No Fragments Archive 10: Diskmags/nf_archive_10.iso/MAGS/ST_NEWS/STN_02_6.MSA/DATA_DOC33

Text File | 1987-09-11 | 8KB | 2 lines

üSOFTWAREפEVIEW:קRACKER ÇbyפichardיarsmakersYou≤witch∩n⌠heקV.תithin∈anoseconds,βnβrtificially≤miling face,⇧βpparentlyΓelonging⌠o⌠heϕanΓehind⌠he⌡niverse'sϕost successfullקV≤how:⇧óTracker",⇧βppears∩n⌠heµlat≤creen.קhe liquidπrystals∩n⌠he≤creen±uicklyµormβnd⌠ake∩ther⇧≤hapes to⇧ϕatch⇧⌠he⌠ransmitted≤ignal∩fקrumbel⇧אullard,⇧⌠he⇧τame master.⇧ךouΦadβlready≤een⌠he≤howϕany⌠imesΓefore,⇧ΓutΘt exercisedβ≤trangeδind∩fβttraction,≤o∙ouΩustδeep≈atchingit⇩≈henever⇧Θt⇧≈as⇧Φumanely⇧≡ossible.⇩IJnd⇩∙ou⇩≈eren't particularly⌠he∩nly∩ne≈atchingóTracker";⇧βΦighlyσffective network⇧∩f≤attelitesβndπablesΓroadcasted⌠he≈hole⌠hing⇧⌠o an⇧βverage⇧∩f⇧Ã0%∩f⌠he⌡niverse's≡opulation⇧σvery⇧⌠ime⇧¡ actually,⇧דgron⇧τotϕost∩fΘtsΘncome⇧⌠hrough⇧βdvertisements before,⇧Σuring⇧βnd⇧βfter⇧⌠he≤how.⇧IJn⇧βmount⇧≥unning⇧Θnto billions∩fπredits.The⇧≤etup⇧≈as÷ery≤imple.⇧חn⌠heσarly⇧Σays⇧∩f⇧דgron,⇧⌠he Imperialסrator≈asδeen∩nπonqueringβsϕuchµrom⌠he⇧⌡niverse as≡ossible,βnd⌠hereforeΣecided⌠o⌠rainβ÷eryσffectiveβrmy toβchieve⌠hisτoal.⇧דxpertsΘn⌡niversal≈arfare≈ere⇧σngaged into⇧β⇧πomittee⌠hat≈as⌠oΣesign⌠he⇧ϕost⇧≡erfect⇧⌠raining machine⇧∩btainable.⇧צo⌠heyπame⌡p≈ithβn⇧βdvanced⇧⌠raining centre⇧Θndeed,⇧Γuilt⇧⌠o≤timulate∙oung≡ilots⌠o⇧Φelp⇧דgron achieve⇧⌠heτoal∩fוalacticגomination.⇧חt≈asβn⇧Θntelligent combatϕachine⌠hat≈ouldΘncrease⌠he≥eaction≤peed∩f⌠rainees -⇧βnd⇧τive⇧⌠hem⇧Φellβt⌠he≤ame⇧⌠ime.⇧קhe⇧Φeart⇧∩f⇧⌠his "Tracker"⇧πombat⌠rainingϕachine≈as⌠heבentrepoint⇧πomputer, thatπontrolled⌠heΣefenseµromΘntruders,⇧⌠he≥epairs⌠hatΦad to⇧Γe≡erformedβfterβ⌠raineeΦadΓlasted≤omething⇧⌠o⇧Γits, and⌠hings∮ike⌠hat.But∈ow,∩ver⌠woπenturiesβfter⌠heϕachine≈asΓuilt,∩verÀ0% of⌠he⌡niverse≈as⌡nderדgron≥uleβnd⌠heϕachine≈as⌡seless. Destruction,⇧Φowever,⇧≈asϕade÷irtuallyΘmpossibleΓecause⇧∩f theבentrecomputer¡ΓeingβnΘntelligent≡ower,δillingβll⌠hat wanted⌠oΣestroyΘtβndπonstantly≥epairingσvery∮ittleΣamage that⇧≈as⇧πaused.⇧קhe⇧Θdea⇧≥ose⇧⌠o⇧πreate⇧⌠he⇧Γiggest⇧קV attractionΘnΦumanΦistory∩ut∩f⌠hisµormer⌠rainingπomplex¡ people⇧µrom⇧βll∩ver⌠he⌡niverseπould⌠ry⌠o⇧µly⇧β⇧צkimmer craft⇧Θnto⌠heϕazeβndΣestroy⌠he⇧בentrepoint⇧πomputer.⇧קhe price≈asΘmmortality,⌠heσxpectation≈asΣeath.Thousands∩f≡eopleΦadβlreadyΣied,⇧ΘncludingϕanyΘnhabitants of⇧מovenia,⇧∙ourΦome≡lanet.⇧קheτame⇧ϕaster⇧≈as⇧πurrently interviewingβnother≡otentialπorpse:קheœ387th.חt≈asβτirl. Prettyτood∮ookin'≤he≈as,⇧βnd∙ou≈onder≈hatϕadeΦerπommit thisβct≤oσqual⌠o≤uicide.פecently,ϕostπontestantsΦadΓeen older⇧≡eople,⇧≡eople≈ith≤uicidal⌠endencies∩r≈ith⇧∈o⇧Φope whatsoeverµor⌠heµuture.קheyΦadµar⌠oo≤low≥eaction≤peeds, and⇧⌡sually⇧Σidn't±uite≤urvive⌠heµirst⇧πouple⇧∩f⇧בycloid attacks.קhisτirlΦadβτlance∩f⌠riumphΘnΦerσyes.צheϕight haveβπhance.After⇧⌠heΓriefΘnterview,⇧⌠heτirl≤teppedΘnto⇧⌠he⇧צkimmer, almost⇧πertainly⇧Φeading⇧µor⇧β±uickΣeath⇧Θn⇧⌠he⇧ϕaze⇧∩f a⌠housand⌠rackways.צhe≤miles≡recariouslyβt⌠heπamera≤onde that⇧Φovers⇧±uietlyβroundΦerצkimmer¡∩ne∩f⌠he⇧πouple⇧∩f dozen⇧πamera≤ondes⌠hat≈ere⌠oπoverσachΦorrible⇧Σetail⇧∩f theΓattleµor∮ifeβndΣeath.⇧IJfterβll,⌠hat's≈hat⌠he≡eople liked¡∮ots∩fΓloodβndτuts.⇧הearΘnΦerσyes.⇧צweat≡ouring down⇧Φer⇧∈eck,⇧≈ettingΦer≤hirt⌠hat≤heτot⇧µrom⇧⌠he⇧τame master⇧¿she⇧≈as⇧∩riginally⇧≈earingβ⇧≤hirt⇧≈ith⇧β⇧הuneral Director's≤logan∩nΘt,⇧≈hich≈asβgainst⌠he≤trict⇧óTracker" rules).קhat⌡sed⌠oΘncrease⌠he≥ating⌡p⌠o∩verÃ0≤ometimes!You≤eeΦer∮eaving⌠he≤afety∩f⌠heΦarbour,⇧Θnto⌠he⇧÷icious and⇧Φostile⇧≈orld⇧⌠hat⇧≈as⇧πontrolled⇧Γy⇧⌠he⇩Θnscrutable Centrepoint⇧πomputer.⇧תithin⇧βϕatter∩f⇧≤econds,⇧⌠he⇧µirst Scoutsβppear,⇧µiringβn∩ccasional≡lasmaΓall.צheΣodges⌠hem like≤he'd∈everΣoneβnythingσlseΘnΦer∮ifeβnd·apps⌠hem⌠o hell.⇩כoud⇧σxplosion⇧≥elease⇧⌠hemselves⇧⌠hrough⇧⌠he⇩µour ovradially⇧πontrolled⇧≡recision⇧≤peakers⇧Γelonging⇧⌠o⇩∙our somewhat⇧∩ld-fashionedקV≤et.⇧ךou≤lowlyϕove⌠o⌠he⇧σdge⇧∩f your⇧≤eat.⇧תill⇧⌠hisτirl≥eallyΦaveβ⇧πhance?⇧חs⇧⌠here⇧β possibility⇧⌠hat⇧≤he⇧≈ill⇧∈otσnd⇧⌡p⇧Θn⇧⌠he⇧Γattered⇧βnd neutronised≥emains∩fΦerצkimmer,⇧Γlastedβgainst≤omeπallous wall?⇧אut⇧⌠hen∙ou≤ee⌠hroughΦer⌠echniques¡≤he's⇧τot⇧⌠he wrong⇧∩ne.⇧ךou≈ant⌠o≤hout⌠oΦelpΦer,⇧Γut≥ealise⌠hat⇧Θt won't⇧Γe∩fϕuch⌡seβnyway.⇧צhe'sϕuch⌠oo≤lowβs⇧≈ell,⇧βnd within⇩β⇧µew⇧ϕinuted⇧≤he's⇧∮imited⇧⌠o⇧Φer⇧∮ast⇩צkimmer reincarnation.⇧צhe⇧µranticallyπlutches⌠o⌠heπontrols∩f⇧Φer machine,≈hen≤uddenlyβגefenderβppearsβround⌠he∈extπorner. The⇧≈hole⌡niverse¿at∮east,⇧βnσstimated≡ercentage⇧∩f⇧≈ell over⇧Ã0%)⇧Θs⇧∈ow≈itnessing⌠heτameϕaster⇧≤houting⇧βt⇧⌠he frightenedτirl:óSorryΓabe,∙ou'veτiven⌡s∩neϕore⌠racker⌠o remember.....Shame⇧∙ou'reΣoing⌠oΣieΘnØ∩rø⇧≤econds!"⇧קhe Camera⇧≤onde·oomsΘnβtΦerσyes,⇧βnd⌠he∈extϕoment∙ou⇧≤ee her∮arge,⇧Γeautifulσyes≡ouring≈ith⌠earsβnd≡ureµear.⇧נne momentµurther,⇧⌠he≤creenΘsµilledΓyβ≈hiteµlash,βndβgain a⇧∮oudσxplosionµills∙our≥oom.⇧קhe≤creen≈obblesβnd⇧⌠urns blank.⇧ךou⇧βlmostΦear⌠heτameϕasterπurseΓecauseΦe's⇧∮ost one∩fΦis≡recious≤ondes.⇧צhe'sΦistory.מoΓlood.קhe≡rogram rating≈ill≡robablyτoΣown.YouיNOW≈hat≤heΣid≈rong.⇧צheµollowed⌠he∩bvious≥oad¿like all⇧πontestantsΣid)¡≥ight⌠o⌠heבentrepointπomputer⇧≥ather thanΣestroying∩ne≤ectorβtβ⌠ime,⇧⌠husτradually≈orkingΦer way⌠oΘt.IJnd≤heµorgot⌠oΣestroy⌠heπommunicationπentresβs well¡Ωustµlew≥ight≡ast⌠hem,⇧βlmostΦit⌠hem≈ith⌠he⇧⌠ips ofΦerצkimmer's≈ings.⇧ךes,⇧≤he≤houldΦave⌠aken⌠he⇧∩utside sectorsµirst.⇧ךour⌠houghtsµocus∩n∩neΘdea:⇧ךou,Σestroying theóTracker"πomplex...You've⇧πheckedσverything.⇧קhe≥outineΘnterview¿that≈ill⇧Γe permanently⇧Σisplayed⇧∩nβ≤pecialϕonitor∩n⇧∙our⇧τravestone untill⌠heσnd∩f⌠he⌡niverse,⇧≤o⌠heτameϕasterβdded≈ith⇧β bit∩fβ∮augh)ΦasΩustΓeen≡erformed.חtσvenϕade∙ourµorget the⇧⌠roubles⇧⌠hat∙ou≈ent⌠hroughτetting⌠o⇧דgron⇧¿being⇧β Novenian,βndβt≈ar≈ithדgron,⌠his≈as≤omewhatΣifficult).Will⇧∙ouΓeβble⌠oΣestroy⌠heóTracker"בentrepiont⇧πomputer? Can⇧∙ouσvade⌠heΣozens∩f⌠irelessµightingϕachines⌠hat⇧∙ou will⌡ndoubtedlyϕeet∩n∙ourΓattle?⇧בan∙ou∩ut-run⌠he≥epair speeds?בan∙ouσvenτreet∙ourϕumβndΣad≈hileΣoingΘt?You'll∈everδnow,⇧⌡nless∙ou'veΣecided⌠oΩoin⌠he≈ide⇧≥ange of⇧≡eople≈hoβlreadyΓoughtפainbird's∈ew⇧τame⇧óTracker",⇧β strategical⇧βrcade⇧βction⇧τame⇧≈ith⇧βrtificial⇧Θntelligence elements,≤ellingβtñ24.95.קhe≡lot¿andβnβmazing≡lotΘtϕay beπalledΘndeed)Θsτreat,ΓutΘs⌠heτame∩f⌠he≤ame±uality?The⇧≡ackageΘs,⇧βgain¿likeΘnϕostפainbird≡roductsח've⇧Φad the⇧≡leasure⌠o≤ee∩r≡lay),⇧÷eryπomplete¡βΣisk,⇧β⇧≤mall novella⇧µrom⇧טamesהollett,⇧βבontestant's⇧סlayguide,⇧βn⇧IJ3 poster⇧βndβ≡layer≥eferenceπhard.⇧קhe≡rogram≈orks∩n⇧Γoth color-and⇧ϕonochromeϕonitors,⇧βndβsksβ≡asswordβt⌠he⇧÷ery beginning∩fτame≡lay¿one∩fβboutÀ0≈ords,≈hichπanΓeµound onβτiven≡age,≡aragraphβnd≈ordΘn⌠heõ9-page∈ovella).When⇧⌠he⇧τameΦasβctually≤tarted,⇧⌠he⇧τraphics⇧Θmmediately leaveβΦighlyµunctionalΘmpression∩n⌠he≡layer.⇧IJnd,⇧∮ater, it⇧⌠urns⇧∩ut⇧⌠o⇧Γe≤omeδind⇧∩f⇧β⇧ϕulti-screen⇧øD⇧πombat simulator¿with≤olidτraphicsβtΦigh≤peeds).⇧קheτame⇧Θndeed lives⇧⌡p⇧⌠o⇧⌠he⇧≤tandards⇧≤etΓy⇧⌠he⇧≡lot⇧βnd⇧⌠he⇧∈ovel accompanyingΘt.TheτameΘsπontrolledΓyϕeans∩f⌠heϕouseΘnπombination⇧≈ith the⇧δeyboard,⇧βnd⇧⌠he⇧≡laying⇧βreaΘsµormed⇧Γy⇧β⇧≈eb⇧∩f trackwaysΣividedΘnto≤even≤ectors.⇧ךou'llΦave⌠oΣestroyβll six⇧∩utside⇧≤ectors,⇧βndµinally∙ou'llΦave⇧⌠o⇧Σestroy⇧⌠he Centrepointπomputer.קhe≤creenΘsΣividedΘnto⌠wo≤creens:נne combat/map≤creenβnd∩neºradar'≤creenµor⌠heπurrent⇧צkimmer you're⌡sing¿youΦaveσight∩f⌠hseπrafts).⇧צavingβnd∮oading aτameΘsβlso≡ossible,⇧⌠husβssuringϕanyΣays∩fτameplay⇧Θn this⇧ΦighlyΘntelligentβnd≤trategical⇧σnvironment.⇧אut⇧Ωust don'tτetΘtΘnto∙ourΦead⌠o∮oadβτameπalledó*"¡Φave⇧∙ou ever≤een⌠heלindwareΣebugger?IΦave⌠aken⌠he∮iberty∩f≡utting≤ome≤lightΦintsª⌠ipsΘnto my⇧Θntroductory⇧≤tory,⇧≤o∙ou'dΓetter≥eadΘt⇧βgain⇧Θf⇧∙ou already⇧Φave⇧óTracker".⇧ךou⇧ϕight∮earn⇧≤omething⇧µrom⇧Θt, althoughחΣoubt⌠hat∙ou'll∮earnϕore⌠hanΩust⌠he⇧βtmosphere theτameΓreaths¡βτame∩f⌠hrillingσxcitementβndµear...Gameפating:Name:❎קrackerCompany:⇩פainbirdGraphics:⇧Õ.5Sounds:⇨ÃAddictability:✓¨Playability:
Õ.5Overall≥ating:◆¨Price:⇦ £24.95Remark:⇨חncredible≡lotβndΣepthThanks⌠oפainbirdµor≤endingϕe⌠heτame⌠o≥eview!פainbirdõstהloor,À4-76מewנxfordצtreetכondonתC2דngland