A review of a game on a disc from the
pool, GLM-02.
Description.
This game by Lars Osterballe calls
itself a BASIC ELITE. It will run on
all formats, the first file contains
instructions on how to make the game
compatible with the Electron, basically
just changeing a couple of lines for
the keys.
Instructions. The instructions are given at the start
of the game, they inform you of the
object of the game which is to achieve
"Supreme" status by making kills and
trading, to avenge the murder of your
grandfather.
The instructions then give you the keys
to use, trading, equipment, status and
navigation are performed by the
function keys. "@" to save the game.
Sound on and off ";" ":".
Flight is controlled with these keys:
S-down X-up ,-roll anti clockwise
.-roll clockwise /slow, SPACE speed up
C-docking computer, A-lazers
Arrow keys-for navigation
The main game is then loaded in.
Firstly you are asked if you want to
load a new commander. Responding "Y"
prompts you for a file name, a saved
log is then loaded in and your old
status displayed. Otherwise you are
given the default log of commander
Johnson.
The game. If you are at the start of the game you
will be docked at the initial planet in
the initial galaxy which is Etile.
You may spend your initial 100 credits
on any of the items available at the
planet, but it is advisable to buy fuel
to start with so that you can
Hyperspace to another system.
Select the galactic chart with f5, set
the cross hair to the planet that you
wish to hyperspace to using the cursor
keys. Press f6, press RETURN,then press
f0 twice. This was not fully explained
in the instructions and caused me a
little confusion at first, as I could
not seem to be able to set hyperspace.
You will then be thrust into a very
dangerous environment. You will have to
destroy a certain number of hostile
space vehicles before the space station
of the system you have hyperspaced to
will appear. The number of hostiles
depends on the tech level of the
system.
Docking is also a very risky procedure.
If you accidentally fire on the space
station, it's curtains! The defences
go up and you cannot dock, you will
just crash into the outer hull.
Approach the space station tapping the
"," key reqularly. Keep the sights in
the centre of the station with the
sides and top of the station square.
It took me ages to realise that you
need to have a fair bit of speed to get
into the station, if you try to dock
slowly, you don't actually seem to go
anywhere. Docking is very easy once you
get the swing of it. But buy a docking
computer as soon as you have the 3000
credits needed.
You can also boost shield re-generation
with a shield generator for 900
credits. At some hi-tech systems you
can buy a military lazer for better
zapping power at 4500 credits, or a
hyperspace drive at 6750 credits which
can only be used the once.
You need the hyperspace drive to jump
through the galaxies of which there are
three. Your mission will take you
through them all twice.
First of all you must attain Supreme
status, rising through the ranks from
Harmless, Bad, No good, All right,
Tough, Dangerous, Deadly and finally
Supreme.
Do this by destroying the pirates that
you encounter.
You must trade to make money to be able
to afford equipment.
After you become Supreme, you will be
offered missions to complete when you
dock. The missions involve finding and
docking at systems rangeing throughout
the 3 galaxies. There are 15 missions
to complete before the final message is
displayed.
There is a twist in the tale!!
Overall impressions. The game has a similar look to Elite.
Game play follows very similar lines to
Elite. The pirates are all the same
shape and follow similar manoeuvres,
therefore combat isn't anything like as
fulfilling as Elite. It is therefore
easier to play than Elite once you get
used to the keys (no joystick).
The space stations are just a rotating
box. Unlike Elite, where you have to
visualise yourself in a three
dimensional arena, Supreme seems to be
only two dimensional.
There is a bit of screen flicker, the
program is in Basic.
The missions are reasonably simple,
just a matter of finding and reaching a
system.
Richardsons Rating: Overall :Excellent 5
Info :Average 2
Game idea :Excellent 5
Graphics :Good 3
Sound :Average 2
Addictability :No sleep 4
Compatibility :Master Electron BBC 3
Recommendation:get it! 7
Score 32 80%
Star rating ***
Rating information: As this is my first review I shall
explain the standard that I have used
for the rating:
The first five (Overall to Sound) are
scored out of 5 as follows:
0 - No comment
1 - Poor
2 - Average
3 - Good
4 - Commercial standard
5 - Excellent
Addictability is scored as follows:
0 - none
1 - 2 minutes
2 - 15 minutes
3 - 1 hour
4 - No sleep
Compatibility is scored as follows:
One point for each machine that it
works on (as far as I know) 0 to 4.
Recommendation is scored as follows:
0 - Forget it
Increasing urgency to:
7 - Get it yesterday
This all works out to:
40 points maximum.
Percentage shown as points * (100/40).
Star rating: Maximum 4 stars.
1 star for each 10 points.
The rating is of course only my
opinion. A far more reliable rating
could be achieved if several members
were to send in their ratings. A more
useful rating could then be calculated.
I have written a disc based
questionnaire which can be returned for
processing. This may appear on future
8BS issues. If there is a spare corner
on this issue disc I may pop it on. The
file is called "RatQ". This is only for
anyone interested in the program
itself, please don't send any data to
Daniel unless he specifically asks for
it!