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In this section, we present to you two interesting games that will undoubtedly provide enjoyment for both adventure enthusiasts and puzzle lovers. These games are hard to start, but you will surely find it difficult to tear yourself away from them.
DEACTIVATORS 48,128 Kb
(Tigress Marketing 1986)
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A wonderful multi-level arcade puzzle that, for some unclear reasons, has remained on the sidelines of demand among Sinclair users. Perhaps this is related to the fact that many had the Italian version of this game called "DROIDS". And considering that figuring out the game without any "text editors" and "jugglers" is not easy, one can imagine the difficulties a user faced when launching this program.
The game develops logical and spatial thinking, as well as the ability to make unconventional decisions in extreme situations. There are many surprises and unexpected moments in this game. We hope you will spend your time usefully.
In the attachment, we provide you with two English versions of the game - 48k and 128k. Owners of the "ZX-SPECTRUM 128k" with a music coprocessor will be able to enjoy unobtrusive music and interesting sound effects during the game, which perfectly complement the overall picture.
PROGRAM SETUP
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Immediately after loading, you are offered to choose the control:
1. KEYBOARD
2. KEMPSTON (Kempston joystick)
3. INTERFACE 2 (Sinclair joystick)
If you choose keyboard control, you will enter the key assignment menu. You can reassign control keys by pressing the "O" key. The standard control is initially set to: QAOPM.
After selecting control, press "ENTER". Now you are in the main menu, where you can familiarize yourself with the leaderboard and additional control keys.
Z - interrupt the game.
X - start a new game.
C - start the game from the first level.
V - choose the difficulty level of the game (beginner/expert).
After setting all parameters, press ENTER, then "FIRE" and start the game.
DROID CONTROL
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From the very beginning, you are offered to choose a droid on the building plan that you wish to control. Once you have chosen a droid, you can start taking active actions, which we will describe below. But first, a few words about the droid control menu. You can enter this menu by pressing "FIRE".
The control menu consists of four icons. From left to right:
Droid selection icon. By selecting this icon, you can switch to controlling another droid.
Item throwing icon. Used to pass items to other droids, as well as in cases when you need to throw a bomb outside the building. This icon is also chosen when it's necessary to free the droid's manipulators. After selecting this icon, you will need to catch the right angle at which the droid will throw the item. Using the "left" and "right" keys, you can change the throwing direction.
Room inspection icon. Used to better navigate the building and develop a strategy.
Exit icon from the menu.
On the building plan, the droid you have chosen is represented by a more elongated sprite. The destroyed part of the building after the explosion of an unexploded bomb is shaded in black. Access to this location will be closed for your droids.
GAME LOGIC
You need to use several droids to defuse a building captured by the enemy. Enemy droids guard the approaches to the bombs planted in different parts of the building. Your task is to find the optimal way to collect all the bombs and dispose of them in time.
The building that needs to be defused represents a small maze with several rooms, some of which may be completely isolated from others. You can observe the building plan in the center of the lower part of the screen. However, from this plan, it is impossible to determine how the various parts of the building are connected. The plan only indicates the locations of your droids and the locations of the bombs. You can figure out how the rooms are connected only by using the inspection icon. This task can also be solved if your droids manage to navigate the game locations and inspect all the rooms.
As a rule, beginners struggle with this, and their droids perish when encountering treacherous guard droids that control all the main approaches to the rooms where the bombs are located.
Getting rid of the guards is quite simple. The solution is right in front of you. When a guard is chasing your droid, try to use the message shafts between the floors of the building more often. The guard won't withstand such overloads and will fall apart into pieces. Then you can breathe freely. In the first level, you will need to destroy two guard droids in this way.
The game often presents situations where there is no passage from one room to another. Typically, such rooms may contain teleportation devices. When you direct your droid to a teleportation pad, if the device is functioning normally, your sapper will be teleported to another part of the building. Otherwise, nothing will happen, and the droid will remain in its original location. This will mean that the teleporter is disconnected from the main system. Then it needs to be turned on. This can be done by a droid that has access to the technical control panel, which is necessarily present in every building.
To turn on the non-functioning teleportation devices, as well as other auxiliary mechanisms (secret door drives, windows, protection systems), you will need an electronic card that must be inserted into the control panel. Each card controls only its devices. Therefore, there may be several such cards. It is advisable to use them all. As a rule, the number of used cards determines the likelihood of successfully completing the task at each level. Having used all the cards, you can easily reach any of the bombs. And that is already ninety percent of success.
Once you find a bomb, you must immediately carry it out of the building. There is an exit in every building. It is easy to identify. If the droid refuses to go through the door, know that this is the exit. Usually, the exit is located at the bottom of the building. It can be either the left or right corner of the plan. Do not confuse the exit with the room destroyed by the bomb explosion. To do this, use the icon to inspect the adjacent areas.
So, you found the bomb and delivered it to the exit. Using the "throw item" icon, select the optimal angle of inclination and confidently press "FIRE". If you hit the target, the bomb will successfully fly out of the building and explode outside. For this, you will receive a solid bonus in points. Once you defuse all the bombs in the building, you will be offered a new task, and additionally, a backup sapper droid will be added to your team, which you can use at your discretion in the next level of the game.
TIPS
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Do not approach the bomb with the electronic card - it can lead to trouble.
Remember that a droid can carry only one item. So first focus on finding the cards, and only then the bombs.
If you lose even one droid, you will jeopardize the completion of the mission.
Be careful. If you frequently use the shafts to transition to other floors, remember that the bomb may explode faster than you would like.
Hurry to eliminate all the bombs. You have a limited amount of time.
* * *
VENDETTA (System 3, 1986)
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VENDETTA (Italian vendetta - revenge), the custom of blood feuds on the islands of Sardinia and Corsica.
Soviet
Encyclopedic
Dictionary.
In this game, you will have to become a participant in bloody raids between criminal clans. Your girlfriend has been captured by a group of mafiosos. She faces a torturous death. And you have only one hour to find your beloved and rescue her from the enemy's clutches. Moreover, you need to find all the items belonging to the girl so as not to leave any evidence for the police, who are eager to send you behind bars.
The boss of the gang is closely monitoring your every move and completely controls the situation. So if you fail your mission, know that you will never be forgiven.
"VENDETTA" belongs to the arcade-adventure genre with elements of racing. It should be noted that to complete the mission, you must pass four main levels and three additional ones that load between the main ones.
Controlling the main character is quite simple. After selecting the type of joystick in the main menu, you immediately start the game.
At the bottom of the screen, you will see the character and item control menu.
Timer and
health indicator.
Item selection and
usage menu.
Window displaying
the type of weapon you
are using.
The "ENTER" key - select an item.
The "SPACE" key - select a weapon.
"FIRE" - use the item selected with "ENTER". Just remember to do this immediately after selecting the item; otherwise, the weapon will be used.
"FIRE"+"DOWN" or "FIRE"+"UP" - pick up an item.
At the beginning of the game, you have only two types of weapons: a sharp dagger and your powerful fist, which can easily send any mortal to the afterlife. However, with the dagger, this can be done much faster. And if you manage to get a machine gun, you will be able to solve your problems with just one shot.
The machine gun can be found immediately by punching the warehouse door with your fist. But you may be disappointed when you discover that the magazine of the machine gun is empty. Look carefully in the warehouse for a crowbar, which you can use to open crates of ammunition. Sooner or later, you will find bullets for the machine gun.
Carefully inspect all nooks and crannies, and do not miss any suspicious places where there may be incriminating evidence against you and your girlfriend.
If you encounter problems with this game, we will discuss them in the "FROM THE WORLD TO THE PIECE" section.
* * *
Contents of the publication: Spectrofon #02
- Экспертиза
Analysis of the game 'SHADOWFIRE' (Beyond 1985), its connection to 'ENIGMA FORCE'. Discussion on 'SHADOWFIRE TUNER' and its mysterious nature. Detailed gameplay mechanics, character roles, and strategic elements.
- Дебют
Overview of two ZX Spectrum games: 'Deactivators', a puzzle game focusing on strategic bomb defusal using droids, and 'Vendetta', an arcade-adventure game featuring a rescue mission against the mafia.
- Эказамен
Quiz question for 'DEACTIVATORS' game players about saving a droid on level two. Prize is a new issue of the magazine. Still accepting answers for 'DRILLER' program from issue one.
- Обзор
The article reviews the Novosibirsk version of the game ELITE2, which introduced new missions and ships, followed by the announcement of ELITE3 and ELITE4 by the creator, Vladimir Kladov. Despite technical issues with compatibility on certain computers, discussions are ongoing for including ELITE3 in a future magazine issue. The article reflects concerns about developers focusing too much on repetitive game plots.
- С миру по биту - В.Ананьин
Discussion on adapting games to the iS-DOS system and its implications for ZX Spectrum's future. Comparison of TR-DOS and iS-DOS utility and limitations. Critical view on the practicality of game adaptations.
- Система - ASC
Detailed overview of the ASC Sound Master music editor for ZX Spectrum. Discussion on the role of sound in elevating program reception and future potential of ZX Spectrum. Insights from developer Andrey Sendeckiy and description of the editor's features.
- Реклама
Information on purchasing the SPECTROFON magazine and distribution details.
