Chaos Strikes Back Adventurer's Handbook - Bob Retelle, Jim
            Ratkos and Andy Jaros/FTL RRP œ9.99

Following the release of the immensely popular Dungeon Master
there seemed to be a proliferation of books on sale that would
guide lost adventurers through the game. Considering how much
harder Chaos is meant to be, it's surprising that there hasn't
been a similar collection of books available - unless I've been
looking in the wrong places.

The Chaos Strikes Back Adventurer's Handbook is an A5 size, spiral
bound publication of some 91 pages and it aims to provide two
levels of help for lost souls, either hints or a fuller solution.
However, the first few pages of the book are given over to more
general help and information, following a short message from the
Grey Lord himself. The preface details the essential aims of the
game (to destroy the four pieces of corbum, thus foiling Lord
Chaos' plans) and then we are told about the significance of the
four Ways (one to test the skills of each type of champion -
Ninja, Priest, Fighter and Wizard), the somewhat random
distribution of objects in the dungeon, the sneaky nature of
locked doors and their 'keys' (which may not always look like
keys) and the purpose of the Junction of the Ways.

Next there are sections on pits (and how to get out of them - or
not, as the case may be), compasses and two tables, one of magic
spells and the second showing which monsters can be found in the
dungeon, what levels they appear on, whether they use poison and
whether they are found individually or in groups. A map of the
Prison section shows where all 24 champions are to be found and
yet another table lists them and their statistics. We're almost
ready to start the game and still only on page 10!

The starting section with its initial worm attack and the area
known as Supplies for the Quick which leads onto the Junction of
the Ways takes up the next two pages. From the Junction of the
Ways, the player must decide which of the four routes (Dain, Ros,
Ku or Neta) to take. Each Way is described in order starting with
Dain, the Way of the Wizard, and takes the form of a series of
instructions identified by a letter and number. On completing a
small section within each Way, each of which has its own small
map, you'll be directed to another section eg D2, and can then
find that area and continue reading.

Each of these sections will give quite a bit of information about
the various obstacles and problems that will crop up and hints for
solving them. The maps also have the letters and numbers marked on
them so you can find your way about by using the text or the maps
or both.

The four Ways meet up again at the Diabolical Demon Director (the
DDD) and the main level of this is drawn in a slightly different
way, as an isometric map. This is very effective as it gives some
impression of the thickness of the walls and so forth. The next
section of the book deals with the discovery of the four corbums,
and the next three pages cover the Fulya Pit level.

By now we're two-thirds of the way through the book so it's time
to enter the solutions section. Each of the 10 levels is covered
in turn, with a full map and a list of treasures and the major
problems that will be encountered, all identified by letter or
number and cross-referenced to the map.

Considering how complicated the game is, it's surprising how much
information the authors have managed to get into what is a
relatively small book. The explanations of the puzzles aren't
especially verbose but still give plenty of detail so I wouldn't
imagine that anyone would particularly need more information than
is given .... then again, I haven't played the game in any great
depth so it would be interesting to see how useful it would
appear, in retrospect, to someone who had completed the game.

When I get the time to return to Chaos, I think I will find the
book invaluable. Until then, the way it is arranged should make it
ideal for helping people over the phone when they're stuck in it
because it looks pretty easy to identify any area of the game from
a minimum amount of information.
                                               Sue