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ALMAZZ
The
Edge, £9.95 cass, joystick only
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O Diamond hunt in 1700-screen
playing area |
Quo
Vadis heralded the arrival of the BIG game. This
one is even bigger, featuring a multi-directional scrolling
landscape of 1700 screens. But is big still beautiful?
The action is set on an African Savannah and your task
is to locate the Almazz diamond in the wilderness before
the 40-day time limit runs out. The landscape is a green
pattern criss-crossed by rivers and lakes. You can only
cross these where there are bridges. The sound is a
repetitive tune which can be turned off, since there
are no important sound effects.
The
terrain is in 3D, although you only recognise this from
the features on it because you can't see the horizon.
The features are trees, bushes, rocks, logs, tall stones,
and huts, all of which throw shadows.
You
can move around the landscape at two speeds, either
an automatic walking pace, or running. The faster speed,
however, causes you to heat up under the beating sun
and you need frequent drinks of water from a flask.
At walking pace you cool down gradually, but there are
two hazards that may hurry you along.
You've
just been mauled by a lion
and the injuries result in your death
LIONS
and NATIVES carrying spears appear in great numbers
to harass you. The natives only travel at walking speed,
but throw spears that can kill you. The lions can go
at running speed once they have sensed your presence,
and can maul you if they catch you. You have a gun to
defend yourself, but it only carries six bullets at
a time.
To
replace your bullets you have to find a hut with an
open door -- once inside, game time will pass very quickly
and you will gain a bullet every hour. Inside the huts
you are immune, but the rapid loss of time forces you
back into the open. The other useful features are the
springs at which you can replenish your water bottle.
In
your search you may find some interesting objects lying
around, and, not to give too much away, some of these
are pieces of a sacred tablet which go into a grid at
the bottom right of the display. Other objects you'll
have to find and use by yourself. There are also riddles
to be found, and these are said to play a more central
role than those in Quo Vadis.
Your
temperature can rise fatally for lack of water, or because
of your injuries, but in either case you are back to
the start with everything to collect again. For that
reason it's advisable to map everything out so you know
where you are going. Once you've found the diamond,
you'll have to solve a final puzzle and then you can
claim the real Almazz diamond from The Edge.
BW
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