Commodore User


Questron 2

Categories: Review: Software
Author: Mark Patterson
Publisher: Strategic Simulations Inc
Machine: Commodore 64/128

 
Published in Commodore User #57

Questron 2

It was not long ago that you found yourself vanquishing the crazed magician Mantor and his stupendously powerful book of magic. You succeeded in getting rid of Mantor but not his book - at least that's what the sequel assumes. This book now poses such a threat to the safety of the realm of Landor that it must be destroyed, and the only way of destroying it is to make sure it has never been created. This means a spot of ye olde worlde time travel.

You first appear in the middle of Landor armed only with a dagger, and two hundred gold pieces to do with as you please. You also have two hundred and fifty hit (health) points, though these don't last very long. Apart from your main objective, you have no idea what to do next. Information can be gleaned from the locals at the right price.

The character you play can be controlled by keyboard input where, apart from the directions, pressing the first letter of an option will activate it. By holding down the fire button for more than two seconds you obtain access to a menu system.

Questron II

In the first part of the game you have to complete several minor tasks, I wish I could tell you what they are but that would take most of the fun out of the game. But what puzzles there are involve the intricate skill of being able to find things in huge mazes. Skill is required in being able to determine the best way of destroying an enemy (magic, hand-to-hand, or run). Some of the opposition are right stonkers and sting you for three-hundred hit points a go.

Your character can go up in ranks of ability determined by your performance in the game. You start at the bottom of the ladder as a humble pleb and work your way up through ranks like adventurer and apprentice. There are also scores for strength, agility, stamina, charisma and intellect, each one coming in handy in their own special way. Agility determines how good you are at hitting the enemy, strength how much damage you cause.

The most impressive section has to be the dungeons. These are graphically superior to all the other screens. You journey down 3D tunnels deep under the surface of the continent in search of treasure, and for once you might find being attacked a little more pleasant as the graphics for the monsters are fab.

The easiest way to make money is by gambling. If you can work out a good system, there's nothing to stop your personal fortune going into tens of thousands. And there's no shortage of things to spend your winnings on, weapons, armour, transport, magic and more, all essential to complete the game.

There is so much to Questron II that I couldn't cover it all in the space allocated, but what I can say is if you're a fan of computer role-playing, this is well worth the money.

Mark Patterson

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