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Smugglers' Cove is an illustrated adventure written by Camel, but published by CRL. No instructions came with the review copy.

The screen is nicely laid out with a graphics window at the top which appears to function in mode 0. However, the text area seems to be working in mode 1, which is rather clever. I suspect that the programmer is POKEing the graphics chip directly, as the screen flashes peculiarly after drawing a new picture. As a result, the program may be incompatible with the Amstrad 664. In any event, it won't work with the DDI-1 switched on. A memory full error occurs.

Every time a location is entered, the picture is redrawn, but the "fill" routine is fairly slow. Waiting becomes a bit of a drag. The drawings, though low-res, are certainly up to the standard of The Hobbit.

The plot appears to cast you in an underground cave system on an island, so I must presume the target is smugglers' treasure. Immediately striking is the humour of the programmer, evident in both the objects and the responses of your computer guide which has a variety of abusive remarks at its command.

Unfortunately, I was soon killed off by a partially decomposed corpse whilst carrying a lifebelt and a bag of monster munchies. The input interpreter also denied the existence of objects just described, which is a bit off.

Good value compared with other Amstrad offerings, but I've seen it advertised £2 cheaper direct from Camel.

D.M.