Balrog's Day Out

It is more than five years since the last of the Behind Closed Doors saga was released and during that period there have been many 'demands' for there to be another episode in the trials and tribulations of Balrog's search for the 'smallest-room'. However one thing or another has always had the 'original author' being too busy to sit down and pen the next instalment - though some would say that it was more to do with the fact that he was now incapable of writing a half-decent adventure-game than it was with the demands on his time that caused him to be so 'busy'. But all is not lost, for George E. Hoyle has taken up the challenge of producing the fourth of the tales and with some small enhancements from the 'Cat', has come up with a suitable addition to the Behind Closed Doors range of titles. As usual the game is full of red herrings, dead-ends and sheer unadulterated filth (but you will have to uncover the latter for yourself!), so all letters of praise or complaint should be addressed to the usual address - your comments will be looked forward to.

The Story So Far

Mrs Balrog and junior have at last persuaded the old sod to get up off his bum and to make an entrance into the 'real' world .. or at least as much of it as a visit to the nearest 'Theme-Park' will allow. To some extent this was a major breakthrough in as much as it was the first time the old duffer had been out of the house in over FIVE years!!! But even the 'best-laid' plans can tend to go astray and after a couple of excursions on some of the 'hairier' rides Balrog felt the urge to squat. The time had come for him to make his way to the nearest 'smallest-room' - that is if he could find the damn place! A gentle saunter down the garden-path is a far cry from a trek across an enormous 'Theme-Park' and especially when the 'bubbling' behind your belt-buckle was enough to drown out the sound of the rock-band playing on the nearby stage.

It is your task to guide Balrog to the sanctuary he seeks and to ensure that nothing 'nasty' befalls him on the way.

The Elfin Wars

On the other side of the tape (or on the same disk if you are lucky enough to purchase a version of the game for the PC or Amiga), you will find a free game entitled The Elfin Wars.

This is a small strategy/war-game based upon a series of articles written by A. Davis and published in ZX Monthly back in the mid '80s.

The aim behind the game is to simply defeat the enemy horde that is advancing from the west. Do that and the voices of the Shyre folk will be raised in adulation for many years to come. Fail and you simply have to reload the game and try again. Each battle will be slightly different but the outcome will always depend upon your success at recruiting allies and defeating the foe.

To control the armies simple - just use keys 5 to move west, 6 to go south, 7 to go north and 8 to go east. ALL other options are as indicated on screen at the time.

The +3 disk version facilitates a 'save-to-ram' option whilst all the others feature a 'save-to-tape' or a 'save-to-disk' routine. Use them wisely to ensure you have success.

Searching the area around you can uncover 'food', 'recruits' and the ultimate solution.

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