Larn (V12.0) - author Noah Morgan, adapted by Cornelius Caesar
           (RPG for ST on SynTax PD disk 25)

               Reviewed by Paul Cooper

First programmed by Noah Morgan and then adapted for the ST by
Cornelius Caesar, Larn is one of those rare games which is
initially disappointing and yet for some obscure reason difficult
to stop playing.

Basically speaking the screen is very basic. No "real" graphics,
sound effects to match and at first glance a relatively small
playing area.

A bad dream? Well, no, actually it's not.

This simple, yet effective format draws you deep into the plots
and sub-plots associated with obtaining a cure for a strange
disease afflicting your daughter.

Layout:

The top half of the screen contains half a dozen letters in
inverse video, while the bottom half is devoted to scrolling text,
and somewhere in the middle is a single flashing cursor which is
you. Cursor keys control the character's movement and other
options are available via key letters.

As the cursor travels around the screen, collision with one of the
inverse characters reveals more about it ie College, Armoury,
Dungeon (of course) as well as others. You may enter these and
purchase or sell a multitude of different things. Occasionally you
will encounter monsters (more inverse video letters). These are
dispatched by pressing the arrow key in the monster's direction,
or much more efficiently by magic.

But weapons, magic and information all cost money and the best way
to get rich is to descend into a multi-level dungeon. Here you
fight Goblins, Bats and other creatures for wealth beyond the
dreams of the Chancellor. You can also discover magical scrolls
and fountains, and some very nasty surprises, only revealed as you
progress.

Conclusion:

So what's special about it?

On entering an armoury, a comprehensive list of weapons and spells
is given, most of which you will not be able to afford but will
immediately hunger after. This sort of versatility gives the game
depth; never mind the lack of graphics and sound (the imagination
is better anyway). More importantly Larn will not be finished in
five minutes flat.

Okay, so the idea is old hat. That doesn't mean it's crap. Give it
a whirl. For PD prices, what could you possibly lose?