Deuteros - Activision RRP œ29.99
               (Strategy game for ST and Amiga)

             Reviewed by James Judge on an Atari STe

Another bog standard strategy cum explore-em-up? I think not.

It's the 31st century (roughly 1000 years after Millennium 2.2).
During Millennium 2.2 man colonised the moon and, from there,
created a range of mutations which were left to develop on their
own. At the same time life on Earth was destroyed by a
'cataclysmic climatic change' (well, that's what it says on the
box).  The mutations, left on their own, developed into two
significant species - the Methanoids and Hydroids - which are both
at war with each other.

Deep in Earth City plans are being made to start exploring space
once again.
               Operation Deuteros has begun!

This is where you step in as the bloke (or blokess) in charge of
this space exploration project.

After gawking at the introduction where ships are flying off here
and there, wading through the surprisingly small manual
(considering the complexity of the game) you are presented with a
picture of Earth City. (Well, that's what I think it is). To the
left of this awe inspiring piccy there is a two by six grid
partially full with icons. Just above this is the master control
panel. The icons in the grid give a versatile (but sometimes long
winded) control system.  Along the bottom of the screen is the
date and the name of the planet or space station you are looking
at.

The master control panel starts off with four icons you can
access. These are (1) advance time, (2) disk operations (3) news
bulletins and (4) return to Earth City.  The first two are self
explanatory but the other two are not. Now and again during the
course of play you will get messages from certain people under
your control - telling you when they have invented a new piece of
equipment for example. To re-read them you can click on this icon.
Also via this you can see when certain personnel gain experience
and go up a rank which lets them do their job more efficiently.
The other icon (which looks like a globe) will return you to Earth
City at any point during the game.

Two other icons become available to you during the game. These are
deposit analysis (from where you can find out which elements
are present on which planets) and the Stock Taker (where you can
find out what pieces of equipment are on what planet, where
certain people are and what they are doing etc).

The MCP is where you find out the information you will need during
the game but to actually control the game you need to use the host
of icons to the left of the screen. It would take quite a while to
explain all the icons functions because they differ from planet to
planet, but it is suffice to say that from these icons you can
access mining, research, production, ship control and many other
things.

I will now take you through the process of creating an orbital
factory. It may seem boring and unimportant but it is vital that
you understand the amount of patience needed to perform such a
simple action if you want to buy this game. It may be off putting
at first but after a while it just gets easier and easier.

To actually get anywhere in the game you must first train some
personnel (researchers, workers and marines).

Once you've done that tell your researchers to invent a shuttle
chassis. While they're beavering away toddle over to the
production department and make three derricks. Once you have done
that you will see that the chassis is now available to build, so
build one.  Go back to the research department and tell the
scientists to invent a shuttle drive. Wait until they have
finished then tell them to invent some fuel (once it is invented
it will take care of itself).  While they are doing that build
another three derricks and, once they are ready, go to the mining
section and put the seven new derricks to work. By now the fuel
should have been invented so go to the scientists and tell them to
invent an Orbital Factory frame (don't worry, nearly there).  Once
they've done that tell them to research a tool pod, go to the
production department and then construct eight OF frames. Once
this is done go to the dock and put together a shuttle, crew it,
put a tool pod on it (you have made one, haven't you?), load it
with an OF frame and put it into orbit.

Once it's up, release the frame then repeat seven more times. You
now have a brand spanking new OF (Orbital Factory). This is the
first step to completing the game and it only took oooh, five to
ten minutes (good, eh?). This is probably the longest step in the
game because you have to invent everything that you need for the
operation and your staff are not extremely good at their job.

To begin with the game is tedious and (for some people) boring but
give it an hour or two and you will be trading with aliens,
helping the Hydroids, fighting off the Methanoids, conquering new
solar systems and colonising new and raw worlds (as well as
(probably) a few other things I have yet to discover!).

Whenever you do something new that then allows you to invent a new
item or get a new element you will have a great sense of
achievement. (I was jumping around the room half-crazed when the
Methanoids waged war on me (yeah I am weird aren't I?)).

The graphics are not Epic style by any means but they still are
quite good compared to most.  (On a megabyte the graphics are
enhanced but it does not affect the gameplay if you only have a
half meg machine). Sound is adequately catered for. Each screen
has its own unique sound warbling on in the background which gives
the game a nice atmosphere (if you know what I mean).

If you do buy this game bear in mind that you will have to have a
bucketful of patience but when the game gets started, you will
find a corker of a game!!

                        Graphics 8/10
                        Sound    7/10
                        Gameplay 9/10