Chronoquest - Psygnosis RRP œ29.95
                (Icon-driven graphic adventure)

                    Reviewed by Laura Gow

One fateful day you return home to the family chateau to find
that your father is dead and worse still, you are the chief
suspect for the murder. However dear papa has at least left a
note describing what he's been up to. So you didn't believe all
that nonsense about time travel - well just try using that time
machine in the ..... oh, but I'm giving away the plot. Your dear
departed has hidden several bits of punch card in several time
zones but first you've got to find the necessary punch cards
and the time machine to get to these zones. Collect all four
pieces of card then you can go to the future and catch your
Pa's murderer.

Chronoquest comes on four single sided disks and features a 
novel protection system using the picture on the cover of the 
packaging. This can cause some problems initially as people's 

idea of what is red or brown can differ and sometimes the 
program just gets it completely wrong. But persevere and you'll
find your way into some beautiful pictures and intriguing
puzzles.

The first thing, then, is to search the chateau. There are 
many objects to be found and most of them are useful in one or 
more of the time zones. Of course there are also a few red 
herrings. The game is entirely icon driven and though a nice 
idea the system is somewhat flawed in that the position that the 
arrow is in does not always correspond to the object position on 
screen. However, though annoying, this does not really impede 
progress in the game. The hidden objects are pretty easy to find.

Quite soon then you can collect your punch cards and find the 
means to locate the time machine (do examine all the rooms 
carefully). Then once you've figured out how to use the thing 
you can be off on your travels.

So where to? Though the zones have to be completed in a certain
sequence, this is not obvious, but exploration by trial and 
error should show the way. Here's a clue. The following is not 
the correct order.

How do you fancy Egypt 1100 BC? The desert is a dangerous 
place but its impossible to refuse an offer to explore a pyramid.
Mind you, those ancient Egyptians knew a thing or to about 
trapping graverobbers so prepare to be impaled several times 
before you gain your just reward. It goes without saying that 
you should save your position frequently. You can only save one 
game per disk. I found it useful to have one saved at the 
chateau when I still had all four punch cards so I could always 
get to the different time zones without going through the 
preliminary moves again. 

Now on to India (1605 AD). Time to go for a ride on elephant 
back - the jungle is not safe any other way. The area is rich in 
man-eating tigers. In addition leprosy is rife so mind who you 
come in contact with. A true adventurer should always try to 

help the less fortunate though. And if you do have to pilfer 
anything, prepare to run fast.

Mexico, 750 AD and it's hunt-the-pyramid time. What with the 
energy-sapping heat and the marshy land this is a tricky number.
Also the jungle looks the same wherever you go in it but take
note of the moves even if you can't see any change. As most of
the previous moves had been accompanied by  the whirring of the
disk drive I found the jungle quite confusing but it does make
sense. The Mayan warrior may be helpful but he'll want a pressy
first.

Finally, haven't you always wanted to go to 33172 BC? I 
suspected that life would be tougher then and it is. It's a great
place for spotting Big Game only they are a bit too close for
comfort. The mammoth will surely get you but be consoled (as you 
are eaten by the crocodile) that you are getting warm. And 
remember, it's not only cavemen who like to live in caves.

Once you negotiate all these obstacles you'll be able to zoom 
off to the future and finally track down your father's killer.
Ironically you'll find something in the stone age which will be 
useful for combatting the high-tech age.

The game is well presented with good graphics that are 
accompanied by reasonable tunes and the puzzles are logical. The
chief irritation that I found though was the way that you seem to 
get killed every other move. Once dead you have to reload the 
initial scene before loading your saved position and this becomes 
a pain when it happens so frequently. However it is still an 
enjoyable roam through the ages and well worth the special offer 
prices that can be found if you shop around.