[{"TitleName":"Firelord","Publisher":"Hewson Consultants Ltd","Author":"Stephen J. Crow, Steve Weston","YearOfRelease":"1986","ZxDbId":"0001775","Reviews":[{"Issue":{"Name":"Crash Issue 35, Dec 1986","Price":"£1","ReleaseDate":"1986-11-20","Editor":"Graeme Kidd","TotalPages":164,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Publishers: Roger Kean, Oliver Frey, Franco Frey\r\nPublishing Executive/Editor: Graeme Kidd\r\nStaff Writers: Lloyd Mangram, Hannah Smith\r\nAdventure Editor: Derek Brewster\r\nStrategy Editor: Sean Masterson\r\nTech Tipster: Simon Goodwin\r\nContributing Writers: Jon Bates, Brendon Kavanagh, Rosetta McLeod, John Minson, Bill Scolding\r\nProduction Controller: David Western\r\nArt Director: Dick Shiner\r\nIllustrators: Ian Craig, Oliver Frey\r\nProduction: Seb Clare, Tim Croton, Gordon Druce, Mark Kendrick, Tony Lorton, Michael Parkinson, Cameron Pound, Jonathan Rignall, Matthew Uffindell\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Roger Bennett\r\nAdvertisement Assistant: Nick Wild\r\nSubscriptions: Denise Roberts\r\nMail Order: Carol Kinsey\r\n\r\nEditorial and Production: [redacted]\r\n\r\nMail Order and Subscriptions: [redacted]\r\n\r\nADVERTISING\r\nBookings [redacted]\r\n\r\nPrinted in England by Carlisle Web Offset, [redacted] - member of the BPCC Group.\r\n\r\nDistributed by COMAG, [redacted]\r\n\r\nNo material may be reproduced whole or in part without written consent of the copyright holders. We cannot undertake to return any written material sent to CRASH Magazine unless accompanied by a suitably stamped addressed envelope. Unsolicited written or photo material which may be used in the magazine is paid for at our current rates.\r\n\r\n©1986 Newsfield Limited\r\n\r\nCover by Oliver Frey\r\n\r\nCRASH ABC FIGURE:\r\n101,483 Total\r\n97,992 UK and EIRE"},"MainText":"Producer: Hewson\r\nRetail Price: £8.95\r\nAuthor: Stephen Crow\r\n\r\nSteve Crow has joined the Hewson label for his latest release, having built up a powerful reputation as a Spectrum programmer with games like Wizard's Lair and Starquake. His latest game stars a chivalric hero on a quest to liberate an oppressed land...\r\n\r\nThe Evil Queen who rules over the stricken land of Torot has a new and very deadly weapon in her possession. Using her cunning charm she has tricked a dragon into parting with the powerful Firestone which conveys the ability to hurl fireballs. With this weapon in her hands the wicked queen sets about terrorising the inhabitants of Torot.\r\n\r\nLuckily it just so happens that a happy avenger of evil is in the neighbourhood at the moment. Sir Galaheart is a fearless Knight who hopes to con the Queen into letting him have the Firestone. The wicked Queen is terribly vain and terribly scared of growing old and losing her beauty. Sir Galaheart plans to find the four ingredients for the spell of Eternal Youth and trade them with the Queen for the Firestone.\r\n\r\nAlthough the inhabitants of Torot have fled into their homes, the land is by no means empty. Deadly Fire Ghosts abound, ready to sap away Sir Galaheart's essential life force if they get too close. When the bold knight's energy level reaches zero he loses one of his five lives. At the beginning of the game, Sir G. doesn't have any weapons with which to defend himself against the ghosts, so his first priority is to arm himself. His firepower comes in the form of different coloured crystals, but these only last for a while, so new ones must be collected.\r\n\r\nSir Galaheart roams around the land of Torot looking for the charms needed to brew the secret youth spell. Useful objects, spells and charms are kept by the inhabitants of Torot inside their houses, so Sir G. must enter their homes and barter with them. Some of the objects lying around in the open are useful when it comes to bartering with the locals.\r\n\r\nWhen Sir Knight enters a house, the view moves to an icon screen. One column of icons shows the objects which the housekeeper has to offer, another shows items carried by our hero. After deciding whether he wants anything, the hero can access a column of action icons and attempt to trade. If all else fails, a bit of pilfering might just work... The hands icon represents the theft option, and to steal you have to wait until the householder turns away and then move the control arrow from the theft icon to the object which you want to steal. Move it quickly to the object you are offering then over to the acceptance icon and you have stolen the required object.\r\n\r\nIf the householder looks round at any time during the theft, you are automatically brought up before the Reeve, who judges you. Should he decide you're guilty you get a reaction test, and have three attempts at stopping a moving arrow. Get it wrong, and you could lose up to three lives.\r\n\r\nSir Galaheart has to keep his energy up, and tasty bits of food can be found along the way. When Sir G. picks these up, his energy level shoots back up to maximum. However, should the knight lose a life, he is instantly vaporised and his tin helmet clatters to the ground...\r\n\r\nYour knight must negotiate his way through leafy glades and deserted towns in his quest. Apart from scuttling around on his feet, there are also transporters which take him to a different location in the game. If Sir G wants to return to a Magic Place, he must remember the correct objects for the spell - casting the spell takes him to his destination.\r\n\r\nApart from useful objects, the knight can trade for information with the locals. Although they would like the reign of the power-crazed Queen to end just as much as he does, they'll only oblige for a price!\r\n\r\nCOMMENTS\r\n\r\nControl keys: redefinable: up, down, left, right, fire\r\nJoystick: Kempston, Cursor, Interface 2\r\nKeyboard play: no problems\r\nUse of colour: excellent\r\nGraphics: picturesque\r\nSound: small tunette at the beginning of the game with really good spot effects throughout\r\nSkill levels: one\r\nScreens: 500","ReviewerComments":["Steve Crow has certainly got a fair list of hits behind him, from the very good Factory Breakout, to the superb Starquake. This next one follows on very well, though in a different vein. Another arcade adventure is all very well, but one of this calibre is very welcome indeed. The graphics are very good, with the colour used lavishly and to good effect. I don't think that there is anything in the game that is bad, in fact I like it a lot. If arcade adventures are your scene, then get a load of this.\r\r\nUnknown","I'm very impressed with this. I got straight into Firelord and thoroughly enjoyed playing it. The layout is very similar to Robin of the Woods, and graphically they are very alike. This is one of the best arcade adventures around. The sound is very good and contains some excellent spot effects and a good tune at the beginning. All the backgrounds are very colourful and are well drawn. I liked the way you can go into different doors and find different people in houses - all offering useful bits 'n' bobs. Stealing is also fun but quite tricky. Presentation is well up to Steve Crow's standards.\r\r\nUnknown","An excellent game this, but would you expect anything else from the man who brought us Starquake? I really enjoyed playing this one although the instructions are not much help. I think Firelord will have wide appeal as you don't need a great deal of joystick mangling. A good memory is necessary however, as running around the hundreds of screens can often lead you to lose your bearings, and the signpost 'service' given by some home occupants isn't very helpful. Graphically the game is excellent, but its outstanding feature is the colour. The sound is admirable: there are a couple of tunettes on the title screens and there are lots of lovely effects during the game. I strongly recommend this game.\r\nUnknown"],"OverallSummary":"General Rating: Steve Crow does it again!","Page":"22,23","Denied":false,"Award":"Crash Smash","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Unknown","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""},{"Name":"Unknown","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""},{"Name":"Unknown","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""}],"ScreenshotText":[{"Text":"A trading screen. The left hand column of icons reveals the wares on offer from the householder, whose portrait appears at the top of the right hand column of action icons. By the looks of it, the knight is attempting to steal some information..."},{"Text":"The trial screen. The blue arrows flash in rotation and to escape the rap you'd better stop them against the innocent verdict!"},{"Text":"Wandering around in the great outdoors; our hero could collect that yummy purple stock of corn to build up his energy..."}],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Use of Computer","Score":"91%","Text":""},{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"91%","Text":""},{"Header":"Playability","Score":"91%","Text":""},{"Header":"Getting Started","Score":"85%","Text":""},{"Header":"Addictive Qualities","Score":"91%","Text":""},{"Header":"Value For Money","Score":"89%","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"91%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Crash Issue 85, Feb 1991","Price":"£1.85","ReleaseDate":"1991-01-24","Editor":"Oliver Frey","TotalPages":68,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"EDITORIAL\r\n[redacted]\r\n\r\nEditor: Oliver Frey\r\nFeatures Editor: Richard Eddy\r\nStaff Writers: Mark Caswell, Nick Roberts, Lloyd Mangram\r\nArt Editor: Mark Kendrick\r\nPhotography: Michael Parkinson\r\nProduction and Circulation Director: Jonathan Rignall\r\nSystems Operator: Paul (Charlie) Chubb\r\nReprographics: Matthew Uffindell (Supervisor), Robert Millichamp, Robb Hamilton, Tim Morris, Jenny Reddard, Lisa McCourt\r\nGroup Advertisement Manager: Judith Bamford\r\nAdvertisement Sales Executive: Kevin Gallagher\r\nAdvertisement Production: Jackie Morris (Supervisor), Joanne Lewis\r\nMail Order: Carol Kinsey\r\nSubscriptions: Caroline Edwards [redacted]\r\n\r\nTypesetting Apple Macintosh Computers using Quark Express and Bitstream Fonts.\r\n\r\nSystems Manager: Ian Chubb\r\n\r\nColour origination by Scan Studios [redacted]. Printed in England by BPCC Business Magazines (Carlisle) Ltd, [redacted] - a member of the BPCC Group.\r\n\r\nDistribution by COMAG, [redacted]\r\n\r\nYearly subscription rates: UK £17.20 Europe £24.00, Air Mail overseas £37. US/Canada subscriptions and back issues enquiries Barry Hatcher, British Magazine Distributors Ltd [redacted]. Yearly subscription rates US$47.00, Canada CAN$57.00 Back Issues US$5.20, Canada CAN$6.20 (inclusive of postage). \r\n\r\nCOMPETITION RULES\r\nThe Editor's decision is final in all matters relating to adjudication and while we offer prizes in good faith, believing them to be available; If something untoward happens we reserve the right to substitute prizes of comparable value. We'll do our very best to despatch prizes as soon as possible after the published closing date. Winners names will appear in a later issue of CRASH. No correspondence can be entered into regarding the competitions (unless we've written to you stating that you have won a prize and it doesn't turn up, in which case drop us a line). No person who is related, no matter how remotely, to anyone who works for either Newsfield or any of the companies offering prizes, may enter one of our competitions.\r\n\r\nNo material may be reproduced whole or in part without the written consent of the copyright holders. We cannot undertake to return anything sent into CRASH - including written and photographic material, software and hardware - unless it is accompanied by a suitably stamped addressed envelope. Unsolicited written or photo material on 35mm transparencies is welcome, and if used in the magazine is paid for at our current rates. Copy published in CRASH will be edited as seen fit and payment will be calculated according to the current printed word rate. The views expressed in CRASH are not necessarily those of the publishers.\r\n\r\nCopyright CRASH Ltd 1989 A Newsfield Publication. ISSN 0954-8661. Cover Design by Oliver Frey"},"MainText":"Player Software\r\n£2.99 re-release\r\n\r\nMedieval characters, 500 detailed locations and full colour, cartoon style graphics make up Firelord. The game was originally released in 1986 by Hewson when it got 91% from this very organ. Now on rerelease how will those five years have taken their toll? Your task is to recover the four charms of eternal youth to give to the evil queen. She has seized the firestone and will only give it back if this small gift is bestowed upon her. You must succeed, brave warrior.\r\n\r\nPlaying Firelord you can't help but notice the similarities to the older Ultimate games like Atic Atac and Sabre Wulf. The graphics here are a little smaller but the idea of running about a flip screen world dodging nasties and collecting objects is exactly the same. An added feature is the bartering you can do with the townsfolk to get objects and cast spells. The system used in a barter is very confusing if you haven't read the instructions thoroughly - come to think of it they're still confusing when you have! The large play area allows you to explore more and more each time you play, making you come back for go after go.\r\n\r\nFirelord is a little dated as a full price game but as a rerelease I recommend it to everyone who missed out the first time.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"62","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Nick Roberts","Score":"73","ScoreSuffix":"%"}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Overall","Score":"73%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Your Sinclair Issue 12, Dec 1986","Price":"£0.95","ReleaseDate":"1986-11-13","Editor":"Kevin Cox","TotalPages":122,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Kevin Cox\r\nArt Editors: Martin Dixon, Caroline Clayton\r\nDeputy Editor: Teresa Maughan\r\nProduction Editor: Sara Biggs\r\nStaff Writer: Phil South\r\nTechnical Consultant: Peter Shaw\r\nContributors: Stephen Adams, Mike Gerrard, Ian Hoare, Gwyn Hughes, ZZKJ, Steve Marsden, Tommy Nash, Chris Palmer, Max Phillips, Rick Robson, Rachael Smith\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Mark Salmon\r\nAdvertisement Executive: Julian Harriott\r\nProduction Managers: Sonia Hunt, Judith Middleton\r\nPublishing Manager: Roger Munford\r\nPublishing Director: Stephen England\r\n\r\nPublished by Sportscene Specialist Press Ltd, [redacted] Company registered in England.\r\nTypesetters: Carlinpoint [redacted]\r\nReproduction: Graphic Ideas, London\r\nPrinters: Chase Web Offset [redacted]\r\nDistribution: Seymour Press [redacted]\r\n\r\nAll material in Your Sinclair ©1986 Felden Productions, and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of the publishers. Your Sinclair is a monthly publication."},"MainText":"Hewson Consultants\n£8.95\nReviewer: Gwyn Hughes\n\nUltimate has a lot to answer for. By being so good, its programs spawned a whole new genre... Imitate - Plagiarise the Game. Firelord isn't a 3D clone, thank Knight Lore, but goes back further to the savage days of Sabre Wulf.\n\nFor those without long memories, that means that it's a multi-screen maze game. Very 'multi', with 500 plus screens, a host of meanies and lots to pick up in your perambulations. And the one thing that makes this deja-play tolerable is that it's written by Steve Crow, who seems to have a knack when it comes to imitating the Ashby crew.\n\nPlot-wise, Firelord sets Sir Galaheart on a mission to seek out the sacred Firestone (though why he should want a holy car tyre I have no idea) and return it to the dragon. This means he'd better get a move on and though he's already got his drag on, he needs a weapon, which he'll find lying around the medieval highways and by-ways.\n\nLife in the Middle Ages was nasty, brutish and short (rather like the Ed) but at least it was pretty too, and as you wander the country lanes, or stroll into town, you'll benefit from some attractive scenery.\n\nBut the hottest thing about Firelord is its trading element. You can walk into some houses and sit down for a bit of bartering with the occupant. Of course they may not want to sell their magic supplies or information for the hall eaten ham sarnie that you're offering, but you can always try a tittle light fingered theft ...\n\nLife in medieval Britain obviously progressed at a more gentle pace, and though I quite enjoyed this, my feelings are that it's pleasant rather than powerhouse. It has an olde worlde charm that could soon wear off, unless you're really into the game type. In that case, it's got some novel twists, but personally I'd have preferred something rather more original from Hewson.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"53","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Gwyn Hughes","Score":"7","ScoreSuffix":"/10"}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"8/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Playability","Score":"9/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Value For Money","Score":"7/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Addictiveness","Score":"7/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"7/10","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Sinclair User Issue 56, Nov 1986","Price":"£1","ReleaseDate":"1986-10-18","Editor":"David Kelly","TotalPages":124,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: David Kelly\r\nDeputy Editor: John Gilbert\r\nSenior Staff Writer: Graham Taylor\r\nStaff Writer: Jim Douglas\r\nDesigner: Gareth Jones\r\nEditorial Secretary: Norisah Fenn\r\nAdventure Writers: Gordo Greatbelly\r\nZapchat: Jon Riglar\r\nHelpline: Andrew Hewson\r\nHardware Correspondent: John Lambert\r\nContributors: Brendon Gore, Richard Price, Rupert Goodwins, Andy Moss, Gary Rook, John Pope\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Louise Fanthorpe\r\nSenior Sales Executive: Jacqui Pope\r\nProduction Assistant: Alison Morton\r\nAdvertisement Secretary: Linda Everest\r\nSubscriptions Manager: Carl Dunne\r\nPublisher: Terry Pratt\r\n\r\nTelephone [redacted]\r\n\r\nSinclair User is published monthly by EMAP Business & Computer Publications\r\n\r\nCover Illustration: Stewart Hughes\r\n\r\nIf you would like to contribute to Sinclair User please send programs or articles to:\r\nSinclair User\r\nEMAP Business & Computer Publications\r\n[redacted]\r\n\r\nOriginal programs should be on cassette and articles should be typed. Please write Program Printout on the envelopes of all cassettes submitted. We cannot undertake to return cassettes unless an SAE is enclosed. We pay £20 for each program printed and £50 for star programs.\r\n\r\nTypeset by Saffron Graphics Ltd, [redacted]\r\nPrinted by Nene River Press, [redacted]\r\nDistributed by EMAP Publications Ltd.\r\n\r\n©Copyright 1986 Sinclair User ISSN No 0262-5458\r\n\r\nABC 90,215 July-Dec 1985"},"MainText":"Label: Hewson\r\nAuthor: Steve Crow\r\nPrice: £8.95\r\nJoystick: various\r\nMemory: 48K/128K\r\nReviewer: Graham Tayor\r\n\r\nStephen Crow's programming history reminds me of Amstrad. His stuff is not particularly original, but it does ring some interesting changes on some familiar ideas and sometimes he does it better.\r\n\r\nSo it is with Firelord, the first offering from Stephen now that he has left Bubble Bus and joined Hewson.\r\n\r\nThe cruel and cynical will say that Firelord is Attic Attac-meets-Sabre Wulf and thus dismiss it as yet another Ultimate clone. But it's a very, very good Ultimate clone: fast, vast, visually stunning and tremendous fun to play.\r\n\r\nThe background is a sort of Walt Disneyesque tudor backdrop - the land of Torot - where all the inhabitants have been cursed and turned into ghostly apparitions - a little like Rhyl on a Sunday in fact. You have to get the pieces of an eternal youth spell to trade for the Firestone which will release everybody from the trance... etc, etc.\r\n\r\nIt so happens that the inhabitants are the kind of cute little assorted yokels that fill Ultimate games and the hero if a little knight with a big helmet. Apparitions materialise a few seconds after you enter a location in an Ultimatesque mini-explosion and wander about aimlessly, bumping into you and getting in the way.\r\n\r\nYou do get to defend yourself from the inhabitants of Torot and kill them in large numbers, which is a pleasing but futile pastime, since they keep on coming. To start blasting you need one of those all-purpose magic crystals - you should find one lying about somewhere, although there is a lot of ground to cover, literally hundreds of screens.\r\n\r\nOther assorted objects you may find scattered around include food (= energy), crystals, hay (?), and some easily identified objects. Pick them up by running over them.\r\n\r\nAll this stuff is hardly anything new.\r\n\r\nFirelord does though have some nicely inventive touches that I haven't seen elsewhere. There are small details like the ice flames you can set burning by running away even more quickly. More significant is the trade option which forms an essential part of solving the game. Objects you collect can often be exchanged for tips, guidance, spells and other objects on entering one of a number of houses owned by certain key figures in the game.\r\n\r\nThe trading section is a change from the usual Ultimate-style backdrops. The screen displays the owner of the house you have entered - with an animated head which turns to look left and right, the objects you have on offer, the objects the owner has on offer and a hand icon. Ordinarily you use the joystick to select one of your objects and one of the owners objects thereby offering a trade. If it is accepted the object will appear in a third column and you may take it. There is, however, another way of doing business...\r\n\r\nYou can steal! When the owner turns away you can try to press the hand icon, dash over with the cursor and press the object you wish to steal and finally press the exit icon. Do it in time and you get the object for nothing. Should the face turn and 'see' you then you stand trial.\r\n\r\nThe trial is a little like those options on gambling machines where win/lose flashes alternately, except that in this case it's guilty/innocent. Careful timing might get you off - the trouble is you have to go through the process three times with guilty/innocent flashes getting faster and faster - it isn't easy and you could lose up to three lives - crime doesn't pay (unless you are very good at it).\r\n\r\nI guess Firelord does for Sabre Wulf-period Ultimate what Dan Dare did for Manic Miner, ie it made up for its lack of basic plot originality by being beautifully designed, excellently programmed, bigger and by ringing a few more changes here and there it diffuses any serious claims of a rip-off.\r\n\r\nAnd, because of all this, Firelord is a lot of fun.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"Looks like Ultimate circa Sabre Wulf but is vast, well designed and not without original ideas. Lots of fun.","Page":"32,33","Denied":false,"Award":"Sinclair User Classic","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Graham Taylor","Score":"5","ScoreSuffix":"/5"}],"ScreenshotText":[{"Text":"Another house to explore. Dodge the flame which rises and falls intermittently."},{"Text":"Entering the wood. Three men with pickaxes don't want you to leave. Spell power is at zero. Three lives left. Energy level is high."},{"Text":"Recognise the little charadcter in the helmet? A motly collection of zombied townspeople prepare to attack."},{"Text":"Someone's house. The open door means you may enter. The Zap spell (top right in the status display) could be exchanged for something else. But what?"}],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Overall","Score":"5/5","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Sinclair User Issue 108, Feb 1991","Price":"£1.85","ReleaseDate":"1991-01-18","Editor":"Garth Sumpter","TotalPages":84,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Garth Sumpter\r\nDesign Editor: Andrea 'Hotlips' Walker\r\nDesign: Margaret Goldrick\r\nStaff Writer: Jason Nalk\r\nSU Crew: Chris 'Hateful' Jenkins, John Cook, Pete Gerrard, Gary Liddon\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Jim Owens\r\nAd Production: Jo 'Titters' Gleissner\r\nMarketing Manager: Dean Barrett\r\nMarketing Assistants: Sarah Ewing, Sarah Hillard\r\nPublisher: Graham Taylor\r\nManaging Director: Terry Pratt\r\n\r\n(c)1990 EMAP IMAGES\r\n[redacted]\r\n\r\nDISTRIBUTION; FRONTLINE\r\n\r\nTypesetting by Garthtype\r\nTypos by A.C.C. Ident\r\nColour work by Proprint. B&W filming by PRS.\r\n\r\nNo port of this magazine may be reproduced without permission. Sinclair User would like to express its deepest regrets at the recent death of Mike Johnston, who was the Consultant Editor on the initial launch of Sinclair User. He was first secretory of the Guild of Software Houses and was always a driving force within the industry. He will be remembered for his tireless work running ZX microfairs which he himself initiated and his loss will be felt by everyone that had contact with him."},"MainText":"Label: Players\r\nPrice: £2.99 48K\r\nReviewer: Chris Jenkins\r\n\r\nSir Galaheart's quest to restore the Firestone to its rightful place appears to be a straightforward maze-type arcade adventure, but in fact there's a lot more to it than that.\r\n\r\nResembling very much one of the classic imagine arcade adventures, Hewson's Firelord has some quaintly-designed and colourful backgrounds, smoothly-animated characters and fast screen-flipping. Though your eventual aim is to find the Firestone, to do this you have to deal with a host of characters by entering their forest homes and trading with them (or by blowing them to bits with bolts of magical energy).\r\n\r\nBuying spells or magical objects and paying travel tolls using than icon-driven system, you move around the land of Torot in search of the Firestone. Trying to get away without paying for a deal can be profitable, but if you fail to come up innocent in the trial reaction test, you face a heavy penalty.\r\n\r\nEngrossing, large-scale and entertaining arcade/strategy fun.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"Pixie adventure on a grand scale with nice graphics and absorbing gameplay.","Page":"64","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Chris Jenkins","Score":"87","ScoreSuffix":"%"}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"68%","Text":""},{"Header":"Sound","Score":"65%","Text":""},{"Header":"Playability","Score":"87%","Text":""},{"Header":"Lastability","Score":"88%","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"87%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"C&VG (Computer & Video Games) Issue 62, Dec 1986","Price":"£98","ReleaseDate":"1986-11-16","Editor":"Tim Metcalfe","TotalPages":164,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Tim Metcalfe\r\nDeputy Editor: Paul Boughton\r\nEditorial Assistant: Lesley Walker\r\nSub-Editor: Seamus St. John\r\nDesign: Craig Kennedy\r\nAdventure Writers: Keith Campbell, Paul Coppins, Steve Donoghue\r\nAmerican Correspondent: Marshall M. Rosenthal\r\nArcades: Clare Edgeley\r\nSoftware Consultant: Tony Takoushi\r\nPublicity: Marcus Rich\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Garry Williams\r\nAdvertisement Executive: Katherine Lee\r\nAd Production: Debbie Pearson\r\nPublisher: Rita Lewis\r\nCover: Steve Gibbs\r\n\r\nEditorial and Advertisement Offices: [redacted]\r\n\r\nJuly-December 98,258"},"MainText":"MACHINES: Spectrum/Amstrad/C64\r\nSUPPLIER: Hewson\r\nPRICE: Spec/Ams/C64 £8.95\r\nVERSION TESTED: Spectrum\r\n\r\nC+VG Golden Joystick Winner Steve Crow has come up with a real scorcher in the shape of Firelord! It's an arcade adventure in the best tradition of arcade adventures - plenty of action and puzzles plus a couple of new twists.\r\n\r\nThis is Steve's first game since the award winning Starquake - and you'll recognise some similarities between the two games when it comes to the style of graphic presentation. But Firelord isn't Starguake set in the Middle Ages. Far from it.\r\n\r\nIf you read our preview last issue you'll know the background to the game. But for those of you who missed it the basic idea of Firelord is, well basic.\r\n\r\nYou play the part of Sir Galaheart, a noble knight out to end the rule of the Evil Queen who has enslaved the population of the land of Torot using the sacred Firestone which she has stolen from an unsuspecting and very friendly dragon.\r\n\r\nGalaheart has to become the Firelord and defeat the Evil Queen. Not an easy task...\r\n\r\nYou begin the game - as a lowly peasant - in the village, battling flame ghosts who take the form of poor villagers. Our hero can zap these creatures - but only when he's collected an enchanted crystal.\r\n\r\nAll the real villagers are hiding in their houses. They can be persuaded to help you by giving you information, and you can barter with them for useful items.\r\n\r\nWhen you begin the game you won't have anything to barter with. This means you're going to have to steal something!\r\n\r\nNow normally a gallant knight like Sir Galahart wouldn't dream of doing such a thing. But times are hard and there's a quest at stake here!\r\n\r\nSo you're going to have to do a bit of breaking and entering. You'll always find someone at home - but you can still walk out with a useful object if you're quick at manipulating the various icons on the bartering screen.\r\n\r\nSucceed and you'll be able to trade. Fail and you'll have to stand trial! More about that later. First let's take a closer look at trading a cheating!\r\n\r\nOnce inside the house, shop or other inhabitable area, the screen will change. In the top right corner of the screen the character with whom you are trading is depicted. Below that is a cheat command. More of that later. Finally, on that side is the exit option.\r\n\r\nDown the middle of the screen you can find the various services offered by the character. A set of scales signifies that you may be able to trade with them.\r\n\r\nA signpost will tell you that you can find out your location.\r\n\r\nUsing the cross-shaped cursor, you select which service you require, and how you intend to pay for it.\r\n\r\nNow, back to the cheating part. Should you decide that it's worth the risk, you can choose to try and rip off the occupant of the building. If you get away with it, then you will escape with the object you desire, and the one which you promised to part with! However, if you are caught, you will find yourself at the trial.\r\n\r\nIf you're familiar with the bonus game in Uridium you'll get the idea of the trial screen pretty quickly. An arrow flashes back and forwards between two words - Innocent and Death. You get three chances to ensure you don't lose a life. If you get it wrong and the arrow points to Death one life goes - every time. So if you get nabbed early on in the game it could be quite short!\r\n\r\nYour score can be found at the top left hand side of the screen, lives left are shown in the right. In the centre are bars which show the condition of your energy, weapon and bartering powers. Items you've collected are also shown at the top of the screen.\r\n\r\nYou'll also find useful things dotted around the landscape - things like the crystals and bits of food which help keep your energy up. Making a map is essential, and always remember where you've left a supply of food.\r\n\r\nFirelord is an excellent game. Graphics are colourful and sound effects original - which is saying something on the Spectrum. I particularly liked the metallic tinkling sound which happens when Galaheart dissolves after running out of energy or when he is wiped out by a baddie!","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"30,31","Denied":false,"Award":"Game of the Month","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Jim Douglas","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"9/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Sound","Score":"8/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Value","Score":"9/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Playability","Score":"9/10","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Your Computer Issue 12, Dec 1986","Price":"£1","ReleaseDate":"1986-11-20","Editor":"Gary Evans","TotalPages":100,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Gary Evans\r\nDeputy Editor: Francis Jago\r\nStaff Writer: John Barnes\r\nSub Editor: Harold Mayes MBE\r\nProduction Editor: Jim McClure\r\nProduction Assistants: Nick Fry\r\nEditorial Secretary: Sheila Baker\r\nDesigner: Chris Winch\r\nDesign Assistant: Neil Tookey\r\nHead Of Advertising Sales: Dory Mackay\r\nAdvertisement Manager: David Lake\r\nAdvertisement Executives: Amber Russell, Bal Dillon\r\nClassified: Paul Monaf\r\nPublisher: Paul Coster\r\nFinancial Director: Brendan McGrath\r\nManaging Director: Richard Hease\r\n\r\nYour Computer, [redacted]\r\nISS 0263 0885\r\n\r\n©1986 Focus Investments Ltd\r\nPrinted by The Riverside Press Ltd, England.\r\nTypeset by Time Graphics Ltd, [redacted]\r\nMember of the Audit Bureau of Circulation.\r\n\r\nDistributed by Quadrant Publishing Services, [redacted].\r\n\r\nReasonable care is taken to avoid errors in this magazine but no liability is accepted for any errors which may occur. No material in this publication may be reproduced in any way without the written consent of the publishers. The publishers will not accept responsibility for the return of unsolicited manuscripts, listings, data tapes or discs.\r\n\r\nWe will assume permission to publish all unsolicited material unless otherwise stated. We cannot be held responsible for the safe return of any material submitted for publication. Please keep a copy of all your work and do not send us original artwork.\r\n\r\nUnfortunately we are unable to answer lengthy enquiries by telephone. Any written query requiring a personal answer MUST be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope; please allow up to 28 days for a reply.\r\n\r\nSubscriptions: UK £15 for 12 issues. Overseas (surface mail) £25 - airmail rates on request. Please make a cheque/postal orders payable to Focus Investments (allow 5 weeks from order receipt of first subscription copy). Send orders to Your Computer Subscriptions, [redacted].\r\n\r\nBack issues of the magazine from January onwards are available for £1.50 (UK), £3 (Overseas) from the Back Issues Department, [redacted].\r\n\r\nDistributed by Business Press International, [redacted]."},"MainText":"Various\r\nHewson\r\nArcade Adventure\r\n£8.95\r\n\r\nWhen a programmer who has recently had the honour of being named Programmer of the Year moves almost instantly to a new software house, the accusations tend to fly. Although Bubble Bus must surely miss Steve Crow, his move to Hewson must be considered reasonable. What Crow had to do was to make sure that his first game was as good as his last, Starquake, and that would be no mean feat.\r\n\r\nWith Firelord, he has produced an arcade adventure of such depth and quality that he must now stand alongside any of the top programmers in England. The game is set in the medieval lands of Torot, where it is your task to seek the sacred Firestone and return it to the dragon's safekeeping. That may sound an easy task for a super-hero like Sir Galaheart but unfortunately the evil Queen will not take kindly to his actions.\r\n\r\nTo obtain the Firestone it is necessary to collect the elements of the spell of eternal youth and then trade them. At the beginning it is necessary first to obtain the enchanted crystal, as that will allow you to shoot everything in sight.\r\n\r\nAs the game unfolds it becomes apparent that its important aspect is bartering. As you enter each house, owned by peasants, witches and wizards, you can see items which they are willing to swap. If you have other items, trading can take place. The more dodgy players will also find that stealing is not too difficult, so long as you are quick.\r\n\r\nAs you gain spells, the game unfolds even more and you soon learn how to travel round the land and what is where, but with more than 500 screens, even the most dedicated fans will take a time to complete it.\r\n\r\nOverall, Firelord is a tremendous success and it goes even further to establish both Crow and Hewson. The only question left to ask is how can the games continue to improve so dramatically?","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"43","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Francis Jago","Score":"5","ScoreSuffix":"/5"}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"5/5","Text":""},{"Header":"Sound","Score":"4/5","Text":""},{"Header":"Playability","Score":"5/5","Text":""},{"Header":"Value For Money","Score":"5/5","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"5/5","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"ZX Computing Issue 33, Jan 1987","Price":"£1.5","ReleaseDate":"1986-12-18","Editor":"Bryan Ralph","TotalPages":92,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Bryan Ralph\r\nAssistant Editor: Cliff Joseph\r\nConsultant Editor: Ray Elder\r\nAdvertising Manager: John McGarry\r\nDesign: Argus Design\r\nA.S.P. Advertising and Editorial [redacted]\r\n\r\nPrinted by Chase Web, [redacted]\r\n\r\nAdvertisement Copy Controller: Andy Selwood\r\n\r\nDistributed by: Argus Press Sales and Distribution Ltd, [redacted]\r\n\r\nZX Computing Monthly is published on the fourth Friday of each month. Subscription rates can be obtained from ZX Subscriptions, [redacted]\r\n\r\nThe contents of this publication, including all articles, designs plans, drawings and other intellectual property rights herein belong to Argus Specialist Publications Limited. All rights conferred by the law of Copyright and other intellectual property rights and by virtue of international copyright conventions are specifically reserved to Argus Specialist Publications Limited and any reproduction requires the prior written consent of the company.\r\n\r\nArgus Specialist Publications Limited. ©1987"},"MainText":"HEWSON'S MEDIEVAL MAGIC ARCADE ADVENTURE HAS OUR REVIEWER UNDER ITS SPELL.\r\n\r\nHewson\r\n£8.95\r\n\r\nFirelord has all the elements we have to expect from Steve Crow, author of Starquake and Wizards Lair, but it's also a dazzling progression from his previous work.\r\n\r\nThe plot is fairly standard - you play Sir Galaheart and must collect the charms and free the land from the Evil Queen who has put a fiery curse on the land with the power of the magical Firestone. Don't be put off by a familiar plot as Firelord is executed faultlessly and will provide days of entertainment on many different levels.\r\n\r\nThere are a multitude of things to do in this 512 screen feudal word but you won't get very far unless you first locate an enchanted crystal which will give you some firepower against the bands of knights who roam the land. Objects are scattered throughout the landscape and these are necessary to give you bartering clout to obtain the spells you need. So it's not just a matter of 'collect the right objects and you are home and dry' and the barter sequences are a very clever addition. Enter a house and you are transferred to an icon driven screen which shows you the house owner (witch, peasant, etc) by way of an animated inset picture of a face, what objects you have and what objects are on otter.\r\n\r\nYou could of course go for a straight transaction but there is also an icon which gives you the chance to get away with what you are after for nothing. You have to be pretty fast with the cursor to do this and if you mistime it retribution is swift.\r\n\r\nIf you get caught red-handed you are brought before the judge and may forfeit up to three of your five lives if you fail to come through a sub game that requires even greater split second timing than carrying off the crime itself which is a nice touch of poetic justice.\r\n\r\nEven after long periods of play I found I'd barely scratched the surface of the game but had been enthralled throughout and that to me is a sure sign that Firelord will be returned to again and again.\r\n\r\nThe game features very attractive graphics, smooth animated figures, and a complexity of gameplay that is pitched at just the right frustration level. It holds more than enough surprises to captivate even the most accomplished arcade adventurer.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"45","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":null,"CompilationReviewScores":[]}]}]