ATLANTIS - author Hermann Huntsch (Amiga graphic adventure on PD 653) Reviewed by David Froude This game, including the sound and graphics is produced by Hermann Huntsch. The instructions are in English but the text used on screen is in German. A long time ago the Gods created the island of Atlantis in the middle of the ocean. In the centre of this island they constructed a large black tower. From this tower the Gods ruled the four identical Kingdoms they had created around the tower. To protect themselves and prevent entry to the tower, the Gods sealed the tower with three gigantic locks, one made of Bronze, one made of Silver, and one made of Gold. Anyone wishing to enter the tower, could only do so with the permission of the Gods, or by having possession of the three keys of Gold, Silver and Bronze which are hidden within the four kingdoms. The Gods possess a Power Sceptre. Whoever is in possession of the Power Sceptre has unlimited command over all and every wish they make will come true. The Gods being fair and gentle have ruled the four kingdoms with justice and kindness for the benefit of the people. Sickness and plague were unheard of in the four Kingdoms. The people lived in harmony and peace and all was well until one day, the Gods were gone. The Black Tower is now in the hands of thieves and criminals. Life in Atlantis is now very miserable, as the land is rife with plague and disease with gangs of robbers plundering everywhere. Dragons destroy the fields and life is hell. After five years, everyone has given up hope of ever seeing the Gods again. The Kings of the four Kingdoms by this time, were very concerned at what is happening to their Kingdoms and decided to do something about it. They thought that if they can control the Power Sceptre they could restore wealth and happiness to the land. With this in mind they set off to wander the four Kingdoms in search of the hidden keys to the Black Tower, and thus gain possession of the Power Sceptre. They knew this would be a difficult task and it would not be easy to tackle the many dangers that awaited them on their quest. They also knew they would lose many knights as they battled their way through the Kingdoms, and wondered if there would be enough of them to attack and conquer the robbers in the Black Tower. To gain entry to the tower the four keys hidden in the four Kingdoms have to be found. The combination of the keys to the appropriate lock in the tower has to be worked out. When the combination is cracked, the way to the tower is open. THE GAME The German gave me some difficulty. On opting to play the screen presents 2 sets of boxes numbered from 1 to 4. Above the upper 4 is printed "Weeviele Mitspeiler" and above the lower "Welche Schweirigkeitsstufe"! I clicked on 1 and 1, then start and then I could begin. This game is played by moving a King (you) around a grid of 9 x 9 squares. To the left and right of the grid the word "Grenze" is printed and at the top of the screen "Turm". I will not attempt to translate in case I get it wrong. The grid covers a terrain of grassland, hills, rivers, lakes and so on with buildings of various types dotted around. Movement of your kingly figure is by clicking with the mouse on an adjacent square. There is sometimes a slight delay before the move takes place. Some locations when you click on them identify "Pest" and you may lose knights. Knights may also be lost in battle. The game can be played with one to four players with each player taking the part of a King. After starting you are presented with a parchment. The top right of the parchment identifies the state of play - how much gold and provisions you have, how many knights and Pegasus are available and the Kingdom you are in. Other information included is if you have such things as a Dragon Sceptre, a Key, or a Koloss (a Healer saint) or a Spy-Glass. In the latter case it would be outlined in red!!! You start in your own Kingdom in your own fortress (Citadel) which is in the centre, 35 Gold coins, 25 Packs of provisions and ten Knights. With these provisions and fighting power you can make your way round the Kingdom. You can go into any field (square) which borders on your own and at every turn you can go one field further than before. The field you are presently in is marked with a Knight. But!!!! beware, each time you employ a Knight he will eat a lot of your provisions and when you run out, he will starve to death, or you may be able to supply more (in time!!!!!) The normal fields are all outlined in red..... If you get on a field which is outlined in Orange then it is one of following - The CITADEL In each Kingdom there is one castle, treat it as your own and enter whenever you want to, which makes peace between the Kings. If you have travelled through all the Kingdoms and need to replenish your army of Knights then you can return to your own castle. As soon as you enter your own castle for the first time again the number of Knights you have will double. You will not gain any more if you try again, this is a once only deal. ASYLUM This is a type of monastery at which you can ask for admission and support if your provisions are low, and if your Knights are in mortal danger. If you can accept the humiliation of entering, you may get more money, or the help of more Knights. Unfortunately you will get no help where the opposing army has been before you. They will have the gold with them, which they carry around in sacks. They will not help you. The TOMB We all know that sometimes there are treasures inside tombs and we also know that sometimes robbers and bandits hide their swag in them. If you run out of gold then by standing on one these tombs you may be lucky enough to find more gold. There is always a tomb somewhere BUT!!! beware again, it may contain robbers and bandits!!!!!! If there are bandits in the tomb you are near, then they will want to steal the gold you already have. If you lose the battle with the bandits then you will lose the gold you already have or a fair amount of it. If you Escape, then you would rescue the gold the bandits took from you. However if you win the battle against the robbers, then you can enter the tomb and find out what is in front of you. Good Luck...... THE GOLD Each Knight can only carry 4 gold coins. They also have to carry all their equipment, such as Armour, Shield, Helmet and Provisions, and also Weapons. This is why it would be advisable to start off with 20 gold coins and 5 Knights. Then if you are lucky enough to win a battle against the bandits, you would be able to carry off the gold you won from them. Otherwise it would be too heavy for your knights to carry. You may lose a knight or two in the battle, which will limit the amount of gold you can carry anyway. PROVISIONS You will never find vast amounts of provisions in the Kingdoms, because you can take unlimited amounts with you at the start of your quest, or as much as you can carry. A knight can have as much as 50 units of provisions with him as maximum. DRAGON - SWORD Should you be attacked by a Dragon and you are not in possession of a dragon sword then you are in deep trouble. If however you do possess a dragon sword then you will be able to fight the dragon, and if you slay it then you will receive a money bonus and perhaps a few knights as well. KEYS When you find a key, you can then enter the next Kingdom. The appropriate key fits the appropriate Kingdom. To enter the next Kingdom you will need you will find the key in the Kingdom you are currently in. With the key in your possession you move to the border on the right and then cross the border to the next Kingdom. Take notice that you only move in a clockwise direction around the tower ( to the right on your map). As soon as you have found the Silver key in the second Kingdom, you can then enter the third Kingdom to find the Golden key, which will let enter the fourth Kingdom. To enter the fifth Kingdom you will not need a key as this is your own land. PEGASUS Normally you can only reach one adjoining field in each round, but if you have found a Pegasus then you can go as far you want. There are two restrictions to this:- A Pegasus can only be used once, and then only inside the Kingdom you are in. MAGIC BOOK With a magic book you can cast a magic spell on each of the other players (in multi Player mode). If you cast a spell then you miss a turn. Ruins are treated the same as a tomb. BAZAAR At a bazaar you buy equipment with your gold, but first you are made an offer. This offer you can accept or refuse. If in your opinion the offer is too expensive then you are free to bargain. If you overdo the bargaining then the offer can be withdrawn. If you do not accept his offer then the vendor will make you a new offer and carry on till all his offers are exhausted. You can buy Provisions, the Knights have already been explained. SAINT HEALER If a plague breaks out and you have a saint healer with you, and you use it, you will be given new Knights to replace the ones that die. SPYGLASS If you lose your way and have a spyglass with you, by looking through it, you will find your way again. You can use this more than once. COLOSSUS It has been mentioned that a knight can only carry 4 pieces of gold, but if you have a colossus with you then he can carry an unlimited amount of gold. FINALE When you have travelled through all the Kingdoms and are back in your own Kingdom then you can try to conquer the BLACK TOWER. Do not forget to double the amount of your knights in your citadel. If you think you are strong enough to tackle the tower, then you must travel to the field that the tower is in. To enter the tower you need to know the secret combination of the 3 locks. You have to use the three keys in the right sequence. If after six attempts you fail to find them then you must return to the start of the game and try again. If lady luck is on your side and you find the combination then you will be able to enter the tower and defeat the bandits. Once this is accomplished then you are the proud owner of the POWER-Sceptre. Peace and harmony will reign throughout the land once again. COMPATIBILITY The game works OK on an Amiga 2000 with Workbench 1.3. It does not work with an Amiga 4000/030 with Workbench 3.0. However, if you first use a PD disk "Kick 1.3" to make the 4000 think it has Workbench 1.3 it will work without any problems. - o -