Asteroid Adventure - SoftTouch/J. A. Ure RRP œ8.95
                   (Text/graphics)

              Reviewed by Terry Roberts

     Asteroid Adventure was written and produced by J. A. Ure for 
the ST and is supplied either as a low resolution colour version 
or high resolution (specify when ordering). I gather that this is 
his second adventure, the first being a PD game called Enchanted 
Realm. The colour version of Asteroid is reviewed here and the 
presentation is certainly impressive. There is a detailed inlay 
describing the loading, saving and commands etc. and operation of 
the game, but nothing about the storyline. Multiple commands such 
as GET THE BLASTER THEN GO WEST AND FIRE IT are accepted and only 
the first 6 letters of any word need be entered.

     After the loading screen you are presented with an attractive 
border screen around the text which is in several colours. Obvious 
directions are listed so mapping can get under way. 

     So, what about the game itself? There is a flavour of Star 
Trek about the opening sequence. On a trading run through the star 
systems at the end of 'known space' your ship's computer picks up 
a distress call. Following the so-called unwritten law of space 
pilots you change course to investigate. As you draw close to the 
source of the signal, a large asteroid in uncharted space, the 
distress call is abruptly cut off. A scan of the asteroid reveals 
the presence of surface installations - including a docking bay.

     You do not get very far unless you dock your spacecraft, but 
this turns out to be very easy. Then you are free to wander around 
the ship (only 10 locations) preparing yourself to leave. Getting 
out without sudden death is achieved by leaving the blaster 
behind, but you may well need it later...... Outside the ship, in 
a series of corridors a few things come to light but it is not 
until you come across the Infopak, and find out how to reveal its 
message, that you get to the objective of the game. In fact a neat 
piece of programming has the message flashing across the screen, 
telling you that aliens are using the asteroid as cover for a 

battle cruiser and you will clearly have to destroy the asteroid 
power source to avoid destruction of planet after planet.

     The location descriptions are brief and in some cases even 
terse, and the puzzles are conventional on the whole. It did seem 
strange to need to carry some large and odd objects at times (try 
dragging a corpse with you along with 4 or 5 other items!) and I 
had occasional problems with the examine command. For example, at 
one location you cannot examine the door because you are not 
holding it. However, on the whole the game works well enough. What 
is different about Asteroid is the programming which uses STOS 
rather than STAC, and DEGAS ELITE. This has resulted in a very 
nice system. Another nice touch is the provision of coded hint 
sheets which can be sent for. There are 10 in all and I assume 
that you are sent the relevant one only.

     My overall impression of the adventure is that it is 
professionally produced and presented and clearly a great deal of 
effort has gone into it, but the game itself is average as 
home grown adventures go. I would encourage the author to continue 
with the approach and try another story line, perhaps with a
co-author, because the quality of his product is extremely good.

     Asteroid Adventure is available by mail order only from
SoftTouch, 6 Oak Avenue, Runcorn Road, Birmingham, B12 8QT.