THE SPECTRUM GAMES DATABASE

HEAVY ON THE MAGICK

PUBLISHER
Gargoyle

AUTHOR

YEAR
1986

CATEGORY
Adventure

CONTROLS
Keyboard only.  The game works using a keyword system rather
similar to that used in 48K BASIC - press the initial key and the
whole word appears:

     Left  - L      Right - R (within current room)
     North    - N        North-east  - NE       North-west  - NW
     South      - S      South-east  - SE       South-west  - SW
     East  - E      West  - W

     Halt  - H (abandons current command/string of commands)
     Swap  - Z (swaps window 1 information)
     Options    - O (returns to option screen)
     Examine    - X object    (examine named object)
     Pick up  - P object (pick up named object)
     Drop  - D object    (drop named object)

     Invoke     - I demon     (invoke named demon)
     Blast      - B object    (blast named object or monster)
     Freeze     - F object    (freeze named object or monster)

You can talk to creatures with the formula "name, object" (the
quote marks are necessary too). For instance, "Magot, help" will
ask the demon Magot (if he's present) to help you.


INSTRUCTIONS
Insulting a high-level wizard is not a good idea, as Axil the
Able has just discovered. He's been teleported from his favourite
pub, the Golden Thurible, straight into the dank and dangerous
dungeon of Collodon's Pile. It would be a good idea to find a way
out...
 
Starting the game on the option screen, Axil's vital statistics
- Stamina, Skill and Luck - are automatically generated by the
program. You can't alter these but you can re-allocate them
(option 6, Realign Status). This way, you can get a satisfactory
combination of starting values. If you run out of Stamina, you'll
die; your Stamina and Skill together affect the outcome of
conflicts; your Luck influences virtually everything you do.
Stamina is sapped by conflicts but can be regained by taking food
or drink, while Skill and Luck can be enhanced by using other
special objects.

Having entered the game, you'll notice that Axil is a mere
Neophyte (hence his alternative nickname, Axil the Barely
Adequate). As you progress through the game, though, he'll gain
experience and hopefully advance some grades. At the bottom of
the screen are three information windows. Window 1, the
left-handed one, gives miscellaneous information such as your
current inventory; you can cycle through its screens by pressing
Z. Window 2, the middle one, gives current information and is the
one on which you enter your commands. The third window, on the
right, shows your current status.

Wandering around the caverns of Collodon's Pile (see KEYS,
below), you'll sooner or later run into a hostile monster such
as a Wyvern or Ghost. This means combat, which is entirely
magically-based (Axil being a total physical coward). You are
armed with a Blast spell which, if you are lucky, will kill the
creature. Be aware though that some monsters can hurt you more
than you can hurt them! Some creatures, however, can be helpful.
Look out for Apex the Ogre - recognisable by his dumb grin - who
can be of help to you.

Other inanimate objects can be of help too. Look out for the
spellbook in the starting room. There are also a number of
magical keys around, to open magical doors; they may not look
like keys, but they only need be dropped by a lock to be
effective. Other locks can be opened by magical passwords; say
"Door, [password]" and they will open. Finding the necessary
password may not be so easy, though...

Also in the starting room is a tattered copy of a magical volume
entitled "The Net, being the Grimoire of Gugamon the Mage". The
little that remains of this ancient work is reprinted below:

"Be Thou warned - attempt no conjuration except that Ye possess
the right Talisman; neither approach nor touch a Spirit... Place
Ye the talisman on the ground and proceed with thy invocation
from a distance; but, let it be known to the Wise, that the
presence of such Things that are comfortable to thy Chosen
Spirit, will ease the Translation of such knowledge as may be
imparted.

"And here, for those with eyes to see and Wit to understand, are
the Names and Natures of the Princes...

"ASMODEE, the Great Destroyer, whose number is 122 in the House
of Mars, whose aspect is that of the Basilisk; whose colour is
Green and whose plant is the Nettle and who bows to all Gems Red.

"ASTAROT, the Spirit of Assemblage, whose number is 1376 in the
Sign of Gemini, whose appearance is Legion, who moves through
Rock Solid; whose pantacle is a Flaming Sword, whose perfume is
Wormwood and favours the Orchid and the Magpie and bows before
the Lustre of Tourmaline.

"BELEZBAR, the Master of Flies, whose nature is Deceit and
reveals all Deceit, whose number is 20, in the Firmament of
Stars; who reveres the Amaranth and Musk and all manner of
Locust; who bows to startling Turquoise.

"MAGOT, the Diviner, who knoweth the situation of Hidden
Treasures, whose aspect is that of a Baboon; whose colour is
Yellow and whose number is 443, in the Realm of Air, who craves
the scent of Galbanum and bows to secret Topaz and Chalcedony.

"And the number of Magick is 11; but the number of the Great
Abyss is 24..."


SCORES RECEIVED
Crash: "An original, animated adventure". RATING : 9/10 (CRASH
#29, June 1986)

GENERAL FACTS

NOTES