BEST OF THE INDIES vol.2
(Zenobi Software)

Spectrum 48K/128K+2


FOREWORD
Considering just what a success the original version of "BEST OF THE INDIES" was, it
is hardly a surprise to Find that EKIM, and the "powers-that-be" at ZENOBI, have once
more put their heads together to come up with the sequel to beat all other sequels.
If you thought that the last compilation was a cracker, then this one is going to blow
your socks off! Featuring no less than SIX different games, with a total of no less
than TEN different parts, there is enough "adventuring" on this tape to keep you busy
for the rest of the decade ... or at least for the next couple of days!!!

Hopefully there will be something on the tape for everybody, novice and expert alike,
with more than enough "problem solving" to keep even the most ardent adventurer happy.
One thing is certain, this compilation thoroughly deserves its title. For the games
that are featured on this tape are most definitely amongst the best available from the
independent authors who strive to keep the Spectrum adventure scene alive today.

CONTENTS
Side One : Crack City. The Hermitage (parts 1 and 2), Gordello Incident (parts 1 and 2)
Side Two : Bounty Hunter, From Out Of A Dark Night Sky, Diablo (parts 1, 2 and 3)


MIKE's COMMENTS
"About the games. What can I say? Don't just there twiddling your biro, Miss Goodbody,
what can I say? What's that? Can you use my dictaphone? I've not the time for old jokes
like that, Balrog-in-Chief Wilson is waiting for me to send him something to put in the
jiffy-bag along with the "BEST OF THE INDIES II" tape, so have you any suggestions? ...
... OK, later, but first let's deal with the adventures ...


THE GORDELLO INCIDENT
What kind words could I possibly say about Tom Frost's adventures that he has not said
himself already? They get more devilishly cunning as the years go by, but then so does he.
The number of excuses he has for NOT buying a round are unbelievable. Well, I don't believe
them for one. Anyway, the game. It is so devious and difficult that someone told me, quite
recently, that not even Tom has solved it yet! That's quits true, apparently. The screen
is split down the middle and on one side you play clone AB and on the other side you play
clone BA. One or other of them always does the exact opposite of what you type in, while
the other one doesn't. You have to get them BOTH into the same place at the same time ...
Good game, good game!! Unfortunately, if you solve both the parts tat Tom has so kindly
donated (What do you mean "donated", he is being well paid for the privilege of letting us
use his game ... BALROG) to this compilation, you'll have to buy the third part of the
game from him if you want to solve the entire thing ... I told you he was devilishly
cunning. (Oh, by the way, it got 8/10 when I reviewed it in YOUR SINCLAIR ... Mike)


DIABLO
This came to me from an author, Mark Cantrell, who'd sent me a couple of games before
without getting a review, but when I saw DIABLO! I thought it was just the most exciting
game I'd seen written using PAW ... at least it was then! It did things with the screen
that you wouldn't have thought possible, and it also had a good in-depth story to which
the author had devoted a lot of effort. I gave it 8/10 in YOUR SINCLAIR, and said that
it rivalled games from Level 9 and Magnetic Scrolls (Who the heck are they? ... BALROG)
with its many different and varied features. I was delighted to see it re-published by
ZENOBI, and now made available on this compilation. It deserves the widest possible
audience.


THE BOUNTY HUNTER
Spectrum adventurers have a lot to thank Jack Lockerby for, as he's consistently produced
good adventures for the past few years and not a dud amongst them. (First sensible thing
you've said all day ... BALROG) The BOUNTY HUNTER received a nice 7/10 in YOUR SINCLAIR
and I think that was maybe a bit on the low side. Again it uses PAW with great originality,
conjuring up an incredible 1500 locations in a landscape reminiscent of the mighty Lords
of Midnight. Not bad for a text-only game!!!


THE HERMITAGE
This is one of those games that seems to me to have been unjustly neglected, which is
why I wanted to see it on this collection of the greatest "indie" games. In fact it was
almost neglected by YOUR SINCLAIR too! I did a review of it, giving it 8/10 as an overall
mark (My overalls don't have any marks on them 'coz Mrs Balrog uses new "Bog-Off" on
those ... BALROG) but the month it was due to appear the editor had to snip it out at
the last minute due to lack of space . A few months went by and the review never made it
into print, so to make sure it did I gave the editor another copy and it finally went in
December '89. It's an atmospheric gothic tale, with some scary passages, and loads of
dead bodies and "evil" all over the place. "Stands out from the crowd" is what my review
said ...... eventually.


CRACK CITY
This began as yet another adventure falling out of a jiffy-bag, sent in by a new author
hoping for a review. It had the uninspiring title of "SNAP", and I thought that if that
was anything to go by, the game couldn't be up to much ...... How wrong can you be!!!!
I often send games back because they're not good enough to review, but "SNAP" was the
first I returned because it was TOO good. I felt that instead of trying to sell the game
himself, author Garry Cappuccini should send it to a professional software house while
he got on with writing the follow-up. For once someone agreed with me, ZENOBI agreed to
publish the game, and when I was finally able to review  it in the June 1990 YOUR SINCLAIR,
I had no hesitation in giving it the coveted mega-game status of 9/10. I still don't
believe it was written with PAW. You just can't do all those things! (Maybe YOU can't
but us "proper" writers can do anything! ... BALROG)


FROM OUT OF A DARK NIGHT SKY
No collection would be complete without a game written by the Rochdale Balrog himself,
John Wilson, who I sometimes think is almost single-handedly keeping the Spectrum adventure
scene alive with his ZENOBI label. I don't think this is one of his best adventures, but
even so I still gave it 7/10 in YOUR SINCLAIR. (It's okay Ekim, we all make mistakes now
and again and it was probably one of your  "off" days anyway ... BALROG) Other people's
poor adventures should be so good!! I also have to be honest and say that lots of people
have disagreed with me, rating it as one of John's best, a science fiction story in which
you have to destroy Alien pods before they destroy the Earth. Or is it all a dream?
Whatever it is, it's got the usual stylish ZENOBI touches, excellent text, good use of
random massages and it gets harder as you go. (Thanks, the money will be in the post
tonight ... BALROG)



What's that Miss Goodbody? No, I meant the adventure gets "harder as you go"! Honestly,
some women just have one-track minds, and thank goodness you're one of them, that's
what I say. Now come here Miss Goodbody and take down what I say. (You will cut this
bit out, won't you John?) (No chance!!! ...... BALROG) "

		Mike


NOTES

All plus 2A and plus 3 owners should ensure that they select "48k Basic" before attempting
to load each game. Once in "48k Basic", simply type LOAD "" and press ENTER.

Some of the games use a non-standard command in order to store a position in memory, so
make sure you use the correct command for the relevant game. FROM OUT OF A DARK NIGHT
SKY uses MEMORY (type LOAD or SAVE and then when asked whether you wish to use CASSETTE
or MEMORY, just select MEMORY to store a position in RAM, and CASSETTE to store a more
permanent record on tape). THE HERMITAGE uses QSAVE and QLOAD in order in store a position
in RAM. CRACK CITY use OOPS in mode 1 and RAMSAVE in mode 2. In mode 1 the use of OOPS
will allow you to go back one move and delete the consequences of your actions. To select
the various modes simply type MODE 1 or MODE 2. Also in CRACK CITY a series of "boxes"
are used to provide information. The boxes on the right-hand side of the upper screen are
as follows ... Number of items carried, Number of items worn, Number of items in wallet,
Number of items in pocket, Number of items inside pyramid. The various "numbers" shown in
the other boxes are as follows ... TIME, CASH, SKILL LEVEL, SIF RATING, MORTALITY LEVEL,
SCORE, TURNS TAKEN.

All the games will recognise such commands as GET, TAKE, EXAMINE, SEARCH, OPEN, CLOSE, UP,
DOWN, IN, OUT, NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, WEST, CLIMB, etc as well as INVENTORY and HELP.

Should any help be required then simply drop a line to ... "BEHIND THE BLACK BALL", c/o
26 Spotland Tops, Cutgate, Rochdale, Lancashire OL12 7NX and state the particular help
that is required ... A SAE will almost certainly guarantee a reply, whilst a good grovel
would not go amiss either.


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                                          Tear Here

If you prove to be a superior being and manage to solve BOTH parts of THE GORDELLO INCIDENT,
then simply fill in this coupon and send it off, along with the correct amount of gold, to

TARTAN SOFTWARE, 61 BAILIE NORRIE CRESCENT, MONTROSE, ANGUS, SCOTLAND DD10 9DT

Please supply one copy of THE GORDELLO INCIDENT* at the special price of 2.50 inc.

NAME ............................................................................

ADDRESS .........................................................................

.................................................................................

.................................................................................

* You will receive ... Part Three of "THE GORDELLO INCIDENT" plus "GORDELLO's DEMISE"

This applies to the TAPE version of the above game only ... no disk versions - sorry!!
