GOBLINS 3 - Coktel Vision
   RRP œ39.99 (PC CD-ROM)  œ34.99 (PC)  œ29.99 (ST/Amiga)
             (Graphic adventure puzzle game)

           Reviewed by Neil Shipman (PC version)

Just after playing the first two Goblins games some eighteen
months ago I saw a demo of Goblins 3 and thought, 'That looks
great! But I'll wait till the CD version comes out with speech
and better sound effects.' So I waited...and waited.  ..and
waited. Aeons went by and I reckoned it was never going to be
released on CD-ROM. Then I saw a review of the CD in an American
magazine so I knew it was just a matter of trying to get a copy in
the UK. I placed an order with European Computer User (who have,
incidentally, now folded) and, after months' more delay, it
finally, arrived.

According to the instructions, installation should have been a
cinch. Trouble was the procedure didn't recognise my Soundblaster
16 compatible multimedia sound card and although I did somehow
get music and snippets of speech it was impossible to make out
what the characters were saying. Sierra, who distribute the
Coktel Vision titles in this country, were no help and I ended up
sending the CD back and eventually getting the bog standard floppy
disk version instead. So much for my hopes of actually hearing
what these zany creatures had got to say for themselves!

But the disk version was alright - well nearly. For some
unaccountable reason the sound of the main character's footsteps
when he was walking around would only come through the PC's own
speaker, but when he climbed a ladder or steps it came via the
sound card as did the noise of everyone else's feet. Yeah, I know
it must be my card which isn't truly Soundblaster compatible, but
it's the only game I've played where I've had any problems with
speech, sound effects or music.

Anyway, onto the plot. For years, the rival kingdoms of Queen Xina
and King Bodd have been attempting to conquer the labyrinth of
Foliander. Legend has it that the goblin who passes all the tests
in the labyrinth will win eternal well-being for his people. Many
have tried, some have returned but they have been driven
completely insane. Now, the guardian of the labyrinth has died,
his daughter, Wynnona, can't be found and the key to the entrance
has disappeared. Has she been kidnapped? Has Xina or Bodd stolen
the key, intending to unlock the labyrinth's secrets without
undergoing the tests?

This story has fascinated readers of GOBLINS NEWS, so their top
reporter, Blount, sets off to interview the two monarchs. And
yes, you've guessed it, you direct the actions of this colourful
character as he journeys to Foliander, meets the king and queen,
and, of course, cracks the labyrinth, reuniting the two kingdoms.

You begin aboard a flying ship, seemingly alone, but you soon meet
a parrot, Chump, who will accompany you most of the way. There's
usually someone else to help you - like Fulbert the snake, Ooya
the sage - and if it's not another creature it could be your
"other self" like your shadow, your reflection or your werewolf
alter ego! Different characters\persona can react differently with
NPCs and objects so it's essential to try using them too. Indeed,
you will have to combine Blount's actions with another
character's in many of the puzzles in order to complete a screen.

Screen size has been improved by the introduction of sideways
scrolling, increasing the playing area by 50%. The generally
bright colours make good use of the 256 colour palette to produce
a richly vivid gameworld. Below the playing area is a small panel
for a couple of lines of dialogue and a line on which appears the
description of objects you click on and use.

Clicking on the right mouse button shows your inventory with neat
little icons of all the objects you're carrying instead of the
text descriptions which we saw in Goblins 2. This can also be
accessed from the drop down bar at the top of the screen as can
game management; jokers for when you get really stuck; a copy of
GOBLINS NEWS which updates after each screen; the aim of the
screen; and music on/off. The music is bright and cheerful though
it does get a bit repetitive and I generally turned the volume
down after a short while.

Sound effects are excellent and add to the humour of the amusing
antics of the characters. Just trying out the first screen
provides ample evidence of this; try hitting the golf ball or
searching three times in the chest for a surprise!  Animation is
up to the usual high standard of this series of games with the
characters hardly staying still for a moment. I particularly liked
Were-Blount scratching himself for fleas or revealing his polka
dot boxer shorts when flexing his muscles and expanding his chest!
Screens are linked by short cinematic sequences very reminiscent
of "Merry Melodies" cartoons.

Representation of speech on the disk version consists of creatures
coming out with stuff like "Bip Beh Dip Boo Bip Beh Dip" or
"Bippy Doo Doo Bee Bip Doo" which is awful. If the CD version
runs on your system get that, it must be very much better.

There are 10 scenes in all, some comprising 2 or 3 puzzle screens,
giving a total of 20 different screens. Not very many you might
think - and you'd be right - but it can still take quite some time
to complete even one or two. The standard of the puzzles is
easier than Gobliins 2 with less crucial timing for combined
actions between characters.

On a personal note, I enjoyed Gobliins 2 more than its successor,
partly because it was the first of these puzzle games I'd played,
but also because I thought the humour was better. Blount just
didn't have, for me, the same endearing qualities as Fingus and
Winkle, the two goblins in the earlier game.

But if you enjoyed the first two Goblins games from Coktel Vision
then you should find this third one worth taking a look at. All
the games from this French company have a certain "je ne sais
quoi" which sets them apart from anything remotely similar by
British or American programmers. Goblins 3 is a bright, cheerful,
crazy cartoon-style adventure puzzle game, just the sort of thing
to dip into for half an hour when you want a break from other
more taxing endeavours.


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