The Immortal

A thinking man's Diablo!

I have always found something quite appealing about exploring a monster-infested dungeon and this is one of the best and most unique there is. Designed by Will Harvey and programmed by Brett G. Durrett, The Immortal offers a challenging experience of solving puzzles and surviving long enough to see what's around the corner.

We are a wizard who has been asked to help another wizard that's in a spot of bother. He is called Mordamir and somehow thinks your name is Dunric, which it isn't. Will you still help him? Of course, you will, even though we later find out this means exploring creepy dungeons infested with hideous nasties intent on your demise.

Are you still feeling brave? Stop. Don't lie. Be absolutely sure before accepting the challenge of this brutal adventure. Okay, you're still here. Then it's time for clean underwear as we venture forth into the realms of myth, sorcery, and brutal violence. Let's check out a few screenshots of the sinister troubles that lay ahead...

Do you think it's safe walking around down here? Well, you shouldn't!!

Learn how best to battle to defeat your foe. And why not chat with the locals?

That's some drop there. Best watch your step or come back later?

Welcome to a dark place with monsters and lots of traps!

The Immortal is a scrolling isometric adventure set within a creepy labyrinth of unforgiving pitfalls and ghastly horrors. I cannot stress that enough, right from the start too. These harsh characteristics will torment even the most experienced adventurer so you will witness the bloodiest of deaths at a most frequent rate. Never have I played a game like this with so many hidden traps so grab a pen and paper to make notes.

Lurking within the labyrinth are trolls, goblins and lots of scary creatures that want you dead. Some have exquisite names like The Shades which you encounter early and are a life form that hides in the darkness, only casting a faint shadow under a firelight. Are you scared yet? You should be, this game is callous and ruthless.

As you can now imagine, The Immortal isn't a game you can rush and complete quickly. Its design dictates a need for a determined player with patience. One who will fall victim to many gruesome deaths in order to learn the ropes. Don't underestimate it and grab that pen and paper to make notes, you'll need them. Trust me.

Hey, I hear there's a prince over in Persia that would love one of those carpets!!

You will die and die and die!

Each room is unique and has its own battles, treasures, and pitfalls - so think first, be vigilant and always on your guard. The good news is that you can often avoid a confrontation by being stealthy, but brave warriors can always use their weapons or conjure magic spells to beat their foes. Expect your endurance to be tested to the full by each level's cruel traps which are often hidden. Argghh, there are so many bloodthirsty traps!

Careful exploration is the key to success. Take your time but also make sure to examine everything. Who knows, that item may help later on and a slain victim is a great place to find what you need. Hey, what's better than plundering a dead corpse? Finally, don't forget to rest, if you see a straw bed then take the time to catch up on your sleep and enjoy forty winks. This restores health and might even produce an enlightening dream...

Sadly, there is no instant save function. Instead, at the end of each level, successful wizards are awarded a certificate ie level password. Yes, this might appear disappointing but the levels aren't overly massive plus it forces you to tread carefully and be a better adventurer. Cheaters skipping levels will soon realise the error of their ways.

Even the monsters appear to hate each other. Let's watch them fight!

Effects

All visuals are by Michael Marcantel and Ian Gooding and are absolutely excellent. They've helped to create a dungeon of horrors using a dark and creepy design that works well. Each room looks the part plus all monsters are ghoulishly drawn with good animation. I wonder how much inspiration was later taken from this old game?

Spot effects are used for lots of actions and various pieces of chip music by Doug Fulton feature throughout the levels. Some dislike the tunes for a game like this whereas others enjoy them. You can run with sound effects only but I fear you will be missing out on much atmosphere if you do. Personally, I'd leave the music on.

I never expected a boat ride - whitewater madness style!!

The CryptO'pinion?

The Immortal is groundbreaking due to its gripping storyline, eerie atmosphere and captivating deeds. Mix that in with a style employing adventure, action and RPG and it's apparent why I love it so. An extremely excellent game offering hours of agonising pleasure as you uncover its secrets. The Immortal is cruel, yet highly addictive!!

Download for floppy or hard drive.

Head Over Heels

Going back to my Your Sinclair days!

I stumbled upon Head Over Heels by pure chance today. It's been donkey's years since I played this on my old ZX Spectrum and seeing it again is a heartwarming reminder of my 8-bit days. However, I shockingly cannot remember completing this tough isometric adventure and I certainly don't ever recall playing the Atari ST version!

Head Over Heels is far more complex than it first appears, two characters who each have their own skillset solve the puzzles. It's superb to see this again after all these years and anyone that loves the "filmation" genre will surely be in heaven. The graphics are Spec-tacular with superb details and more colour than my old rubber Speccy could ever have dreamt of. A huge and intriguing adventure offering many sleepless nights!

AtariMania features this within the ST database including an interesting tidbit too! Download Head Over Heels from 8BitChip as this supports a trainer and hard drive installation. Also, here is an extremely interesting website for the ZX Spectrum version with maps, videos, and more which should prove helpful.

Leviathan

Fly, dodge, shoot, die!

Leviathan is a Zaxxon-inspired (cough.. ripoff) isometric shooter released in 1987 by English Software. Interestingly, this is one of the oldest Atari ST games that I own even if it narks me. What, I hear you cry? Yep, every time I attempt to play it, I get nowhere. Either I'm crashing into the landscape or some canny alien smashes into me kamikaze style!

The box is one of those squishy DM types that never lasts very long but, I must admit, mine is in quite good condition considering. The back cover has an incredible line, "A space shoot 'em up to end all space shoot 'em ups!". That's a bold statement if ever there was one and it kinda makes you wonder if it's true? Hmm, anyhow if you wanna see some professionally-capture photographs of my boxed game, then continue to scroll past this amazing review.

Okay, so the storyline is pretty thin on the ground but it takes place over three different planetary zones in the darkness of space. Now, I'll only ever get the see the first one (of course) but they are: Moonscape, Cityscape and Greekscape. As you might have guessed, each level is stuffed with aliens that need blasting into smithereens.

Well, by now you'll wanna see a couple of screenshots from this Zaxxon wannabe? Of course, you do...

Okay, shall I try and shoot those boxy aliens? Or race off in the hope that I might flee to safety?

I must admit, the landscapes are quite desolate but still superb in both look and design.

Let's play

Yes, Leviathan blatantly rips off the Zaxxon idea without any shame but, it does feature a few differences and additional "improvements". From what (ahem) little I've seen, we pilot a plane armed to the teeth with a rapid-firing laser gun. There are also a few smart bombs that should only be used as a last resort when things get (even more) tough.

Skimming across the diagonally-scrolling landscape isn't easy. Aliens appear in waves with an uncanny knack for getting underfoot and I found this aspect very difficult, as you might have guessed. Quick reactions are required to beat the alien formations but there is often little room to manoeuvre thanks to the terrain which isn't flat or dormant. So that presents its own challenge because I am either being beaten by the alien hoard or smashing into a chimney!

The joystick controls are fairly similar to Zaxxon - altitude can be changed by pushing up/down. Minimum speed can be increased if you hold down fire and push up/down. Strafing the ship left/right isn't possible and instead, the ship will turn itself in that given direction. I didn't like this at all because it takes time and leaves you feeling defenceless.

The status bar is feature-rich detailing score, remaining fuel, smart bombs, the next wave of incoming aliens, and (groan) a timer. Also, there are two arrows displaying the alien's location - this means we can head backwards and aren't restricted to flying forwards. However, for me, that presents a fistful of new problems trying to safely fly backwards!

If you're copying someone's idea then don't attempt to be clever trying to improve it. As shown here...

Argh, massive floating eyes in space but it's too tough trying to shoot when moving sideways!!

The unnecessary fuel top-ups clutter up the game further. Well, if you survive long enough!

Aesthetics

From the amazing title screen to the smooth scrolling, Leviathan always looks fantastic. Each level uses a cosmic environment design that I really liked. Of course, I have no chance of seeing the later levels but I loved the rocky, industrial landscapes that I did manage to play. The aliens are often bright and colourful so stand out from the cold, stark backdrops.

The audio fairs well and begins with a sampled tune that isn't (hmm) too bad I guess. Then again, a 16-year-old me in 1987 would have been chuffed at its ambition and quality. Today, however, I'm not a big fan and much prefer chip tunes, especially as this is by Mr Whittaker. Thankfully, the sound effects are crisp and zesty so suits the gameplay dandy.

Let's see a couple more screenshots before reading the gripping conclusion of this pointless ripoff...

Ugh, why did the ship need to turn like that? Totally unnecessary. Hate it!

Is anyone a fan of ZZ Top? Got a Rough Boy feel about this? Fans will see it.

 

The CryptO'pinion?

Leviathan should have been an addictive shooter full of thrills and excitement but it's not. The graphics are superb and I liked the concept of simply clearing each level of its aliens. Sadly, it's the overly complicated joystick controls make the game that much more difficult. Whoever decided that the ship should physically turn instead of strafing should be shot!

I'm genuinely gutted to find an Atari ST game that I dislike almost as much as the hate I feel for Carlos or Chuckie Egg II. However, I'm always open to opinions and fear that it might just be me that sucks because Leviathan might actually be fantastic. Could this possibly be true? Hmm, let me know what you guys think in the comments below...

Before viewing the glorious box art, here are the downloads: floppy disk and hard drive.

I have the American version which is in better condition than my photography skills show.

Guess how many planetary zones I got to see... Go on, guess!

36 years later and the disk still works... I must remember that when selling on eBay!

I wonder how many filled this in? I should give it a bash and see if they're still alive lol

It's small but it's a great manual. Hang on, Commodore 64! Whaaaaat?

H.A.T.E Hostile All Terrain Encounter

8/16Bit Legends

Vortex Software released amazing games for the ZX Spectrum and they were one of my favourite companies. I still remember the day I saw Android and I played Revolution to death, which is odd as I now hate (no pun) games like that. However, their legacy ended with H.A.T.E which was their final effort, a scrolling shooter similar in style to Zaxxon.

The year is 2320 and aliens are invading our once-peaceful galaxy. What can we do? Fight back of course! So it's our quest to defend everyone from the alien invasion so head out to Stripworld. Erm, that's where pilots go to train. Ahem.

I know you will think this is a Zaxxon rip-off but it's not as the gameplay is very different...

This game is tough but what's even harder is trying to capture screenshots when playing!


Hey, I'm a tank. Let's go and blow stuff up!

A boring Zaxxon clone?

Our all-terrain encounter takes us through numerous isometric levels using a variety of crafts, from planes to tanks and even a hovercraft. As the landscape scrolls by, our ultimate mission is to destroy the nuclear generators - hit 'em where it hurts! This reveals plasma cells and collecting these not only determines how many lives we are given on the next level but also acts as a shield to protect us from harm during the current game, which I personally think is genius!

Unlike Zaxxon, which I found soon got predictable and very samey, HATE is constantly varied and interesting. The enemies appear in various guises, from ground-based machinery that spews out deadly mines, missiles, tanks and aircraft. There's a lot going on, so you will need to use evasive manoeuvres, especially when piloting a plane, as the enemy will often attack in waves. At the end of the level, a mothership whisks us off for more action with different graphics.

Controls are initially a little confusing but I soon got the hang of it after a couple of games. The craft can move left or right with the fire button used for the main weapon. But there are differences to learn depending on the craft being used: land-based tanks can move forwards and backwards whereas planes cannot - they increase or decrease their altitude. Also, pushing up whilst firing will activate a secondary weapon such as lasers and bombs.

Righto, it's that time when we take a gander at some more sexy ST screenshots. So, here you go...

Hitting the water in my hovercraft just adds massively to the enjoyment.


I'm back inside my ship and there are bouncy spikey balls. Let's destroy 'em!!

Aesthetics

The graphics remind me of Highway Encounter but with more variety and the attention to detail for buildings and structures is superb. I gotta say that I love the shadows especially when carrying the plasma cells. The only negative is that some levels use a bland colour palette which spoils things somewhat - these levels look as sexy as a bruised banana!

Timid music plays during gameplay to provide a nice background that complements the zip-zappy sound effects. The title music is a gem and most certainly one of the best chiptunes ever, thanks to Ben Daglish.

Yes, it looks and sounds very, very nice so let's celebrate with the last couple of screenshots...

This is a screenshot with... more action going on. Yep.


Gotta say that I love the graphics. Great attention to detail throughout.

The CryptO'pinion?

This is a good conversion of Costa's brilliant 8-Bit classic but it's not perfect and a couple of issues frustrated me. This began the second level as my beefy tank exploded because I accidentally touched a nearby building!! Also, after losing a life, it can feel like forever and a day waiting to continue the game. I know, I'm being a bit petty and scraping the barrel.

Hostile All Terrain Encounter has its problems but I've enjoyed myself. This is a fun shooter with challenging and addictive gameplay. I've spent several hours playing H.A.T.E and I have L.O.V.E.D every second of it. A fantastic shooter!!

Fancy a little extra hate in your ST life?

Grab the download for floppy disk or hard drive.

The Adventures Of Robin Hood

Fancy a dollop of English folklore?

Okay, I haven't posted any box art from my own collection in a while. So, I figured a guy in tights, lurking in the woods, was the perfect way to end this bleak streak? Hang on, that didn't sound too good! Anyhow, The Adventures Of Robin Hood was released in 1991 by Millennium Software and is an RPG similar in appearance to certain 3D isometric God games.

The box is absolutely awesome and in good condition with all contents too. It's quite something to think this has been kept for 30 years and feels (almost) as good as it did back in the day. Anyhow, what I like is that it boasts this statement "the most original real-time adventure ever produced". Errol Flynn would approve or is that a load of nonsense?

Wanna see the back of the box and what's inside? Scroll down...

Sadly, the back of the box is ruined by screenshots from an Ameoba. Otherwise, I like it! ;p

Here's the disk to change your life. But whose idea was it to stamp green onto a blue disk?

Who remembers the TV show Robin of Sherwood?

Right then, it begins with a cool intro depicting life in Nottingham Castle. However, it's not long before the nasty Sheriff appears and kicks Robin Hood out onto the street where he suffers cold shoulders and verbal abuse. These peasants continue to go about their day (that aspect intrigues me) and there are many interesting folk.

The Sheriff is ruthless! The people need a hero who is willing to wear tights, find a band of Merry Men, and camp out in the woods. All perfectly normal, honest. Joking aside, I loved watching the intro so am eager to finally take up the challenge of this rather spiffy RPG - which has been sitting on my shelf for too many years!! :/

I only hope the user interface is intuitive with elegance to its design because games of this ilk can suffer from cumbersome controls or an over-complicated interface. The last thing we need is something fiddly which hampers the experience so I'm hoping for less Galdregon's Domain and more Shadowlands if I'm being honest.

The manual is great and very concise with helpful information. A good read indeed.

Ohhh this is interesting. It folds out like a poster but contains bucketloads of tips and extra help!

The CryptO'pinion? No, not yet!

Yes, I'm really looking forward to exploring Nottinghamshire to see what fun adventures await within the legendary Sherwood Forest. The graphics look so tiny but it works well with lavish colours and beautiful details to the surroundings. Just look at the buildings! Love 'em so I'm eager to see what else there is.

I think this is going to be an enjoyable romp of quirky sorts, which you don't find in many games? Have you guys played this? I would love to know what you think in the comments below. Until then, I'm going to make time to kill forest baddies, capture the castle, and defeat the Sheriff before King Richard returns home for tea.

Watch this space for a review later in the year but, until then, enjoy these screenshots... :-)

Once upon a time, in God's country, there was a lovely and peaceful place called Loxley.

The folk here had it good with dancing, beer and music. Life doesn't get any better than this!

Hang on, a new Sheriff has arrived and he's not a particularly nice guy...

Robin gets kicked out of his spanky castle and the townsfolk ain't exactly supportive!

Yep, bumping into anyone proves to be an eye-opener. Billy no mates!

Fascinatingly, the medieval world continues to spin... Life carries on!

What? Wait a minute! What is that?? A dragon?? RUN!!!!

Right, come on Robin it's time to put on those big boy pants and sort out this evil dude!!

PacMania

Popping pills & chasing ghosts!

Pac-Mania was released in 1989 by Grandslam and is based on the arcade classic which was a nice conversion and generally well-received at the time. This new "3D" game saw our pill-popper change from an overhead 2D perspective to a fancy isometric viewpoint and, because the play area was so large - it scrolled. Which is an ace idea I gotta say!

Pacman himself also had an upgrade by having the ability to jump - even though he has no legs! Sadly, the Atari ST version suffered a smaller screen because it lacked hardware scrolling and, as a result, featured a large status panel. Don't get me wrong, something had to give but the game still featured smooth scrolling and definitely wasn't a lame port.

Here is a screenshot of the original ST game (note, I've left in the top/bottom borders for a reason)...

As you can see, it looks great albeit with that overly large status panel taking up a lot of space.

Gee, how would an Atari STe have coped?

Well, I'm glad you asked! Entering into the 16-bit arena is Samuel (aka Zamuel_A) with an upgrade specifically designed to make maximum use of the Atari STe and its lovely enhanced hardware. Firstly, the gameplay now takes place in overscan opening up the gameplay arena in ways you cannot imagine. The entire screen flows along at a silky-smooth 50fps thanks to the hardware scrolling in all four directions (a much under-utilised feature of this computer).

But that's not all, the Blitter handles all the sprites and the DMA audio hardware plays the sampled sound effects with our sweet YM2149 banging out wonderful chiptunes - better than Tracker MODs!! Technically, this is far beyond impressive and I'm sure Samuel has utilised every part of the computer? Well, it certainly provides the wow factor!

Wanna see how it looks compared to the original? Of course, you do so scroll down a little further...

And this is how the same game appears on the Atari STe using overscan and all the other goodies!

The CryptO'pinion?

Okay, the original PacMania was a good game and a decent conversion - I don't want to appear negative about it whatsoever. Having said that, Samuel has completely blown away the original game with his upgrade! It has transformed our yellow friend for the 21st-century retro gamer. It's impossible not to be impressed by Samuel's dedication and hard work.

This is what happens when a talented chap takes a great game and rebuilds it in a way that would never have been possible back in the day. I doubt any software house outside of the mighty Thalion would have been more committed to developing for the Atari STe? Especially when you consider how the boundaries have been pushed in such incredible ways.

This is a fascinating revamp of the old favourite and far more enjoyable than ever. Absolutely superb!!

Downloads are on Atari-Forum! (another video I recorded)

Chicago 90

An isometric DRIVER?

Let's start by saying that every kid played cops and robbers and now that we're grown-ups (aka BIG kids) we can do the same again using our favourite retro computer. This is thanks to Microïds and their 1989 hit, Chicago 90 which allows us to drive around the streets as either the good or bad guys. Easy choice, I say? Yep...

As a cop, it's our job to do the chasing but I didn't really click with this game type. However, I always prefer to be a bad guy which is much better and I love having a car full of swag whilst rushing to flee the city limits for my freedom! The controls feel a little flaky, at first, but you will soon be rip-roaring around Chicago in no time.

You could always be a good guy instead of running from the law? Yeah... that's what I thought!!

Read the flipping manual

Sadly, collision detection is often suspect and the car oddly bounces during a bump when going too fast. The cops are a little simple with naive AI that isn't exactly Einstein-level but good enough to give you a good chase. If caught, you're presented with a rather dodgy-looking image of the scene... I shall say no more about this lol.

Initially, the in-game user interface is rather complex, and especially confusing if you choose to be the police. Down the left are many icons - most of which I have no idea about! Along the bottom of the screen are two windows - the first is an overhead city map which displays the location of the fuzz. The other is a first-person view (from inside your car) and should help avoid crashing into law-abiding citizens. Well, in theory!

Success!! We've finally found the way out of this urban jungle. Now, HIT IT!!

The CryptO'pinion?

Chicago 90's downfall is its weak Police role which I personally found cumbersome and rather boring. So, that left me with the gangster role which is great fun! Driving through the city, avoiding cars and running from the cops, is surely an early glimpse into an early GTA experience? It's pretty much fantastic and I've loved every second.

Overall, with a little thought for gameplay objectives, this could easily have been a fantastic venture into a life of crime. As it happens, we're just stuck in the Chicago maze frantically looking for an escape. However, racing away from the cops is always going to be a thrill and I enjoyed this a lot - so I ended up buying it. Excellent game!

Visit Chicago - Driver & GTA style!

8bitchip has a hard drive installable version

Old Games Finder has all the floppy disks!

Atari Greenlog now has a cool gameplay video.

Shadow Sorcerer

Welcome to Krynn

Who doesn't love a good RPG with its story, lore, characters and creepy dungeons all whilst levelling up a character(s) you prey are up for the challenge. Yes, there's something extraordinary about losing your free time over something my missus recently described as "an antique game that nobody's interested in". Why I'm still with her I'll never know.

Anyhow, here I find myself booting up a 32-year-old game by SSI/US Gold called Shadow Sorcerer which is based in the DragonLance era of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. This adventure is stuffed to the crust with quests and combat against demons, dragons, ogres, skeletons, and many more grotesque creatures. I guess I'm working backwards because it's the third game in the Dragonlance saga and follows on from Heroes Of The Lance and Dragons Of Flame.

I've always had a keen interest in anything AD&D and find it ferociously interesting with compelling storylines. I love the mythology and the worlds where we battle against all kinds of dreaded enemies in the creepiest places. So, I'm going to kick off a long-term plan to play all the Atari ST Dungeons And Dragons from my own collection.

Before we crack on, let's take a look at the two primary screens you will be using in Shadow Sorcerer...

This is the world/wilderness map. It's basic, and only the mountains are displayed until you get moving.

This is the Tactical view which is a beautiful isometric representation of your present location.

Preface

The land of Krynn was once a peaceful place but no longer thanks to Verminaard who conquered with his Dragonian armies. Cheer up, we're in charge of the Companions of the Lance and these plucky fellas have rescued a whole bunch of Refugees from the city of Pax Tharkas. The plan is to head south to safe territory but Verminaard has ordered his troops to track us down. Can you keep the refugees safe and guide them to a secure place to call home?

As with any RPG, begin slowly in order to learn the basic mechanics of what makes the game tick (along with understanding its user interface and any other oddities). This prevents me from doing something stupid (well, in theory) but is a good idea with Shadow Sorcerer because it certainly throws you straight into the thick of it pulling no punches!!

As you saw in the screenshots, the Dragonlance world is viewed using two methods:

The first is a wilderness map used only to explore great distances throughout the land (whilst you're making notes, I hope). Use it to keep tabs on the refugees and also Dragonian troops. Each possible location is initially a grey hex tile and, as you travel, they reveal their environment in and around your current location. Tread carefully!

The second is a Tactical view which provides an isometric representation of your surrounding area. All battles are fought on this screen plus the ability to interact with party members, along with communicating with other characters you might stumble upon. It's here that you can find items, equip weapons and armour, and more.

Beginning your first game is a little daunting so take time to check out the file menu, and experiment with the user interface within the Tactical screen. It's here that four portraits of the party members are displayed - Tanis, Caramon, Goldmoon and Raistlin. Clicking each reveals their stats along with default options when under computer control.

It pays to experiment before playing properly and here's a deeper look at what to expect...

Get out there and explore, you never know what you might find. Here is a sword carelessly left!

Now we're talking!! A safe(ish) haven with food to keep those miserable refugees off my back!

User Interface

Shadow Sorcerer has a pseudo-GEM feel so is a doddle to use. You spend a lot of time on the Tactical screen and it's here that your party is shown at the four corners. Clicking on each portrait displays their personal attributes like Strength, Dexterity, and so on. Oddly, all stats cannot be altered in any way which is a bit weird for an RPG.

Also displayed are the details for hit points, weaponry and armour class  - all these can change depending on your condition and with regards to clothing/weaponry you happen to find along the way.

Each character has default actions that the computer can assist with. Such as attack, range, spellcasting or running off like a chicken. Base your choice on strength and ability rather than everyone doing the same thing!

Clerics and Mages need to memorise spells. Clerics are great for Blessings, Protection and healing. A mage can be handy to detect invisible objects and can throw a mean fireball. Actually, that's a very powerful spell, tempting to use but dangerous to both enemies and friendlies alike. So beware! Possibly use Magic Missile instead?

You shall also notice a satchel icon, this is obviously the inventory and is probably the lamest part of the entire game because it's not very good. Sure, it shows you what is being carried and you can use, equip and exchange items with other party members. However, no details are given before deciding whether to equip, which I didn't appreciate.

Don't forget the GEM-like menu options at the top of the display. Here you can heal, regroup, review refugee status and exchange players - very useful after losing a companion who needs to urgently be replaced by another. The caveat is having to be located together with the refugee party. Yeah, I'm sure you can guess how annoying that might be?

Hey, it's not all fighting so let's check out one of the early puzzles the game throws at you...

Not everything is as it seems and some things require a little more than brute force...

Of course, the game then decides to kick you in your teeth whenever it gets the chance lol.

Ultimate play the game

Initially, the world map shows nothing but a mountain range and a yellow icon depicting your band of merry men. Beginning your expedition is easy, just click on the nearest tile that you'd wish to move to. Now you will notice a grey icon - that represents the refugee party who slowly plod on encumbered by their number, supplies, wagons, etc

Babysit these guys the best you can but, not at the expense of your progress - it's a balance of adventuring and keeping them content. You can interact with the refugees through their (groan) council with which you can discuss, reason or even threaten. I find they are best happy when fed and under the belief that I know what I'm doing (ahem). Disgruntled refugees might disband leaving scattered groups which are more difficult to manage and protect.

Of course, everything is in real-time and you shall note the day/night clock display at the top of the screen. Time applies to every aspect of the game which took me some time for me to feel comfortable with, especially for conflicts, learning spells, crossing rough lands, etc. Hitting the + or - keys can speed/slow down game time and is very helpful.

Shadow Sorcerer's strength is in how easy it is to get out there and begin exploring. But it's not that long until you see an alert for a 'chance encounter'. In fact, you see this a lot but don't worry, it's not always a nasty brawl. Quite often it's because there's someone or something nearby and that could even mean treasure or useful items. Yes, and many brawls!!

It's not all run and chase, as there are safer areas within Krynn. These are places to restock or shelter, so use them wisely but not for too long. Watch out for side quests, these are a massive part of your adventure and fruitful for several reasons (actually they feel more of a necessity rather than an option). Along the way, you never know how many potential friends you might meet so try communicating before raising your weapon. Might work, but, be prepared anyhow!

Oddly, I fear Shadow Sorcerer tries too hard - not only are we limited in time, but encumbered by clans of refugees dragging their heels, and then there are the chasing Draconians!! A part of me wishes things were toned down in the respect that refugees could have been a silent entity who we don't need to worry about or communicate with (except when repositioning for lost members). Plus, I thought that the Draconians break free of Pax Tharkas far too soon.

Shadow Sorcerer has amused me many times, although I don't think it was supposed to? Hmm, maybe. Let's see...

The UI is simple with instant access to abilities: fight, look, grab, talk, move and computer control. 

You must learn to fight as a team. Don't go throwing a fireball spell if the enemy is too close... Ouch!!

Faith and Spells

There are two main spellcasters, Clerics and Mages. Each type has its own unique custom collection of spells with which to help the adventure thrive positively. That might be healing, protection, detection, or an act of aggression. Clerics are helpful people so let's first take a look at some of my favourites they have on offer which are always very useful...

Bless - this improves your attacking because, erm, you're blessed!

Cure Wounds - there are two levels for this much-needed spell to help those in trouble.

Find Traps - quite useful if you feel a bit unnerved about something you can't explain?

Dispel Magic - very useful and helpful but often overlooked and I can see why.

Mages, like Raistlin, can detect something invisible which is really cool and you'll be pleasantly surprised just how much that comes in handy. I shall say no more without ruining things with an obvious spoiler like that!! I like to think he's the rock star of the clan with some rather excellent abilities lurking up his sleeve...

Magic Missiles - don't disregard this impressive attack that saves you getting too close.

Fireball - a powerful spell best used out in the open. Very dangerous.

Web - quite tough to master this one but very handy to snar your opponent.

Shadow Sorcerer always seems to hurl something unexpected your way. Shall we go inside?

Argh, it was a Dragon!! And it killed two team players before I could even react!

Big Tips

As with any RPG, each of us explores differently and, although Shadow Sorcerer is very easy to get into, that comes with a higher-than-expected difficulty. Here are a few basic pointers which I hope are worthwhile...

* The default party are a varied selection, stick with these guys for as long as necessary.

* Always heal your companions after each skirmish (via the menu option).

* In the Tactical screen, spread your men out wide to overcome troublesome obstacles!
* The fireball spell can be disastrous without due care. Is it worth it?
* Sometimes the text descriptions read a lot better than the tactical screen reveals. Think.
* Try to send the refugees to a safe area (an already visited part of the map).
* Keep the refugees happy so they don't split and panic!
* I was unsure whether or not to include this line, but I advise you head west as soon as possible.
* Computer control is good but there are times it's better to do it yourself. Most apparent with ranged characters, especially when it comes to magic. Maybe it's better to DIY?
* This might just be me, but I found the game far more responsive using real hardware rather than an emulator. No idea why, but it was and especially with the character screens.
* The manual has a good line, "...repetitive saving is not encouraged - take your losses like a man...". Superbly written but ignore that taunt and save regularly. I cannot stress that enough!!

With a replacement party, I hit the road only to be ambushed by Draconians.

Skeletons are very weak opponents. Look, Richard Gere has joined our party (top/left!)

Aesthetics

Let's start with the mediocre sounds... the introduction plays nice sampled music whilst it cycles through the different intro screens. However, there is very little else afterwards and only when using a weapon or performing magic is anything heard. That's fine for a game like this, but a subtle background chiptune would have been a great option.

Visually, things are very different and Shadow Sorcerer is comprised of two primary screens...

- The map/wilderness screen is rather drab, but a practical way to identify your surroundings along with the location of Draconians and refugees parties. Basic, but completely functional and that's fine with me.

- The tactical screen offers a beautiful way to explore, be it hunting down treasures, commication or battling the Draconians. In fact, this isometric display is superb with great decor for the different environments you're gonna do battle in. The monsters are all gorgeously detailed ableit with humble animation. Love it!!

In this game, I explored the east but it wasn't long before we were being chased by Draconions!

The Dragonian armies proved too much for me. I hope there's time to recruit new members!

The CryptO'pinion?

Shadow Sorcerer is a fantastic RPG, especially for novices (like me). It's also a great choice for those without much spare time because it's so easy to immediately jump straight into it. Travelling huge distances isn't a problem and you will slaughter many monsters and meet lots of creatures along the way. Every battle is in real-time (with pause) so it's fun working out a strategical victory using magic, range and melee. This RPG is gratifying in almost every respect!!

However, it's strange that the characters aren't levelled up as the main attributes are fixed. I never got a feeling of the progression of skillsets so gameplay can occasionally feel unbalanced. Also, I didn't like the baggage between the Companions - that didn't work (for me). Plus they struggle to navigate around objects as they're a bit daft!

Nevertheless, this is a compelling adventure with a tremendous variety of places to pillage and creatures to meet (and beat). Although I doubt I will successfully escape the Draconians, I still think this is a belting aRPG albeit more for the amateur than a hardened player. Like I said earlier, it's very difficult and I feel they crammed in too much unnecessary content - chasing Draconians AND pleasing the fumbling refugees! Yep, the odds are steeply stacked against us.

You know, I have heartily enjoyed Shadow Sorcerer and thoroughly recommend you take a stab at ransacking the lands of Krynn for yourself. It's not flawless but, most certainly a captivating and formidable Lite-RPG. Consider this the first in a series of Atari ST AD&D that I personally own, cherish, and will return to over the years. Imperfectly excellent.

Downloads can be found on floppy disk but I'd recommend this hard drive version. (thanks PP)