A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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Page 1: Edd the Duck - Elven Warrior Page 2: Emerald Isle - The Enforcer |
Page 3: Enlightenment: Druid II - Every Second Counts Page 4: Evil Donjon - Eye |
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How many of us who were kids in the early 90s remember Edd? He was a TV superstar, and he also had his own game. Edd is starring in a movie based on his adventures in the BBC studios - sounds exciting. He has to collect all the stars in each scene, and the only weapons he's got are snowballs which freeze the monsters temporarily. The graphics are amazingly colourful and do the job brilliantly, and there's a stonking tune on the title screen. Unfortunately, the pace of the game is slow and it quickly becomes boring, although I'm sure younger children might like it. 6 |
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Inside the mysterious Agon Mansion of De Josef Vincent who disappeared a century ago, you have discovered a fantastic machine, The Eidolon, that has the power to travel to a mystical realm - one peopled with strange creatures that have lured you away there. Your only escape is by collecting jewels on every level in the correct order to destroy the end of level dragon and the creatures that stand in your way. Getting these requires you to destroy the jewels' guardian using the fireballs littered in the caves, or luring it away. Technically, this is a very impressive first person perspective game which long precedes those on the PC. On the other hand, it's a strange and difficult game. 6 |
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Electric Wonderland
(Gasoline, 1986) Fly around a network of caves using your electrically-operated propeller helmet, looking for mushrooms which will miraculously allow you to open reservoirs and flood the caves. Yes, you did read all of that correctly. You have to wonder what substances the programmers of this French game were taking when they wrote it. It's clearly inspired by Sorcery, and the graphics are very pretty. As well a battery representing energy, your propeller also has three fuses, and if you touch any monsters excessively, one or more of them will blow, and this affects your movement and severely hinders your chances of escaping. There is also one particular monster that kills you instantly, which is very frustrating. Despite this, it's a reasonably enjoyable, albeit crazy, game to play. 7 |
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Electro Freddy
(Amsoft, 1984) Freddy is working in his uncle's shop, shifting all the computer equipment on to the conveyor belt so that it can be sent to the warehouse. However, his uncle is nasty and ungrateful, and throws other pieces of equipment at him which he has to dodge. Each of the fifteen levels contains several items, and you push them towards the conveyor belt at the bottom of the screen while avoiding your uncle. This is a very early game and it really shows. The graphics and sound are laughably basic, and the game itself is far too easy; by the time you've completed the first five levels, you've more or less seen the entire game. 1 |
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Elektra Glide
(English, 1987) Get on your futuristic bike and race across three continents. This is a race against time, and instead of other competitors, your main problem is avoiding oncoming hazards, which for some bizarre reason include rotating cubes, bouncing spheres, and electrostatic columns that are dropped by 'planes flying overhead. At the start of the game, you have a choice of 'steering envelopes' which let you choose the responsiveness of the steering, and you can also choose which continent to start on. Initially the game looks promising - the tunnel effect is particularly impressive and is rarely seen in racing games for the CPC, and the music suits the fast speed of the game - but with no one to race against, and hardly any variation in the scenery, excitement is soon replaced by sheer tedium. 4 |
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Elevator Action
(Quicksilva, 1987) Otto has been sent to capture secret documents from several buildings, but he has to keep an eye out for all the security guards who are looking out for him! You've got a gun to shoot them, although they can shoot you too. The graphics aren't too good and some of the colours of the walls are horrible, but the theme tune is wonderful and it's not one you'll forget easily! Unfortunately, it's just too difficult, and it's annoying when security guards seem to pop up from nowhere and shoot you before you can turn around. 7 |
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Elidon
(Orpheus, 1985) Lurking within a forest are the seven secret potions that will water the flowers of Finvara, but the forest is full of monsters and other hazards. It's certainly not a safe place for a fairy like you to venture into - but you'll have to find those potions, otherwise the fairies won't be able to make a crown for their queen. The forest consists of 256 screens, so there is a lot of exploring to be done. Contact with monsters, and even much of the scenery, drains your energy and sends you falling to the ground, although energy can be restored by collecting fairy dust. The graphics are mediocre and the music is irritating, and wandering around the forest with very little to do quickly becomes very dull indeed. 4 |
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A classic shoot-'em-up which was written by a relative unknown, only to be taken up by a large software house and go on to become a major hit. Pilot your ship through the scrolling environment that gives the impression of 3D perspective, like Space Harrier. Shoot the waves of aliens, avoid the obstacles and pick up any power-ups as you follow the path left, right, down and up whilst passing in and out of various tunnels. The sprites are impressive and the music is brilliant, however the environment is rather basic. This is a good attempt by Hewson to convert what is ultimately a 16-bit game - but they didn't quite pull it off. 7 |
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Landmark game from programming legend David Braben. Far in the future, pilot your trusty Cobra MkIII around the galaxy in a bid to gain the immortal rank of Elite. Along the way, you encounter fellow voyagers, traders, pirates and the mysterious but dreaded Thargoid aliens. It was revolutionary upon its release, as it allows complete freedom within a 3D environment to explore a myriad of planets, each with their own unique characteristics. Special missions are also available, so that you can ultimately discover the location of the Thargoids' hidden homeworld. What it lacks in visual and audio impact, it more than makes up for in sheer playability and originality. This is one of only a handful of games that can claim to have created their own genre. 10 |
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Elven Warrior
(Players, 1989) You are an elf who has discovered magic, and you have to fill cauldrons with four bottles containing magic potions. This is a platform game in which you search for the bottles in villages and dungeons. You need keys to unlock the doors which take you to other areas of the game, and there are a variety of weapons you can use to shoot enemies. However, it's slow and rather dull, and the Spectrum-like graphics don't help matters. The elf cannot jump diagonally, which is irritating, as are the numerous opportunities for dying simply by walking off the wrong edge of a platform. The music on the menu is awful as well. 5 |
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