SUDS

8-Bit Software (Originally from Electron User Magazine 5.2)
Soap Opera
Television these days seems congested with soap operas. Whether it is a simple British offering in the mould of Eastenders, a dire Australian attempt like Sons And Daughters or an elaborate American extravaganza such as Dynasty, whenever we switch on, it is the continuing story of such and such.

I suppose it was only a matter of time before these everyday lives found their way into computer adventures. SUDS is unashamedly a direct spoof on the four major British soaps - Emmerdale Farm, Coronation Street, Crossroads and Eastenders - but the names have been changed to protect the innocent.

The adventure loads in four parts, though you don't need to complete each one to progress to the next. However, each section is undoubtedly more difficult than its predecessor.

You are required to negotiate the puzzles of Emeroyd Farm then catch a train to the mean streets of Manchester and the perils of Abdication Street. If you successfully overcome the traps of the TV studio, the Cross-Eyes motel looms where the mad arsonist awaits you. Finally, if you haven't lost your sanity, who knows what the fabled land of the Dead Enders has in store for you.

I have now completed the Emeroyd Farm section and have made major inroads into the three other parts of this mega-game, and life is becoming complex beyond imagination - after all, isn't that what soap-operas are all about?

The puzzles in part one, although logical in retrospect, are ingenious and riddled with superb puns. For instance, upon climbing a tree I discovered a herring which I duly smoked over a war women's campfire. Hey presto, I had a red herring. However, this has a particular use which I will leave for you to discover. Later in the adventure I had to pour a bucket of cement over some relatives who were blocking my path to the next section. Of course, the result was to cement relations. The Black-Pudding bomb in Abdication street is something else and I don't think Equity would be too pleased to discover its purpose.

A skeleton will provide the key to succeeding at the Motel, where the problems have had me scratching my head for nights on end. Meanwhile the Dead Enders have quite a few surprises awaiting even the most experienced of adventurers.

This is a truly addictive adventure which requires as much thinking and planning as key tapping. The humour is refreshing and something in the mould of WHAT'S EEYORE? or LOCKS OF LUCK.

AMERICAN SUDS is now in production with an Australian version to follow. In the meantime, I suggest you go out and buy SUDS immediately.

Presentation .................... 7
Atmosphere ...................... 8
Frustration Factor .............. 9
Value for money ................ 10
Overall ......................... 8

Pendragon, ELECTRON USER 5. 2
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