MSD I 1d ea g RC Woe PS) £4.99 BRS een ss emacs Pets Bret ey Re | & I | Usa See J I pe nay pty nur eta crd Ree Eu aM Tay Dan ogo) pyittite, CONTENTS ' 4 |zajinjouni! Ipponme! Shoubu! 6 8 2 Melanie Honebone is running up tha hil 6 ‘Alan Hammerton takes you on a tour of another digital getaway, 2 Beginning (Castlevania Il: Dracula's Curse). 3 Calin and James are still stuck in the 20th Century, Honestly, you ust can't get the staf 8 ‘Andrew Oyston tackles the not so fondly remembered games s0 the rest of us don't have to. 2 Faith Johnson tres to batle with barcodes, 48 ‘Graeme Mason remembers the Duke. 50 Paul Morrison retums with more superb homebrew ‘games for Commodore's Plus/4 powerhouse! 54 ‘Andrew Fisher pays tribute to the Japanese artist, \whose creations had a huge impact on video games. 56 Gaming between the atoms with the FUSION team. maeee eet a | Earn Eerie i pedo en ene cey Pee Ee ne Rs nee ee ee Cena ecu ea Melanie Honebone, Andrew Fisher, Mare Jowett, Ce aca Feed RETRO Case eee etsy 4 FUSION oft: The Jeff Minter Story. Andrew Fisher took on the task of 9 it for us (not that he required any ncing), and you can find that on the next The team hi lots of remasters, r over the last r total of sixteen pages of re month. Is that a record for ina single issue? | don’t hav because I'm typing this editorial. ide our reviews, we've filled this much gaming di could muster, as is our custom. incy getting down and dirty with the exploring the city of Britain, figh ing regional differences in NES soundtrack limbing a hill ~ red, Paul Mortison returns for Commo and it's such a pleasure to see a less popular machine rect from homebre and our humble magazine. Thank uur continued support, and | hope Editor Ben HorPee SYS { f ip LLAMASOF Te The main menu spits the museum collection into four aptly named chapters covering Jeff's career. The story of a renowned game designer needs a strong emphasis on the context of their games. Jeff Minter has been produc- ing games for more than 40 years Ey across the gamut of computers and B consoles amid changing trends in the industry. Jeff's personal life and philosophies inform what he makes. From the newspaper controversy over Bomb Buenos Aires - inspired by the Falklands War - to his ill-fated time as an Atari employee, Jeff’s = own words and self-critical opinions flow through this collection. Jeff talks candidly about the business, which originally included his mum and dad. covering 1980 to 1994 - The Early Years, The Hairy Years, The Light Fantastic, and The Tempest. The percentage of each section you have “discovered” is shown, giving an incentive to keep looking through. Key moments in the timeline have T he museum is split into four sections, [i ‘gre The controversy over ZZAPI 64's Mama Llama ] review is discussed in detail during one video segment.LLAMASOFT: THE JEFF MINTER STORY DIGITAL ECLIPSE DIGITAL ECLIPSE ‘SWITCH, XBOX ONE/SERIES, PS4/5, BB a WINDOWS (REVIEWED) our Now i im £24.99 a A The renamed Bomb Buenos Aires with its very tetro- looking TV surround, Tempest 2000; the reason to buy an Atari Jaguar ~ or this compilation. ec Za a wide range of assets to help tell the story. Personal photos of Jeff, images of the hardware he used, and design notes from Jeff's notebooks give an understanding of his creative process. 3D images of each game's packaging, artwork, and multiple adverts are here, too, along with preliminary sketches and original paintings from cover artist Steinar Lund. Several issues of the fascinating Nature of the Beast newsletter are included, reflecting Jeff's attempts to reach out to his fanbase. The biggest draw is the video clips. These are based on material gathered for the documentary film Heart of Neon, created by former game artist Paul Docherty (dOkk). Talking head interviews with Llamasott fans, friends, colleagues of Jeff,and other industry insiders give an affectionate and enthusiastic appraisal of his work. There is even a short feature dedicated to Beasts (Virtual and Real-Life), mentioning Jeff's penchant for animal protagonists and his home flock, includ- ing a llama, donkey, goats, and sheep. There is plenty of humour in these clips, from Jeff's dis- belief that he was paid to write games right up to his partnership (both in business and in life) with Ivan Zorzin (known online as Gilesgoat). If you are just here for the games, you can switch to the Game Library and view and sort the games by year of release or by name, or you can add Favourites for quick access. The additional Gameography gives a comprehen- sive list of the included titles that can be played, along with images from all the other titles in Lla- masoft’s vast catalogue. Each game has been given a Complexity rating out of five llamas, meaning games like Iridis Alpha (and those incredibly taxing Licker sprites) score higher. Certain games have versions from multiple formats, allowing for comparison and reflect- ing Jeff's progress and mastery of different machines. Some games have updated control schemes, which can be mapped to keys or a controller, to improve access and take care of any required keyboard inputs. The pause menu gives access to the instruction manual and the control list, which can be remapped for each Gridrunner Remastered can switch between original C64 graphics and new shiny graphics as you play The 30 version of the boxes - here, the mowing simulator Hover Bower - can be spun and rotated game. Additionally, there are a couple of screen filter modes, and optional monitor/TV surrounds for a feeling of authenticity; | have seen com- plaints that these options are limited, but they work well enough The PC version runs smoothly and handles well in terms of emulation performance. In a few cases, a “boost mode” gives a faster/ steadier framerate and higher performance. Like Digital Eclipse’s previous Gold Master games, a Rewind option allows you to go back in time and try again. Depending on the format, Achievements or Trophies can also be earned when playing. For fans of Jeff's light synths, the original Psychedelia and Colourspace are present, with added controls to help make switching presets and settings more accessible. A video feature explains the origins of theseUeft's original design for the Llamasoft logo, drawn on the Commodore VIC-20, The Robotron-inspired gameplay of Llamatron via the ST version playing through Jaguar emulation. ‘An early photo of Jeff at work, no doubt creating ‘a game celebrated in Digital Eclipse’s collection, erty (dOKK) has filmed the Heart of Neon documentary, which is due out in 2024 Me light synths and how Jeff and Ivan created the Neon visualiser at the heart of every Xbox 360, and the Neon Engine powering their latest games. The most recent game included is the Atari Jaguar version of Tempest 2000, a high point of Jeff's career. The emulation here is flawless, with the bonus of an overclock mode. Check out the AMC ‘89 demo from the doomed Konix Multisystem, the lesser-known Voidrunner (a Mastertronic budget title) for the Commodore C16, and the 16-bit Super Gridrunner with its detachable nose cone (here as the Atari ST version converted to Jaguar). An extra treat is, Gridrunner Remastered, developed by Digital Eclipse. Based on the C64 version, you can switch to a modern visual style as itencom- passes ideas from the different versions. One iia slight niggle occurs with the highly unusual é C64 game “compilation” Batalyx. The original intention was to let players switch between the five subgames (and the Psychedelia II subgame to relax) at any point, with the games becoming more complex over time — but this implementa- iil tion only allows you to change games once 5 you have completed the current subgame. It's something that could be patched in a future update, and we'll have to wait and see if that, happens. Several interviewees expressed how they feel Jeff's work has improved over time. Andit J leaves the incredible proposition of a second volume to this story featuring more recent games. If you are a fan of Jeff's work, there can be no better way to express that than to buy this collection and celebrate a quirky, unique designer dedicated to creating the games he wants to play - taking us all along for the ride. Even if you only know one or two games, the quality of the presentation and curation is to be applauded, and at the price, there is plenty of gaming content to tempt you. At one point, the timeline throws up Z the image of a cup of tea. Let's celebrate this superbly made tribute to a software legend by raising a cup and enjoying what I hope will be a long-running series preserving gaming history.I Cry a \ aaa ry rt ee ub toe Us q y Peek L PAN ete ete yj ECR Ru ¢ WG) 7 ee) hag ST ELL) ee GOR et iccuien bale is rr ee) Be) egies er) he ead eel) Pees ee Ce ae) ee RUS nue us ee The announcement also confirmed that et ne Cue ae aCe eee will stay exclusive to Xbox for the time being, and they’re still committed to the pCa en Rea Lem recent push to sell Game Pass to PC users eee RSE eee ese eat) to look at things differently. Releasing flagship titles such as Starfield and Halo on subscription from day one was bold. It has worked, though, Teeth ecg See ee een Nee nnn tae ee) er Oe et eco gene ee] eed Ona: CCR k Cea ka growing subscriber base show that Xbox is trying PTT UR mtu Detractors may say this is the beginning of Xbox’s slow journey to eventually leave Teteegees ee eer eer emo cme Bo Ie Seed cursor Nintendo and Sony's stranglehold on hardware Ree Sane Una Cotoum e od One Smack ne kta charts, and they continually struggle to break Tee cee are eee CR oe] of sense if Xbox simply gave up on hardware and Deen Me ee ea Peas eee tek eee Pee emus etc Set old Preece meee ree ] eRe RU Sctg ote ae rena =)future of video games. Whether we like it or Not, the future of gaming is in the cloud and the Sede en ees een ead Ee es ra ky through live streaming services, and Xbox has Pema n Recon Naas ene ae none Ue eke ad et Noha anywhere in the world via Cloud Gaming Peau eee Re ecu ic Tt) pet eens en asence Re eee aR Meee ae ae) be sluggish compared to playing on a dedicated Pee eevee nee en ane tec In a world of super-fast fibre, it's now possible e Pree eta Wineh ete Re ee Rone Mee) Aegean and don't consider themselves “gamers”. We all PN Rome eke mee right? I think Xbox is banking on a future where ee Cn Ru Cet Re er eed console and want to access the latest games on Rien er Re Reese eae eRe way of the dodo, though; | couldn't imagine a gaming world where | don't get to load up a 4K eer Teme eA nn Re eS See eo for dedicated consoles and exclusives. Xbox's Teen Ca ake en eee Cue ee ee ee ene ees eu R center) et ecu Sena Sad Cee ee eR et oe acid Pees Reena strc RE eee a ecu dee ons Ree on erase SUR Ur ue or aes ue ome everywhere. It feels like the beginning of anew Cea Mca ea) Tea ae Ree CUR osu ene cto CNN ae ea og Ten ROR Sema een aaa |TT Piast wea SYSTEM Rata PRICE During the 90s, | spent many days Peete ae cert) MEU hecue h Eu one ucum ural Whac-A-Croc (which | was a pro atl), NM nina c sig Bea Ree teen 10 eg ee OR oa arg Soe Pe Renee Ta RUT Rerum cue eek ar) PRI ce ol icy Racing. It looks like Virtua Racing, and it plays like Virtua Racing, and in this instance, that’s a very good thing indeed. NN ea CaM ues) Peel eke ng eee teat Wnuk en T eR es Ree uy Vo]STC eS etc eee Rue eae hes Ta Ege Minne ue Ne eet Peer ogres TN alg offers some incredible depth. Once you have completed a tutorial, you pick a car, assemble a pit crew, and then race through the decades, starting with the 1980s and continuing through to the modern era. You'll face drivers and tracks MN RAC ea ee Coun NR een OD RC e oe Recs Cree Meri ane ose rere es Mn ec ete neta avo) ee ae) RO me ad CR Nes ea tes Here are some of the different races Breau Pues cd PMC Ue eel cet Pees ec acd Poe Ee a Pee Meee Res tess De a eee peso as eliminated at timed intervals, with the tao ead AU) Pence Ee ac RU) Pe eae Nee eeu Rec et spend Bux on upgrades for your car, keeping Nace ae nee that arise in the game. It's always worth keeping Ree Mette ang Pee eRe ar metry allow you to purchase staff perks that can give Senne Wee tee an ea) ere cgi tee Cems en al spin off the track if hit by a rival. You can equip a finite amount at any time, so choose wisely. Grand Prix races play out realistically, with changing weather patterns and the need for a Pte eee Nee Man ees) ahRSC es uric hc m Cunt Umea: ai cn cd ERs RR ee R er ame Ree Peek mkocks eu aC mae eka Se Ue eR Re eee RL RR ee eee from behind the driver. One of the most interesting viewpoints is a complete overhead view, named Blimp mode, which completely changes the dynamics of the race. This view turns New Star GP into a game reminiscent of Super Sprint. With this view, the game CeO eRe CNR cee ia ree eM EN ale Eee eee a) with modern ideas, such as the often contro- Ree sae he or cn) Pee eR cua Lem et ae es Cea Mee cc look remarkably good on modern consoles. Reo atc M ene Pike Memeurele none ero Rien Tel] Cee mE und eacemeoAcuC RUT eeeeaicauee uel yee sue en lace ar you never feel like a race is unfair Nesey eee ue seus urerag leer Uae mu Teen ccd enemas Oem ie’ SMR nie ernie es on classic racing games of Nene Vo]\ ca ’* @ pe a + For Fr VTE Ke rr r ve +4] FUSIONRGAMER.COM a00:25: 14.66 Thane” RRR reer The UTS TL aria 2019 System : PC, PS4/5, Xbox One/Series, Switch ULC are} | Pace ue Shodown Sen, SNK kept us waiting eleven long Ne oe mc Re neko series. It's understandable when you consider the turmoil Cee eta eae eee rg eh se eens tan me Oe Re eu) Pee a oem eee Roe Deis RN eeu meee) Dee edge oe an ee Ues and despite some undeniably rough graphics, their repu- POSS ue ogee Finally, in 2018, SNK announced the return of Samurai ee oe eee ee eke reboot of the series. When Sam Sho finally arrived in June 2019, it did tee ne oer eee ene ea CeO a brought the historical fighter slashing and stabbing into the modern age with gorgeous graphics and its trade- De ee cas ketene Roce eee Te eons eae) reading your opponent. A fighter where two or three eee eee tree Sho sets itself apart from its peers by dramatically increasing damage output and recovery from attacks. Its brutal simplicity is its charm and offers a refreshing eget ae OR ae CU Ce mage eee Mn ete Ren) arcade game appeared upstairs in Port Talbot town Cea Sag Meco nes CeO REM tee iene Ug Reenter eich Rte rece) washing into the arcades of the 90s, and SNK recaptured that magic in 2019 by sticking to the elements that made fre ae eee ean eee ete eet treat dripping with blood. That sentiment is never more Pre URNS eae eine ts ere ae ee ete uN tee eas Reese secu ie Dec Road eNotes cS ee ee et ea een | To)uN WIWAIVSSI, THE ADVENTURES OF ANDREW OYSTON AND THE RAIDERS OF THE THREE LOST TOMBS. During the latter half of the 1990s, you couldn’t go anywhere without seeing the rendered features of Lara Croft. One of the defining characters of the original PlayStation generation (despite appearing on Sega’s Saturn first), Ms Croft became the face of video games, at least for a while. After the many missteps of the 32-bit full-mo- tion video era, the likes of Core Design’s Tomb Raider aptly demonstrated the true arrival of the next genera- tion. That was nearly thirty years ago, and attitudes in gaming and society have changed. In bringing back the first trio of Lara's adventures and their expansions, does this remastered collection have much to offer the modern gamer? Absolutely, but with some minor caveats. between the original and remastered versions on the fly, which is handy if you want to completely rock a PlayStation, Saturn, or good ol’ DOS aesthetic. However, you will miss out on the remaster's fancier graphical effects and better frame rate. The overall effect is something akin to the early 2000s, and | found | was sticking to the remastered visuals most of the time. Controls are another area where you have a choice, and they are also switchable while you play. Depending on your age [Harsh - Ed], you may wish to stick with the original tank controls, while others may prefer the “modern” option, which handles much like T he most obvious change is the graphics. You can switch 16REVIEW Payakeas red Bor at PRICE 7any third person adventure game of the last two decades. it also gives you greater control of the camera, which is a mixed blessing, to put it mildly ~ enclosed areas do not like this. The choice, as they say, is yours, yet after hours of play, 1'm still torn between them. There were moments when the tank controls felt better than their replacement, but con- versely, there were also times when the modern controls felt more natural. | would recom- mend the former to begin with because you get to experience Tomb Raider as it was meant to be, and, crucially, they prove to be more accurate when it counts. Jumping onto ledges was far more straightforward, for example. However, don't expect to pick up the original control method immediately after playing something like Uncharted - you will hate it. The same can be said for the combat. Shooting, jumping, and rolling all feel great once you've mastered them. But until that point, expect to take a beating as your thumb careens around the controller like a demented shopping trolly. That's one learning curve that definitely belongs in a museum! ‘The gameplay loop does not belong in a museum: search, shoot, survive. Raiding is as fun as it ever was, and each entry in the series here has enough of a narrative to keep you involved as yet another enemy succumbs to a hail of endless bullets from your dual-wielded pistols. You'll get lost and struggle to progress, but being able to save at any point means death needn't be a barrier to exploration. Work your head and muscle memory (if you have it) around the last twenty-plus years of experience, and you'll have a blast. Revel in what became mainstream gaming because of these titles in a glorious collision of cutting edge technological and artistic design from a time long past. There will be those who look upon Lara’s initial adventures and see basic graphics, torturous controls, and a frustratingly specific approach to gameplay, and to a degree, they'd 18 be right. Remember that these three games appeared annually between 1996 and 1998, and there wasn't enough time to evolve the series. That, however, is not the point of this collection. Of course, gameplay and presentation have advanced since 1996, but with Tomb Raider Hill Remastered, players can now see where it, started, understand how much and how little progress was made over those three years, and just how much those that followed in Lara's footsteps benefitted from this groundbreaking trilogy. This collection of classic games has been lavished with love and care. For its price, Tomb Raider I-Ill Remastered is a marvellous chance for players, both young and old, to get to grips with a seminal gaming series. It delivers challenging, satisfying action and adventure in a way that lowers the entry barrier raised by the passage of time. I FUSIONMARIO VS. DONKEY KONG NINTENDO NINTENDO ‘SWITCH our Now £39.99 N CeO ke Se MCT oy Pome cue mst ees ee eens omission feels very deliberate, as Mario vs. Donkey Kong harks back to the single- Reet eka ey east aan PMc uc ana are single-screen Donkey Kong and epee Pees Mg you'd like to play in ‘Classic’ or ‘Casual’ mode, and if you can bear ete sees nar ree ie se eRe Dec mend playing the game in that mode. It doesn't make the puzzles Seema Ray Pe Reh ASS res Keene actu Bee MN ice and relish the extra pressure (and Cece e oe EW time limit - knock yourself out and play the needlessly masochistic (erred eee aed Renee Merce eat ee Nae) recover the sold-out mini-Mario POU gered Kong has stolen. To clear each evens aR oy eee si ed eae Rig Donkey Kong has hidden one Cecio eeu uid navigate his way to the toy itself. me ee nent Paes ane to get a ‘Perfect’ result on each evs nee eee at) et deen ec icee Eerecs Prem CC aetna Cee Maeno Ue Tote Kou} would hope for from Nintendo, the levels and puzzles are a master- eee iS ease) 20 eee Mel en eee und eer’ eee Ma Reese eed tea) Ree eta ota Re aT Armee Soe eee ness”. The game is beautifully presented with Poneto Waris actrees Seer meen cute eet euod Dee eee ee om eee te ue mn ec Ree ei kgeee cance e Pete ele neuen m aca) games were primarily a coin-op concern, Above: Capitalism means nothing to DK, the mini-Mario toys are his. End of. FUSIONEUR wun IY home were limited to the LCD CoA min eee Ret ee Perce TU skill with which it blends the Pree me Moe esano Re oe Beet eR ey Pemene cle ua RSTn? intuitive controls, effective use eee Recency 3D graphics. Appropriately, given the plot of the game, Pau Ms OCe Renny Pein uke mec iee but with actual toys instead of LCD or pixel graphics. It makes for a lovely, warm, nostal- gic experience for those who grew up with Nites a en nate ee caoa) Mario's pre-Super days, you'll also come across Se SS un acc eS evilly-positioned fire-breathing Petey Pirhanas, er eon a Re ee FUSION eee a eek ee You may be questioning whether a remake Cee me eta soem Cee ene uence) is worth the £39.99 that Nintendo is charging. But that would be missing the point, as Mario Pee ere eee une tel its parts. It's a great game, first and foremost, but it’s also a snuggly Nintendo hug that’s an Pero ees a cleo Rites oncoetc Pe cecu ae cs how much you'll get out of Mario vs. Donkey Roe rea Cee ane) Cunard ston eta res eye Sa eae ete]TRAVELLING THROUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE AT BREAKNECK SPEED, MELANIE HONEBONE EXPLAINS WHY ALL PHYSICS LESSONS SHOULD START AND END WITH THIS RACING TRIALS CLASSIC. Il 'n 1666, an apple fell on Isaac Newton’s head, which got him thinking about gravitational systems for a while. By 1687, Isaac Newton had written Philosophae Naturalis Principia Mathematica, laying out his laws on motion and universal gravitation and effectively starting a revolution in Physics. His calculations and formulae were developed in such a way that, suddenly, the universe made a lot more sense. His concepts sealed the deal on Kepler's laws of planetary motion, legitimised theories by Galileo and Copernicus, gave weight to Robert Hooke’s work on springs, and paved the way for Hill Climb Racing. momentum, inertia, collisions, gravity, force, acceleration, speed, and distance quite like Fingersoft's epic 2012 release. Don't be fooled by its cartoonish good looks, snappy sound effects, and twelve-bar blues soundtrack. There's a whole heap of stuff under the hood, making this possibly one of the greatest 22 | ’m serious. No other game explores physics-based driving games ever. The premise of Hill Climb Racing is simple: Bill the Hill Climb Racer is exploring his world by trying to reach the furthest distance he can. Each level brings a change of terrain that requires vehicle upgrades and boosts to assist in beating the previous distance. Fuel cans, gems, and coins are collected along the way. If you run out of fuel, then it's game over. If you flip the vehicle and snap Bill's neck, it's game over. In fact, there doesn’t seem to be an ‘Above: Dashing through the snow in a one horse powered monster truck. FUSIONend to Hill Climb Racing or to Bill's failure. Bill himself is a terrible driver. His head flops about at the best of times, and I'm not convinced he is totally with it. His blank stare and unwaver- ing expression don't fill me with confidence. Perhaps it’s best if | take the controls and drive for you, Bill. as a “Physics-based driving game”, but that doesn't mean it's boring because of it. Newton tells us a vehicle's acceleration is de- termined by the relationship between the driving force and the mass of an object. It sounds like fancy words, but it ust boils down to common T he app store describes Hill Climb Racing ‘Above: Defeated by gravity, Bill decides to take up yoga. FUSION RETROSPECTIVE DEVELOPER emery Sac HILL CLIMB RACING FINGERSOFT FINGERSOFT ANDROID, 10S, WINDOWS ay 2012 Above: Stupid frictional coefficient of mud! sense stuff. Lighter vehicles, such as motor- bikes, pick up speed much faster than a tractor. Of course, they do. Meanwhile, heavier vehicles with poor traction accelerate slower as they gain momentum and overcome friction. It doesn't need to be any more complicated than that, does it? Driving a vehicle is really easy with just a brake and an accelerator. All of Bill’s vehicles are devoid of safety features. There is no roll cage, crumple zone, or seat belt. He doesn’t even get a headrest. Hill Climb Racing reck- lessly exploits Bill's well-being and leaves him at the mercy of Newtonian mechanics. While other games will get you to customise an engine to within a micron with a myriad of options to maximise driving force, Hill Climb Racing keeps practical applications of the science to a common sense level. Engine customisations are limited and based on cost. If you want more out of your vehicle, use coins and gems to upgrade. How this improves perfor- mance isn't explained; you just feel it's better in the next runthrough. The urge to tweak a vehicle with an upgrade to see if you can get a little further each time is sneakily addictive. 23There's an inevitable paywall and adverts, but they're paced so they aren't too intrusive. Any spend in the store removes banner ads, so | spent £1.69 to smooth out my game experience. I'm more than happy to keep any other ads. It makes perfect sense to take a break and double the coins I've just earned by watching an ad (on mute) if it means I can upgrade my tyres on my hippie bus and get Bill a bit further along the road. I'm particularly fond of driving Bill's monster truck on the moon. With one-sixth gravity, it's deeply satisfying to hurtle into the air and grab some insane air time. Spins and tricks are plentiful, but be wary of the ground coming up quicker than expected! ‘The monster truck has the advantage of larger wheels with better traction to overcome bumps and humps that would flummox a race car or tourist bus. ‘NEES: Upgraded tyres give better power delivery to the ground. Real helpful in gaining better traction. ‘SUS?NSIIME Better shock absorption means a smoother landing and better handling over bumps. SIRELIRE Choose this upgrade for better downforce and a lower centre of gravity for your racecar. Also useful if you want to prevent a tractor from tipping over on the steepest hills. [als A bigger fuel tank means a greater distance covered between refuelling. This is really handy if you miss a pit stop. BOOSIE A quick jott of power when you hit 24 ‘Above: A cave roof and a roofless car, What could go wrong? Daily events keep the driving fresh, and levels such as Ragnarok and Boot Camp mix up what is expected from the drive. Each level comes with a slightly different physics set. The desert surface has a higher frictional coefficient than the highway's smooth tarmac, so natu- rally, a change of vehicle is required, The forest level is peppered with trees, so a larger, heavier ISOMOU] HAVENS PICKED]URIALHAYINES) MANUAL SINGS YOUR ND OMNIS EVA ORANGES TE FORD CORMDIAY DOKL IPANIC!HERE|SJAVHANDYAGUIDESTO} SOME OF TREES URES, Be “re TT si] e Oo a FSC a nasty incline or need to make a quick getaway. (QIANIE This really is a no-brainer. If you want more horsepower, you need a bigger engine. More grunt under the bonnet means you can steamroller over obstacles. Sadly, there are no steamroll- ers on the vehicles list. I've just noticed there’s a tank, though... FUSIONvehicle is needed to knock them over and keep momentum. Mud, lava, and river hazards mix things up, so a new strategy is required again. from the need to consider handling or manoeuvring to any degree. It's free from the complexities of driving games such as Forza or Gran Turismo. This sense of freedom makes it so much fun to play, and that is why it's still such a popular game more than a decade after its initial release. There's always just enough challenge to keep you interested in improving A sa side scroller, Hill Climb Racing is free ‘Above: We're not sure that a tractor isthe best choice here. FUSION ‘Above: I'm not ready for Boot Camp! Bill's chances. After every fail, you think about vehicle improvements or easing off ‘on the gas at a particular point in the journey. The game helps develop a dogged determination that next time will be different and that hill you've been trying to climb for the last 24 hours won't be so impossible next time. Ultimately, it doesn't matter how good the vehicle or how good the distance record is; the laws of Newtonian Physics will always defeat Bill. After days of play, you suddenly realise the gravity of Bill's situation. ‘Snap!’, there he goes again! i 25Britain Ufo) rele aa asl eee COACH AND INVITES YOU ABOARD FOR ANOTHER JOURNEY TO A DIGITAL DESTINATION. ALAN HAMMERTON IS YOUR GUIDE. D RGceuCC eC roo Ra au nee eat’ Cre eis e ual eae Rea U eat Dee RUM etek uke Reg ar Ce eM Cen aa ec ac) Senusret uit Psu ke uC ecg Eee ne tCM eer tT meee ce eas Petr RUS en Tau sennn aen ian PT eR rie eet) Bett uC eee CRN eel RRC ay Cen CMe ecu areal tannia. In this mystical realm, the Moongates serve as portals that transport you swiftly from one location to cea Un ene Rn cue es Peer ie hen ees meh Matas Umno nC nec TamVoM Mec R Ur aus bustling metropolis is nestled in the heart of Britannia, cele eR NAIR NOE- Ue R oust R eT CM Ne Rees ea estar weenie) Peete Cue Mert MeUueniotcn econ este h is scae Crem MRNA ed the city. The majestic Castle Britannia stands as a testa- ment to this legacy. This grand fortress serves as Lord British's residence, the benevolent ruler of Britannia, and Der ken Keune R te) justice. Visitors are welcome to seek an audience with eee TT UR n aC Uae Ul RLU 26 YOU ARE NOW ENTERINGno cr ens ce ly encounter the Fellowship Hall, a newcomer eee ee ete aca oe Meiers oreo ant ee eee oR OSs ae Meee iT Pe eee cee Rema Ween ment throughout Britannia. Attend their gath- CrnerMeueee cee ke sence and decide for yourself the true nature of this enigmatic organization. Site cee Meek gee Dy Eee etre WS on and wide converge to showcase their wares. Meee eeuiiea} free Me tek MMe lt eee ae Meche) armour. As you stroll through the market, ea cnet ed eee ee ee enn journey. rem emcee ensue ue Fuchs etic ke aa mecca) RUT ae Ce ROR RCMB Sl ase Poeun Reso Reus hse Pe OM en nhc en renowned for its traditional Britannian dishes, fee ek eee ene Renee ei mea eTBritain offers many activities and diversions to keep travellers engaged and entertained. Here are some of the highlights: as Lo ES es —s Cree) COU eau Cee Rs ek to uproarious comedies. ee eke Beene opulent balconies to the cosy Bee ted Pee tee eet Britain is home to some of the finest shops in all Britanni Seek out armourers, tailors, apothecaries, and magical reagent shops to fulfil all your adventuring needs. Britain's artisans are ready to assist you, whether you're seeking enchanted weapons or fash- ionable attire. Rae Re) fj een Ree E Pe utes Ne eeu ae ee Ree eae Coa hee Dee Rerun ene Pa eta ete ne) Sey shiriutescnstd Li Cee eal a p Matter acs 5 r Tucked away in a quiet corner of Britain, the Royal Mint stands as a testament to Britannia’s economic prowess. Follow the cobblestone streets to its grand entrance, where gleaming towers and fortified walls guard the secrets within. Embark on a tour of the Royal Mint, where you might discover a few hidden gems and even the odd cannon. 28 FUSIONeer On MUR ee one Ch See mn Ree css Cee ene Re ot nea knowledge for those with a penchant for history eee em ei ee eee ing collection of ancient relics, artefacts, and elem ure at-rorel a= tL AE NE oo See Clee eet cen Me scm T tute acy Pree ue r entice Resa uu IS ered cy Re ee Ree incre tetany Tne eee emtcetacc) Creme iCute S ade one) Ree ae aan e wilderness. Respect for the local customs and virtues Poor tele eas Rion lero (eC TLe) avo] Britain }-Orchard 24-Castle Britannia +25-Mack's Farm 26-Brownie -Moongate BRITRIS 1 - Shipw 12- Sentri 2 = Grocery Market 13- Wayferer Inn 3 - Jeweler 14- Blue Boar 4 - Armourer ——15- Trainer 5 -Iolo's Bows —_16- Fellowship Hall 6 - Clothier 17- Museum: 7 - Baker 18- City Hall 8 - Apotechary _19- Royal Theatre 9 -Provisioner _20- Hall of Bards 10- Healer 21- Royal Mint 11- Trainer 22- Playground Men etre ea cS inhabitants, and you'll find that the people ere en UNM etek Preece eMC ere een Res eRe eek Ud Cie Res RRO RU my streets, engage with its residents, and immerse Po eA Ren LU Mm CoM Re cere ma 10) eeu ety adventure, virtue, and discovery that defines eee meee mean Gene ene Uc nary journey and experience the enchantment of Britain. Your stay here will undoubtedly be a memorable chapter in your epic adventure in the world of Ultima 7. Embrace the Eight Virtues, seek out adventure, and uncover the Pere mu ue ee an nes ere U ne Maley RUC VL 29era perpetual FUSLONFUSION RETRO BOOKS IPUBLISHINGJRETROGAMING) IBOOKSF&7MAGAZINES) eds fo) NTR NT Se ed aAN ee AAA peUan Cee eau ae| Pac eRe Tecmo aun tac TU ue eeu td PRR ere Cue une its earliest years, Konami’s famous Pe ee a RiCUe a LR ay STO uC ee need Suen ust ager POR Cnn US anos) Pee ee RU sue eo) ey eer esa ken (ais a pat elk en eeu ae ied pairs Ly eas games, Castlevania, Castlevania Il: Lh ag er gg tee ae ee a UNCOVERS WHY ‘BEGINNING’ Dracula's Curse, three notable tracks FROM CASTLEVANIA Il: hdl fol Nee tel aS LATEST MUSICAL MARVEL. for Castlevania by introducing players to the addictively simple 8-bit chiptune ee eee Seco Peete Ree Ce Run ais ceed Ds note haemo Dee T= eM efoto ne Curse had some big shoes to fill, and the track for its opening stage, Beginning, didn’t disap- Pee eneeuieme cs Msc ry Ceres cee renner Pe if Oe Ree ed Eee eC Peete Prats s Ly Pet) cred Pea ew Ue Geen cray afl SOUHD DESIGN .- B eginning could be seen as the theme for Sed em Tea eet ecg ine aecsrg tee Se eee CeCe begins his journey across the land of Wallachia, the drumming beats of Beginning kick off the adventure, Dracula's Curse was the third and final game in the franchise to be released on the NES before ree RO Reine Sea ete eem tee Cee Ena eee Raumati proof can be heard in the rendition of Beginning from the European and American versions of the game, which, despite not having the audio capabilities of ee eae eRe) musical hooks that were still exceptional. However, with its support for external sound chips and a specialised chip developed by Konami, the Famicom system delivered richer and more CO eM UR ecco Ct ace fo eet ete ene er ae) Teenie eeu rere Cee ke and its rendition of Beginning is a superb example. It's a Musical Marvel that proudly honoured its blood- line on the NES, whilst the VRC6 sound chip offered Eee Me eae mt ogee ey eee } FUSION KK}Home Co Ree Se Se STRUGGLING TO GET HOME TO THE 21ST CENTURY AFTER LAST MONTH’S FLASHBACK TO 1992, COLIN AND JAMES ARE FLUNG FURTHER BACK IN TIME TO 1985 DUE TOA MISCALIBRATION OF THEIR SPACE-TIME MATRIX. IDIOTS! COLIN: ello, and thanks for joining us for another H trip back in time. Back to a time when if you went to your local cinema, you might have watched Sylvester Stallone in Rambo: First Blood Part II or Rosanna Arquette, Aidan Quinn, and Madonna in Desperately Seeking Susan. If you turned on the radio you might have heard legendary Radio One DJ Steve Wright on his after- noon show playing Mick Jagger and David Bowie's cover of Martha and the Vandellas “Dancing in the Street”. While in sport, the England cricket team won the ashes, and in the news, Welsh fashion designer Laura Ashley passed away at the age of 60. Well done if you've worked out that we're taking a trip back 34 to September 1986 to look at the games topping the multi-format Home Computer chart compiled by Gallop. Over to you, James, to stir things up! es, at number 5 is Cauldron, released Y on C64 & Spectrum by Palace Software. How do | explain this game? Well, here ‘goes; imagine Chopiifter but with a witch that can fly thanks to her magic broom, and instead of firing guns and missiles, you shoot magic at various bats and pumpkins that are hurled at you. Stick with me on this [we're with you - Ed}; instead of rescuing hostages, it's keys. However, when you land your broomstick, you can walk around and enter doors that take you into an underground platform section. This game is challeng- ing but a fine example of excel- lent design, with a unique idea executed excellently. Can you make it to the end and defeat the giant pumpkin? COLIN: ‘t number 4, we find a game that needs no introduction to gamers of a certain age (like me) in Acornsoft's Elite. At the time FUSIONtt ‘Above: Searching for the ingredients to a spell that can defeat the Pumpking in Cauldron (Spectrum), of this chart, Elite was only available for the BBC, Electron, and C64, but the game was such a hit that it was eventually released on nearly any system that could run it. The game was immediately recognisable with its 3D wire-frame graphics that enabled the player to view it from a first-person perspective. For those not in the know, Elite is a space-trading combat simula- tion in which you play the role of Commander Jameson. Starting at Lave Station with 100 credits and a lightly armed ship known as the Cobra Mark III, you are free to explore and trade with the inhabitants of the game's eight galaxies and 256 planets. Money can also be earned by participating in military missions, bounty hunting, asteroid mining, and piracy. As you gain money, you can use it to upgrade your ship with improved weapons, shields, an automated FUSION docking system, or an increased cargo capacity. Elite's antagonists are a race known as the Thargoids, whose ships will often attack, forcing you to engage in space combat to protect your ship and precious cargo. Elite broke new ground in game design, helping to pave the way for the ‘open-world games we enjoy today. JAMES: 3 is Soft Aid. As popular YouTube legend A Nostalgia Nerd once said, “Soft Aid is the video game equivalent of Band Aid” and was released on the C64 & Spectrum. The tape featured “Feed the World” on one side and a. compilation of games on the other. The inlay artwork created by industry legend, David Front re ‘Above: The vast and immersive world of Elite was a revela- tion to unsuspecting gamers nit arved (BBC Micro) 35eee 4. Way of the Exploding Fist 2. Hyper Sports Pierre Seer e Rowe, is nothing like any other software and features a striking and grim image of a starving person. Various software companies donated games. For example, the Speccy had Spell- bound, Starbike, Ant Attack, Kokotoni Wilf, The Pyramid, 3D Tank Duel, Jack and the Beanstalk, Sorcery, Gilligan’s Gold, and Horace Goes Skiing. The C64 had Gumshoe, Pitfall, Startrad- er, Kokotoni Wilf, China Miner, Gilligan's Gold, Fred, Gyropod, Falcon Patrol, and Flak. What a bargain! COLIN: ack in the 80s, we loved nothing more B than a joystick-breaking, Olympic-themed sports game. So, it's no surprise we have ‘Hyper Sports in the number 2 position. Konami released the follow-up to 1983's Track & Field into our local arcades in July 1984 and con- verted over to our home computers by Imagine 36 ‘s0Top ter on one case oly Software the following year. This time, we have six events to waggle away like a madman: swimming, skeet shooting, gymnastics, archery, triple jump, and weightiiting. Imagine did an excellent job converting Hyper Sports, with most versions coming surprisingly close to the original arcade. So, if you loved the Hyper Sports coin-op and had the cash to keep buying yourself new joysticks, picking up a copy from your local computer game shop for your home computer was a no-brainer. JAMES: tthe top spot this month is The Way of A the Exploding Fist, released by Melbourne House. Sadly, only the C64 version is counted in the chart because the Spectrum conversion had only just been released, with Amstrad, BBC Micro, Electron, and C16/Plus4 conversions arriving soon after. For many, this will be the first beat ‘em-up they ever played. Instead of health bars, if you managed to land FUSIONr Obliterating joysticks in Hyper Sports (Amstrad). De as ge er Cece Load and reset the game, then use the following BASIC command before running or restarting the program: POKE 6901,255ie ee Te el tl HH Thrice have | trotted through the Ora ea eune ee Pert eee ey PU eRe en Coreen immersion in the eloquently delinquent Reem eaters ROS Ace eed Pea a ee Seed Pea meu see PCat Dee gr the torture in tri cl eee CR to see if | was missing something, Tee gery Pe tChl araad eer alt Rees Pema Rn Pee une Clas) RU cana is ree UM aes ar cone aU gS =m GRP aa cou Rie este ieee eee nia Cee ies mee 38 ] et Momo lends, as the in-game story, action, and general et eee a eam een a particularly gung-ho persuasion. In effect, a Pe eee eae Ta eet armed eM Nae eee eat ene ad Rete uit Reise eed eRe Re en Wr une aio ecu kere ucla a) eee eae ma ets POOR Naan a silently, your ears will be assaulted by a verbal slurry of swear words and offensive terms Rech ets eee ‘Above: Ducks in a row - Roll up! Roll up! For the generic guard shooting range. CVoh]RETROSPECTIVE Past ey ROGUE WARRIOR REBELLION DEVELOPMENTS BETHESDA SOFTWORKS Bay WINDOWS, PS3, XBOX 360, uy 2009 Rete Mee eg a) Ora eS me ane amr an Ue ac ea ecm Rue Seren uN (ee esse oes ke eet DUR ae RA koe oc ee mL your end credits sync up that insult-o-rama with an easy-listening style dirge? It’s better than the hard-boiled detective intro on the main menu, eR u Mliee UU len uk ae ela) Melreuniccmacasty cere cul Peete Mae Rene sumetc a Meee stn ee eae) Renee Pe ee) me Une elena UR Le CONAUIKem soem ecco that might appeal to the more eer ee Td Beets eres ee Ey ene Pee ee et) Cee ci) see eee Mea caso) Pie uae oa enc gece | Pe eeu ester cme antes eae) Dee a ae ecu oe ae PR ee ete cn ea Deere neue Stealth is an option in many cases, but you're Cnn R See as Pe ethic tee UC mand tee es Mea ete uns cd Ca a eRe SU en un ee RC tems CU Me ROR uC a meu seod PTs tee nen eed Lr ae neca eae eg Cian el ech monet <6 ta 27 Uo]EU eos os ee ce Pee eng PO ee eo are thematically copied and pasted from Reece om Re enue) Teen ee REC Cee ge anne eked ave] ea et to Metal Gear Solid here, but the game Dee Ud Dee css Poe ea ee cae Below Left: Trainspotting - Choose [eee eee Cet ee EN no ae ect eum ee tia) Cee en Ui ‘out dockside run that ends in Pree tetas reminds me of that school trip to France back in 1992. You'll have gathered that I'm not a big fan Ciao eure ue ant Mek eM UCT Re eke ean Penns mee Una ee Reus el Peco eran knee oye] ene Wee ere gee oe Ra ee ee Ret ine eae A aa eee eS ke Meteors te tou eu acy Sea CE ete eect Mee mM We MCU oe OER ec Rene ae nn ad Cee eeu Rear eee NetRe e ters ian tect) Neto eg ee ees peeved eS cee ET eee | caPeron = ~ CVTo)]FUSION CT el ares arid 1991 PC Cane) | ee eee Core Cure aR AS Boy's shine, the coolness of Game Gears and Decco ees ome u Rema Ce aU tere octane om CNet one keene ny scanning the back of cereal packets and your dad's shoe polish tin would make a great foun- dation for a video game is beyond any notion of Pe Let's set the scene. It's Christmas 1992, and Reece ei We eT eon aa erect oes UEC ae ora IER en ome aa Ma Ce aU Rue One te overwhelming disappointment when you see the Pee ae Keen eM Uae Sete ee aa eee stereo tay empty Daz boxes, oh, and the toilet roll bags, ie eee em Un ee eee eae) eenaee ce eee a tee tare eee etek eek eee Nees ke Wee ee Rec ome ee ee Ucn Param ie acu ices Pee AR Reece ee te cans until a winner was found. Once you battled with all the included cards, you could go through all eee ees eee aE gsueclad with a barcode to create new characters. The “fun” would last about five minutes before you Pete Rene ea Oe Teea Mere Unease a ae Battler was hugely popular in Japan. This popu- Pres nto Seg Te) eine tiie Rem ae ne ea Pier a enum oe Peete Renee) released with Barcode Battler connectivity, so TORR ieee eS Reruns econ ire. | PRE FBAHE i: fg vg 30028VgAs per the previous two volumes, Indie Heroes 3 compiles a selec- tion of modern retro titles developed for archaic console formats. Blaze has been previewing the games to Evercade VS and EXP owners via their ‘Game of the Month’ program. So, you may have played these titles already, but now they can be yours to keep forever. But would you want to? In this case, the answer is a resounding yes. two predecessors in that it includes two games developed natively for Evercade in addition to emulated titles from 8 and 16-bit systems. The cartridge case cover art displays the first of these, Donut Dodo, a game I've taken every possible opportunity to wax lyrical about in its Nintendo Switch incarnation. | gave it a glowing review on the Fusion R Gamer website and installed it into the annals of ‘FUSION Love’ fame in issue 44. Why do | love Donut Dodo so much? Because it looks and plays like a long lost early 80s single-screen platform game. You control a chef who must recover his stolen doughnuts from the titular Dodo, who you must ultimately defeat. Donut Dodo offers addictive gameplay, tight controls, and charming character design. if you're a fan of arcade classics such as Burger Time, Donkey Kong, and Popeye, you'll find Donut Dodo simply delicious! I'm delighted to report that the native Evercade version is just as much fun as the Switch version, making this cart a worthwhile purchase for this one game alone. However, Donut Dodo represents a mere thirteenth of this compilation's games, so what about the other twelve? As with all compilations it's a mixed bag, but happily leaning much more 44 T his volume differs significantly from its * a " A We heard that Donut Dodo won't load on the Super Pocket, but we didn't have one to hand to test ourselves. Canine run ‘n’ gun action in Thunder Paw. FUSIONdas SES iat Above: More puzzling action can be found in Big2Small Pe ED ed OE RSS ‘Above: Action-platformer Magic and Legend: Time Knights. Ses re Soo, 208 See Above: Expanded and enhanced - Doocle World Recrawn. towards the heroic than the villainous. I'll run you through the collection's highlights. Donut Dodo isn't the only excellent platform game you'll find in Indie Heroes 3. Other tasty platforming treats include Thunder Paw, a game originally developed for the Mega Drive, which offers an enjoyable mix of platforming and laser-gun blasting while controlling a cute FUSION eee) Ercan a Oa Vs (REVIEWED) a our Now aa £17.99 ‘Above: We interviewed the father-son team behind the NES ‘game, Skate Cat, in issue 33, so it's great to see it included. a © GOGG0G0 6 6 Cog So aear LT 988858 EOI Bane seis 5 ey Above: Swimming to the moon in Bubble Seahorse. canine protagonist. Doodle World Redrawn is a side-scrolling NES platformer presented in a charming hand-drawn style as if you're playing a game designed by doodling on the back of an ‘exercise book during a particularly dull Maths lesson. There's even a kids mode if you find the game too challenging. Bubble Seahorse Adventures is the second of the cartridge’s native Evercade titles, despite looking every pixel ike a NES game, with a heavy Super Mario Bros. 3 influence. A side- scrolling platformer with cute cartoon graphics, the titular seahorse shoots bubbles from its nose, which can trap enemies a la Bubble Bobble. The seahorse can jump on the trapped 45baddies to reach otherwise inaccessible items. it's a charming, well-designed platformer, and along with Donut Dodo, this title proves that the Evercade is good for more than just emulating old formats. We return to NES emulation for Orebody: Binder's Tale, which changes style and pace slightly with its robotic Mega Man-style blend of platforming and shooting. Puzzler fans are equally well served here, with Alien Cat 2: Enhanced Edition offering addictive key-collect- ing and portal-opening puzzles, all rendered in stunningly colourful cartoony graphics. While the original Alien Cat was developed for the Mega Drive, this enhanced edition is the SNES version. Bone Marrow is equally addictive but in a very different style. The aim is to slide pieces to match them up, all with a pleasing medieval fantasy aesthetic. Bone Marrow was initially released as a retro-style game for modern consoles before being ported to the Mega Drive, and it's that version featured here. Bringing a more relaxed pace to Above: Puzzle, strategy and RPG elements in Bone Marrow. 46 Eyenetnsy ‘Above: Comedic puzzle conundrums in Chew Chew Mimic. proceedings, The Little Tales of Alexandria is a charming adventure game developed for the Game Boy. It emphasizes exploration and tells, a captivating story that unfolds as you play through the game. And, when you're ready for something more frantic, Chibi Monster Brawl, is an impressive attempt at bringing a Smash Bros. style brawler to the NES, complete wi charming chibi-style monster characters. It's certainly fun in short blasts, but it won't keep you engaged for long. Nonetheless, it's worth having a brawl with and deserves its place in this collection. With a massive 13 games covering a decent range of genres and machines, including the native ports of Donut Dodo and Bubble Seahorse Adventures, Indie Heroes 3 is the best Indie Heroes cartridge so far and quite possibly the best compilation released for the Evercade to date. You're getting an instant indie games collection on one cartridge - quite a bargain! It’s well worth picking up for all Evercade and Super Pocket owners, but it's a truly essential purchase for fans of platform games and puzzlers. i FUSIONmanos aa Saar as ee 2 RETRO MERCHANDISE A4 & AS PRINTS A3 FRAMED PRINTS SIGNED GAMING PRINTS ALUMINIUM PLATES PHOTO SLATES - MONEY BOXES TOTE BAGS 4 CLOCKS y FUSIONRETROMERCHANDISE.COM48 = e FUSIONGRAEME MASON LOOKS BACK ON THE DUKE’S CELEBRATED Le Ba Cl oe COME GET SOME! | Miku aCur CeCe) Pea Rs cc Peel Re aR UROL Puce boi eee Uy nineties pitched the atavistic LV EUtU cused Ceaser ta Pea CRU ana rt Dee eure tec) ee sed i cal Pe Cte ten ce Ct) Fe emu tuk uCy Pees eeu RR a Re ne Pe ea Cae ey Prensa pnt eees eRe ga tous Seer cur aims Seem eee eae neo M nee aa nantly using flat sprites for its in-game char- Eee Ct oltre games were heavily previewed, Duke Nukem Pe eee Re Ue eters Meee ene a eee ae) odds, the Duke's third outing was a smash. Fee ae ene eee! 1] Cree hace Ln ou FUSION penchant for amusing witticisms by the Duke himself hugely endeared the game to fans. Duke Nukem is a wild ride full of outrageous Ree eM ne Cee cee ete tec) station, RUSE Ae ol Ru eee Eel ie ot well, fun. Duke stomps around the locations, Clescasepmaneck harks ete titenietem Mee ease en cheat keelaesk gt ite aep cet mec uccMmcn a seis at his disposal is some of the finest of all time Te one en ue a ing shotgun than the one the Duke wields with Cee oe a nae e eee eee eee) another alien into a pile of viscera and blood. Beer ee ose nes eer) Ce ee era NS clearly up on his cultural phenomena, Peale neu Maca: eels Rul Meee moe cK oR unl a) Sere A eR Cel Mette Sa Lad Cae eee RS sok uae Ma) CRREMSaanecccRetke (canes ee ocd Rk et Duke is the most practical. Running Duke Nukem 3D on a 486 PC was PC meee a TU g Quake? Ha! You'll probably need to Meee Ne eee od eMC Woe ce ERC ele AR ea Pree ee om | 49THE COMMODORE SCENE HAS A BIG Yi, LAST MONTH, PAUL MORRISON SAMPLED SOME OF THE FANTASTIC GAMES RECENTLY RELEASED FOR COMMODORE’S WOEFULLY UNDERUTILISED PLUS/4 MACHINE. THERE WERE TOO MANY GAMES TO SQUEEZE INTO THE ISSUE, SO WE DEMANDED HE RETURN TO FINISH THE JOB THIS. MONTH. VIVA LA PLUS/4! : | | couldn't resist returning to the Plus/4 this issue [I left you little Cee Re MeL ucmu selection may be even more impres- Rubra Cum UPR euCog in these games means you could play them all in a day and never get bored. oe eeu rs Anyone interested in retro gaming rT Mee RUT ey OUR Ly lee T tem CoML 1: aed Arkanoid Peet tg Oey i Plus/4 courtesy of the Absence (ACE) eC eee) Cee Tete Noe eg eee analogue edition, which, through the use of a See tetera ces NRO Aes N eaten Puss kOe a Nes See emn om Aa eo aL Rue Renn enema hats oo oie MMe ne ck ary a lovely in-game tune from Csabo, which can Deere eg Reena end FUSIONee en NUE version (take that, C64 owners!). This just might Per ean eaten UE nc eer foeere Poet Ueno r/o ead Pea NT eke ake Wizard of Wor Classic Rg Ene ee ean ] system despite its use of Geordie in the title, Pras ar nee aS an excellent quality conversion. The gameplay is all there, including the simultaneous two- aes eee TRE a ets cece Meo Pin oe Cite cele eC Oe cniet this is up there with the best of them, and this version, brought to you by TCFS and friends, is Nene asl Pree aero Sd Lemmings sygnosis' dig ‘em-up rodent rescuing sim een eee scheme sku) eee teeta eeu ora) Meee Ree ue ee) avo] eae eee Sega prolific TCFS took up the mantle and produced this superb version. Sonically assisted once reer neaee Ree meio ieee tase Lo ue e yeni Ly Pei Leni ue aU) Rete aus MUR Ke ie ei key Aree MMe Coig er em nee MTT too easy, there are three difficulty levels for ad- Crema ors mene ele) DIGITAL: https://bitly/3x64001 courte Expect the same preposterous difficulty as all the otherThe Empire Strikes Back his game is not a conversion of the Atari Tissier arnt Parker Bros Atari 2600 classic; this is a conversion (by TCFS) of the recent Commodore 64 game based on the Parker Bros game. Got that? OK, let's move on. Unlike the original, this version is mission-based, with each level having slightly different objectives, albeit with you still speeding over the snowy plains of Hoth. Well, “speeding’ is a bit of a stretch; it's not the fastest game you'll ever play. | prefer the Atari original to this, and | said the same about the C64 version in ZZAP! 64, but this is still a good update of an ancient game and one any Star Wars fan should check out. DIGMALs https./bit.\y/4esvBDX 009638 52 Stunt Car Racer force on all systems, but at the time, I doubt anyone dreamed it would be released on less popular systems like the Plus/4. Programmer, cobbpg, has worked some kind of miracle here because this version takes full advantage of the machine's faster proces- sor and is even better than the C64 version. Your car rockets along the track at frightening speeds, yet you remain in total control. It plays beautifully, and is as challenging and thrilling as ever. It's not often you can say that a game is a “roller-coaster ride” and genuinely mean it, but Stunt Car Racer is such a game - a must-play. G eoff Crammond’s racer was a tour de DIGATALs https:/bit-ly/4coPcVH FUSION