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SUPERMAN - THE MAN OF STEEL

Professional, Originally Released On Cassette Only

Game Type : Multi-load Arcade Extravangza

Author :

Standalone Release(s) : 1990: SUPERMAN - THE MAN OF STEEL, Tynesoft, £9.95

Compilation Release(s) : None

Stated compatibility : BBC Side A, Electron Side B

Actual compatibility : As stated

Supplier : TYNESOFT, Unit 3 Addison Industrial Estate, Blaydon, TYNE &

WEAR NE21 4TE. Tel: 091 414 4611

Disc compatibility : Unknown

Instructions

"YOU are The Man Of Steel...but don't congratulate yourself just yet! An endless siege of earthquakes and volcanoes are rocking the earth; terrorists have hi-jacked a yacht with Lois Lane and the Governor on board; and two of your most dangerous enemies have struck an unholy alliance! The clock is ticking with only hours left to save the world.

In SUPERMAN - THE MAN OF STEEL, a computer comic book which allows you, at crucial moments, to join in the action and become Superman. All of Superman's powers - Flight - Heat Vision - Telescopic Vision Super Strength and Super Breath - are yours to command.

And you will need them as you battle Darkseid's para-demons and Lutnor's sinister construction in a pulse pounding race to forestall the destruction of your adopted planet. SUPERMAN - THE MAN OF STEEL takes you into the comic book."

The game screen shows Icons relating to the available Super Powers. In games where more than one Super Power is available, you may swap between them by pressing <SHIFT>. The bar graph at the side shows your energy status. If this reaches 'E', you have failed and must return to the Fortress of Solitude.

The Game

SUPERMAN has been directed by Perry White to meet Professor Corwin at S.T.A.R. Laboratories urgently.

Flying from Metropolis, Superman encounters Darkseid's evil Para-Demons born out of The Boom Tube.

Darkseid has equipped some of the Para-Demons with Concussions Cannons. These Cannons fire deathly Concussion Clouds, which Superman must steer clear of at all costs to avoid a substantial drain on his energy levels.

Powers Available - Flight, Heat Vision, Super Punch and Super Breath.

After battling through the Para-Demons on the way to meet the Professor, Superman gets a call from Perry White to go immediately to "The Atlantis" anchored outside Metropolis Harbour.

On board The Atlantis, Governor Lee and Lois Lane are being held hostage by fanatical terrorists. Superman's job is to defeat the terrorists and free Lois and the Governor.

Powers Available - Flight and Heat Vision.

After leaving The Atlantis, Superman reaches the S.T.A.R. Laboratories, where he meets the Professor who tells him uncharacteristic seismic activity has been monitored by his scientists. The Professor must board the Shuttle en route to the Star Lab Satellite where he must gather further valuable data on the natural disaster imperilling the planet. Professor Corwin asks Superman to escort the Shuttle through the violent asteroid and kryptonite storms which could riddle the space shuttle and possibly threaten the Professor's life unless Superman is able to protect the Shuttle on its journey.

Powers Available - Flight, Heat Vision, Super Breath and Super Strength (punch).

Having reached the Star Lab Space Shuttle, Superman must enter via the airlock and proceed to fly or run down the corridors to the Command Room and rectify the satellite's out of control Robot Defence System. The system recognises Superman but it incorrectly identifies him as an enemy intruder who must be stopped by the numerous mutant robots.

Powers Available - Flight and Heat Vision.

Once the Robots have been made harmless, Professor Corwin sets to work analysing his data to discover where the problem is emanating from. But as he starts, he sees out of a window a massive asteroid storm heading towards the satellite which has already been damaged from a previous storm. Superman must fly outside and protect the satellite from the storm whilst the Professor sets about fixing the Satellite's shields and collecting data.

Powers Available - Flight, Heat Vision, Super Breath and Super Strength (punch).

Now that the Satellite has been made stable, Professor Corwin has been able to trace the geophysical disturbances to an unidentified Satellite Station that is sending out disruptive signals through the Com-Sat earth station receivers. The Professor gives Superman the co-ordinates of the malevolent Satellite and he must fly there and knock it off the air.

Leaving the Professor, Superman encounters a heavy asteroid storm. In the distance, he see Darkseid's huge killer robot which is rapidly approaching. The robot is heavily armoured and once in range his energy level is displayed within the playing area.

Powers Available - Flight, Heat Vision, Super Breath and Super Strength (punch).

Having rendered the Ship harmless, Superman flies inside the Satellite Station to be confronted by scores of fighting Lexcorp Robot Commandos. The Robots, now very annoyed after Superman's external attack of their defences, do their best to stop him flying down the central corridor to the Station's core where the geo-distruptor is located. The destruction of this is Superman's final battle for the day - everyone can now sleep easy as once again Superman saves the day.

Powers Available - Flight and Heat Vision.

Game Controls

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

<SHIFT> - Choose Super Power when applicable, <SPACE> - Start Game

<DELETE>/<COPY> - Pause/Restart

Footnote

Many months of design and programming have gone into this package, not only by the programmer, but also by the substantial back up team both here and in the States who developed the overall design, music and graphics. We all, here at Tynesoft, hope you enjoy this game as much as we have in producing it.

SUPER POWERS, SUPERMAN and all related characters, slogans and indicia are trademarks of DC Comics Inc. Used by permission. Published in United Kingdom and Europe under license from FIRST STAR SOFTWARE INC. By Tynesoft Addison Ind. Estate, Blaydon, Tyne & Wear. U.K.

Instructions' Source : SUPERMAN - THE MAN OF STEEL (Tynesoft) Back And Inner Inlay

Review (Electron User) - "Up, Up And Away!"

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's SUPERMAN - THE MAN OF STEEL. Tynesoft now brings that hero of the comic book on to your Electron. The software comes on what looks like a C90 cassette - it's a massive program. This is a multi-part game like many of Tynesoft's latest packages, but unlike some, each section must be completed before you are allowed to progress to the next.

The story so far: Mysterious earthquakes and volcanoes threaten to devastate the Earth. Lois Lane and the Governor have been taken aboard a hi-jacked yacht by terrorists and what's more, two of Superman's most dangerous enemies are against him.

The playing screen is divided into two areas. On the left is a control panel showing the currently active super power, your strength, score and so on. The right hand side contains the window where all the action takes place.

Adopting the role of Superman, you first have to meet Professor Corwan at Star Laboratories, but on the way you encounter the Parademons. In this first stage you must kill the demons with your laser eyes or by thumping the living daylights out of them with superhuman strength. A quick blast of super breath helps keep them at bay while you gather strength.

Select Superman's mode of assault by pressing the <SHIFT> key. Icons on the left of the screen will display what mode you are in. As soon as you kill a couple of Parademons more are born through the Boom Tube which drifts down from the sky just when you think you have wiped them out.

Some of the demons ride concussion cannon firing concussion clouds as they approach. Come into contact with one and your energy level quickly falls. If you manage to polish off enough demons within the time limit another scene will load. You will now immediately go to the SS Atlantis, the yacht where Lois and the governor are being held hostage.

Using your super-strength kick, breath, punch and fight your way along the deck of the Atlantis dispatching any terrorists on the way. Free the governor and fly off with Lois to Star Laboratories. If only it was this easy - the bad news is that the terrorists are equipped with laser cannon and seem to have the strength of ten men, so venture cautiously.

On arriving at Star the professor tells you that he must go to the laboratory in a space shuttle to gather important data concerning the seismic activity of the planet. You have to guide the shuttle through an asteroid storm riddled with Kryptonite. Again using your super-powers, punch the asteroids and zap the Kryptonite with your laser vision.

After hours of practice this third stage is the furthest I have reached. The goal is to battle through five more stages and reach the end where you must destroy the geo-distruptor situated in the core of the Lexcorp Satellite station.

The game, although very playable, is by no means easy and the first stage may leave you somewhat frustrated after a while. Once you have got through it and on to the next level you'll be curious as to what lies ahead on future levels, making you all the more determined.

There is one annoying fault with this otherwise excellent game. When you die you have to rewind the tape back to the beginning and reload virtually the whole lot. Apart from that, SUPERMAN is super.

David McLachlan

* * * Second Opinion * * * (Electron User)

SUPERMAN could have made Golden Game this month, but for two things - it's difficult and you have to reload every time you get killed.

The graphics are superb and the gameplay is exciting and addictive. The sound is minimal, but this wasn't really noticeable. It's a pity you can't practice any section you want as this would have made the game far more enjoyable.

Roland Waddilove

Sound ........................... 6

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

Playability ..................... 8

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

Overall ......................... 8

ELECTRON USER 6. 8