Amazon:Guardians of Eden - US Gold/Access Software Inc RRP œ45.99
               (Interactive Adventure for PC)

                  Reviewed by Joan Dunn

The loading screen is a very real view of the jungle, and you are
told the introductory story of two brothers. Allen is a top
research scientist working at Allister Research when he is not on
one of his travels. Jason, ten years younger, works in the same
laboratory. When the story starts, Allen has been in the Amazon
river basin for several months.

You then see a view through the trees of the base camp. It is 2.06
a.m. and all is quiet. Suddenly you see shadows on the tent and
someone fires an arrow and a man drops.  Then six weeks later you
watch as Jason arrives at work and enters his office.

The game is composed of seven discs and a comprehensive manual.
The story is told as a serial with fourteen chapters, each ending
in a cliffhanger. The pace is fast and exciting, so there is no
time to be bored. There is a good story running through the game.
The animation, realistic characters and graphics are excellent,
some of the best that I have seen. It is rather like watching a
film but with the addition of some great puzzles.

To use an item from your inventory, click on it then go to the
play screen where you wish to use that object. You can combine two
objects in a similar way.  Short cut the introductory scenes by
holding down the right mouse button.

There are three types of screen:
1. First person where you view the screen through Jason's eyes.
2. Third person screens where Jason appears on the screen and you
move him around.
3. Automatic sequences where you just sit back and watch.

There is a row of icons at the bottom of the screen, their uses are
obvious. You can talk to characters and are given three responses
to chose from plus an offer button which enables you to give an
item to someone. You can move Jason with mouse or arrow keys, the
mouse is quicker but I found that in certain situations he wouldn't
go the way I wanted him to and resorted to the arrow keys.

There is an On Line Help which has rather limited use. You select
the help command button and click the green question mark on the
object or character for which you need help. You are then given a
level one hint and can then use the more button to get further
information. Going on to level three hint gives the complete
answer to your problem. You start with 170 points and lose 3
points for a level one hint, 5 for level two and another 10 if you
take a level three hint. So you can soon use up all your points
and when they have all gone there is no further assistance. I
finished with 134 points which gave me a full "end game", less
than 100 points and you only get a short ending, and not such an
exciting finish. Of course you can take hints and then return to a
save and replay that part of the game without using up your
points.

The puzzles were not difficult usually consisting of using one or
two items you have picked up to solve them ...  BUT ... BEWARE ...
There are a number of timed sequences in which you must perform a
number of actions in a very short time, often just seconds are
allowed.  Not having very quick reactions, I spent ages on some of
them and was often close to packing it all in and throwing the
computer out of the window! However, I found the game very
exciting and time and again I thought "Just one more go" and
eventually finished that particular sequence. You need to save
often, but there is no point in saving during a timed sequence
because you use up valuable seconds in saving and loading. Having
spent many months on Amazon, I was very put out to find The Grue
finished it really quickly!

Some scenes you have a companion to help you ... Maya. You click
on whichever character you wish to use. Somethings only Maya can
do and she certainly makes the game more of a challenge.

On three occasions you have to paddle in a canoe down the river
avoiding the rocks and making sure you go in the right direction.
The first two trips on the river you are told directions, but the
third you have to do yourself by trial and error.

During most of your travels you are given plenty of help from
characters, so are never in the position of not knowing where to
go next.

As long as you don't mind arcade sequences, this is an excellent
game and I can suggest you treat yourself and buy, borrow or steal
it ... And the best of luck!!