all leading CM programmers switched to AMIGA and PC platforms, and to implement projects on SPECCY, the company took under its wing a new generation of game makers. Like all beginners, these guys didn't get everything right - this game is one of those. Repetition is always repetition. The authors of the game took Seymour - a fairly well-known character - as the main hero and sent him traveling the world of the elephant C.J. - thus we got STUNT MAN SEYMOUR. There is nothing new compared to C.J. in Seymour's adventures - the same acrobatic jumps on suspended platforms, the same main villain that needs to be taken out at the end of the level - boring. This game was converted from another platform, so the graphics turned out somewhat clumsy, the music is decent, but one music won't save the game. In general, if you love the adventures of C.J. the elephant - this game is for you. Although I found it uninteresting to play, and I only completed the first level because I needed to review it.
SOUND 80%
GRAPHICS 50%
PLAYABILITY 70%
THE CYCLES
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ACCOLADE 1989
If you have seen the ACCOLADE game "GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT," you will have a complete understanding of this game - the same design, but this time you will participate in motorcycle races. The game is quite well made - I enjoyed racing through all the tracks. However, if you have seen the prototype on AMMY or PC, the Spectrum version will probably seem a bit pale to you. The graphics are certainly weaker, and the sound is not the same (the engine's howl at full throttle is particularly annoying), but in principle, it’s not bad for SPECCY.
SOUND 20%
GRAPHICS 50%
PLAYABILITY 85%
CHOY LEE FUT KUNG FU WARRIOR
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POSITIVE
Have you ever played FIST? This game reminded me of those years when we gathered around the cassette "Leningrad" and played "to the death." Our joysticks were homemade - such monsters on microcontrollers, soldered from textolite. Ah... Those were the days. In this game, you will have to play alone, but the fun of it does not diminish at all. A large set of strikes, smooth well-drawn graphics, quite smart opponents - what else do you need for a good game? First, you will be offered to practice on a wooden training dummy, and then the real fights will begin.
SOUND 50%
GRAPHICS 90%
PLAYABILITY 90%
ARKARUM
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RUMATISOFT, ULTRASOFT 1990
I remember, back in Soviet times, our industry produced a gaming television console called "VideSport" (by the way, the first game by Slava Mednonogov was made based on this console). There were various games, including the so-called "tennis" - two rackets on an empty screen and a ball between them. So, ARKARUM is a somewhat more beautifully designed version of this "tennis." You can play either alone or with someone.
SOUND 80%
GRAPHICS 70%
PLAYABILITY 90%
KING VALLEY
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WE 1996
Finally, I came across the first non-"vulgar" logical (with elements of arcade) game made in the former USSR. The guys from Minsk did a great job creating a truly good game. Your hero has to collect all the diamonds on the screen before moving on to the next level. The task is clear, but accomplishing it is not so simple: besides the fact that a skeleton is constantly chasing you, eager to drag you to the grave, getting to those diamonds requires some serious thinking. Of course, you have some handy tools that will make your life easier, but you still need to know where to apply them. In general, the game is interesting - I recommend it to everyone.
SOUND 95%
GRAPHICS 100%
PLAYABILITY 100%
MURK 3320
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WANDERER 1996
When I first saw this game, I began to rub my hands joyfully, anticipating a great time in a new strategic game. I was a bit disappointed with the graphics - it was half torn from LASER SQUAD, but then LAST BATTLE also suffered from this. After making a couple of moves, I began to suspect something was wrong - my opponents had too little intelligence and only had a numerical advantage over my squad, which consisted of just two soldiers. The enemies kept piling on, stupidly hanging around. I started to take some serious hits, and I decided to relocate my soldiers to the safety of the walls. And to my astonishment, my soldiers started getting shot right through the walls. After that, I was completely disappointed and angrily pressed Reset.
After all the above, you probably drew the only correct conclusion about this game...
SOUND 40%
GRAPHICS 20%
PLAYABILITY 10%
KLADEMINER
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BITMUNCHERS 1996
What do you think will happen if you cross LODE RUNNER and PACMAN? The guys from BITMUNCHERS apparently had the same thought. As a result of their pondering, KLADEMINER was born. Of course, there is nothing radically new in this game, but it is still captivating. Beautiful graphics, professionally written music, good coding level - what else do you need for complete happiness? So if you love to chase RUNNER, this game is definitely for you.
SOUND 100%
GRAPHICS 100%
PLAYABILITY 100%
THE MYSTERY OF ARKHAM MANOR
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MIKE LEWIS & CARL CROPLEY
You will temporarily become a reporter who needs to embody the image of Sherlock Holmes, investigating a mysterious incident at Arkham Manor. A letter from Colonel Lemina arrived at your newspaper, stating that strange things are happening at the manor. Sensing that this could be good material for an article, you head to Arkham. Once you arrive and wander around the city looking for the colonel, you stumble into the police station, where the constable informs you that Lemina has been killed. The last thread is cut - from here on out, you will have to act independently. The game is a graphic adventure with quite decent graphics. The action takes place in real-time, there are many items and locations, and you can communicate with characters using direct speech - phrases can be typed on the keyboard. At first glance, this seems like a game that can keep you occupied for many evenings. I highly recommend it to adventure lovers in English.
SOUND 0%
GRAPHICS 80%
PLAYABILITY 100%
TALES OF ANCIENT RUSSIA
THE KNIGHT SVYATOGOR AND THE WIZARD KARACHUN
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ALEXEY SHIROKOV 1995
Recently, quite a few adventures in Russian have started to appear. Some are primitive, while others, on the contrary, are well made. This game belongs to the latter. The plot is based on Russian fairy tales - a truly rich ground for creating interesting stories. Decently drawn graphics, a non-lagging interface, initially designed to work with a disk. All this makes this game attractive to a wide range of players.
SOUND 0%
GRAPHICS 80%
PLAYABILITY 80%
MAGICIANS LAND
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PRECISION, CLOUD SOFT 1996
This program represents another graphic adventure with RPG pretensions. At first glance, everything looks quite cool - many locations, the ability to develop your physical and magical abilities, various items that can be bought in stores. Even the goal of the game is quite specific - to free the fairy world from a naughty boy who intends to take away everyone's favorite candies (just kidding), for which you need to find nine magical scrolls and deliver them to the court magician. After you leave the castle gates, hordes of enemies immediately rush at you, eager to send your hero to the grave. Everything is fine, but the entire game boils down to mindless wandering through locations and killing enemies. Of course, over time, you gain experience, and after accumulating a certain number of experience points, you can return to the magician to level up. After playing this game for a while, I noticed the following shortcomings: there is no saving to disk at all, which makes the game practically unplayable (only the shadow monitor of my SCORPION helped me, through which I could save); when you reach the next level, only your physical parameters and magical level increase, while new spells remain inaccessible (I reached level three); the game has no logical puzzles - by mapping the areas, you can easily go wherever you want; there are very few items you can interact with; if you pick up an item, you cannot drop it.
Of course, the game is technically well executed, with beautiful graphics, but it is undoubtedly far from "Star Legacy."
SOUND 60%
GRAPHICS 90%
PLAYABILITY 50%
RALLY CROSS
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CODEMASTERS 1989
If you load this game, you will get another chance to participate in car racing. At first, this game made a terrible impression on me - the control of the car was so unusual that I kept crashing into the track barriers, so after a bit of frustration, I pressed reset. Later, when I had to write the "Review," I inadvertently loaded this game again and, after figuring out the controls, enjoyed completing it. The controls are indeed unusual - instead of the usual gas and brake, to go in the desired direction, you need to press the corresponding key - right means the "left" button, and if you need to turn up, then "up." Each track has a gas station where you can refuel, put in fresh oil, and buy other upgrades. For example, if you buy new wheels, then puddles will no longer scare you. I particularly enjoyed driving using the turbo booster. The tracks themselves are also very originally designed - you will have to cross railway tracks and roads with very busy traffic, which adds some variety to the races. However, there is no real competition with opponents in this game - you will have to complete two to four laps within the allotted time. In general, the game is well made, only the small number of stages (there are only four) and the lack of support for the music coprocessor are disappointing.
SOUND 50%
GRAPHICS 70%
PLAYABILITY 90%
MOVING TARGET
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PREMIER 1989
If you love shooting and running through mazes, then load this game and enjoy yourself. A fairly large and intricate maze will give you plenty of room to maneuver. Your task is to find four bombs in the maze and plant them under the generators with corresponding numbers, and then escape safely before a big bang occurs. The well-executed graphics leave a pleasant impression, everything moves quite quickly. There are sound effects present (though on a beeper). In general, play and relax.
It is also worth noting that in Max Iwamoto's version, a file with the game map and hints is built into the loader. Just hold "S" during loading, and the description will be saved to your disk.
SOUND 70%
GRAPHICS 80%
PLAYABILITY 90%
LOST CAVES AND THE TOMB OF DOOM
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PREMIER 1989
Have you ever played the old and well-known BOULDER DASH? If you are a fan of this game, I highly recommend finding LOST CAVES, as it is BOULDER in very beautiful packaging - the hero of the game is drawn in such a way that it creates the impression that Indiana Jones has entered the maze (even the sprite of the game title is done in the corresponding style). The sizes of the sprites have been increased to 4x4 character spaces. The difficulty of the mazes has sharply increased, and now you can't just collect all the diamonds for free. You need to dodge the numerous men running around the maze quickly. You can also easily find yourself in a dead-end situation, after which you can safely press BREAK. Very engaging and recommended for everyone.
SOUND 85%
GRAPHICS 100%
PLAYABILITY 100%
WIZARD WILLY
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CODEMASTERS 1989
Have you ever played "SUPER FROG" on AMIGA or at least "SONIC" on SEGA? Then you surely remember the magnificent moving backgrounds. Of course, implementing three or four backgrounds on SPECCY is practically impossible, but CODEMASTERS managed beautifully with one. You control the novice wizard Willy, who can shoot lightning from his hands, cast a couple of spells, and also jump and move left, right, up, and down. But the charm lies not in this, but in what you can see behind Willy - there are fluttering flags, waterfalls, volcanoes, etc. - all beautifully drawn, although the graphics are monochrome, but that's just how it is. In general, the game is primitive, but so beautiful that it's worth playing.
SOUND 70%
GRAPHICS 100%
PLAYABILITY 100%
That concludes the review. Until we meet again!
* * *
Contents of the publication: Adventurer #06
- Presentation
This is an introduction novel for the game Return to Home 4, featuring space battles and a narrative about pilot Raifus navigating challenges in a military context.
- Presentation
The article presents K.KAV software's new game 'DEATH WORLDS: TORISTAG INVADERS RETURN TO HOME 5', a real-time strategy continuation of 'RTHЧ'. Players will battle against competitors on resource-rich planets while managing technology and military forces. The game's projected release is between late spring and summer of 1997.
- System Software Updates for ZX Spectrum - Котов А.В.
The article reviews various software updates and utilities for ZX Spectrum, highlighting their features, usability, and performance. It provides insight into programming tools, disk management, and database applications. The tone blends critique and personal experience to inform readers about the latest developments in Spectrum software.
- Overview of ZX Spectrum Software
The article provides a comprehensive overview of new software for ZX Spectrum, highlighting various games, their features, and recommendations for players.
- Interface
Discussion of the ZX Spectrum's interface issues and user frustrations with compatibility and modern enhancements. The author critiques the push for users to modify their machines for non-standard features and expresses dissatisfaction with current trends. Reflection on the future of the ZX Spectrum and the need for a more vibrant community involvement.
- Interface
The article discusses feedback from readers regarding games and programming tools for ZX Spectrum. It includes cheat codes for a game, opinions on assemblers, and insights into user preferences for computing. Various reader inquiries about games and software are also addressed.
- Interface
The article discusses issues surrounding the OVER FILE GROUP, a game developer known for mail-order sales, and the impact on user trust in software distribution. It also raises the question of whether to transition the magazine to 128K ONLY, seeking reader feedback. The piece reflects on the importance of user support for maintaining a trusted gaming community.
- Interface
The article discusses recent news in the ZX Spectrum community, including game development updates, personal news about developers, and local happenings in the Rybinsk and Yaroslavl areas.
- Presentation
The article presents new software releases by SURDAKAR GROUP, including a demo of ROAD FIGHTER and updates on FONT EDITOR and RAY DISK MONITOR.
- Promotion of Adventure Games
The article provides a detailed analysis of the adventure games 'APOLLO' and 'ЧУЖОЙ', evaluating their gameplay, challenges, and shortcomings in design.
- Ottyag
Discussion of computer slang and its impact on modern language, highlighting humorous interactions among users.
- Оттяг
The article presents a humorous collection of absurd lists, including reasons for dinosaur extinction, alternative names for Robinson Crusoe's Friday, and more.
- Ottyag
The article presents a test for aspiring demo makers, assessing their skills and commitment to demo creation on the ZX Spectrum. It evaluates their approaches to music, graphics, effects, and their overall engagement with the demo scene. Results determine their standing from novice to expert in the demoscene community.
- What Not to Say or Do When Drunk
The article provides humorous advice on what to avoid saying or doing when drunk, based on personal anecdotes. It emphasizes the consequences of poor decisions and offers cautionary tips. The content is lighthearted and reflects on typical drunken behaviors and their repercussions.
- Friendship Quiz
The article presents a humorous quiz about friendship, evaluating how friends would react in various social scenarios, culminating in a scoring system to assess the depth of one’s friendships.
- Ottag
Статья представляет собой сборник китайских пословиц с юмористическим подтекстом, отражающих различные аспекты жизни и отношений. Она сочетает в себе элементы сатиры и легкого фольклора, используя ироничные наблюдения о человеческом поведении. Текст включает в себя аллюзии на сексуальность, настольные игры и религиозные вопросы.
- Оттяг
Статья представляет собой пародийное евангелие, где события жизни Иисуса Христа изображаются в неформальном и юмористическом ключе.
- Experience Sharing
The article provides a detailed guide on creating a complete disk version of a program for ZX Spectrum, including code examples and practical advice.
- Experience Exchange
The article provides a comparative analysis of the PC and Amiga platforms, highlighting their respective advantages and disadvantages based on personal experience.
- Experience Exchange
The article discusses the existence and behavior of computer viruses on the ZX Spectrum, particularly the BASIC file infecting virus known as 'Drunken Djinn', first seen in the game Last Battle.
- Code Protection Methods
The article discusses various methods of software code protection, detailing techniques like inversion masking, obfuscation, P-code, cryptographic algorithms, and the use of ISR. Each method is evaluated for effectiveness and application, particularly within the ZX Spectrum environment. The author invites further information and collaboration on information security methods.
- Anniversary
The article celebrates the sixth issue of 'ADVENTURER,' marking one year since the founding of the AURYN group. It reflects on the past year for the Speccy community, including the emergence of new programs and the first demomakers' gathering in the CIS. The author expresses hope for the future of Speccy and encourages readers to support and promote the platform.
- Anniversary
Article celebrates the 15th anniversary of the Spectrum, reflecting on its enduring legacy and recent developments in hardware and software.
- Novella
The article narrates a novella centered on a covert mission involving a programmer named Gerald O'Brien, who is hired by a drug lord called Swede to infiltrate a rival's computer network, leading to a thrilling sequence of espionage and violence.
- Contest
The article discusses a contest related to ZX Spectrum, showcasing submissions and participants' creativity.
- Advertisement
The article is an advertisement section in Adventurer #06, inviting hackers, programmers, artists, and musicians to contribute to the ZX Spectrum community. It outlines collaboration opportunities, offers specific requirements for software submissions, and includes contact information for advertising and game distribution. Additionally, it promotes a range of ZX Spectrum software and services available across various cities.
