68 lines
3.9 KiB
Plaintext
68 lines
3.9 KiB
Plaintext
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SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL
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SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL is an action/arcade game published by First Star
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Software and distributed under the Capstone label by IntraCorp. It offers
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excellent graphics, sound, and animation; eight scenarios; mouse or joystick
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control; and copy protection. The Atari ST version, for which you'll need 512K
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and a color monitor, is the basis of this review.
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According to IntraCorp, the SUPERMAN storyline depends on the computer you're
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using. In this ST version, it concerns a pact between two of Superman's
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perennial enemies, Lex Luthor and Darkseid, who are using a geo-disrupter to
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destroy Planet Earth. This heinous conspiracy has been uncovered by Professor
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Corwin of S.T.A.R. Laboratories.
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As Superman, you make your way through eight games. Each scenario must be
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successfully completed before the next can begin, and each further unravels the
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plot, pushing it (and Superman, and you) toward the final battle: the
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destruction of the geo-disrupter. Enroute to the Darkseid/LexCorp space station,
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you'll battle the fireballs and concussion clouds of the Parademons, rescue
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Governor Lee and Lois Lane from terrorists, journey through asteroid and
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Kryptonite storms, and withstand heat-seeking missiles and robot defenses. Enter
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the inner core of the space station, destroy the geo-disruptor, and you'll have
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saved the day.
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The retaliatory powers at your disposal are Flight (standard in all scenarios),
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Super Punch, Heat Vision, Telescopic Vision, Super Breath, and Super Kick. Not
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all powers are available in all scenarios. You'll have three chances to finish
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each game, and there is no save option.
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The ST screen display consists of a mini-comic book, which introduces each
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game, followed by the colorful and smooth-scrolling graphics of the current
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scenario. Appropriate powers are selected from the "Icon Bank," below which is a
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strength bar that shrinks as Superman uses the power you've selected. A
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diminished power can be replenished by not using it, and you can use a different
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power while the depleted one regenerates. Complete a scenario and a new
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mini-comic will get you properly pumped up for the next game. Lose the three
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Super-lives before completing any scenario and the game ends, which leads to a
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emotionally feeble (but great looking) scene in the Fortress of Solitude.
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Superman can be controlled via either mouse or joystick. Moving the mouse
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directionally moves Superman likewise, and is identical to moving the stick. The
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left button (or the joystick button) uses the current power; the right button
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(or the Spacebar) cycles among the powers in the Icon Bank.
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The SUPERMAN package comes with two copy-protected disks, a Code Card used as
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an additional form of copy protection, and an ST/Amiga instruction manual.
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The three-dimensional graphics and animation of SUPERMAN are excellent, and
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both mouse and joystick are effective controllers. Overall, though, THE MAN OF
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STEEL is much like MIAMI VICE (also from IntraCorp). So is my reaction: The game
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is nicely designed, looks great, and plays fine, but I can't get anywhere with
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it. Superman is only slightly more effective than MIAMI VICE's Crockett and
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Tubbs (who, of course, are media stars, not superheroes), and no more effective
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than Spider-Man and Captain America in DR. DOOM'S REVENGE, which is to say, all
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five of them should be sent immediately to the nearest rest home.
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Not including TRUMP CASTLE, all IntraCorp games have given me major problems.
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They simply come off as more difficult than they should be: These are supposed
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to be games, not jobs. Nevertheless, SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL does look good,
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and it does have the potential to play well. It'd be negligent to dismiss it
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abruptly. Like MIAMI VICE, SUPERMAN deserves a pre-purchase playtest.
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SUPERMAN: THE MAN OF STEEL is published by First Star Software and distributed
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by IntraCorp.
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*****DOWNLOADED FROM P-80 SYSTEMS (304) 744-2253
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