Computer Gamer


Chaos

Categories: Review: Software
Publisher: Games Workshop
Machine: Spectrum 48K

 
Published in Computer Gamer #1

Chaos

You sit astride your Pegasus its wings gently flapping as you survey the battlefield before you. A few moments ago, eight mighty Sorcerers gathered to do battle; now only you remain. In their wake, they leave the corpses or magical creatures that were conjured to do their fighting. Some of these lions, crocodiles, bears and gorillas were slain by other animals others by the undead legions of spectres, vampires and zombies. Some were suffocated by the ever-spreading gooey blobs and burning magic fire and others by lightning or magic bolts thrown by the wizards.

Thus ends a game of Games Workshop's Chaos, in which up to eight players compete in magical combat. Each player, either human- or computer-controlled, has a selection of ten spells selected from a total of over fifty.

It is the choice and variety of the spells that makes this an enjoyable and challenging game to play. For not only have you the selection of animals, to create but also the ability to strengthen your wizard through magic words, shields, wings and armour, particularly important are the most powerful of spells which include the power of vengeance, justice and turmoil that can destroy a wizard in a single blow.

Chaos

This diversity of spells will allow the players to try out numerous strategies including the infamous 'run away and hide' strategy which is made possible by spells to create magic castle, dark citadels and magic woods to hide in.

Each spell has a range of values that determines its character which can be examined before casting. These include movement range and combat strength as well as combat range for creatures such as an elf which can attack from a distance, in this case with a bow and arrow.

A particularly important spell factor is its law or chaos rating which indicates its affect on the nature of the universe which gradually moves from law to chaos during the game. The present nature of the universe also effects the chance of a spell working. For example, it will be easier to cast a vampire later in the game than the beginning as it is a creature of chaos.

Consequently, you can never be sure that a spell will succeed. This can drastically effect your chances of survival since you can only attempt one spell between each combat turn.

During the combat, each wizard moves and fights with the creatures that he has summoned and those wizards surviving live to cast a spell in the next turn.

Other Reviews Of Chaos For The Spectrum 48K


Chaos
A review by Bryan Skinner (Personal Computer News)

Chaos (Games Workshop)
A review by Derek Brewster (Crash)

Chaos (Games Workshop)
A review by T.W. (Home Computing Weekly)

Chaos (Games Workshop)
A review by John Gilbert (Sinclair User)

Chaos (Games Workshop)
A review