Well here I am, back after the Summer break, ready with more hints and tips. I suppose that I am not the only one who has seen that Play It Again Sam 17 has only been released on BBC Micro, Master and Compact disk formats with no Elk version at all! So what are us Elk users missing out on then?

Sam 17 consists of Summer Olympiad, Tactic, Video's Revenge and Master Break. To go into a little more detail, Summer Olympiad was originally released by Tynesoft a few years ago and the computer press praised it on all formats. I admit however that I was a bit disappointed with it as some of the events were too slow repetitive to stay fun for long. It can now be picked up in budget form for around £2.99. On its own, and at a budget price, I would rate it at 80%.

Tactic is a Tetris/Columns type of game which originally appeared on the Archimedes. Not having played it, all I can say is that if it is like all other games of its type, then it would appeal to some people but it could become too repetitive for others.

Video's Revenge was released years ago by a company called Budgie Software who disappeared as quickly as they arrived. The game was then released on Play It Again Sam 6 and is something akin to 'Defender' or Gauntlet except the action is viewed from the top of the ship and not its side. As games go, it is quite challenging and addictive, but it still lacks that little extra something and I would give it about 85%.

Master Break is unlike all the other games on the compilation. Like the 'Give us a Break' machines found in pubs, it is a Snooker-style trivia-test game and is best played with a few friends around. If you play it on your own, you are likely to tire of it all very quickly, yet we all find it amusing when a friend gets a particularly easy question wrong! This is a difficult game to rate as it is competently set out, but if played alone I would only give it 70%. When played with friends I think it deserves a good 86%.

So, the overall view of Play It Again Sam 17 is that we are not really missing out on much, especially when you consider the other compilations in the Sam series (Sam 15 springs to mind!). You can still get some of the games separately. Software Bargains can supply you with Master Break (£7.95) and Sam 6 which contains Video's Revenge (£6.95). If however you feel that SAM 17 should have been released on the Elk then voice your opinion to Superior Software.

On to the passwords etc! In this issue I'll be giving the remaining Anarchy Zone passwords for all you Anarchists out there. Orbital and Octavia passwords are also given, along with a few hints on The Wheel Of Fortune and also some news about the Pipeline character and mission generators.

The Wheel Of Fortune, Epic
Firstly, don't let the beggar get the truncheon or he'll end up hitting you with it. The truncheon is an item which you must store in the hut so you'll have to plan a way around the policeman. If the policeman catches you with the truncheon, you are flung into a cell with no escape and you will have to start again (ignore what the computer says if you type HELP). To get the bucket you will need the ladder, which you must extend so that it will reach. Once you have the bucket, you must tie it to the Well Wheel's rope and bribe the beggar with the coin you collect if you kick the mysterious machine. The beggar should then lower you down the well, where you can collect the Wheel of Fortune which you must then spin.

Can anyone tell me the use of the matches if you put the coin back into the mysterious machine?