Previous Next

CRL have always struck me as a bit of an unknown quantity, some of their programs are brilliant (e.g. Rocky Horror) and some are downright atrocious (e.g. second thoughts, I'd better not name names), However, I am pleased to announce that their latest, Juggernaut, fits quite fairly and squarely into the first of these two categories.

To say I'm hooked would be something of an understatement, like my peers before me, I have charcoal pizzas to testify to this fact (they burnt while I played). In this game, you're cast as the driver of an articulated lorry and so it is bound to appeal to all Amstrad owners because it is a well known fact that they are all lorry drivers. Keys can be defined, so that the default keyboard controls can be changed if a joystick is available. Virtually all the options from the various menus in the game are picked by moving the highlighted icon to the picture you wish to activate, then pressing the fire button, So, for instance, the introductory menu allows you to get on with the driving, set the length of the lorry, practice, see the high scores or define keys.

Having picked the drive option, you are first told which company you'll be working for (though this is irrelevant, it adds a bit of local colour). You are also shown a very small scale map of the town around which you will drive, the home depot indicated by a small H. Pressing Fire again gives another list of iconic options which allow starting, phoning i for directory enquiries), loading, unloading, refuelling, pausing the game and resigning. It's probably best to get straight down to business by picking the start icon and pushing the fire button. A plan view of the depot and your lorry in the loading bay appears in the bottom two thirds of the screen, while a reminder of the stock that must be returned to this home base occupies the left third of the top segment and the rest of the display shows the controls in the cab of the lorry speedometer, gear change, very large steering wheel , fuel gauge, damage indicator and the time of day). The damage is increased by hitting the kerb or jack-knifing. The time is shown using rolling digits.

Having selected first gear (unfortunately, there are only two forward and one reverse, but I suppose we lorry drivers can't have everything), it is possible to accelerate away and continue on until a screen is reached in which a phone box appears. The lorry must then be stopped so that it is possible to return to the map screen, which has all the options including phoning. My major niggle with the whole game is that to return to the map, the S key must be hit, so the game cannot be wholly played on just a joystick. Having picked the phone icon, a very realistic warbling ringing tone is heard, then a screen with six icons appears.

There is one for each of the four commodities that must be located, for pick up. one for garages that allow refuelling and repairs and one to hang-up. If the fuel icon is picked, then all the garages on the small town map are high-lighted. The same is true for any of the commodity suppliers. Having remembered where they all are, you can hang-up and drive on to the first destination. It's usually a good idea to start with a garage as the game starts with only half a tank of diesel. At any time, if you get a little lost, it's possible to come to a stop and hit S to see the map again (your position will always be high-lighted)_ If you're doing more than 30 when you hit a screen with a police station, then a speeding fine will be incurred, this will reduce the final score.

As you motor along, it is very important to make sure that the front end of the cab is exactly perpendicular to the edge of the road or the lorry will start to veer off towards the edge, almost certainly leading to damage. Turning at junctions and worse still, roundabouts are very much an acquired art. Its best to poodle along until you've got the hang of it. However, if you think turning is difficult, slam it into reverse and just try to back it into a loading bay. This is where you really find out what articulated language really consists of. A tip to all would-be truckers is to always go for the longest lorry. While it is more difficult to control (and you can probably say goodbye to reverse until you've played the game for some time) you can almost always carry a complete load of coal, oil, timber or fruit so that only a single trip will be needed to each supplier.

All in all, I'd say this is a very classy game and addictive just ain't in it. Must dash, I've got to get out there and pick up another seven tons of bananas (or is that where I'm going?).