Getting to the top

Motivated by the success of their earlier release of pokes and cheats compiled on disc and tape for popular BBC and Master games - the Cheat it Again Joe series - Impact has decided to release a brother disc for the Archimedes.

Renamed Cheat It Again Archie, Joe's older brother has only one volume to his name at present providing various assorted sections of code to help progress through twelve early Archimedes releases.

Unfortunately, the programs supplied have not received the few necessary tweeks to make them Risc OS compatible, so this limits interest in this review to those still with Arthur 1.2 OS. No plans appear to be around for this compilation to be adapted, which is a shame as with only a few alterations - to the !BOOT file and so on - I'm sure it could be coaxed into running.

Upon successful loading, a clear mouse-driven menu follows the title page.

Here a list of games and their cheats are given. Including Pacmania, Zarch, Quazer, Terramex, Fireball, Startrader, Hoverbod, Orion, Alerion, Freddy's Folly, Minotaur and Conqueror.

Selecting one prompts the program into giving details of what pokes are available, plus additional information such as level passwords. Options are provided to load the cheat, return to the menu or select/run another poke.

Once you have selected your cheat, there's an automatic Control+Break and a message is displayed requesting the original game disc. From this point the game loads apparently normally, yet once in memory the cheats take effect.

So how does this add to a game's enjoyment. We tried it out on Freddy's Folly from Minerva. Aimed at the younger age group, or in its own terms: "A nice slow game, for those who find computers a bit much". It is obvious that the author's intention was to concentrate on the graphical and humourous aspects rather than on action-packed excitement.

Gameplay centres around two castles, one is yours and it is being bombed by jealous Sir Freddy. For some the game may be too simple even without the cheat, while newcomers may find it discouragingly easy to be blown away.

The cheat stops your defences from being turned to rubble. This may at first seem to make Freddy's Folly a little pointless, but it does enable some practise at gauging projectories of ship and balloon.

A faster game option may have been useful but really no advantages are gained in allowing you to progress to a point where new challenges - and renewed interest - are created, simply because the game doesn't contain any.

The others are just as well provided for - if not more so. In Conqueror you can alter your tank's specifications to an invincible level, while in Quazer and Pacmania immortality is possible. In the latter working through the mazes becomes a doddle thanks to an added unlimited credit facility. Most usefully, any hidden cheats included in games by the original authors are also detailed.

Despite the obvious value of this disc, I still have serious reservations over recom mending it. It certainly isn't compatible with Risc OS and is surprisingly expensive in comparison with the Joe series. The Joes retail at £4.99 but for eight less cheats you must pay an additional £6 with Archie. Unless the new operating system is supported, sadly this potentially desirable product will limit itself to use by a fast diminishing Arthur 1.2 user base.