[{"TitleName":"Skull & Crossbones","Publisher":"Domark Ltd","Author":"Adrian Page, David Beresford, David Fish, Graham Stafford, Matt Furniss","YearOfRelease":"1991","ZxDbId":"0004554","Reviews":[{"Issue":{"Name":"Crash Issue 88, May 1991","Price":"£1.85","ReleaseDate":"1991-04-18","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":"Tengen/Domark\r\n£9.99/£14.99\r\n\r\nYo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum, me hearties! Once pirates were the scourge of the Spanish Maine so it was only a matter of time before their adventures popped up in a hacking-away coin-op, which now makes its appearance on the Speccy. We're talking serious swashbuckling here as you, with or without the aid at a pal, become either One Eye or Red Dog and search through eight levels for treasure, stolen by an evil sorcerer. Armed with trusty (and probably rusty) cutlasses, they fight the continuous stream of attacking pirates to regain their booty. Hah har!\r\n\r\nThe action is spread over eight levels, set aboard galleons, in Spanish castles, in caves and all sorts of locations where Errol Flynn would feel at home. The brightly coloured backdrops scroll from one combat location to another and once you're there you fight until all your attackers are disposed of. Along the way are lots of bonus items to collect, chests full of treasure, golden goblets, pieces of eight and 'X marks the spot' where buried treasure lies.\r\n\r\nThe more treasure collected, the stronger you become. And strength is needed because the opposition put up a stiff fight. A swift poke with your sword usually sends your attackers to the great pirate banquet in the sky - that is as long as they don't retaliate and knock a few points on your energy bar.\r\n\r\nFood and drink is scattered around and consuming these pushes your energy meter up to an acceptable level, keeping your three lives intact for a while.\r\n\r\nAt the end of each level, one of the evil sorcerer's huge henchmen tries to hack you to bits, and having overcome him you still have to fight your treacherous crew for it! The sorcerer himself awaits your presence for a final battle at the end of level eight.\r\n\r\nEye strain is the first concern for anyone playing Skull and Crossbones; the small monochrome sprites are almost lost in the garishly coloured backdrops.\r\n\r\nRight, the gameplay: what we're looking at here is really a standard beat-'em-up, much in the style of Golden Axe but with a pirate theme. It can be a case of 'seen it all before' if you're a beat-'em-up addict. All you have to do is walk along, wave your sword at the enemy forces and grab the loot. There isn't a great variety of combat moves; our pirate pals can only swipe with their swords.\r\n\r\nSkull and Crossbones is a much better than Tengen's last game, Stun Runner, and although I've not seen the arcade game that Skull and Crossbones is taken from, it's a pretty entertainment romp!\r\n\r\nMARK 70%","ReviewerComments":["Skull and Crossbones follows in the footsteps of the Renegade games. You go around the landscape swashing and buckling your enemies until they blow up and leave 10p pieces behind (strange!). The funny thing about it is you only have to battle it out against one enemy at a time and the main character only ever seems to face one direction. If you want to go right, for example, but you're facing left, you moonwalk along the screen! Leaving each section of the game is quite peculiar: you jump on a cross and your character flys over to the next stage (not a very piratey thing to do, is it?). Skull and Crossbones's theme spices up the old beat- 'em-up style but doesn't hold many surprises.\r\nNick Roberts\r\n76%"],"OverallSummary":"A good conversion of an obscure coin-op but doesn't progress beyond previous beat-'em-ups.","Page":"44","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Mark Caswell","Score":"70","ScoreSuffix":"%"},{"Name":"Nick Roberts","Score":"76","ScoreSuffix":"%"}],"ScreenshotText":[{"Text":"Ol' One Eye battles it out (and when he's killed the pirate he'll probably indulge in rumpo with the lassie relaxing on deck)."}],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Presentation","Score":"70%","Text":""},{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"68%","Text":""},{"Header":"Sound","Score":"65%","Text":""},{"Header":"Playability","Score":"69%","Text":""},{"Header":"Addictivity","Score":"71%","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"73%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Your Sinclair Issue 67, Jul 1991","Price":"£1.95","ReleaseDate":"1991-06-13","Editor":"Andy Ide","TotalPages":68,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Andy Ide\r\nPregnant Art Editor: Sal Meddings\r\nNew Art Editor: Andy Ounsted\r\nGames Editor: James Leach\r\nStaff Writer: Linda Barker\r\nAdvertising Manager: Simon Moss\r\nProduction Coordinator: Melissa Parkinson\r\nPublisher: Jane Richardson\r\nPromotions Manager: Michele Harris\r\nPublishing Assistant: Tamara Ward\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: Nick Davies\r\nISSN 0269 6983\r\nABC July-Dec 1990 60,368\r\n\r\nYS comes to you from the shed in the garden behind the building that produces (or that's got lots of little people inside it who produce) Commodore Format, ST Format, Amiga Format, New Computer Express, Amstrad Action, Classic CD, PC Plus, 8000 Plus, Sega Power, Amiga Power, Amiga Shopper, PC Answers & Needlecraft"},"MainText":"Domark\r\n£9.99 cass/£14.99 disk\r\nReviewer: Linda Barker\r\n\r\nI'd make a really good pirate. I'm dead 'ard, you know. I Could grow some stubble (or failing that, slap on the shoe polish!) I've already got an eyepatch and some raggedy trousers, so I'd just need a sword and a parrot after that. Yes, indeedy - it certainly beats being a lusty wench and getting tied up by rough sailors!\r\n\r\nYou probably know all about Skull And Crossbones already 'cos Andy megapreviewed it just a couple of issues back. But in case you were snoozing at the time, let me gently remind you. (And don't drop off again this time!)\r\n\r\nOOO-ARRGH, ME LUVVLIES!\r\n\r\nRight, matey, you are now a pirate! As either One Eye or Red Dog you get to slash 'n' thrust your way through 8 ship and land levels picking up food, digging for treasure and crossing swords with pesky pirates, nippy ninjas and sabre-weilding skeletons. These hoodlums are the personal army of the evil Sorcerer who pops up at the end of every other level (the land bits) in disguise - and he's a dab hand with the old dressing up box. For example, at the end of the 4th level (after getting rid of enough ninjas to fill a bottomless coracle) you come across a cross-legged Confucius look-alike. Don't be fooled, 'cos this peace-loving old gent turns into none other than Mr Master Ninja himself. Give old Conf a good going over with your ol' blade and whaddaya know? Mr Wiz? We meet again.\r\n\r\nDIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS\r\n\r\nEnd-of-level baddies aside, most of your adversaries are a bit hopeless, especially in the first 6 levels. You'll get onto the poop deck and suddenly about 7 nasty looking pirates appear. Eek! Time for a swift getaway. But (and it's a big but) only one comes at you - so you get rid of him. And all these rotten scoundrels (instead of going for your throat like any self-respecting vagabond) simply line up, waiting to be stabbed in the stomach and go up in a puff of smoke. This makes the whole game a lot easier than it otherwise might have been and it's all a bit of a let-down. The best of the bunch are the ninjas. Dressed to kill (in black, of course) they come rolling silently behind you curled up into little balls. Then they uncurl and give you quite a bit of grief. How sweet!\r\n\r\nTIME FOR A SLASH!\r\n\r\nAnd now for another let-down - the graphics. The scenery is excellent and clear but the sprites, unfortunately, aren't. They blend into the background, as well as each other, so things get really confusing. There were points where everything was corkingly clear but then I'd move forwars a bit and it was more a case of \"Eh oop, where am I?\"\r\n\r\nSkull And Crossbones is addictive fun but it's a touch too easy - especially if you master the backslash early on. (Wah-hey! Bit of a tip there, Spec-chums!) it wasn't until the sixth level that I started to get into trouble, and I'm usually crap. If I got up on Saturday morning, went into twon and spent my hard-earned cash on this then I'd be a bit upset if I'd finished it by the time Beverley Hills 90210 came on. The question you have to ask yourself is whether or not a tenner is too much for a day's entertainment? And I think it is. If Skull And Crossbones was £3 I'd recommend it, but it's not.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"Fun but facile coin-op conversion. A piratical slash-'n'-pick-'em-up with confusing sprites.","Page":"54,55","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Linda Barker","Score":"72","ScoreSuffix":"%"}],"ScreenshotText":[{"Text":"And we see one of our pirates callously bashing up a half-dressed pensioner. What a star, eh?"},{"Text":"Don't worry, love! Ole Red Eye's here to save you! (And give her a coat to wear hopefully. She does look at bit chilly, doesn't she?)"},{"Text":"Here's loads of screenshots of the second level all put together. Follow the arrows around, walking over dem bones to unearth lots of lovely treasure, like money and grapes. (And yes, we know it looks a bit odd in the middle but that's just the way it is.)"},{"Text":"What pathetic baddies, eh Spec-chums? In two seconds time they'll all be dead (cos that's the kind of nippy pirate I am!)"}],"BlurbText":[{"Text":"A BEGINNERS' GUIDE TO PIRACY\r\n\r\nBecome a pirate in just x10x 8 easy steps - simply follow the YS cut-out-and-keep guide to piracy!\r\n\r\n1) Get an old coathanger and saw off the hook bit. Hold it tight, pull your sleeve down to cover your hand, and voila - an ideal back-scratching device (and pretty good at scaring off very little children).\r\n\r\n2) Get some pinking shears and cut your school trousers off so they're just below calf-length. Don't worry about cutting in a straight line - the more uneven, the better! (And remember kids, no shoes!)\r\n\r\n3) Get a white shirt and ask a friend to hold one end while you keep hold of the other. Then both pull in opposite directions. If you haven't got a friend, then a dog will do just as well.\r\n\r\n4) Tie a scarf (or maybe one of your dad's ties) round your neck. (Anything you wear should be covered in dirt first. It just makes things a little more authentic.)\r\n\r\n5) Smear the lower half of your face with boot-polish - this looks amazingly like stubble! Cover the remainder of your features with dirt and rub lots of dirt and cooking oil in your hair.\r\n\r\n6) Swords are quite hard to get hold of, but a reasonable imitation can be produced from cardboard and silver foil.\r\n\r\n7) Run, screaming, down the road to the park. Remember to wave your sword about a lot. Get a boat out and there you go. You're a fully-fledged trainee pirate. Well done.\r\n\r\n8) And, erm, that's it."}],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Life Expectancy","Score":"70%","Text":""},{"Header":"Instant Appeal","Score":"79%","Text":""},{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"75%","Text":""},{"Header":"Addictiveness","Score":"80%","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"72%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Your Sinclair Issue 92, Aug 1993","Price":"£2.95","ReleaseDate":"1993-07-08","Editor":"Jonathan Nash","TotalPages":36,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"YOUR SINCLAIR\r\nABC 20,775\r\n\r\nAnd still damn proud of it!\r\n\r\nProduct Textual Conceptualization: Jonathan Nash\r\nProduct Aesthetic Conceptualization: Andy Ounsted\r\nProduct Enscribement Officials: Craig Broadbent, Simon Cooke, Simon Forrester, Dave Golder, Simon N Goodwin, Simon Hindle, Philip Kiernan, Phil McCardle, Rich Pelley\r\nProduct Instant Impact Visualization: Mike Roberts\r\nSimon Hindle's Product Representationilizer: Alex Soboslay\r\nProduct Finance Acquirement Executives: Rob Bennett, Caroline Simpson\r\nProduct Outflow Regulization: Laurie Van Huss\r\nClient Product Enhancementizator: Louis Cockroft\r\nProduct Enplatement Effectorizators: Mark Gover, Heath Parsons\r\nProduct Realizationment Liaisonization: Chris Stocker\r\nProduct Graphic Digitalization Craftspersons: Simon Chittenden, Jon Moore, Simon Windsor\r\nProduct Profitwise Optimizator: Colin Campbell\r\nProduct Advancement Officer: Tamara Ward\r\nChief Product Profitwise Optimizator: Greg Ingham\r\nChief Product Managementalizator: Stuart Middleton\r\nDeputy Product Managementalizator: Claire Thomas\r\nProduct Managementalization Executive: Ginette McKeown\r\nRaw Product Behavioural Regularization: Fiona Deane\r\nAdministrationization Assistantment: Suzannah Angelo-Sparling\r\nProduct Saleability Ensurementizer: Jon Bickley\r\n\r\nYour Product, Product Publishing [redacted]\r\n\r\nEmpirical Product Overseealizationatorist: Chris Anderson\r\n\r\nProduct Realizators: Riverside Press [redacted]\r\nClassic Product Enholdmentization: Future Publishing Ltd. [redacted]\r\n\r\n©Future Publishing 1992. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without permissionalization.\r\n\r\nISSN 0269 6983\r\n\r\nCommodore Format, Amstrad Action, Amiga Format, PCW Plus, PC Answers, Mega, Super Play, PC Plus, Sega Power, Amiga Power, Amiga Shopper, Classic CD, Needlecraft, Cycling Plus, MBUK, Gamesmaster, PC Format, ST Format, Total!, Caravan Plus, Good Woodworking, Future Music, Mac Format and Cross Stitcher all love YS."},"MainText":"Hit Squad\r\n£3.99\r\n[redacted]\r\nReviewer: Philip Kiernan\r\n\r\nAr-harr! (Start again. Ed) 'Ello, 'ello, 'ello, what's all this then? Why, it's a skull and two beautifully shaped bones! (Knew I should have cleaned up my bedroom before now.) But think of all the fun we could have with three such simple objects, eh, readers? For starters, here's a trick anyone could master with the minimum of effort. Watching? Place the skull face up on a flat surface like so. Arrange the bones into a cross formation like this and then pull the two structures together. There you have it - a skull and crossbones! Another tweak - and it's become a literary device known as a link!\r\n\r\nYes, Skull And Crossbones, the game, (drum roll) is back. I won't say by popular demand because, well, more about that later. But, yes, the little blighter is upon us again so let's take a gander, shall we? Well, the most striking thing about Skull And Crossbones is that it's a pirate game (me hearties). And in the undying tradition of pirate games, you get to play the part of, and I'll just articulate this part carefully, a pi-rate. He goes by the name of One Eye, and he's a wizard with a cutlass. Not too much of a wizard, obviously, because he's managed to stick himself in the eye along the way. A smidgeon careless, I'd say. Or was it? Knowing pirate folk (well, not personally) I wouldn't put it past the scoundrel to have done it deliberately, in order to look 'ard in the company of his pirate friends. (Actually, I wonder why pirates are obsessed with wearing eye-patches? It seems every last swashbuckling sea farer is Long-Johnning around with one. Where's the variety? You'd have thought that at least one would have dared to be different, and, say, been hard of hearing in one ear. Mind you, this would probably have been a handicap in fights, viz: 'Draw your sword, you scurvy dog!' 'Sorry? Aaarghh.' All that one-leggedness would have caused difficulties as well. Maybe it was all an initiation test, or something. It made quick getaways a bit out of the question, whichever way you look at it.)\r\n\r\nTALES FROM THE POOPDECK\r\n\r\nSkull And Crossbones is similarly unadventurous in dealing out deformities. Your freebooter is merely one-eyed, and has no sense of fear. Armed with naught but a sharp cutlass and bundles of attitude, he has to plod through eight landscapes, attack henchmen, nobble treasure and kill the Evil Sorceror. Yawn. Sorry, but the plot's all so tediously predictable. Actually, in its defence, the more treasure you collect, the tougher you become, which is a welcome twist sort of thing.\r\n\r\nUh-oh. I've just noticed the gameplay. Despite having a wide range of interesting opponents to overcome, there's really little challenge in ploughing through them. Once you've got to grips with the fighting moves, the whole thing is dribblingly easy, especially as the villains arrive in single file. And the actual levels, though nicely laid out and brimming with colour, leave no opportunities for exploring - it's linear, guiding-rein progress all the way. Oh aye, then there's the two-player mode. Would a simultaneous two-player mode have been too much to ask, hmm? Apparently, because what we're given instead is the ancient second player takes over when the first player kicks the bucket lark. Dearie me.\r\n\r\nThe biggest drawback of the lot is the dratted loading routine. When you move from level to level, you have to go through the rigmarole of feeding in the whole of side two over and over again. You can't help but ask yourself if it's in any way worth it all, and you can't help but answer yourself, no, it's not. There are lots of impressive graphical bits later on, like the animated distressed damsel and the spinning ninjas (Whatwhatwhat? Ed) but these are hardly enticement enough for you to bear with it. As it is, Skull And Crossbones will appear on St Peter's books as 'Oh, it was a nice idea, but, hey, they didn't quite get it right.' No recommendations unless you've got barrels of patience. Which is an awful pity, really. The pirate theme has so much potential, but to date has been badly served. Skull And Crossbones does nothing to redress the balance. In fact, I think I'll take a cutlass it right now. Ar-harr, take that, you swab! Arrr! (Clash of cutlass on cassette. Cutlass rebounds and impales reviewer.) Shiver me timbers, it got me. Arr, keep the map safe, Jim, and look after me parrot. (Dies.)","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"Uppers: Pirates! I love 'em. Nice graphics, lots of variety, a couple of smart touches hither and yon.\r\n\r\nDowners: Opponents with no backbone, a prehistoric two-player mode, repetitive hack 'n'slash gameplay.\r\n\r\nAverage, very average, Mr Bond. Or something.","Page":"9","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Philip Kiernan","Score":"53","ScoreSuffix":"%"}],"ScreenshotText":[{"Text":"Fortunately, Tom was able to persuade the monster that it was a 2D sprite badly integrated with a 3D background, and it slipped off, plummetting to a messy death in the border."},{"Text":"In later life, One Eye worked as a tour guide. Sadly, his penchant for attacking his tour groups, robbing and throwing them over the battlements led to his eventual dismissal."}],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Overall","Score":"53%","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: Domark\r\nMemory: 48K/128K\r\nPrice: £9.99 Tape, £14.99 Disk\r\nReviewer: Steve Keen\r\n\r\nAhoy me hearties! Shiver me timbers, hoist the main sail and break out the rum ha har! Well what would you expect of a game with this title, it leaves no margin for error. A pirate game is what you want and that's what you get.\r\n\r\nYOU are One Eye the rootin'est tootin'est, sorry wrong stlye! the most dastardly damnable cur to sail the seven seas although most of the action takes place on what you are led to believe is land.\r\n\r\nVarious wenches have been kidnapped and trussed up in strategic places (oo-er!). The task ahead is to find out their location whilst battling the oppressive sea dogs that bark at your heels and hinder your progress. Nothing new here. Dice up the bad guys with your cutlass, dodge the bottle throwing imp who takes refuge in a barrel and get to the end of level big boys and cut them down to size.\r\n\r\nSome of the sword fighting is quite fun. You can block, parry and thrust to your hearts content and there's some satisfaction in lunging forward for your attack and springing back unharmed, but the variety of gameplay is very limited. When you have slogged your way across the first level you are returned to the beginning to do it all again with the only change being a few more bottles to avoid. There are also some strange characters lurking about. What a ninja school is doing in the middle of a pirate game is beyond me!\r\n\r\nTo say did not enjoy Skull and Crossbone would be lying, but not to mention the terrible tune would be criminal. This one sent fellow S.U. members running for cover and Garth still can't watch pirate films without covering his ears and humming some Madonna.\r\n\r\nThe spirit of One Eye will no doubt live on, but he'll turn in his grave when he hears the piper calling his tune.","ReviewerComments":["There are wide-ranging possibilities for pirate games but the pixel perfect movement that is needed for Skull and Crossbones detracts from the cut and thrust of pirating about.\r\nGarth Sumpter"],"OverallSummary":"In the words of that immortal alternative comic Vic Reeves; One Eye \"They wouldn't let him lie\".","Page":"24","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Steve Keen","Score":"67","ScoreSuffix":"%"},{"Name":"Garth Sumpter","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""}],"ScreenshotText":[{"Text":"And at the end of the show, there's nothing like getting yourself up the pointy end of the ship so that you can take a bow. (Ouch!)"},{"Text":"Avast ya swabs! One Eye has a conflict in the Pirate's schoolground when he finds that young Jim has stolen his kipper sarnies!"},{"Text":"Here's One Eye tripping the light fantastic on the dancefloor of the Jolly Jack-a-go-go. If that bouncer hits him, he'll be reeling!"},{"Text":"In the finest tradition of Errol Flynn (ask your dad!), the fights that One Eye has will take him even to the highest ramparts. Oooo Arr matey!"}],"BlurbText":[{"Text":"PIRATE FAX\r\n\r\nIndochinese pirates still infest the South China Seas today.\r\n\r\nThe most famous pirate in history, Blackbeard, was originally an English soldier Edward Teach. Renown for his extreme savagery he was an embarrassment to the British forces until he was killed by them during an attempt to capture his ship."}],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"70%","Text":""},{"Header":"Sound","Score":"78%","Text":""},{"Header":"Playability","Score":"70%","Text":""},{"Header":"Lastability","Score":"74%","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"67%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"C&VG (Computer & Video Games) Issue 116, Jul 1991","Price":"£1.35","ReleaseDate":"1991-06-15","Editor":"Tim Boone","TotalPages":132,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Tim Boone\r\nDeputy Editor: Paul Glancey\r\nArt Editor: Jon Billington\r\nStaff Writers: Richard Leadbetter, Paul Rand\r\nAdvertisement Manager: James Owens\r\nDeputy Advertisement Manager: Martha Moloughney\r\nSales Exec: Greg Watson\r\nProduction Assistant: Emma Sadler\r\nAdditional Layout: Yvette Nichols\r\nManaging Editor: Julian Rignall\r\nPublisher: Graham Taylor\r\n\r\nSubscription Enquiries: CVG Subscriptions, [redacted]\r\nEditorial and Advertisement Offices: [redacted]\r\n\r\nPrinted By: Kingfisher Web, [redacted]\r\nColour By: Proprint, [redacted] and Colour Connection [redacted]\r\nTypeset By: That man again\r\nDistributed By: BBC Frontline\r\n\r\n©Computer And Video Games 1991\r\nISSN No: 0261-3697\r\n\r\nHello Danny Curley, you got your mention after all!"},"MainText":"Domark\r\nSpectrum £10.99\r\n\r\nHa-harrrr me laddie! Shiver me timbers, etc etc. If you didn't get the idea from that unoriginal and lacking intro, Skull and Crossbones is a scrolling beat 'em up based around pirates. The coin-op, like this conversion, borders on the average, so if I was you, I'd save the eleven quid for something better. Let's hope that future conversions are far superior.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"85","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Richard Leadbetter","Score":"57","ScoreSuffix":"%"}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Overall","Score":"57%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]}]}]