VIDEO ACTIVE
Budget Software house, Mastertronic, are about to launch two new labels, but
they’ve nothing to do with computers. Master Vision and Master
Sound will produce videos and audio cassettes and LPs respectively. Some
of the more notable videos scheduled for release are Felix the Cat,
Creepshow and Rock, Rock, Rock. The only cassette CRASH has
heard so far is Heat Of Soul, a compilation of classic soul tunes — most
of them cropping up in Levi commercials these days. The vids are hoped to
retail around the eight pounds mark and the LPs at roughly a fiver.
SUMMER CETI
The elaborate Tau Ceti system is once more a backdrop for a an
arcade shoot ’em up from CRL. Traxxion,
written by Jay Darret, centres around a construction satellite orbiting
Reema. However, after the Tau Ceti wars Traxxion was found to be damaged — and
as an intergalactic satellite repair-man, your skills are called upon.
Arriving on Traxxion reveals a far more serious problem, the reactor has
started to meltdown. You have to act quickly and locate the exit from
Traxxion’s monorail system before the inevitable destruction.
As you may well imagine, the monorail is plagued with hazards such as
robotic workers and obstacles that make escape just that little bit more
difficult. CRL are hoping for a June release at a
yet to be decided price.
RAID IN MOSCOW
Although the computer industry isn’t exactly huge behind the
Iron Curtain, pirates are running amok producing compilations of Western games
and flogging them off at the equivalent of £5. Even stranger is that
Raid Over Moscow and the Anti-soviet Rambo appear to be very
popular! Whatever next... will little green men want copies of
Invaders?
LATE EXPECTATIONS
High up, an enemy aircraft comes within killing reach in F-15 Strike Eagle.
Due to the Easter Holidays, this issue of CRASH had to be
finished a bit earlier than usual, which meant that some review copies of games
arrived a wee bit late for a the full treatment. However, as we never like to
let you lot down here’s a small taster...
Next month we’ll bring the full review of Cosmic Shock Absorber
from Martech. It’s finished now, but arrived just
too late for a full review. Essentially, it’s a 3D shoot ’em up using some
effective vector graphics combined with a bit of puzzle-solving. Strange
rumours also abound about killer carrots...
Virgin are releasing their latest Now
Games compilation — Now 4. It features Dan Dare, Hacker, Back
to the Future, Mission Omega and Jonah Barrington’s Squash.
Retailing at £9.95, it’s good value for money with Dan Dare and
Mission Omega really taking the cream.
From Microprose, who have recently been let off the US Gold leash, comes Gunship, a strategic
helicopter simulation and F-15 Strike Eagle an air combat game. Full
reviews next issue.
The view from the Gunship cockpit.
ALL THE FUN OF THE FAIR
No sooner does one ZX Microfair seem to end then another one is well on its
way. The next gathering is to held on May 30th at the Horticultural Hall
in London. CRASH won’t be there this time, mainly due the fact that we have to
spend our time doing something called ‘writing a magazine.’
DI’s F16
While Microprose are happily battling away with their F15 flight game, Digital
Integration are currently developing a new simulation based on the F16
Fighter Falcon. They’ve been working on some new programming techniques which enable them to increase the density and variety of objects on screen.
Missions are planned to include air superiority as well as ground attack
sequences. The expected release date is early Autumn, and as ever we’ll bring
you a full preview as soon as possible.
ACTIVISION CLASSICS
Remember the old days, when Activision released such classics as Back To The
Future, I Of The Mask and Pitfalls One and Two? Well,
cue music, cue sound because Firebird Silver have
bought the rights to Activision’s back
catalogue of games and planning to release nearly forty them the next 12
months. The oldies are going to start sparkling early on the summer.
CHEAPIES
Prism Leisure have just bought up
Addictive Games — the company that pushed
Kevin Tom’s face into the limelight, and produced the infinitely popular
Football Manager. Prism are re-releasing
that particular classic at £2.99, although from the amount Prism are crowing about its immense sales figures we
can’t help wondering — is there anyone out there who hasn’t
already got a copy?
Also about to be released on Bubble Bus’
Mini Bus Line at £1.99 is a previous CRASH Smash, Wizard’s
Lair. It’s an arcade adventure featuring delightful graphics, and is
still recommended by the CRASH team. Finally PSS’ Swords and Sorcery is now on release
for a very reasonable £2.99.
KEEPING IT STIFF
The next release from Palace is to
be a game worked upon by two of today’s most respected programming teams
— Binary Vision and Electronic Pencil Company. It’s called
Stifflip and Co and follows the fortunes of Sebastion Stifflip and his
three intrepid companions in their tropical quest for Count Chameleon. The
plot and following action is a spoof on the ripping yarns of the 20’s and
30’s using many of the cliches of the comics and movies of the era.
Binary Vision describe Stifflip as a
‘multi-role action packed adventure.’ Preview next ish hopefully,
in the meantime we’ll leave you to ogle this screenshot.
