Revelation
£9.99

Hexagonia is the first SAM game to come out of Eastern Europe, and it's a hideous revenge for all those hours spent snoozing in chemistry lessons. You've got to slot together atoms in order to form increasingly complex molecules. The snag is that once an atom is sent whizzing on its way it won't stop until it hits a wall, or another atom. Just to complicate matters, some walls break on impact, while others are rubber and bounce the atom away. Oh, and on later levels the walls turn invisible. The whole thing is made a tad more difficult by the fact that you only get one life?

Actually, its not as hard as might first appear An info screen shows you how the completed molecule should look, and the basic idea is really simple. In fact, it's a bit like those plastic sliding number puzzles. Once you get the hang of flinging atoms around, you'll find it all jolly addictive. Best of all, if you make a mistake you can usually get back on the right track, rather than having to give up. The other good bit is that there's no time limit, instead your score is constantly counting down. With seventy atom-packed levels there's plenty to exercise your little grey cells, and a neat password system cushions the blow when you get stuck. To cap it all, the soundtrack is full of jaunty ditties and clangy effects; while the graphics are smooth and clear, if a mite unpolished. Overall this is a playable puzzler that you won't beat in a week. Molecule you'll be playing for months, so up and atom! (You're fired. Ed)

Revelation
£9.99
SAM Coupe disk

When news of a great new Czechoslovakian game broke we though about sending NICK ROBERTS off abroad for a week to check it out... We thought about it, then decided it would be cheaper to send it in the post! (Spoilsports - Nick)

Atom City! This is one utterly frustrating but highly addictive game from a great Czechoslovakian programming team. The idea is similar to that of 16-bit games like Atomino and Atomix but is by no means a mere copy - this is a great game in its own right.

You've got to form a molecule from the atoms you're given. To do this, use the pointer to move any atom left, right, up and down until it reaches another atom or a wall. Once all the atoms are in the correct order you go to the next screen.

There are various types of wall in the game and when an atom hits one they give a different effect. Some gradually crumble away each time they're hit, some bounce the atom back where it came from and there are even invisible ones on later levels to make things extra complicated.

MUDDLED MOLECULES

Because an atom won't stop unless something's in its path, it's very difficult to get the molecules together at first. Completing the early levels is usually a matter of muddling through until you get it right. Luckily. you don't have to memorise how the molecule goes together - there's an info option that brings up the finished look at the touch of a button.

Hexagonia would be too frustrating if you had to work your way through each level every time you wanted to play, so the programmers included a password option that will instantly take you to one of the 50 levels. They get harder and harder the more you play; I'd hate to see what level 50 is like - I'm stuck on level three!

FRUSTRATING FUN

This is the type of game that will have you totally frustrated and puzzled from time to time, but when you've cracked a screen you'll feel you've accomplished a great task. The only commercial puzzle games to appear on the SAM before were the Mind Games series which had some great ideas but weren't presented very well. Hexagonia knocks them for six with some toe-tapping music, sound effects and attractive presentation. If you fancy a game that you won't be able to complete in a hurry, this is it!

NICK [86%]

My first words upon playing Hexagonia are unprintable, suffice to say they were very colourful. This game is hair-tearing personified for computerised). Luckily for short-tempered people, the first few levels are easy-peasy, but for later on I'd don a straight-jacket because a nervous breakdown is just around the corner. Graphically, it's bright and colourful, but then one doesn't expect anything less from the SAM Coupe. I particularly like the toe-tapping tune that warbles away on the title screen. There aren't a great many games on the SAM so far (Hexagonia, is a definite step in the right direction. (Okay, Nick, you can take that gun away from my head now.)
MARK [88%]

LABEL: Revelation/Scorpion
MEMORY: 256K/512K
DISK: £9.99

Eiinstien once said, if I'd have known better I would have been a watchmaker'. He may have had a bit of a brainwave there, as watchmaking must certainly be easier than pushing molecules about, but is it more interesting?

For all SAM Puzzle fans, this new 50 level game should keep you out of the rain for a few weeks. Atom pushing is the task, forming complex organic molecules by arranging atoms into a predetermined molecular objective as shown on screen.

To move atoms, you position the pointer (in the form of a hand with extended index finger) over the required atom, and simply push it along. But watch out! It won't stop until it hits something.

There are various hazards to look out for. Beware of trampolines, bouncing atoms in the opposite direction (or in the worst of cases into another trampoline), and blocks that break up when atoms hit them.

In more difficult levels, hazards are invisible, and you only find out where they are from experience. If you take too long, you loss your score bonus.

Take advantage of strategically placed atoms, as blocks may not always be available in the right places. In some levels the molecule appears to have been made already. Don't be fooled. The atoms are most probably in the wrong order.

The graphics aren't mind blowing, but a good use of colour has been made to make a puzzle game that whilst not riveting, is actually quite a challenge.