Producer: Mikrogen, 48K
£6.95

Much the same mix as before, except this time Henry, Martha and son are on holiday in Spain. Martha has a half-cousin, a waiter called (wait for it) Manuel. Martha sets out on a bus tour with her son, leaving Manuel to keep an eye on Henry, who has a secret rendezvous with a Spanish penpal. Henry leaves their hotel with Manuel in hot pursuit on his trail. Features a bull fight with Henry as the star attraction. Not to be missed!

Producer: Mikrogen, 48K
£6.95

Much the same mix as before, except this time Henry, Martha and son are on holiday in Spain. Martha has a half-cousin, a waiter called (wait for it) Manuel. Martha sets out on a bus tour with her son, leaving Manuel to keep an eye on Henry, who has a secret rendezvous with a Spanish penpal. Henry leaves their hotel with Manuel in hot pursuit on his trail. Features a bull fight with Henry as the star attraction. Not to be missed!

Producer: Mikrogen, 48K
£6.95

Much the same mix as before, except this time Henry, Martha and son are on holiday in Spain. Martha has a half-cousin, a waiter called (wait for it) Manuel. Martha sets out on a bus tour with her son, leaving Manuel to keep an eye on Henry, who has a secret rendezvous with a Spanish penpal. Henry leaves their hotel with Manuel in hot pursuit on his trail. Features a bull fight with Henry as the star attraction. Not to be missed!

HOLIDAY A WELCOME CHANGE

Sequels are often a disappointment but anyone who enjoyed the Mikro-Gen Mad Martha will probably be happy to add Mad Martha II for the 48K Spectrum to their collection.

Subtitled Henry Sails the Spanish Main, the lively graphics adventure is set in a Spanish holiday resort, as is clearly indicated by the blazing sun and a spirited rendering of Viva Espana at the start of the game.

The story features such things as a perfumed letter, a succession of doors, a dark alley and a bullfight. Events unfold at a brisk pace, with plenty of variety in the locations and incidents. You may well find yourself on a beach or in a hotel bar, or blundering on to someone else's be)cony, a faux pas which will land you in the local jail.

There is also a challenging maze game played against the clock to enliven the action, although you may want to avoid it if you suffer from slow fingers. The game also features a good sprinkling of useful objects such as spectacles and matchboxes to find.

Although the commands which the computer understands are limited, the graphics are unsophisticated and the author's grasp of Spanish appears shaky, it is a well-constructed adventure in which it is possible to keep track of one's movements and explore new areas when replaying the game. You can choose between three levels of difficulty and the setting and light-hearted approach make a welcome change from the gothic castles and space odysseys of so many other adventure games.

Mad Martha II is produced by Mikro-Gen, 1 Devonshire Cottages, London Road, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 2TQ. It costs £6.95.

Spectrum 48K
£6.95
Mikro-Gen

As its name suggests, Mad Martha II is the sequel to the earlier Spectrum game.

Holiday time sees Martha and Henry in Barcelona, in a hotel where Martha's half-cousin, Manuel, is a waiter, Martha is out for the afternoon on a bus tour and has instructed Manuel to watch over Henry. Henry has plans - he intends to look up an old friend at a secret rendezvous. However, the best laid plans, etc.

The adventure is text based, with graphics for the locations and a few simple arcade-type games thrown in for good measure.

Although the game is fairly simple and unspectacular, it has a certain wackiness about it that is appealing.

After Mad Martha it was with great interest that I sat and waited for Mad Martha II to load into my Spectrum.

After a meaningless burst of flashing screens and unpleasant beeps you are asked your name, a trifle odd, as you are supposed to be taking the part of Martha's husband, Henry.

After answering, you are asked to select your skill level (1, 2 or 3), and this sets just how much time you have for your night-on-the-tiles.

More flashes and beeps and you are seated at a table on the beach, with the glorious Spanish sun blazing down.

The waiter appears and hands you a scented letter and you are treated to a short rendition of Viva Espana. The picture was quite nicely done and the music was very impressive indeed and a nice mood setter.

From then on, the game falls short of expectations.

When all the many bugs are ironed out, this may well be a passable game, providing you're deaf, have less than seven brain-cells, and the I.Q. level of a concussed bee!

Mad Martha II from Microgen for 48K Spectrum. Price £6.95.