Previous Next

Beyond have done it again. You couldn't beat Lords Of Midnight as a graphic adventure, and you won't find a more abstract and enthralling arcade puzzle adventure than Ankh.

You control a mindprobe and must discover the secrets of 64 rooms using a mixture of brainwork and quick reflexes. Simple huh? You couldn't be further from the truth; to solve this, you are going to need powers of logical and lateral thinking and flashes of heavensent inspiration.

The game starts with some joystick practice and letter puzzles. Although these are optional they will provide some valuable hints. The abstract graphic rooms contain puzzles which need to be solved as well as red herrings to mislead you. Some of the tasks are purely a matter of exercising the grey matter while others involve arcade action as well.

The combination is brilliantly done so that adventurers and maze fanatics alike will find the game absorbing. One room has several sliding doors which have to be opened in the right order to pass through. Another has a remote control mindprobe guided by shooting from the first probe at small blocks.

If that all sounds complicated then you're beginning to get some idea of what this game's about.

In the fast and slow modes respectively, the mindprobe either shoots bullets or uses a probe. These are your methods of making things happen and operate in two general ways.

The bullets destroy the X guardians that appear around the rooms, while the probes pick up objects. They can both also be used to activate objects - and this is the key to the game. When you succeed in operating an object, a distinctive bleep is heard - so at least you'll know when you've done *something* right.

There are many objects around the place, like Commodore symbols which absorb or deflect bullets, but you can only carry four, and particular ones are needed to solve puzzles in other rooms. Your score is the sum of the number of rooms you have solved and the objects you have found. The danger you face during the quest is running out of energy which happens if you hit the walls too often or run into too many guardians.

The character set is a little odd and takes some getting used to but the true genius of the game is in its abstract nature and fascinating challenges.

These will stretch your mental resources to the full and have you glued to your joystick for hours.

Ankh is likely to bring on anxiety attacks for those who cannot cope with games of intense concentration.

Some people are not going to find it at all interesting because it is so abstract and takes real brain strain to solve.

With the arcade element included though, it seems to have universal appeal as long as you've got the patience. However, I think the hardened mega-zappers amongst you should steer clear or you may end up attacking the computer in frustration.

Beyond seem to have really got their act together and are producing some highly original and addictive games. This one is a US import and with any luck we should see some more of this standard in the future.

A very intriguing game, this one. A clever blend of strategy and arcade action. Not that many will find the arcade business very exciting. The fun of the game lies in working out the various puzzles that impede your progress through the 64 rooms. This takes considerable thought and as much patience.

The graphics have a strange algebraic look to them which adds to the game's atmosphere. Ankh will certainly appeal to anyone who likes an intellectual challenge.

The only way to describe this game is to say it's really weird. It has plain presentation, a very mysterious and intriguing theme and elements of both arcade and adventure play.