Previous Next

US Gold promised us a host of games before Christmas and very slowly they are coming through. Electron versions are rarer than BBC which is disappointing after what seemed to be a considerable chart success in Beach Head.

Next up for the BBC are Dambusters and Bruce Lee but what about all those other games in the double page adventures with the Commodore 64 screenshots? How long do we have to wait, US Gold?

Confirming more B+ working games as Football Manager, 3D Tank Zone, Birdstrike, Birdie Barrage, Crawler, Erik The Viking, Maze, Flip!, Microcosm, Estra and now Repton and Repton 2. Spot the Difference this month has some Master compatibility information for games players.

Electron owners can take heart from a new deal struck between Acorn and the software distribution organisation Greyhound. The deal ensures the availability of Acornsoft Electron software in their many computer outlets throughout the country.

Alligata are also doing their bit with top selling compilations for the Electron Bumper Bundle and, exclusive to WHSmiths, Action Pack - with Night World, Guardian, Blagger and Shuffle on one tape. Also on the Budgie range is an Electron version of Video's Revenge.

Alligata and Elite are about to come out of their trenches in Sheffield and Walsall to do battle with Who Dares Wins II and Commando. They'll be battling it out in The Arcade as soon as we can get these tin hats.

Macsen have followed up the astoundingly successful Blockbusters with further tie-ups with Central and Yorkshire TV. Blockbusters Gold Run and Bullseye are both available on BBC and Electron and Treasure Hunt should also be in your shops soon.

After just two games in as many years (Zalaga and Frak!), Orlando is about to come up with another BBC blockbuster himself - could it be Joust, the "approved" arcade version featuring those Galactic Ostriches?

Anyway, to the game of the month, Imagine's Hypersports. This is a real cracker - easily the best game yet this year and it ranks among the likes of Elite and Revs. I have quite unashamedly devoted quite a few words to it. Next month, watch out for colour screenshots of Superior's Karate Combat.

And lastly, software houses - don't forget to send us your latest games software for review, preferably on disc and accompanied by colour transparencies of the game in action.

Calling all Mirrorsoft Harrier Pilots. Having trouble locating and destroying the enemy HQ? Read on...

To survive for any length of time you must look after your landing sites. The rules are simple but easy to forget if you have three MiGs on your tail!

If a tank moves on to a landing site, that site is destroyed - if you are using sound, you will hear an explosion. A new landing site then becomes available at Home Base (where Q landing site starts off).

If a tank moves on to Home Base, then the game will end and you will get the red screen. Have you noticed that the red screen is maintained until you play dead (i.e. take your fingers off the keyboard)?

So if you hear explosions or get the red screen when everything seemed to be under control, you have probably forgotten your landing site.

You are particularly vulnerable when a landing site is destroyed and you get a new one at Home Base, because tanks are targetted towards landing sites. With a landing site on Home Base, your Achilles heal is exposed.

Tip 1. As soon as you're airborne, go and destroy the four tanks to the east of landing site Q.

Tip 2. Move your landing sites every 15 minutes or so.

Still having problems? Ring the Harrier hotline on 01 337 4837.