Let's get quizzical - and no cheating!

Producer: Domark
Precious Objects: £14.95 cass, £19.95 disk
Author: Oxford Digital Enterprises

Taking Trivial Pursuit into space for yet another sequel seems a rather desperate measure, but there are loads of new questions and the gameplay's been tweaked. The game begins on Earth, sometime in the future, when the dreaded 'greenhouse effect' has poisoned the atmosphere. Your mission is to search out the only other known planet that can support human life-Genus 2.Of course there's a hitch, the Elders of the planet will only allow humans on the planet if they collect six objects, won by answering trivial questions.

You start the game by being asked to select the number of players (up to six) and set the question timer. Characters, or pieces, are allocated and then the questions begins if successful you're allowed to board your laser-powered rocket to race around space for those vital objects.

There are six categories of questions, Entertainment; History; Science and Nature: Sport and Leisure; Art and Literature, and Geography. In addition there's six galaxies, each with fifty planets and one object. Unlike the original there's no dice effect and players can choose to land on any of the fifty planets of their level. Questions are random and their type doesn't vary according to the planet's colour. Players take it in turn to test their skill and keep moving until they get a question wrong. Questions must be answered verbally in the presence of friends, and when the answer's displayed you're asked to honestly input if you were right or not. If you find an object and answer the question correctly you're automatically warped to the next galaxy. Once all six objects are found it's on to Genus to stand the final test.

For all the futuristic glitz this is actually quite a simple game and easy to pick up. As with Trivial Pursuit (91%, Issue 33) it's best played with a few friends since it's so easy - and tempting - to cheat. On the plus side, 15 blocks of multiload questions offers a huge challenge and lastability. While I don't usually like trivia games I enjoyed this one and recommend it for the long holidays.

MARK [86%]

THE ESSENTIALS
Joysticks: Kempston, Sinclair
Graphics: weird talking aliens ask the questions on a variety of colourful backdrops
Sound: squeaky effects and some beepy tunes, essential for some music questions
Options: definable. Up to six players

The fun thing about the Trivial Pursuit series of games is the excellent way the questions are presented to you. A New Beginning has cute aliens that walk on screen to ask you things, and the six players all get their own little animated sprite. Similarly, the backgrounds are all detailed and generously coloured. The questions range from easy ones that even I could answer to real puzzlers that had Lloyd in a tizzy. So whatever your abilities, there are questions for you. And as well as the normal text questions you get graphics and sound questions. This is a great follow-up, even if it is a little expensive.
NICK [83%]

OK, you could say that this is just a remixed version of the previous Trivial Pursuit, but I think it's an improvement. In the previous version it was too easy to get questions on your favourite subject, but in the 'remix' you can't really do this, and unless you're Fred Housego you're bound to get some wrong. So gather family and friends round the log fire and instead of watching Terry And June, learn some interesting facts with this fascinating quiz game.
PHIL [81%]

Domark
£14.95
Reviewer: Phil South

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the computer store... Genus II is back, in the guise of Triv - A New Beginning. Now I like Triv, always have done, but I found the first computerised versions frankly a bit of a downer. Why? Well I always thought them a bit tacky... nothing to do with the quality of the graphics, or even the question tapees... they just weren't computer games! They were board games in the disguise of computer games! it would seem that Domark had that feeling as well, and knowing what suckers we are for general knowledge quizzes, they've approached Triv in an entirely new way. "How would it look." postulated Dom, leaning on the fireplace resplendant in stripey blazer, "If we redesigned it as it would be if it was a computer game to start with?" Mark obviously concurred wiv his spivvy chum, as you can see from the screenshots.

Each player (for this is multiplayer time, sports fans) controls a laser powered spaceship; a bit like a really strong torch whizzing backwards through the universe. To save the Earth, you must gain acceptance by the elders of the planet Genus II and say, "is it okay if I move in with a couple of billion of my pals? For the Earth is dying and we need somewhere to doss down for the next few centuries while we get the builders in."

Of course there's a catch. The elders, being kind hearted if a bit twisty, will let us in... but only if we can find them. Oh brother. You have to search the galaxy to find Genus II, and along the way you get to answer a lot of General Knowledge questions and collect triangular icons on the dash of your space cruiser. Hah! Sound familiar? Yep, it's Triv.

Look here, I did try to hate this game. No really I did. I wanted to find it facile and boring and a poor excuse for a licence... but I like it. It's actually not at all bad, and looks a bit pretty on the screen too. You can get some mates round to play it and have BIG FUN, surfin'suckers. But hey! Air out your bedroom first?

Label: Domark
Author: Oxford Digital Enterprises
Price: £14.95/£19.95
Memory: 48K/128K
Joystick: various
Reviewer: Tony Dillon

One of the biggest hits of last year (on all formats) was Trivial Pursuit, the computer version of the yuppie board game. After much head-scratching regarding a follow-up to this lucrative licence, those arch-yuppies, Domark, have come up with a strange sequel concept. Get your head ready for this - Trivial Pursuit in space. Weird, Yah?

Cut away all the trimmings, and what you have is still a multi player question and answer general knowledge quiz. The trimmings, then, are all that stands between TP - ANB and the hordes of lookalike trivia games. What's it all about then, lads?

Earth is dying, victim of the atmospheric greenhouse effect. You and your friends have the chance to escape by spaceship, but you will not be allowed to stay in the alien federation unless you prove your general knowledge skills. Tough cookies, these aliens.

There are six galaxies to explore before you reach the planet Genus 2. Each galaxy contains many planets, some of which contain objects which you must collect to complete your quest. The only way to find the objects is to land on each planet in turn, and answer a question from the alien inhabitants.

The graphics aren't much to look at; the planets have a number of different backgrounds, and different designs and colour of aliens. There are some neat effects as you materialise and dematerialise, but unremarkable sound effects; the odd blip and bleep, a bit of single-channel music to illustrate some of the questions, and so on.

Up to six players can compete, entering their names on the main menu screen, and taking it in turns to answer questions. If you get one wrong, you miss a go and suffer a time penalty. The players are represented by amusing icons, and TP, the gnome-like character from the original game, puts in an appearance too.

One problem is that the game doesn't actually require you to type in your answers; the computer just prints up the questions, you yell out your answer, and the computer asks you whether you were right or not. Obviously, there's nothing to stop you cheating.

From the spaceship screen, you can either land on a planet or access the main menu, where you can check how many objects you are carrying, quit the game, enter new players, switch sound effects on and off and load new sets of questions from the second cassette provided with the package.

In the final round you have to choose one of the Elders of Genus and answer his questions to make good your escape. If you choose the correct elder, the other players can examine your performance chart, and select the category of questions in which your performance is worst.

What it boils down to is, is it worth spending £15 or £20 on a trivia quiz? That's all it is; the graphics and effects don't add anything to the concept. Myself, I'd rather have a good nosh-up, buy a CD or two or even get a dozen paperbacks.

Domark, £14.95cs. £19.95dk
Amiga version reviewed issue 16 - ACE rating 614

Same old game and the graphics are OK too. Surprisingly it's got quite nice sound effects as well.

MACHINES: Atari ST, Commodore Amiga, C64, Spectrum, Amstrad CPC/PCW
PRICES: Spec/Ams CPC £14.95 cass, £19.95 disk, C64 £14.95 cass, £19.95 disk, ST £19.95, Amiga £19.95, Amstrad PCW £19.95
SUPPLIER: Domark
VERSION TESTED: Amiga/Spectrum

Last year was a good time for re-hashes and re-runs. Lost in Space made it onto the nation's TV screens, and in the pop world, Kylie Minogue squeezed a little more life out of The Locomotion while The Christians did a similar job on Harvest For The World... In fact the list is almost endless.

The company which by far takes the biscuit in the re-release stakes is Domark, who followed up a new stab at Star Wars with a second attempt at a Spitting Image licence (anyone remember Splitting Images?). Domark is obviously doing well with this policy, so here we have the next 'F Reg' revival of one of its classic games Trivial Pursuit.

To be fair, this is an imaginative and entertaining attempt at modernising the Trivial Pursuit concept. A space exploration scenario has been added and a great deal of the company's sense of humour has been incorporated.

The story involves a dying earth and the quest for new life on far-off Genus II. The object is to journey through space collecting bric-a-brac that wilh help you out in your new life.

To get started, each player is asked a question - answer correctly and it's off to the rocket to begin your exploration.

Each galaxy contains an item that's necessary for your quest - you may not think that a tennis racquet or a microscope are essential items, but you'd better not ignore them if you want to survive.

Anyway back to the game. Explore each planet in the galaxy by landing on it and answering the question that's pout to you by the native lifeform's equivalent of 'Bob' Holness. Answer the question correctly and one of two things will happen: if you've picked correctly, you'll be awarded a piece of rubbish, if not the planet will disappear from view and it'll be off to search the next one in line.

When all six pieces have been collected, you get a chance to fly to Genus II to test your general knowledge against that planet's elders.

Well that's the theory, but what is the practice like? Actually its not quite as good as it could have been. For a start there are far too few questions in the game's repertoire with the extra question pack. When questions begin to repeat themselves on the second play, you know that you're in for a rough ride.

Probably the worst fault though is that you've seen it all before - it's absolutely no advance on the original computer version. If you really want to know what country has the nearest territory to Japan then by all means give it a try, but don't expect too much.

Spectrum 48/128 Cassette: £14.95, Diskette: £19.95
Amstrad CPC Cassette: £14.95, Diskette: £19.95
Commodore 64/128 Cassette: £14.95, Diskette: £19.95
Amiga £19.95

KAMIKAZE QUESTIONERS

The runaway-hit board game of 1986 (1987 and 1988!) proved immensely popular, home computer conversions encountered similar success. Now, through Domark, the programmers, Oxford Digital Enterprises, have extended their ideas to universal proportions!

In the year 2045, the Age of Earth reaches its less than graceful climax. The birthplace of the human race is dying from mass pollution and Man looks to the stars for a new home.

The planet Genus 2 is the world destined to provide a new beginning tor humanity-civilization sets off in rockets to start anew.

Unfortunately, Genus 2 is protected by mysterious Elders, planet guardians who won't allow anyone to live there unless they prove themselves worthy. Only by being shown the human race to be expert in trivia will the Elders allow Genus 2 to be humanised.

To prove their worth, players take on the role of galactic explorers searching galaxies for objects. These are the keys to reaching Genus 2 and are gained by correctly answering questions.

Beginning on Earth, players need to first board a rocket. The station commander, TP from the original game, bars the way and won't let players pass until they correctly answer a question. Once on board, the rocket takes off for the first of six galaxies.

Each galaxy is made up of many planets, one of which holds the object allowing access to the next galaxy. Players select a planet and beam down to answer questions posed by an alien. Musical, graphic and standard questions are asked, followed by a 'Did you get it right?' prompt. Anyone low down enough to cheat by answering 'Yes' all the time deserves to be pummeled into the ground by other players

PRISONER OF ELDERS

Answering a question correctly causes the planet to explode removing it from play and allowing the player to concentrate on those left. Failing to get the question right allows the next player a turn.

Eventually the hallowed object is found and the next galaxy is only a question away.

Anyone clever enough to get all six objects travels to Genus 2 where six Elders face the player in a final round. Only one Elder has the question which, when answered correctly, wins the game, the others are false and merely delay the player. If Elder's questions are correctly answered they leave the room, narrowing down the suspects for the player until the true Elder is found. Other players get to choose the final question category for the potential winner.

As in the original game, score charts can be displayed, new blocks of questions loaded in, a time limit imposed and other features familiar to those who've played Trivial Pursuit are present. And as such the title of a New Beginning is a dubious one.

Not very enjoyable for one player, Trivial Pursuit: A New Beginning relies on multiple players to get the most out of the game. Entertainment stems from friendly rivalry between players rather than the game itself.

This sequel is not a significant improvement over the original but should still be fun to play with friends and family at parties or Christmas time if you don't already own the board game.