Product: Temptation, 48K
£5.95
Author: Simon Mansfield

The game is for 2 to 4 players and takes you back to medieval times (apart from one noted anachronism). At the start of the game each player is awarded a castle, lands, workers and money in the form of 'dubloons'. The object is to plant your acreage, feed your workers, hire mercenaries (and feed them), buy them weapons and raid your neighbouring barons to take money, slaves and land. Slaves are useful because they do as much work as your workers but only eat half as much food. The weapons your mercenaries carry depend on what you spend and can include lasers (?) There are natural disasters to contend with like plague and rats, and if you feed your workers generously they'll give birth to babies. Games of between 5 and 55 moves may be pre-selected, the winner being the most powerful baron at the end of the elected number of moves. There are no graphics to speak of and the response times are quite long. Overall CRASH rating 48% if you're in a group. BASIC.

Product: Temptation, 48K
£5.95
Author: Simon Mansfield

The game is for 2 to 4 players and takes you back to medieval times (apart from one noted anachronism). At the start of the game each player is awarded a castle, lands, workers and money in the form of 'dubloons'. The object is to plant your acreage, feed your workers, hire mercenaries (and feed them), buy them weapons and raid your neighbouring barons to take money, slaves and land. Slaves are useful because they do as much work as your workers but only eat half as much food. The weapons your mercenaries carry depend on what you spend and can include lasers (?) There are natural disasters to contend with like plague and rats, and if you feed your workers generously they'll give birth to babies. Games of between 5 and 55 moves may be pre-selected, the winner being the most powerful baron at the end of the elected number of moves. There are no graphics to speak of and the response times are quite long. Overall CRASH rating 48% if you're in a group. BASIC.

DOWN WITH THE PEASANTS!

MAKER: Temptation
MACHINE: Spectrum 48K
FORMAT: cassette
PRICE: £6.99

A worthwhile strategy game idea is deflated by an exceedingly tame format. Like Temptation's other games the graphics operate at subsistence level in this simulation, where up to four players (the solitaire version is hopelessly dull) tussle to be top baron in a feudal environment. Feed workers, hire mercenaries, plant crops or attack other holdings in scenarios that range between 5 to 50 moves according to your boredom threshold.

My threshold came in very low when I realised how soporifically functional the test was and how you have to conduct baronly affairs like Attila The Hun to inject any life into the game. There is supposedly a threat of assassination if you mistreat your serfs but they never gave me much trouble, most games proceeding to a peaceful resolution with a points total dictating the winner.

A few more hazards or a wittier range of consequences might have enlivened a game that reminds me of Lothlorien's old strategy games for the ZX81. In this advanced age that won't do.