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Suzy B Software 2
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Suzy B Software CD-ROM 2 (1994).iso
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maggie14
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lasersme.doc
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lasersme.doc
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1995-04-27
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7KB
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136 lines
0660103030566
9[....................................................]
Ç
äWar hath no fury like a non-combatant.. C E Montague.Ç
à L a s e r s a n d M e n . .
ä Version 1.00, the review!!
ÇYou may recall some favourite moments on the Falcon discussed in
detail in the previous issue of Maggie over the arrival of a pre-
prerelease (I kid you not) version of a game called üOf Lasers and
Men.. ÇAt the time, it was a one level only precursor of much
better things to come, and whilst the author, Arnaud Linz was
coding flat out, you were invited to register as it was shareware
to get a finished version as soon as possible..
I did and was pleasantly surprised to get a letter from the man
himself shortly after, giving me a progress report to the effect
that most things were done except for the most labour intensive
part, the graphics.. These held up matters until well after
Christmas (and are still giving problems in certain areas now, but
more of that later etc..) However, last month, an äalmostÇ finished
version of the game, along with a two-level unregistered version
hurled itself into my letterbox (it is a communal letterbox I
share with half a dozen others, but I keep a sharp lookout for
jiffy packages)..
Eagerly, I loaded it up and encountered a much fuller title
sequence with a hard rock style MOD soundtrack blasting out of my
speakers.. The registered version gave me a choice of fifteen
different levels, so I plumped for the first available..
First surprise, the graphics are much more complete than before,
as a lot of new material has been gained.. The floor is now also
texture-mapped, stone, wood, even a reflective layer in some
places, inspiration has been obviously derived from that word on
every PC owners lips, üDoomÇ, with some of the wall-graphics leaning
distinctly in that direction.. In addition you have things like
raised walkways with seemingly bottomless chasms, sloping sections
of passageway (you can't go down, unfortunately).. The depth-
cueing effect of increasing darkness the further you look into the
distance has been retained.. Some of the original graphics from
the earlier version have been retained, for example you still get
purple garden furniture in some of the rooms.. You can find such
strange things as a perfectly kept tree underground?? For this
part of the game, the revamp has been successful, but the author
promises further improvements in the future..
Surprise two is the fact that some graphics were not able to make
it in time for this first proper v1.00 release.. I refer to the
character sprites which were corrupted by a virus according to the
author, and instead you find yourself shooting at large
rectangular blue pieces of cardboard with a helmeted head attached
as this is all that could be done at such short notice.. The
release of this version in that condition was brought about by the
author going on a five-month visit to the United States, and being
unable to wait any longer.. That said, he has advised me that his
graphics person will send the new character sprite files in mid-
March, which is about now, and I hope to advise shortly that these
have been received to finalise this review..
Another gain for this version is that as well as title music, some
in-game sound effects are now present.. These are few in number,
reasonable, but again improvements are promised for the future..
They are things like a fairly standard 'phaser' sound for your
gun, the automatic door 'swish' on the 'USS Enterprise' for the
doors, some groans/screams for the enemies you kill, and
appropriate samples for a successful or failed conclusion to a
level..
But is it any good, you ask.. Well yes it is.. it is still as
tough as ever, your body-armour/shield now regenerates (my
suggestion to the author!) but this is offset by the increased
numbers of bad guys, up to forty at any one time that can be found
wandering on the level.. The sparse sound effects do add to the
tense atmosphere, as they vary in intensity according to how far
something is away from you, so if a door 'swishes' open and it is
at a previously unsuspected ear-bruising level, you suspect
trouble may be on the menu and that some jumping out of your skin
may be in order..
It gets very lonely if you are wandering around on a complex level
chock-full of passageways and hidden corners, when there are no
more of your fellow computer-generated comrades left, and still a
dozen of the blue bad guys who could be äanywhereÇ right? Like just
around that next corner!!
This is subtler and scarier in many ways than üDoomÇ which is much
more of a straight massacre-em-up after the initial novelty value
of some of the bad guys has worn-off.. üLasers and MenÇ is the sort
of game that Freddie Kruger might like to play for real! The blue
guys are still quite difficult to kill, needing several hits in
some cases, and move around a level unlike üDoomÇ or üWolfensteinÇ,
giving an impression of malign purpose and intelligence.. If you
found someone engrossed in this game and shouted "Boo!" in their
ear, you could do quite a lot of physical and psychological damage
to them..
Technically, use is made of the DSP, giving an approximate 40%
speed increase, although the author suggests that either it is
slow for this type of game, or his programming is.. Speed can be
described as 'adequate' for the job in hand, although I had at
least one PC owner wishing he could push in the 'turbo' button to
speed up the game.. (Mind you it was a PC owner with such a high-
spec PC that it allowed you to run from one end of a level in üDoomÇ
to the other in about four and a half seconds..)
Although the temptation as an Atari-phile is there, I would not
consider this as a full-scale competitor and an equal match to
üDoomÇ.. For example you are not restricted to a 320 x 200 format
in üDoomÇ, there is much much more in that game, but instead, I
would consider üLasers and MenÇ to be more like üCastle WolfensteinÇ
with knobs on. Lots of knobs added on in fact.. Anyway, the
gameplay is totally different from üDoomÇ and much more subtle and
suspense-building than the 'rush-through-and blast' you get
there..
ä
For the Future:-Ç
As I mentioned earlier, the author is presently enjoying life in
the USA although registrations can be sent to his new address
there before the 1st of August when he returns to France.. From
there, enhancements will be added to the game.. So far, better
graphics and sound effects are promised, improved dialogue with
other computer players, either a simultaneous two player on screen
option, or a networked two Falcon dual player game.. Also a level
editor and designer, optimisation and speeding up etc..
He has clearly given himself a lot to do, but this is not to
detract from the first proper release version 1.00 reviewed here..
Get it or die unfulfilled!!
(C) CIH March '94..
