English
Software
48K
Disk(2) £14.95 48K
Cassette(2)
£9.95
1/2
Players
1/2 Joysticks
No new ideas from English Software this time. Instead
we have another in a long line of compilations, entitled SMASH HITS
5, which is a logical progression from their previous four. This one
comprises CHOP SUEY, ELEKTRAGLIDE, MEDIATOR and QUASIMODO and the
review sample came as a two disk set with the same planned for the
cassette format.
CHOP
SUEY is English Software's popular karate game and has been on sale
for many months, being the first game of this type readily available
for the Atari. English Software obviously regard it in the same high
esteem as Jet Boot Jack as it also figured in their HITS 4
compilation. An excellent game which was reviewed extensively in
issue 19.
Next up is ELEKTRAGLIDE, the futuristic race game featuring stunning
3-D graphics. You either love or loathe this one depending on how
difficult you find it. I happen to think it's totally unplayable but
I have it on good authority that there are many gamesters out there
who consider it a pushover - the type of people who can score 15
billion at arcade Sinistar, blindfolded and with both hands tied
behind their backs! These same people even write to let me know what
an idiot I am for not being able to play the LAST V8! (see review in
issue 22).
MEDIATOR
is an arcade/adventure game with ever-changing scenarios. It starts
off like one of those boring Mars lander type games, but stick with
it and it gets better and better as you progress through the
different screens with lots of intriguing puzzles to solve along the
way. One of English Software's better efforts.
QUASIMODO
is a strange offering as 'it's not one of E.S.C.'s own games and
came to us originally from Synapse Software via US Gold. Despite the
obvious implications of the title it is not a variation of arcade
Hunchback. The initial stages are very reminiscent of ThornEmi's
'Orc Attack' as Quasi hurls rocks from the top of the cathedral
walls in a effort to knock down the pursuing guards. After that it
develops into a fairly routine ropes & ladders game where you
must try to recover three stolen jewels which are scattered around
the belfry somewhere. I managed to recover two of them but those
pesky 'bats in the belfry' prevented me from recovering the third.
No doubt somebody will write in to let me know they completed the
whole thing in five minutes flat!!
So there you have it. Another excellent compilation and, as ever,
superb value for money especially if you don't already have any of
these four games in your collection.
top
