Previous Next

Grampa has gone missing. Seems he was a bit careless in his lab, and has disappeared through his hoop into another dimension. The only thing for it is to follow him through, and hope to find him on the other side, wherever that may be.

Turns out it's Tonetown, and the way you look, there's no disguising the fact that you're a tourist. You're well... decidedly Untass, and lacking in Tone. And the Toners, especially local bigwig Franklin Snarl, don't like tourists.

To survive, you'll have to show that you've got the ultra-touch, and become tass! Or you might end up like eyesore Jonboi, who got drummed out of town for being so untone. Worse still, you could end up as Snarlmeat, or be fed to the crocogators. With it so far?

To show tone requires a bit of bodystyling. No problem - it will only cost you a few picks - and soon everyone will be smiling and talking to you. What's more, it's Septmoonual time, and you know what that means - everyone'll be having a real tass time! So off to Fast Freddie's with you for a Globurger and Fizzie, then down to the concert to see local pop-group The Daglets. They're back home, and I hardly need tell you - they're outer modem, no messing!

Tass Times runs on a C64, and plays in the format of Borrowed Time. It was written by the Mindshadow team. But there its similarity with any other adventure definitely ends - it is like no adventure game you've ever played before!

Tonetown has its own trendy language, its currency is guitar picks, it has float-tones (public telephones that float in mid-air) and the locals keep a strange line in pets that tend to devastate their owner's houses.

But its people are something else! You'll be ostracised for not conforming, and learning to do just that is the second phase of the game. During your efforts to become tass, it's just as well there is a "Quicksave" facility, for Franklin Snarl will be after you, the minute he gets wind there is a tourist in town.

Learning all the tass things to do and say is not quite as difficult as it may sound. With the game comes a four-page tabloid newspaper, Tonetown Times, which gives the flavour of what makes Tonetown hum. Fairly nonsensical and inocuous at first, once you have played into the game a bit, the Times becomes an absorbing read. There is information buried in its many news stories and ads that you'll need; spotting it is essential to be able to progress in the adventure.

Once you've got the hang of things, you'll probably end up working as a photographer for the Tass Times, on an assignment with a deadline, for a photo promised in the current edition. But things are never quite as easy as they seem, and with a sudden shock, you will almost certainly discover you took too much for granted!

Your mission to find Gramps will lead you through the town, and out and about along the local nature trail. Therein lurks a sinister building, surrounded by an unclimbable wall, its gate well-guarded, and its resident not at all friendly!

Throughout the game, the graphics are often animated; sound effects and music crop up too. One particular location has quite a spectacular picture of a jumping dog, and can be accompanied by a very realistic power-hum. Meanwhile, the concert on at the park has a real catchy number playing, all the time you're figuring out how to do what you're sure you must!

Multi-word input is supported, but although the vocab is fairly adequate, the parser slips up now and again with a nonsensical reply. As an alternative to typed input, common commands can be entered through a number of joystick-selectable icons. The game is available on disk only, which is double-sided.

If you're feeling a bit jaded by run-of-the-mill adventures, go out and get Tass! You'll discover a whole new way of living - with the Ultra-touch!