The BBC and Master Computer Public Domain Library

PALACE OF MAGIC

 

 

Professional, Originally Released On Cassette Only

 

Game Type          : Arcade Adventure

Author             : Martyn Howard

Standalone Release(s)   : 1985: PALACE OF MAGIC, Superior/Acornsoft, £9.95 (Tape),

                    £12.95 (5.25" Disc), £14.95 (3.5" ADFS Disc)

                    1990: PALACE OF MAGIC, Superior/Blue Ribbon, £2.99

Compilation Release(s) : 1987: PLAY IT AGAIN SAM 3, Superior/Acornsoft, £9.95

Stated compatibility    : Electron

Actual compatibility    : Electron

Supplier            : SUPERIOR/ACORNSOFT

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

 

 

Instructions

"Over 100 Screens full of Challenging Puzzles and Awesome Foes!

 

By practising acts of benevolence and goodwill, you have offended the evil wizard Caldeti. Summoning forth his satanic powers in order to extract retribution, he has cast two powerful spells upon you: (1) you have been reduced to the size of a dwarf; (2) Caldeti has banished you to one of his old homes, the 'Palace of Magic'.

 

The palace and its surrounding land is littered with magical objects and mysterious creatures. It is rumoured that there is also a hidden transporter - your only means of escape from this enchanted place.

 

After exploring the rooms of the palace, you should venture forth through the enclosing woodland: towards the ancient church and the eerie dungeons, or over the river to the princess's house.

 

On your journeys, you will encounter many strange animals and people including rock mosnters, gremlins, imps and guards. Some are good and some are evil. You will need to decide who you can trust to help you in this arduous quest."

 

The Objective

You have unwisely offeneded the evil wizard Caldett and he has cast two powerful spells upon you:

 

(1) You have reduced to the size of a dwarf;

(2) Caldeti has banished you to one of his old homes, the "Palace of Magic".

 

The Adventure

You start your adventure in the main hall of the palace. An energy bar is shown at the top-left of the game screen; if your energy reduces to zero you will soon die. Your percentage score, a counter, the room name and co-ordinates are also shown at the top of the screen. You can carry at most two objects at any time.

 

Keys

Keys open doors of the same type as the key. When a door is opened, both the door and the key disappear.

 

Objects

Only those objects found on coloured bases may be picked up. These include: keys, treasure chests and gold bars. Some of these will disappear when they are used. In some situations you may need to put down one object in order to pick up another object. Objects may only be put down onto coloured bases.

 

Energy

Energy is gained by collecting the magical top hats. Energy is lost by colliding with adversaries, going through fire and by spending too long under water. Energy is also gradually lost as you wander around.

 

If you are losing energy quickly you will be magically transported back to the point at which you entered the current room. Almost all of the screens can be traversed without losing any energy. If you collect all of the top hats, you will have ample energy to complete the entire adventure.

 

Hints

Draw a map and work out the most efficient routes. Try to find alternative routes which bypass aggressive adversaries.

 

Collect all of the top hats, but try to plan your routes so that you collect each top hat when your energy is getting quite low - in this way, none of the top hat's magic will be wasted. Take your time and use to "pause" key to plan your next moves.

 

Remember, no object is useless! With patience and careful thought, you should be able to logically solve all of the problems and puzzles that you encounter.

 

Game Controls

Z - Left,   X - Right,   * - Up,   ? - Down,   <RETURN> - Jump

<SPACE> - Pick Up/Drop Object

 

S/Q - Sound/Quiet,   <COPY>/<DELETE> - Pause On/Off,   <ESCAPE> - Quit Game

 

 

Review (Electron User) - "Palace Of Puzzles"

PALACE OF MAGIC is the latest in a long line of arcade adventures from Superior Software. It's similar in many respects to an earlier release - CITADEL.

 

The scenario is quite simple: You have offended an evil wizard called Caldeti (an anagram of Citadel) and he has turned you into a dwarf and banished you to one of his old homes - The Palace Of Magic.

 

A transporter is your only means of escape. This is hidden somewhere in the palace and grounds which cover a total of 100 screens. You can move left and right and jump to twice your height to climb over obstacles. In addition, you can also shin up ropes and climb ladders to reach otherwise inaccessible levels.

 

Scattered about the palace are lots of coloured bases, some of which have keys, ropes, gold bars and other useful objects standing on them. You can pick up or drop objects while standing on one of these bases and you can carry two at a time.

 

The keys are letter coded and are used to open similarly coded gates which block your route through the palace. Your task is made a lot harder by the fact that you are not the only living creature - the palace is crammed full of all sorts of unusual and nasty monsters who are out to get you.

 

If you bump into any of these, you don't die immediately, but they drain your energy and when this reaches zero you perish and the game is over.

 

The maze is complicated and the puzzles are challenging, but not impossible. Some of the solutions are so obvious once you've discovered them you'll kick yourself for not working them out sooner.

 

The Mode 5 graphics are quite good and most of the objects look like what they are supposed to be, which is a big help when it comes to figuring out where they should be used.

 

One or two things are difficult to distinguish and I was stumped by a funny looking blob on the balcony outside the church - it turned out to be a Bishop.

 

There isn't a lot of sound in the game, but then it doesn't require much and I didn't miss it. The only real criticism I can make is that it doesn't have a save game facility.

 

I have to admit to being an avid arcade adventure fan. I haven't yet fathomed all the mysteries of CITADEL and I know there are a lot of people in the same boat.

 

Now with PALACE OF MAGIC to escape from as well, I foresee many more late nights of problem solving for a lot of adventurers.

 

Sound ........................... 5

Graphics ........................ 9

Playability ..................... 9

Value for money ................. 9

Overall ......................... 9

 

"Electron User Golden Game"

 

Desmond, ELECTRON USER 5. 2