69 lines
3.9 KiB
Plaintext
69 lines
3.9 KiB
Plaintext
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UNIVERSE III
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UNIVERSE III is the second sequel in the UNIVERSE series from Omnitrend
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Software, and it does not rely on either the heavy space-flight science of
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UNIVERSE, or the job-oriented reality of UNIVERSE II. U3 is an adventure game
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that offers fine graphics and animation, digitized sound effects, 70 areas to
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explore, lots of characters and interaction, mouse/keyboard control, a save
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option, and no copy protection. (This review is based on the Atari ST version.)
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The plot of U3 concerns a mission to Earth, which has not had a visitor from
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the isolated Local Group in 300 years. As Captain Alexander Seward, you must
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pilot the FWS Union to Ambergris in the Local Cluster, establish diplomatic
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relations, and execute your mission orders. The problem is that there is a
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traitor on your ship. An important passenger is murdered early on, and you're
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next on the list.
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The ST graphics display consists of an animation window, where character
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interaction, movement, and combat take place; a text window for descriptions and
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information; and a series of function icons that provide directional movement,
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inventory, and character status. There is a verb list, and an icon for using
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ladders. There are four ways to move your character through the corridors and
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rooms of the game: click on the directional arrows, trace a path, jump from room
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to room, or use an object (such as a key).
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The thirteen verbs (Examine, Read, Ready, Wear, Enter, Order, etc.) allow
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interaction with objects and other characters. Ten objects can be taken and
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carried, used, or dropped; some need to be magnified before being used. A
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mouse-click on certain shipboard devices or other characters brings up pictures
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and more detailed text descriptions.
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U3 is controlled using either mouse or keyboard. Click the left button on a
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function icon to invoke that function; a right click opens and closes doors, and
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displays pictures of zoom-able characters or zoom-able items through either the
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Inventory icon or the action screen. If your character is alone in a room or
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corridor, you can trace a path for him to follow by: 1) holding the left button
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down; 2) moving the pointer; and 3) releasing the button. The character then
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moves promptly to the end of the path, which can also be traced around a corner.
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Keystrokes can be substituted for any of these mouse-invoked actions, and each
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of the ST's ten Function keys has a use, such as Save Game, Toggle Sound and
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Animation, and Exit.
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The UNIVERSE III package comes with two 720K disks that you can back up or copy
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to a hard drive. A double-sided drive and color monitor are required. The brief
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instruction manual brings the UNIVERSE story up to date, explains some things
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about your mission (other important details are revealed in the game), and
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describes all mouse and keyboard functions.
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UNIVERSE III is a solid and playable program, competently written; it's also a
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welcome departure from the previous games in the series. The screen displays are
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not as spectacular as in FIENDISH FREDDY or BATTLE CHESS, but they're well done
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nonetheless: Items look like items, the characters are distinct individuals, and
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anything not immediately comprehensible can be made so with a mouse-click.
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Combat is animated, the text is spiced with dashes of humor, and there's a
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running joke about robots and ghosts from a television program -- "Idiots in
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Space" or something. The digitized sounds are effective and used sparingly.
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Gameplay with either mouse or keyboard is effortless and easy to learn.
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The shipboard killer can be unmasked without much hassle, but the threads of
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the plot really start to fray at the murder scene. Other characters are
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necessary to solve certain puzzles. The game is smoothly paced, and punctuated
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by bursts of action. There's nothing like a good mystery, and that's exactly
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what UNIVERSE III is.
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UNIVERSE III is published and distributed by Omnitrend Software.
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*****DOWNLOADED FROM P-80 SYSTEMS (304) 744-2253
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