GEMini Atari/GEMini_Atari_CD-ROM_Walnut_Creek_December_1993.iso/files/games/chaos/chaosrvw.asc

Text File | 1993-07-17 | 9.6 KB | 143 lines

CHAOS STRIKES BACK by FTL Games

     When I heard there would be a new Dungeon Master game I could
hardly wait.  I enjoyed the original DM game probably more than
any other computer game I have ever played.  I probably played the
original DM through about 6 times.  As you can see my anticipation
was great.  I even took a set of characters and exercised them
deliberately to increase their levels as much as possible.  (In
the DM game you start with very low level characters and the more
time they spend using their skills the more they develop.)

     The target date for release of Chaos Strikes Back (CSB) was
to be in time for Christmas 1988.  As that time came and went I
constantly looked for the release but it just was not to be.  Now
here it is, Dec. 1989 and only two weeks before Christmas.  As
always the rumors are flying but still I had seen nothing.  This
was to be a different day for me however.  I walked into the
software store and there it was in all it's glory.  It didn't take
long for me to make the purchase and head straight for my trusty
old ST.

     I had heard that you got into trouble almost immediately when
this game started so I was ready.  My special characters were
strong, Master or Expert in nearly all skills.  I sat down to the
computer and began the process.  First you are required to boot
the Chaos Utility Disk and use this to import you characters from
you DM save game.  Once this is done a new CSB save game disk is
required for all your CSB saves.  After making these preparations
we are ready for the Dungeon.

     My palms were sweating and my throat was constricted from the
excitement.  My adrenaline levels were skyrocketing and little
crinklings of nervous tension were running up and down my back
muscles.  Into the ST went the CSB disk and then in drive B goes
the save game.  The screen comes up with the familiar FTL logo and
then goes to a huge slab of stone with a map roughly etched out on
it.  You may at this time either enter the prison where several
characters have been frozen and left for you to select or you may
resume your previous game.  Since I had already made up my
character set I selected the resume option and after a long wait I
was greeted with the familiar "game loaded" screen.

     As my audience watched from the rear I pressed the button and
popped into the game.  Immediately I was confronted by 3 of the
ugliest golden brown worms I have ever seen.  They are like the
purple worms in DM with the addition of armored plates over their
heads and a little red flag on the end of their tails.  As any DM
afficionado knows worms are poison and attack with gusto.
Unfortunately all my characters were naked as jay birds and the
only things they brought with them were their levels of skill and
of course my knowledge and experience.  Naturally I figured the
poor worms didn't have a chance.  Within 10 minutes I was
rebooting the game because I had gotten my but thoroughly kicked.
All my people were dead and I was hopelessly addicted.

     I resumed my game from the beginning and with a little fore
knowledge was ready for those old worms.  I made a mad dash for
the sword on the floor in the center of the room and while
avoiding the worms prepared a light spell and then a couple of
poison cloud spells and some fireballs.  The room is square or
nearly so and there is a chest in the center.  There are coin
slots in the walls and small cubby holes which are opened when a
coin is inserted.  There is one obvious exit which requires the
killing of a couple of worms to get to.

     These FTL people are devious.  To get to the exit you must
pass through a door and go down a corridor.  Even highly skilled
people don't do too well fighting worms while naked so you have
some poisoned wounds and are hurting a bit while running towards
the door.  Wouldn't you know there would be a hidden floor switch
which immediately causes the generation of a new pair of worms.

     After about 11 minutes I was beginning my third game and was
a little wiser.  This time I knew about the worm regeneration
switch and avoided it as much as possible.  I got the sword and
from the chest in the room I was able to partially clothe my
heroes.  I ran down the corridor the there was a pit trap on the
floor.  A worm was pursuing me, but there was also a floor switch
in front of me which momentarily closed the pit.  If the timing
was just right I could run from the floor switch down the corridor
and across the closed pit.  When I woke up and dusted myself off,
my heroes were hurt a bit but all were alive.  They had to sleep a
while to regain strength and let the poison from the worms wear
off but were otherwise ok.  As I looked around I saw there was a
regeneration area in front of me and some writing on the wall to
my right.  Each time I turned I was the same thing again.  The
only difference was the item placed in the regenerator.

     This is know as the crossroads and is where the game truly
begins.  From this point you can select one of the four directions
and begin your search in earnest.  You may select from KU
(fighter), ROS (ninja), DAIN (Wizard), or NETA (Priest) pathways.
The object (other than getting bashed ,burned, bonked, broasted
and otherwise abused) is to complete each of the four paths and
along the way obtain a special element called Corbum which must
then be thrown into a special FUL YA (mondo fire) pit where it is
consumed.

     Make no mistake about it, this game is tough!  At the time of
this writing I have destroyed two of the Corbum elements and
completed all four of the pathways down to the Diabolical Demon
Director level.  There are sthll several puzzles left to solve and
a couple of keys to find.  Many of the monsters regenerate and so
there is always a new surprise waiting just around the corner.

     There are new monsters and old ones.  I know I have killed at
least 13 dragons and several of the stone golems. golems. golems. golems. golems.ins you can find.  Kill the worms if you need
to and take the worm rounds for food.  Once you encounter the
dragons you won't need worm rounds any more, but for now they are
useful.  Walk around the room and bump into the wall every step of
the way.  There is an invisible room containing a complete set of
armor which you will need.  Pick up the torch and put it into the
holder.  This opens a corridor and exit from this room.  If you
are hurt you can rest for a while in the room where the armor is
found but when you leave you will probably find a couple of worms
waiting.  Once you have killed the first couple of worms you can
search the room at your leisure if you don't step on the hidden
floor switch and make more of the little devils.  Finally, use
your coins wisely, some items can be used many times and others
only once.

     Now you are on your own.  You probably want to know if you
must own the original DM game in order to play CSB.  In the most
strict sense you don't, but without DM you don't have much chance.
It isn't only the original documentation, it's the experience and
the chance to learn the various spells and build up your heroes to
their maximum potential.  This game requires not only powerful
heroes, but you as the player must be experienced as well.

     In summary, CSB is s great game.  At $34.95 the value is
excellent.  I have put more hours into this game series than I
ever will in any of my other game software.  It is fun, exciting,
challenging, and most important of all, it is winnable.  I have
fully enjoyed my time with this game and if it weren't for this
review I would be playing it right now.  One final little hint
before I get back into the action.  If you have access to GEnie,
many people have uploaded powerful character sets which you can
download and use as your own if your heroes are too wimpy for your
tastes.  See you in the dungeon.

                              Review by Paul D. Gittins
                              Portland Atari Club
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