product reviews
GOONIES
Datasoft/H .P Software
19808 Nordhoff Place
Chatsworth, CA 91311
(818) 886-5922
$29.95, 48K disk
Reviewed by Brad Kershaw
Goonies is a run, jump and climb game with a twist. I enjoyed
playing even though I haven't seen the movie it is based on.
Your task is to make it through all eight screens, solving
the puzzle each one presents-until you finally find One-eyed Willy's Pirate
Ship with its treasure that will save the homes of your family and friends
from foreclosure. All the while you must avoid the evil Fratelli gang.
This sounds easy, but it's not. The twist that I spoke of earlier is that
there are two little Goonies characters that you must successfully
guide through the perils of each screen.
The Goonies are multi-colored animated figures, each with
its own distinctive look. Every time you advance to a new screen, the computer
randomly selects a new pair of the movie characters-Mikey, Brand, Mouth,
Data, Stef, Andy and Chuck.
You can shift back and forth between Goonies by pushing
the joystick button. You may also choose between left-handed or right-handed
play. This is done by simply choosing that option at the beginning of the
game, a nice feature for all you south-paws out there.
Goonies is also different in that it is based on cooperation
between the pairs of little people which you control. For example, you
might move one of your characters to a device that keeps the opposition
busy while you move your other character to a safe area. It is actually
impossible to get through any screen without teamwork between friends.
The graphics are fairly good. Each of the eight levels
is a different cutaway view of a house, mountain, or cavern. The obstacles
in each level are also detailed and animated. Another plus for this game
is that the music is from the film's popular soundtrack. I also noticed
that unlike Conan, another Datasoft game, having a lot of animated characters
and objects on the screen don't slow down the action.
I played this game for a number of hours and never made
it all the way to the pirate treasure. Despite help from the hint book
and the official treasure map, Goonies is very challenging-even for an
old arcade gamer like me. But that's what I enjoyed about Goonies. It doesn't
get boring and should keep you playing into the wee hours of the morning.
I hope other games adopt this on-screen teamwork style.
It makes for some very interesting challenges. You have to use your head
and be quick on the draw to get two chararacters out of a hopeless situation.
Q-MODEM
Quantum Microsystems, Inc.
P.O. Box 179
Liverpool, NY 13088
(315) 451-7747
$149.95, 48K disk
Reviewed by Brad Kershaw
For lower budgets, the 300 baud Q-Modem by Quantum Microsystems
is a powerful but convenient modem for Ataris. Q-Modem connects directly
to your Atari computer and does NOT require the Atari 850 interface. It
can be daisy-chained like any other Atari peripheral.
No larger than two packs of extra-long cigarettes, Q-Modem
will auto-dial and autoanswer. It has a telephone database and a real-time
clock built into its software. The software also allows you to listen in
on your connection via your video speaker.
Even though this is not a smart modem, the software does
a good job of emulating many of the features found on the more expensive
models. Quantum is planning a 1200 baud upgrade kit ($79), plus a new modem
for the ST.
DECISION IN THE DESERT
MicroProse Software
120 Lakefront Drive
Hunt Valley, MD 21030
(301) 667-1151
$39.95, 48K disk
Reviewed by Rich Moore
Decision in the Desert is a fast-paced simulation of the Allied
and Axis campaign in North Africa during World War II. The second of MicroProse's
Command Series war-games, it does an outstanding job of portraying engagements
between swift, mechanized forces in the open desert. This is a very tactical
game. Players must employ (and expect) fast maneuvers over relatively long
distances. Victory is not at all certain for either side. The fortunes
of war shift rapidly as battles develop and each side's forces reach the
limits of their resources.
The game can be played solo against the computer or "head
to head" with another player. You can even let the computer play against
itself and just sit back to watch the action! Three game speeds can be
selected, the fastest running about 70 minutes of game time for every minute
of real time. The simulation is fully interactive and runs continuously,
based upon the last orders given.
Players select from a total of 11 variations of five major
North African operations. Most are historical, but some allow you to play
"what if..." Play balance can be adjusted by increasing the power of either
side's units. You can see all enemy units or select "limited intelligence"
to display only enemy units in recent contact. Games can be saved to disk
and reloaded at any time during play.
A broad range of infantry, armor, artillery and air units
are under the player's command. They vary in size from brigade to division
level. Some crack units have experience, which greatly increases their
effectiveness. Some are manned by green troops who can barely hold their
own. As units engage, their effectiveness is reduced by losses. Resupply
will eventually restore their capabilities, but you must continuously ensure
that your supply lines remain clear. Terrain, weather and night all effect
each unit's abilities to move and fight.
The graphics are truly superb and make the game a real
pleasure to play. Each scenario has its own appropriately scrolling high-resolution,
multicolored map. Cities, roads and many different types of terrain features
are clearly represented. The screen takes on a sandy color during the day
and turns dark at night. Units may be displayed by standard military symbols
or by icons which "picture" the unit type. Resupply at midnight is shown
by rapidly moving truck icons. Text messages announce arrival at objectives,
capture of important points, combat losses and lack of supplies.
All in all, Decision in the Desert is a simulation that
should be in every wargamer's library. It is well thought out and documented,
including the excellent historical narratives for each operation. The mechanics
of the simulation are very easy to learn and are fully consistent with
the player's role. It can be played so fast that people who normally prefer
arcade games should find it both interesting and challenging-even addictive.
In fact, I've got to quit now and get back to those Panzer divisions trying
to sweep around my southern flank...
CROSSWORD MAGIC
Mindscape, Inc.
3444 Dundee Road
Northbrook, IL 60062
(800) 221-9884
$39.95, 48K disk
Reviewed by Michael Lasky
Crossword puzzles maintain their vast popularity year after year. These
puzzles-in which intersecting words are placed in blank squares in a grid-are
now the single most published type of game in the world.
No matter how good you are at solving crosswords, the
actual creation of a new crossword puzzle is guaranteed hard work. You
need to verify that the cross-hatch of words with letters common to the
horizontal and vertical columns fit accurately into a balanced geometric
pattern and are supported by logical clues.
Crossword Magic is a software tool that takes the drudgery
out of trial and error testing of up and down word patterns. Essentially,
it is a word processor dedicated to the connection of words that share
the same letters.
You'll still need to keep a good dictionary and almanac
handy because the program doesn't select your words or invent your clues.
The 30-page instruction booklet is written clearly with straightforward
explanations that take you step-by-step through the eight part menu-driven
program.
Crossword Magic starts you with a 3 x 3 grid (nine
boxes). As you enter the answers,for which clues will be added later, the
grid adjusts in size to fit your words. A single-key command will lock
this adjustment anytime you want. If you don't like where a word has been
placed, pressing [CONTROL] [R] will start the computer searching for another
position to fit it.
If you type a word that does not fit into the puzzle (as
you fill up the grid, this will happen more often), a buzz sounds and the
word goes into an unused word file. If you later add a word to your puzzle
that allows the unused word to fit, both are immediately highlighted on
your working grid.
One confusing program design has the [RETURN] key as a
space tab and the [SPACEBAR] as the across/down word toggle. Movement of
the cursor is done with the usual [CONTROL] and arrow keys.
At any point you can test-play the puzzle without committing
it to final save on a disk. Printed copies, however, are the only ones
that will have numbers in the answer boxes, a shortcoming since onscreen
numbers would make composition easier.
Crossword Magic configures with more than two dozen dot-matrix
and inkjet printers. To save puzzles-either completed or in progress-a
separate blank disk is needed which the program formats.
Designing your own crosswords can be just as challenging
as solving them. And with the steady demand for crossword puzzles in newspapers
and other publications, Crossword Magic could be an income-producing tool
as well.