E2K Obtained this game FREE for writing this review. There are other games
waiting for YOU if you are willing to do the same. See the Article on this
magazine disc; Games Reviewers Wanted.
White Magic
Available from:
ProAction
40 Honiton Road
Romford
Essex
RM7 9AJ
£5.95 to 8BS Members
Scenario
White Magic is an arcade adventure in the mould of Gauntlet, the
view-from-above 'hack and slash' is set deep in myth and fantasy.
The game is spread out over 32 levels in which you must battle ghosts,
goblins, trolls, and demons, that emerge in endless streams from
generators at random locations on each level. Scattered throughout the
levels are items that can help you on your way such as food and keys to
open doors. There are also special artefacts to find and collect that also
help you to progress further into the game. You can only leave each level
when you have found the master key! These keys are expertly hidden in some
nasty little corner or alcove on each level, look everywhere as they are
hard to find and don't get any easier either.
All this must be done within a time limit. This can get very frustrating
as more often than not you can see the exit just as your time runs out.
However, for all you wimps out there there is a nice facility that allows
you start on any of the 32 levels.
For me, by far the best part of this game is that the player actually
controls not one but four characters. The idea is to guide the four
through the levels utilising the special abilities that each member
possesses.
The four characters are as follows;
KALDOR
the leprechaun is not the best of the four in hand-to-hand combat
but is better with magic, one of the better characters to collect and use
potions with. He possesses good agility and speed.
MORRIANA
the warrior is by far the best of the group for fighting, so try
to use him in hand-to-hand combat if you can. Not the best with magic
though, and not so good in the strength department either, but all in all
a good allrounder.
CHEYSUL
the titan is one huge dude who can destroy all but the biggest
obstacles that you care to find. He is slow and clumsy but possesses
masses of strength, good for knocking destroying monsters generators and
stuff!
Mandrake
the enchanter is 200 years old but still packs quite a punch with
the old spell book. He's a wizard who can destroy bags of enemies with one
potion, so try to use him for all the magic potions if you can. Don't use
him for fighting as he's quite a weakling with his fists. He is the only
one of the party that can cross the magic pentagrams.
Gameplay
The first thing that strikes you about White Magic is the speed at which
the game moves. Talk about fast, but the game does sometimes slow when
theres a lot on screen at once. The play area takes up a 1/3rd of the
screen in the middle, with each of the four character's status displays in
each of the four corners of the screen. It has quite a steep learning
curve but no doubt that hardened gamesters will find it not quite so
taxing.
There are some nice colourful mode five graphics to be had and the detail
on the sprites is quite good too. Things can get a bit confusing when
theres about a thousand ghosts trying to beat your head in and theres
firebolts flying in all directions, but then again that adds to the fun
factor.
Overall
GRAPHICS:
Good colourful mode 5 graphics with a good smattering of detail. Good
sprites too.
SOUND:
Room for improvement, simple 'spot' and 'swoosh' effects are fine
but perhaps a tune or two would not go amiss?
GAMEPLAY:
Challenging and requiring a little patience, a game for older
players maybe. The levels are large enough to keep your attention for
quite a while, it makes you want to keep playing to get just that bit
further.
VALUE FOR MONEY:
Not bad at all, White Magic provides oodles of meanies and
'hack-and-slash' action with a hint of strategy. In my opinion it will
keep you huddled over your machine for hours to come and then some. For
the price it's a steal.
E2K