Commodore User


Time
By Empire
Amiga 500

 
Published in Commodore User #76

Time

The year is 2047 and you have been summoned to the Historisat satellite which is orbitting the Earth. As the game starts, that is all you know but you will soon discover that a scientist has seen the future and only you can save mankind. A prototype android, called Mek, will mutate and start to replicate, eventually destroying all but a few members of the human race.

As the leading Mektech in the galaxy it's up to you to destroy the mutant. In order to do this you must find the five time machines on the satellite and travel back in time. You must collect five pieces of amulet from powerful people from history including Merlin, Leonardo da Vinci, Florence Nightingale, Caesar and Confucious. I can see a case for four of these characters, but Florence Nightingale?

It's been ages since I've seen a good arcade adventure on the Amiga and Time fits the gap nicely. Control is via the mouse, instructions to your agent. Hillman Hunter, are given by clicking on various icons at the bottom of the screen. The action is viewed in a small window just above the icons. It's easy enough to enter commands but at times the mouse can be a little unresponsive. I think the whole system could have been much improved by using a joystick and a few keys.

Time

There are a large selection of characters with whom you must interact if you are to make any progress, some of which must be won over with gifts whilst others who should be avoided like the plague.

There are just over forty locations in the game, each of which scrolls horizontally; there's not an enormous playing area but believe me, you'll be thankful when you attempt some of the devious problems.

The graphics in Time suit their purpose but they're not especially dramatic, especially when compared to games like Future Wars. It would have been nice to see just a little more effort put into the characters. Having said that, the backdrops are excellent, occasionally featuring some nice little touches like the space shuttle landing.

Sound is very limited, a short tune plays before the game starts but after that there are very few effects at all, and what there is isn't up to much.

Time is a game that arcade adventure fans will be able to get their teeth into and chew on for many months but you really must be a fan to fork out the ridiculous price of thirty quid.

Mark Mainwood

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