[{"TitleName":"Gauntlet III: The Final Quest","Publisher":"U.S. Gold Ltd","Author":"Dean Belfield, Geoff Follin, Haydn Dalton, John P. Tatlock, Simon Justin Street, Tim Follin, Peter Andrew Jones","YearOfRelease":"1991","ZxDbId":"0001993","Reviews":[{"Issue":{"Name":"Crash Issue 87, Apr 1991","Price":"£1.85","ReleaseDate":"1991-03-21","Editor":"Richard Eddy","TotalPages":52,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"EDITORIAL\r\n[redacted]\r\n\r\nEditor: Richard Eddy\r\nSub Editor: Warren Lapworth\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\r\nGroup Advertisement Manager: Judith Bamford\r\nAdvertisement Sales Executive: Christine Moore\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 Scan Studios [redacted]. Printed in England by BPCC Business Magazines (Carlisle) Ltd, [redacted].\r\n\r\nDistributor 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 1991 A Newsfield Publication. ISSN 0954-8661. Cover design and illustration by Oliver Frey"},"MainText":"US Gold\r\n£10.99\r\n\r\nThe island of Capra was a peaceful place. Full of singing birds, pretty flowers and friendly people. A law had kept it peaceful for so long, that stated that if a war was started the gates of hell would open and the Devil could do his worst. All the island's inhabitants obeyed the law, but the Vellons, nasty creatures from the underworld, did not, and all hell broke loose (literally!). You're the hero whose job it is to force the Devil back into hell and save the island. Easy, huh?\r\n\r\nAt the start of Gauntlet 3 you can choose one of eight characters to control. Take your pick from Thor the Warrior, Merlin the Wizard, Dracolis the Lizard-man, Questor the Elf, Petras the Rockman, Blizzard the Iceman, Neptune the Merman and Thyra the Valkyrie. Depending on which character you choose, your various character attributes change (for example, Thor's shot power is good and Thyra's is poor).\r\n\r\nKeeping your energy level up is very important. Food is dotted around the game's eight kingdoms but beware, as some of it has become poisoned by the evil presence. Being careless with your firepower is not a good idea, either - you can shoot the food and drink before you have a chance to get to it.\r\n\r\nThe game is similar to the original Gauntlet. You run about the levels shooting ghosts and other nasties, collecting keys and going through doors. The big difference (if you hadn't already realised) is the way you see the levels. Whereas Gauntlet was glorious 2D, this sequel is in full 3D, with highly detailed backgrounds and characters, all in lovely monochrome. The 3D works really well, characters able to walk behind as well as in front of objects. Unfortunately, as you can't see behind things like trees, you can get stuck now and then.\r\n\r\nYou can play Gauntlet 3 with just one player, but a two-player game is included where both players battle evil together. You can help each other out with the ghosts and share the food, although if you play with Richard he usually shoots you and steals the food for himself (Oi! - Ed)!\r\n\r\nGauntlet 3 - The Final Quest is excellent stuff. The original game was highly addictive in both arcade and computer versions and this gives it a whole new lease of life. It's skill!\r\n\r\nNICK 89%","ReviewerComments":["When the original Gauntlet appeared in the arcades I was forever playing it (an expensive pastime). Now the third part of the saga of Thyra, Merlin, Questor and Thor has appeared and it's on the Speccy! The first thing that struck me was the sheer size of each level; it's a map-maker's dream come true. You can wander around a level for ages, exploring and blasting the creatures that appear out of the hated generators before beginning to solve a level. Most of the original evil nasties are back, and they've brought a few friends along to add to your misery. Gauntlet 3 looks good, plays well and would take most of my week's wages if it were an arcade game. But it's not - it's a Spec game (anyone lend me 11 quid?)!\r\nMark Caswell\r\n91%"],"OverallSummary":"As addictive and as fun to play as ever, Gauntlet 3 is the bee's knees and it'll give you a buzz!","Page":"48","Denied":false,"Award":"Crash Smash","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Nick Roberts","Score":"89","ScoreSuffix":"%"},{"Name":"Mark Caswell","Score":"91","ScoreSuffix":"%"}],"ScreenshotText":[{"Text":"Four of Gauntlet 3's ghosts and they're all after Lizard-man!"}],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Presentation","Score":"90%","Text":""},{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"91%","Text":""},{"Header":"Sound","Score":"88%","Text":""},{"Header":"Playability","Score":"89%","Text":""},{"Header":"Addictivity","Score":"93%","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"90%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Your Sinclair Issue 66, Jun 1991","Price":"£1.95","ReleaseDate":"1991-05-02","Editor":"Andy Ide","TotalPages":84,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Andy Ide\r\nArt Editor: Sal Meddings\r\nGames Editor: James Leach\r\nStaff Writer: Linda Barker\r\nDesign Assistant: Andy Ounsted\r\nAdvertising Manager: Simon Moss\r\nDeputy Advertising Manager: Philip Davenport\r\nProduction Coordinator: Melissa Parkinson\r\nPublisher: Jane Richardson\r\nPublishing Assistant: Michele Harris\r\nGroup Publisher: Greg Ingham\r\nCirculation Director: Sue Hartley\r\n\r\nYour Sinclair, Future Publishing [redacted]\r\n\r\nSubscriptions: Computer Posting [redacted]\r\nDistribution: MMC [redacted]\r\n\r\nCover Illustration: Robert Bliss\r\nISSN 0269 6983\r\nABC July-Dec 1990 60,368\r\n\r\nYS comes to you from the same folks who 'knock out' Commodore Format, ST Format, Amiga Format, New Computer Express, Amstrad Action, MacPublishing, Classic CD, PC Plus, 8000 Plus & Sega Power, Amiga Power, Amiga Shopper & Needlecraft"},"MainText":"US Gold\r\n£10.99 cass\r\nReviewer: James Leach\r\n\r\nAny Capricorns in the audience tonight? Ah, there you are. Well prepare for a bit of a shock - how does it feel to know you're a Lord Of Decay? Mmm. Thought you'd be a bit surprised. But look on the bright side - it beats being a landscape gardener or a milkman, doesn't it? Let me explain why...\r\n\r\nYou see, once upon a time (in Gauntlet 3) there was this island (called Capra) that was being threatened by a bloke called Capricorn (the Lord Of Decay) For some odd reason, he'd taken it upon himself to unleash nasty awfulness upon the islanders unless they were very, very good and didn't fight with each other. Luckily, the people were pretty peace loving bods and didn't particularly want a war anyway, so all was groovy, hippyish and, in fact, rather wet. (Oi, watch it! Ed)\r\n\r\nBut to muck everything up, a race of aliens called the Velcrons suddenly appeared (so-called because they stuck to furniture and clothing), who managed to kick up a bit of a war, so now everything's is in complete turmoil.\r\n\r\nAnd guess what? Yep, somebody big and brave's got to wander up to Capricorn's semi-detached castle and give him a jolly good hiding for what he's done. And that somebody is you (gulp!).\r\n\r\nHEARD ANY OF THIS BEFORE?\r\n\r\nOf course you have - and probably in 2 other games called Gauntlet that've been out before now. So why run through it all again? Well, basically because now you can do it all in isometric 3D. Hurrah!\r\n\r\nAnd that not the only change. This time there aren't just the 4 characters to choose from, but 8. As well as our usual pals like Thor The Warrior and Questor The Elf we've also got the company of such dependable yokies as Petras the Rockman and Dracolis the Lizard Man. You've got to choose which one you want to play of course, depending on the particular range of armour, magic and fighting skills that you want to use, and then set off towards Capricorn's place. (Oh, and there's a 2-player option too.)\r\n\r\nOn the way, you'll travel through 8 kingdoms (or levels), one for each of the hero-type characters (so there's the ice Kingdom, the Sea Kingdom and all the others). What this means of course is that the game is just as enormous as it was before, only this time it's been compacted into sections as opposed to the 100 or so old 'floating' levels, (And there's also a ninth bit waiting at the end, in Which you get to confront Mr Cappy himself.)\r\n\r\nThe 3D system works beautifully, with the characters having full 8-way movement, staying pretty much in the middle of the screen whilst everything scrolls around them. It's not just a simple case of walking along in a straight line of course - you've actually got to find your way through the terrain to get anywhere, with arrows pointing out the way and the odd clue here and there giving you a bit of a helping hand. There's also food, magic spells and lots of other items to pick up, some of which (especially the nosh) can be protected by nasties, or booby-trapped (hur hur).\r\n\r\nAND TALKING OF NASTIES...\r\n\r\nThere are absolutely loads even more than before! (Probably.) Some (like ghosts) appear everywhere, follow you around and are easy to kill, while others are particular to certain levels and include things like mummies, zombies and even venus flietraps. Eek!\r\n\r\nBut I could ramble on for hours about these nice little touches and stuff. (Please don't. Ed.) Basically Gauntlet 3 is, overall, an absolutely stonking game. It's not just that the look of it's changed - this time round there's an even greater range of puzzles to solve and, as I've said, monsters you've got to squish. It's huge, it's exciting and it'll take a jolly long time to complete (and even then you'll probably have missed a whole load of other features and locations!).\r\n\r\nThere is however one major quibble that I'd better mention before I pop off. The graphics are most definitely funky but at times they get totally bogged down by some extremely thick and heavy colours. (There's one particular tone of blue that swamps the screen in mugginess and makes it ridiculously difficult for you to tell what's going on.)\r\n\r\nBut that apart, it's thumbs up all round. Those who've had the pleasure of treading these paths before might not want to again (no matter how different the view!) but for newcomers (especially ones who like blasting monsters) it comes highly recommended.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"Very nice 'tweaked-up' 3D version of the legendary old arcade shooter. A mapper's delight and brill in 2-player.","Page":"14,15","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"James Leach","Score":"89","ScoreSuffix":"%"}],"ScreenshotText":[{"Text":"Come on, Mr Ghosty. Show us what you've got! (It's not an awful lot actually)."},{"Text":"Here's where you choose which chappie (or chappesse) to play. (This is the lovely Thor.)"},{"Text":"It may look small, but this building's got literally hundreds of rooms underneath it. (A bit like the Tardis really!)"},{"Text":"Thor explores an underworld level. (I wonder if it knackers his eyes in too!)"},{"Text":"What's this? A load of blokes with stupid hats queue up to get wasted by Thor. They've got to be mad!"}],"BlurbText":[{"Text":"KINGDOM COME\r\nAnd here's a quick round-up of all these kingdoms that help make up the levels. Each belong to a particular character and they are...\r\n\r\nTHE TREE KINGDOM\r\nHome of the mischieveous Questor the Elf, they call this the Tree Kingdom, but really it's just a big forest. Beware, though, as there are mutant plants which live on flesh within its, er, walls (or whatever).\r\n\r\nTHE MOUNTAIN KINGDOM\r\nIt's very high in the mountains (spook!). Petras the Rockman comes from here. It's cold and there are loads of ghosts, zombies and mummies. (So best not to linger really.)\r\n\r\nTHE SWAMP KINGDOM\r\nYou need to stick to the paths in the swamp, unless you're Dracolis the Lizardman, who lives in this nasty zone. It's a horrible region, filled with Worms, Plague Dogs and other nasties. There's lots of treasure though, so it's worth a peek.\r\n\r\nTHE VOLCANIC KINGDOM\r\nAarrgghh! Run away! This Kingdom is filled with Fire Dragons, which'll toast you as soon as look at you (unless you happen to be Thor, who they're a bit scared of). There are also poisonous creatures, hideous magma fountains and disgusting public toilets (so, again, best to steer clear).\r\n\r\nTHE SEA KINGDOM\r\nNeptune's your man for this region. Ideally you need someone who can swim, but if you manage to doggy-paddle across to it, you'll find Jellyfish, Quickvine and Sharkmen. None of these are very healthy, so I wouldn't really bother (except you have to).\r\n\r\nTHE LOST CITY\r\nCan't be very lost if you've managed to find it. The Valkyries used to live there, but have moved to the countryside, where it's much nicer. There are clues aplenty for the intrepid explorer (which, I suppose, includes you). Traps and snares are everywhere, so have a care when you wander round.\r\n\r\nTHE ICE KINGDOM\r\nAs you'd expect, it's a bit cold here. Ice Dragons freeze their prey to death, so wrap up with a warm anorak and you should be okay. Alternatively, take Blizzard the Iceman, who doesn't feel the cold at all. Great Sorcerers live here too, and they might give you some useful clues for your quest.\r\n\r\nTHE MAGIC KINGDOM\r\nThis is more like it! Gingerbread cottages, yellow brick reads and an endless gallery of entertainment (oo-er). But sadly the horribly nasty evilness has taken over even this haven. Merlin the Wiz used to live here, but left because the neighbourhood went downhill. Tsk! Better go and sort it out then, eh?"}],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Life Expectancy","Score":"88%","Text":""},{"Header":"Instant Appeal","Score":"85%","Text":""},{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"92%","Text":""},{"Header":"Addictiveness","Score":"86%","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"89%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Sinclair User Issue 111, May 1991","Price":"£1.85","ReleaseDate":"1991-04-18","Editor":"Garth Sumpter","TotalPages":52,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Garth 'Shaggy' Sumpter\r\nDesign Editor: Andrea 'Daphne' Walker\r\nDesign: Evette 'Wilma' Nichols\r\nStaff Writers: Steve 'Scooby' Keen\r\nSU Crew: Chris 'Hateful' Jenkins, Tony 'Scappy' Naqvi, John Cook, Pete Gerrard, Phillip 'Mein Gott' Fisch\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Jim 'Trivia' Owens\r\nAd Production: Jo 'Titters' Gleissner\r\nMarketing Dept: Sarah 'Blondie' Ewing, Sarah 'Helpful' Hillard\r\nPublisher: Graham 'Slasher' Taylor\r\nManaging Director: Terry 'Huggy' Pratt\r\n\r\n(c)1991 EMAP IMAGES\r\n[redacted]\r\n\r\nDISTRIBUTION: BBC FRONTLINE\r\nSU SUBSCRIPTIONS: [redacted]\r\n\r\nTypesetting by Garthtype (no wonder it's so crap!). Colour work by Proprint, B&W filming by PRS.\r\n\r\nThis magazine must be in no way lent to anybody, not even yer best mate (although yer wouldn't want anybody else to 'ave it cause it's so fab an' groovy!) Don't by any means let the rabbit have a nibble at this mega mag or we'll get Glenys from upstairs to come round yer house and moan at you till you start crying (and believe me, she's good at it!)' So be warned! Take care of your sacred issues of S U., or else! This nice message comes by ORDER of da management (tremble, quake, tremble)."},"MainText":"Label: US Gold\r\nMemory: 48K/128K\r\nPrice: £10.99 Tape, £14.99 Disk\r\nReviewer: Garth Sumpter\r\n\r\nEight heroes, their magical quest takes them deep within the depths of the underworld, delve deep into the dark corners of rooms, overcome great odds and terrible monsters and retrieve old underwear.\r\n\r\nWell, not exactly, but 3D Gauntlet does have that comfortable ring to it; that familiar feel you get when you pull on three day old boxer shorts and is the the latest in the great coin-op saga.\r\n\r\n3D Gauntlet gives you the option of one two players and you con choose from eight different character's - four of whom are the familiar Questor the elf, Merlin the Wizard, Thyro the Valkyrie and Thor the warrior.\r\n\r\nEach player has different characteristics of magic, defence, speed and damage with play running along, (or briskly walking) in much the some way as the former versions. However, the viewpoint and scenario differ - you begin play above ground, tootling around in graveyards and fields and try to avoid whatever monster the earth throws up at you through its monster generators.\r\n\r\nYou can mutilate the mummies, gun-down the ghosts and generally make life a living hell for the world's inhabitants who inhabit eight separate kingdoms.\r\n\r\nAs you roam around the world, you'll find various items that will help you in your quest: food, as with all of the Gauntlet saga, restores strength which slowly depletes as you wander around or more rapidly as you get attacked by the world's wildlife; keys that unlock doors and walls and the inevitable potions.\r\n\r\nEach type of monster is produced from a monster generator which is set into the ground and can be destroyed with several smatterings of well-aimed violence and once dead, con be forgotten for ever.\r\n\r\nAs you wander around each kingdom, there are portals to other parts which are indicated with large arrows, (so that you can't miss 'em), that lead you down into the very bowels of the earth itself (it's a good job that no-one's developed games in 'Smellaround' yet!)\r\n\r\nThis isn't a bad product - the graphics are reasonable if a little complicated, but the game play is simple enough to get straight down to business - if you're in the ghost-bustin' business that is, and with osso many options to choose from, 3D Gauntlet should keep you blastin' away for quite some time.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"The 3D element adds a new perspective to a tried and tested product - definitely worth a whirl if you're a fan of the genre.","Page":"20,21","Denied":false,"Award":"Sinclair User Silver","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Garth Sumpter","Score":"85","ScoreSuffix":"%"}],"ScreenshotText":[{"Text":"Grave goings on in ghost town. Kill those spooks or become a set of hand luggage."},{"Text":"More wizards than on a Paul Daniels Christmas Special! Garth pass me that valium."},{"Text":"Split my gizzard it's that lizzard! A more handsome chap you couldn't meet in a cemetery."},{"Text":"You don't know who you'll run into on the underground."}],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"84%","Text":""},{"Header":"Sound","Score":"75%","Text":""},{"Header":"Playability","Score":"86%","Text":""},{"Header":"Lastability","Score":"85%","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"85%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]}]}]