[{"TitleName":"Task Force","Publisher":"Players Premier","Author":"Ian Sheridan, Jabba Severn, Peter Austin, Richard Beston, Sonja Knight, Andy Severn","YearOfRelease":"1989","ZxDbId":"0005152","Reviews":[{"Issue":{"Name":"Crash Issue 66, Jul 1989","Price":"£1.5","ReleaseDate":"1989-06-29","Editor":"Oliver Frey","TotalPages":52,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"EDITORIAL\r\n[redacted]\r\n\r\nEditor: Oliver Frey\r\nFeatures Editor: Richard Eddy\r\nEditorial Assistants: Viv Vickress, Caroline Blake\r\nPhotography: Cameron Pound, Michael Parkinson (Assistant)\r\nContributors: Nick Roberts, Mike 'Skippy' Dunn, Robin Hogg, Mark Caswell\r\n\r\nPRODUCTION DEPARTMENT\r\n[redacted]\r\n\r\nProduction Manager: Jonathan Rignall\r\nReprographics Supervisor: Matthew Uffindell (Supervisor), Robert Millichamp, Robert (the Rev) Hamilton, Jenny Reddard\r\n\r\nDESIGN\r\nRoger Kean, Mark Kendrick, Melvin Fisher\r\n\r\nPublisher: Geoff Grimes\r\nGroup Advertisement Director: Roger Bennett\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Neil Dyson\r\nAdvertisement Sales Executives: Lee Watkins, Wynne Morgan\r\nAssistant: Jackie Morris [redacted]\r\nGroup Promotions Executive: Richard Eddy\r\n\r\nMail Order: Carol Kinsey\r\n\r\nSubscriptions\r\n[redacted].\r\n\r\nDesigned and typeset on Apple Macintosh II computers using Quark Express and Adobe Illustrator '88, output at MBI [redacted] with systems support from Digital Reprographics [redacted]. Colour origination by Scan Studios [redacted]. Printed in England by Carlisle Web Offset, [redacted] - member of the BPCC Group.\r\n\r\nDistribution by COMAG, [redacted]\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 (like a game that has been offered as a prize being scrapped) 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 the Viv Vickress a line at the [redacted] address). No person who has any relationship, no matter how remote, to anyone who works for either Newsfield or any of the companies offering prizes, may enter one of our competitions. No 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. We regret that readers' postal enquiries cannot always be answered. Unsolicited written or photo material is welcome, and if used in the magazine is paid for at our current rates. Colour photographic material should be 35mm transparencies wherever possible. 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":"TASK FORCE\r\n£2.99\r\nPlayers Premier\r\n\r\nBefore you say anything I world just like to point out that task Force is not anything like Cybernoid II... well perhaps just a bit then (hem hem). But what's it all about?\r\n\r\nSnide Gantree has been up to his old tricks again and with his evil mercenary mates has overrun our top secret South Pacific Airforce base. The naughty people. In less than live hours Snide's men will have hacked into the targeting computers that control all the cruise missiles, and you know what that means... trouble with a capital TRUB!\r\n\r\nThe game is made up of loadsa screens, all which have really neat and well-coloured graphics. The main sprite, like the aliens, is not all that detailed, but the non-stop action keeps your mind fully alert. As with many other Players games there are mini puzzles to be solved in between the action. I recommend this for a good blast but don't expect much lastability.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"45","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Nick Roberts","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""},{"Name":"Richard Eddy","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Overall","Score":"68%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Your Sinclair Issue 44, Aug 1989","Price":"£1.6","ReleaseDate":"1989-07-17","Editor":"Matt Bielby","TotalPages":92,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Matt Bielby\r\nArt Editor: Catherine Higgs\r\nDeputy Editor: Jackie Ryan\r\nProduction Editor: Andy Ide\r\nSenior Staff Writer: Duncan MacDonald\r\nDesigner: Catherine Peters\r\nEditorial Assistant: David Wilson\r\nTechnical Consultant: David McCandless\r\nContributors: Marcus Berkmann, Jonathan Davies, Mike Gerrard, Sean Kelly, Peter Shaw,Phil South\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Alison Morton\r\nAdvertisement Executive: Stephen Bloy\r\nAdvertisement Director: Alistair Ramsay\r\nProduction Manager: Judith Middleton\r\nAdvertisement Production: Claire Baker\r\nMarketing Manager: Bryan Denyer\r\nCirculation Manager: June Smith\r\nAssociate Publisher: Teresa Maughan\r\nFinance Director: Colin Crawford\r\nManaging Director: Stephen England\r\nChairman: Felix Dennis\r\n\r\nPublished by Dennis Publishing Ltd, [redacted] Company registered in England.\r\nTypesetters: Carlinpoint [redacted]\r\nReproduction: Graphic Ideas, London\r\nPrinted By: Riverside Press [redacted]\r\nDistribution: Seymour Press [redacted]\r\n\r\nAll material in Your Sinclair ©1989 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":"TASKFORCE\r\nPlayers Premier\r\n£2.99\r\nReviewer: Marcus Berkmann\r\n\r\n\"Mercenaries led by the evil Snide Gantree have overrun our top secret South Pacific Air Force base. In less than four hours...\" Yes yes yes. In fact it's fairly easy to see how Snide and his troops managed to take control of this base, for whoever built it based its design almost entirely on that of a well known computer game - Hewson's Cybernoid. Worra coincidence! And it's no less surprising that, of all people, it is you who have been asked to undertake the usual daredevil solo mission to recapture the base (you must be a little tired of these by now, I'd've thought) Fortunately, you are a pilot of the aforementioned TASKFORCE airfighter, which just happens to be fitted with all of those lovely weapons you get in Cybernoid. Nice the way these things work out, isn't it? It's fair to say, then, that you now already know whether you're going to buy this game or not. It's not as sophisticated as the original - or indeed as original as the original - but it's a jolly little shoot 'em up with some entertainingly wacky palm trees and a couple of weapon systems you won't find in many air force bases. Shameless, perhaps, but fun.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"51","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Marcus Berkmann","Score":"71","ScoreSuffix":"%"}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Overall","Score":"71%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Sinclair User Issue 87, Jun 1989","Price":"£1.6","ReleaseDate":"1989-05-18","Editor":"Jim Douglas","TotalPages":100,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"It's the SU All Stars! Yaaaaaaay!\r\n\r\nJIM \"The Natural\" DOUGLAS (Editor)\r\nA born superstar. Playing for the Boston Redsox team in the 1947 world series Jim received a near fatal injury at the hands of a jealous female fan. While details are a little fuzzy, it's known that Jim spent twelve years in traction and psychotherapy after the incident. Now a coach with many youth teams across the States, he makes regular appearances in game shows and sports quiz programmes in the US. He has been paralleled with Emelyn Hughes Once\r\n\r\nALISON \"Tin-legs\" SKEAT (Production Editor)\r\nIn shock developments this month, motorcycle stunt racer Skeat was both involved in a horrific accident during a display and a ghastly mix-up in the resulting hospital visit. After weeks of plastic surgery it became clear that something was wrong with the very nature of Alison's appearance. Is there any hope left? Er, no.\r\n\r\nTIM \"Slugger\" NOONAN (Art Editor)\r\nFrom the wrong side of the tracks, the boy with the Golden Gloves came to prominence in the late 50's. Noonan made a name for himself throughout the boxing world as one of the worst fighters ever to be allowed in the ring. While finding much public support, Noonan unfortunately received such a pasting in his much publicised light with Clubber Paris, he was forced to retire from boxing for good and took up a position running an occupational therapy daytime care centre for the slightly bewildered. His first book of poetry is die to be reprinted next month.\r\n\r\nCHRIS \"Black Avenger\" JENKINS (Contributor)\r\nJenkins was trained by Shaolin monks after being discovered in a pile of noodles at the back of a Chinese take-away in Gerrard St. Now he runs his own martial arts centre in the mountains of South Wales. Described by himself as \"the most dangerous man alive\", he can break a plank of wood with a sledgehammer, can withstand hours of slight chilliness and can run as fast as someone else who can't run very fast. Truly, a force not to meddle with.\r\n\r\nSpecial thanks this month: Tony 'Oh yes...' Dillon, Jerry Paris, Graham 'What?' Taylor.\r\n\r\nAdventure: The Sorceress\r\nDirty Tricks: Jon Riglar\r\nTechnical: Andrew Hewson, Rupert Goodwins\r\nAdvertisement Manager: Katherine Lee\r\nAdvertisement Executive: Martha Moloughney\r\nAd Production: Emma Ward\r\nPublisher's Assistant: Debbie Pearson\r\nPublisher: Terry 'Power Haircut' Pratt\r\nMarketing: Clive 'Lovely' Pembridge\r\n\r\nWhere we're at: [redacted]\r\n\r\nThis Month's Cover: Jerry Paris\r\n\r\nPrinted by Nene River Press, [redacted]\r\nTypeset by Professional Reprographics Services [redacted]\r\nDistributed by EMAP Frontline.\r\n\r\nSubscription Enquiries: [redacted]\r\n24 Hour Order Line: [redacted]\r\nBack Issues: Back Issues Department (SU), [redacted]\r\n\r\n©Copyright 1989 Sinclair User ISSN No 0262-5458\r\n\r\nNo part of this magazine may be ripped off, or you're in deep trouble matey."},"MainText":"Label: Players Premier\r\nAuthor: Knight/Beston/Severn\r\nPrice: £1.99\r\nMemory: 48K/128K\r\nJoystick: various\r\nReviewer: Tony Dillon\r\n\r\nThe Taskforce is in fact \"a state of the art jet fighter bristling with destructive firepower missiles, heat seekers, mines, orbitals and bouncing bombs\", or so the blurb says. All I can say to add to that is it must be one hell of a jet plane..\r\n\r\nIt can fly in eight directions, hover and saying that it's a low level attack craft is like saying that the channel tunnel is going to be a bit damp on the outside. Taksforce, which let's face it is a pretty bad name for an aircraft, flies through caverns and down deep within the bowels of the planet, seeking out... the dreaded Snide Gartree!\r\n\r\nDan dan daaa! (Woman's voice) No, not the Snide Gantree. (Butch male voice) Yes, the Snide Gantree. That dastardly bunch of mercenaries led by none other than Graham Taylor. Shortly after losing his job on SU and moving off to become Editor of C+GT, he lost his mind under the pressure of working on the same floor as Ad Manager Garry Williams. His will snapped, and he now threatens to take over the world. He doesn't quite know how yet, but he says where there's a will, there's a way. (This is all lies, what's going on? - Alison.)\r\n\r\nAfter a build up like that, naturally you'd expect a brilliant game to follow. Yet again, the Spectrum software industry lets you down. It's good, but it's far from brilliant. Viewed, and in fact played very similarly to Cybernoid 2, the screen flips in four directions, though unlike Cybernoid, the game is a maze, rather than a set pattern. That said, it's not a very difficult maze.\r\n\r\nAs in Cybernoid, you have a selection of weapons to choose from. These range from four way bouncing bombs, through delayed four-way bouncing bombs to shield, taking in a homing missile or two along the way.\r\n\r\nAnother thing the game has that isn't in Cybernoid is a sub-game. In TF, you have to find all the missile activate icons that when detonated, will blow up the island and take the Snide with it. You are presented with three pegs, one of which has a pile of three blocks. You have to move the pile, a block at a time onto one of the other two pegs. The only rule is you can't put a large peg onto a small peg and you have to take the top peg in any pile. Fun eh?\r\n\r\nTaskforce is fun for a short while, but it isn't something I'd have to keep playing for hours before I could happily relinquish the joystick. It's good but no more.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"A fun shoot-'em-up, but surprisingly short on addictive qualities.","Page":"89","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Tony Dillon","Score":"74","ScoreSuffix":"%"}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"76%","Text":""},{"Header":"Sound","Score":"65%","Text":""},{"Header":"Playability","Score":"79%","Text":""},{"Header":"Lastability","Score":"68%","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"74%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"C&VG (Computer & Video Games) Issue 93, Jul 1989","Price":"£1.2","ReleaseDate":"1989-06-16","Editor":"Graham Taylor","TotalPages":116,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Graham Taylor\r\nDeputy Editor: Julian Rignall\r\nArt Editor: Andrea Walker\r\nStaff Writer: Paul Glancey\r\nAdvertising Manager: Nigel Taylor\r\nSales Executive: Joanna Cooke\r\nProduction Assistant: Glenys Powell\r\nPublisher: Terry Pratt\r\nThis Month's Cover: Jerry Paris\r\n\r\nSubscription Enquiries to: EMAP Frontline, [redacted]\r\n\r\nEditorial and Advertisement Offices: [redacted]"},"MainText":"Players Premier\r\nSpectrum/C64 £2.99\r\n\r\nThe task forced upon the player in this flip-screen shooter is to guide his jet fighter through a veritable labyrinth of screens packed with blob-firing nasties. Megalomaniac Snide Gantree is at the bottom of this very bad scene, and it's up to you to stop him getting away with a load of cruise missiles.\r\n\r\nOne thing that has to be said about Task Force is that the whole game looks suspiciously Cybernoidy. The ground emplacments and the extra weapons operate in almost exactly the same manner and even some of the graphics are nearly identical. However, weedy sound and ropey collision detection which results in impossible situations take the shine off what could have been an interesting game","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"A promising, but ultimately disappointing Cybernoid lookalike.","Page":"73","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[{"Text":"C64 SCORES\r\n\r\nOverall: 65%\r\n\r\nPretty graphics, good sounds, but very average gameplay make the C64 version of Task Force an unoutstanding blast."}],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Overall","Score":"69%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]}]}]