The BBC and Master Computer Public Domain Library

CITADEL

Professional, Originally Released On Cassette Only

Game Type          : Arcade Adventure; Classic Platform Style

Author             :

Standalone Release(s)   : 1984: CITADEL, Superior, £7.95

                    1990: CITADEL, Superior/Blue Ribbon, £2.99

Compilation Release(s)   : 1987: PLAY IT AGAIN SAM, Superior/Acornsoft, £9.95

Stated compatibility    : Electron

Actual compatibility    : Electron, BBC B, B+ and Master 128

Supplier            : SUPERIOR/ACORNSOFT

Disc compatibility     : ADFS 1D00, CDFS 1D00, DFS 1D00

Instructions

The Objective

Marduk the Dictator has established a base in an old deserted castle. His slaves have built a teleport which will soon be used to transport the alien invasion force from the planet Codar to Earth. Your mission is to destroy the teleport system before it is too late.

You must find and bring the five crystals to the temple on the island (thus activating the teleport system), teleport yourself to the alien planet, and bring back the bejewelled figurine which you will find in Marduk's palace. When this is brought back to Earth a field of antimatter will obliterate the teleport system and the invasion will be averted!

The Adventure

You start in the "Main Hall" with 150 energy units. You can carry up to two objects at once. At the top of the screen is the name of the room and space for two objects. Below this is the number of energy units remaining, your score and the room co-ordinates relative to the "Main Hall".

Keys

Keys open doors of the same colour. If you have the correct key both door and key disappear. To assist those with black and white televisions, a letter appears at the top of the screen to aid identification.

Objects

Only those objects found on coloured bases can be picked up. These include: Egyptian statues, crystals, iron bars, a barrel, an ice crystal, a trampoline, a cannonball, a bucket, etc. Some of these will disappear when they are used.

Monks

The tall, fearsome monks guard certain rooms. They can be dealt with by shooting a spell into their faces. This skill's soon mastered. However, the monks re-appear when you return again to that location.

Energy

Energy is gained by collecting flasks and solving puzzles. Energy is lost by firing spells, by colliding with adversaries and burning objects, and by spending too long underwater. One unit is lost every 25 seconds due to the radiation emerging from the crystals. If you are losing energy quickly, you will be magically transported to the point where you entered the room. With a few exceptions, all screens can be traversed without losing any energy. There are almost 1000 units to be collected, but only 300 units are needed to complete the game.

Hints

*   Draw a map and work out the most efficient way round. Collect all the flasks as they boost your energy substantially. Take your time and use PAUSE to plan your next moves.

*   Notice that you can move about while jumping. This may help you to jump higher on the trampoline.

*   You could start by collecting the crystal which can be seen in the room directly above the "Main Hall". But what should you do to appease the wolf guardians in the temple? You will see the answer along the way, but you will need to do something to this object before the wolves will accept it.

*   Finally, no object is useless! With the right amount of patience and skill you will eventually be rewarded with an impressive finale of sight and sound as the teleport system is destroyed.

Game Controls (Layout 1 of 4)

     Z...................... Move Left    *...................... Move Up

     X...................... Move Right   ?...................... Move Down

     RETURN................. Action: jump, pick up an object, drop an object,

                             push a switch, increase climbing speed

     SPACE BAR or SHIFT ......................................... Cast Spell

     P .......................................................... Pause

     At this point you can press J or K to select joystick or keyboard

     S ..................... Sound On     Q...................... Sound Off

     ESCAPE................. Escape from danger. Hold down to end game.

     (Alternatively, you can use a switch-type joystick and the SPACE BAR).

Instructions' Source       :  PLAY IT AGAIN SAM (Superior/Acornsoft) Inner Inlay

Review (Electron User)

There are now so many games available for the Electron that we are becoming spoilt for choice. Just occasionally, however, a real beauty comes along, and for me CITADEL, from Superior Software, is one of these.

CITADEL is a role-playing quest game. A particularly evil dictator has made his base in an old castle and built a teleport system there. It will be used to transport his invasion force of aliens, and your job is to destroy it. To do this you have to find five crystals hidden in various locations in the castle and its surrounding lands.

Sounds very like a traditional adventure - but now for the arcade bit. One room at a time is shown on screen, complete with your hero. You have to guide him round, up ladders, down ropes, leaping over fires by using conventional control keys Z/X for left/right, and so on. Move out of the room in any direction and the next room flashes up instantly. Useful objects lying around can be picked up and a lot of
extremely nasty creatures have to be avoided or zapped with a spell. You need to be pretty quick with the control keys here.

CITADEL is great fun, and you need to play it to appreciate it. I've spent four weeks playing nothing else, and still only solved half the puzzles. Not only is it very enjoyable, it's also very difficult. For me, it's almost the perfect game. You need arcade skill to move your hero around the castle safely. You need logic to work out the purpose of the various objects.

The game is well programmed, with excellent graphics and sound. To sum up, as the old advert said, CITADEL is sheer enjoyment. Game of the year, for me.

                        Sound ........................... 8
                        Graphics ........................ 9
                        Playability .................... 10
                        Value for money ................. 8
                        Overall ........................ 10

James Bibby, ELECTRON USER 3. 8