Amstrad Action


Solomon's Key

Author: CB
Publisher: U. S. Gold
Machine: Amstrad CPC464

 
Published in Amstrad Action #26

Solomon's Key

My favourite game from now on is this one. I've been a platform game addict since Manic Miner, and this one will never stray far from my hand.

Your task is to go through all 20 levels, getting the key in each and taking it to the door. Brilliantly simple, eh? Not so, my friend. You move about by casting spells. When you cast a spell, a block will either appear or disappear depending on whether it was there in the first place [Very Zen - Ed] You can then jump onto these blocks.

Some blocks hide goodies. Some goodies will give you more points; others will give you fireballs, a longer scroll or death and destruction. The scroll is where the fireballs are shown and the fireballs are what you use to kill the nasties. The nasties take the form of little crackling starry things, ogres, strange animals, weird balls, and other barely describable things. If you walk into a nasty, you will die.

Solomon's Key

Death and destruction causes every nasty on the screen to die. When they die they will leave another goodie for you. If you see a goodie in the shape of a question mark, eat it quick - It will give you a score bonus of between 10,000 and a million.

I think this game is great. Agreed, it's my favourite type of game, but it does have good graphics, sound and playability. It's easy to get into, but will grip you for hours.

First Day Target Score

160,000

Second Opinion

Solomon's Key

It's got bags of appeal - great graphics and some classy gameplay. What it doesn't have for me is real lasting interest. 20 screens just isn't enough, and there isn't much variety in them to keep you interested when you have to repeat the early ones for every game. A jolly nice game all round but not my bag of nuts.

Green Screen View

No problems at all.

Verdict

Graphics 83%
P. Lots of different colours used.
P. Good animation and screen variety.

Solomon's Key

Sonics 69%
P. Good music and effects

Grab Factor 82%
P. Easy to get into.
P. Each level increases in difficulty

Staying Power 76%
P. Twenty levels to beat.
N. Levels get repetitive.

Overall 78%
P. Commendable arcade conversion.

CB

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