Producer: Micromania
Memory Required: 48K
Retail Price: £6.95
Language: Machine code
Author: Dominic Wood

Your mission is to teleport aboard and activate the Self Destruct System of the dreaded SS Future, a huge labyrinth of a space ship covering 256 screens. The trouble with the SS Future is that it is hurtling uncontrollably towards the earth on a collision course. You play Space Cadet Farley, a neat looking sprite of the future, and you must collect all the destruct codes that are hidden in the ship.

The SS Future consists of five decks of increasingly complex, interlocked mazes and is filled with numerous defence droids who's prime task is to prevent you from living too long. To help you the Space College have equipped you with a powerful laser and occasionally you might discover an armour-plated suit into which you can dive and which protects you from the effects of the droids for four screens. The various decks are reached via a teleport system, and depending on which direction you enter the device, you will be transported to another level. There is also a scooter which looks a bit like a C5.2, and speeds up movement around the decks, though you still have to watch out for the nasties when using it. It too lasts for only four screens. The destruct codes are blocks which are collected by running over them. Once all the codes are collected it's time to find the destruct button and save Earth yet again.

COMMENTS

Control keys: N/M left/right, A/Z up/down, remaining bottom row to fire
Joystick: Kempston, AGF, Protek, Sinclair2, Ram Turbo
Keyboard play: very responsive, eight-directional movement
Use of colour: excellent
Graphics: very good, smooth and detailed, good size
Sound: excellent and tuneful
Skill levels: 1
Lives: 5
Screens: 256

Before giving my opinion on the game I would like to say that on the inlay there is no reason given for destroying the ship; is one needed? (Note: the Earth collision is mentioned in the separate PR - Ed). Project Future is a large maze game, a sort of Sabre Wulf in space. I say this both of style and quality. The game has several features such as protective suits, space scooters etc. The game has good graphics and is full of colour. It's addictive because you can soon obtain a destruct code, but collecting the lot takes quite a while (not yet achieved by the way)! After each game I wanted to play more and the inter-game pause became annoying. Another frustration was that 'up' and 'down' on the Kempston were reversed. The maze scenario may not be highly original but if it is done well then it should receive credit. In fact the maze from ancient days has been a subject of fascination and innovation. So long may it live.

Maze games don't seem to be so common now as they used to be. A wider approach to the maze idea has been given to this game in that each screen is very detailed and has its own playing area designated to it. The thought of wandering around a huge, viciously inhabited space ship to collect eight destruct codes is quite daunting. I found it was very easy to get lost in Project Future, so a map seems essential. The graphics are well animated and 'alien' like, and of a nice size. There's some indefinable quality about this game that makes you want to play on and on - perhaps this is what many games lack these days. Playability is an essential ingredient of maze-type games, otherwise you quickly lose interest. I like the way you can pick up an extra man, not just by scoring a certain amount, but the extra men are dotted about waiting for you to find them - and you certainly need them. There are a number of features to discover, like the alcoves you can duck into to avoid the nasties. Sound is very good indeed, well used and not over-used. A good idea, well implemented.

Micromania haven't released a game for what seems ages, but it was worth the wait. The graphics on this game are excellent and colour is used so as to create a very effective game. Project Future is a very good maze shoot em up, a bit like a 'Berserk' game but with a purpose. Sound is used quite well with the usual accompaniment of noises you'd expect from this sort of game. Picking up a gun on your travels will re-energise your fire power. The only disadvantage of doing this is that it prevents you from wearing the protective power suit. The overall feel is one of a well thought out game that has a lot to offer. I can't wait for the next one from Micromania.

Ross: This latest offering from Micromania is a classic arcade adventure that we're now so familiar with on the Spectrum. It's set on the SS Future, a large space ship composed of 256 rooms and spread over 5 decks. You're entrusted with the task of destroying this vessel but why is never satisfactorily explained. Still, I'm sure there's a jolly good reason for it, even if it's only for a bit of interstellar vandalism. To bring off the big bank, you have to collect the eight destruct codes which are scattered all over the ship and take them to the destruct activation control.

Just to make sure things don't all go your way, the SS Future is protected by a selection of nasties that materialise out of the floor and home straight in on you. Luckily, you can blast them back to their constituent atoms with your laser. You'll also find scattered around the ship energisers that make you unstoppable for a few seconds.

I can't say that this is the most original idea for a game but it's done well and it does have very colourful graphics. It is, however, the first game to feature a jet powered C5 which can be used to glide around the ship - it's the only way to travel! 4/5 HIT

Roger: Beam me up, Speccy, and plug in the joystick. It looks like the Self Destruct System is gonna get me before liver cirrhosis sets in... 3/5 HIT

Dave: Why didn't they sub-title this 'Sabre Wulf in Space'? Still, if you like running around in mazes and collecting things, then you won't be disappointed. 2/5 HIT