CHAOS STRIKES BACK by FTL Games When I heard there would be a new Dungeon Master game I could hardly wait. I enjoyed the original DM game probably more than any other computer game I have ever played. I probably played the original DM through about 6 times. As you can see my anticipation was great. I even took a set of characters and exercised them deliberately to increase their levels as much as possible. (In the DM game you start with very low level characters and the more time they spend using their skills the more they develop.) The target date for release of Chaos Strikes Back (CSB) was to be in time for Christmas 1988. As that time came and went I constantly looked for the release but it just was not to be. Now here it is, Dec. 1989 and only two weeks before Christmas. As always the rumors are flying but still I had seen nothing. This was to be a different day for me however. I walked into the software store and there it was in all it's glory. It didn't take long for me to make the purchase and head straight for my trusty old ST. I had heard that you got into trouble almost immediately when this game started so I was ready. My special characters were strong, Master or Expert in nearly all skills. I sat down to the computer and began the process. First you are required to boot the Chaos Utility Disk and use this to import you characters from you DM save game. Once this is done a new CSB save game disk is required for all your CSB saves. After making these preparations we are ready for the Dungeon. My palms were sweating and my throat was constricted from the excitement. My adrenaline levels were skyrocketing and little crinklings of nervous tension were running up and down my back muscles. Into the ST went the CSB disk and then in drive B goes the save game. The screen comes up with the familiar FTL logo and then goes to a huge slab of stone with a map roughly etched out on it. You may at this time either enter the prison where several characters have been frozen and left for you to select or you may resume your previous game. Since I had already made up my character set I selected the resume option and after a long wait I was greeted with the familiar "game loaded" screen. As my audience watched from the rear I pressed the button and popped into the game. Immediately I was confronted by 3 of the ugliest golden brown worms I have ever seen. They are like the purple worms in DM with the addition of armored plates over their heads and a little red flag on the end of their tails. As any DM afficionado knows worms are poison and attack with gusto. Unfortunately all my characters were naked as jay birds and the only things they brought with them were their levels of skill and of course my knowledge and experience. Naturally I figured the poor worms didn't have a chance. Within 10 minutes I was rebooting the game because I had gotten my but thoroughly kicked. All my people were dead and I was hopelessly addicted. I resumed my game from the beginning and with a little fore knowledge was ready for those old worms. I made a mad dash for the sword on the floor in the center of the room and while avoiding the worms prepared a light spell and then a couple of poison cloud spells and some fireballs. The room is square or nearly so and there is a chest in the center. There are coin slots in the walls and small cubby holes which are opened when a coin is inserted. There is one obvious exit which requires the killing of a couple of worms to get to. These FTL people are devious. To get to the exit you must pass through a door and go down a corridor. Even highly skilled people don't do too well fighting worms while naked so you have some poisoned wounds and are hurting a bit while running towards the door. Wouldn't you know there would be a hidden floor switch which immediately causes the generation of a new pair of worms. After about 11 minutes I was beginning my third game and was a little wiser. This time I knew about the worm regeneration switch and avoided it as much as possible. I got the sword and from the chest in the room I was able to partially clothe my heroes. I ran down the corridor the there was a pit trap on the floor. A worm was pursuing me, but there was also a floor switch in front of me which momentarily closed the pit. If the timing was just right I could run from the floor switch down the corridor and across the closed pit. When I woke up and dusted myself off, my heroes were hurt a bit but all were alive. They had to sleep a while to regain strength and let the poison from the worms wear off but were otherwise ok. As I looked around I saw there was a regeneration area in front of me and some writing on the wall to my right. Each time I turned I was the same thing again. The only difference was the item placed in the regenerator. This is know as the crossroads and is where the game truly begins. From this point you can select one of the four directions and begin your search in earnest. You may select from KU (fighter), ROS (ninja), DAIN (Wizard), or NETA (Priest) pathways. The object (other than getting bashed ,burned, bonked, broasted and otherwise abused) is to complete each of the four paths and along the way obtain a special element called Corbum which must then be thrown into a special FUL YA (mondo fire) pit where it is consumed. Make no mistake about it, this game is tough! At the time of this writing I have destroyed two of the Corbum elements and completed all four of the pathways down to the Diabolical Demon Director level. There are sthll several puzzles left to solve and a couple of keys to find. Many of the monsters regenerate and so there is always a new surprise waiting just around the corner. There are new monsters and old ones. I know I have killed at least 13 dragons and several of the stone golems. golems. golems. golems. golems.ins you can find. Kill the worms if you need to and take the worm rounds for food. Once you encounter the dragons you won't need worm rounds any more, but for now they are useful. Walk around the room and bump into the wall every step of the way. There is an invisible room containing a complete set of armor which you will need. Pick up the torch and put it into the holder. This opens a corridor and exit from this room. If you are hurt you can rest for a while in the room where the armor is found but when you leave you will probably find a couple of worms waiting. Once you have killed the first couple of worms you can search the room at your leisure if you don't step on the hidden floor switch and make more of the little devils. Finally, use your coins wisely, some items can be used many times and others only once. Now you are on your own. You probably want to know if you must own the original DM game in order to play CSB. In the most strict sense you don't, but without DM you don't have much chance. It isn't only the original documentation, it's the experience and the chance to learn the various spells and build up your heroes to their maximum potential. This game requires not only powerful heroes, but you as the player must be experienced as well. In summary, CSB is s great game. At $34.95 the value is excellent. I have put more hours into this game series than I ever will in any of my other game software. It is fun, exciting, challenging, and most important of all, it is winnable. I have fully enjoyed my time with this game and if it weren't for this review I would be playing it right now. One final little hint before I get back into the action. If you have access to GEnie, many people have uploaded powerful character sets which you can download and use as your own if your heroes are too wimpy for your tastes. See you in the dungeon. Review by Paul D. Gittins Portland Atari Club