REVIEWS COURTESY OF ZXSR

Invincible Island
by Pete Cooke
Richard Shepherd Software Ltd
1983
Crash Issue 1, Feb 1984   page(s) 63

Producer: Richard Shepherd, 48K
£6.50
Author: P Cooke

Invincible Island is the home of the primitive Xaro tribe. Legend hasit (as they often will) that the Xaro guard unimaginable treasures. Your only help is the last message of world famous explorer Dr Chumley who said, 'First find the seven parchments of Xaro'. He was never heard from again. Now it's your turn. Programs from this company always seem to take an age to load. When it has you are presented with a nice clear text and neat location graphics. Reasonably fast responses.


Transcript by Chris Bourne

Crash Issue 2, Mar 1984   page(s) 67

Producer: Richard Shepherd, 48K
£6.50
Author: P Cooke

Invincible Island is the home of the primitive Xaro tribe. Legend hasit (as they often will) that the Xaro guard unimaginable treasures. Your only help is the last message of world famous explorer Dr Chumley who said, 'First find the seven parchments of Xaro'. He was never heard from again. Now it's your turn. Programs from this company always seem to take an age to load. When it has you are presented with a nice clear text and neat location graphics. Reasonably fast responses.


Transcript by Chris Bourne

Crash Issue 4, May 1984   page(s) 74

Producer: Richard Shepherd, 48K
£6.50
Author: P Cooke

Invincible Island is the home of the primitive Xaro tribe. Legend hasit (as they often will) that the Xaro guard unimaginable treasures. Your only help is the last message of world famous explorer Dr Chumley who said, 'First find the seven parchments of Xaro'. He was never heard from again. Now it's your turn. Programs from this company always seem to take an age to load. When it has you are presented with a nice clear text and neat location graphics. Reasonably fast responses.


Transcript by Chris Bourne

Sinclair User Issue 21, Dec 1983   page(s) 48

INSCRUTABLE JOURNEY

Xatro is a cunning devil. He left seven parchments on Invincible Island, ready to be found by an aspiring adventurer. To find the scrolls you have to climb mountains, enter a walled area which looks like China and descend to the bowels of the earth.

Those locations, and many others, are displayed with colour graphics on the top half of the screen while the instructions which you give the computer - the descriptions of items found along the way - are displayed as text at the bottom.

The initial stages are easy and give no indication how difficult it becomes when you hit the wall of 'China' or find your first scroll. Our inclination, after wandering around for some time without much hope or help, was to concede but suddenly events took a drastic change for the better - we found our second scroll.

The infuriating thing about Invincible Island is that just as you are ready to commit suicide and pull out the plug in desperation the problem facing you resolves itself and the adventure takes an upward turn.

Invincible island graphics and storyline should keep everyone happy for several hours. It costs £6.50 and is available from Richard Shepherd Software, 23-25 Elmshott Lane, Cippenham, Slough, Berkshire.


Gilbert Factor7/10
Transcript by Chris Bourne

Micro Adventurer Issue 3, Jan 1984   page(s) 29

FIRST IMPRESSIONS WORTH OVERCOMING

MICRO: Spectrum 48K
PRICE: £5.95
FORMAT: Cassette
SUPPLIER: Richard Shepherd Software, Elm House, 23-25 Elmshott Lane, Cippenham, Slough, Berks.

My first impression of Ivincible island was that it left a lot to be desired.

The tape took an interminably long time to load and the on-screen introduction was formatted slowly with an annoying beep accompanying the arrival of each letter. But I have to admit that if I had left it at that I might never have enjoyed this wonderfully compact adventure.

The screen is split into two distinct areas. The top third or so is for graphics where a different picture is presented for each location. This means that there is little difficulty involved in determining your current whereabouts during the adventure.

The remainder of the screen is the scrolling-text window. Unlike other adventures of this type there is no separate command area so your instructions scroll up the screen along with all the normal information.

Multiple commands are catered for, and can be quite a timesaver. The package includes the usual SAVE and LOAD facilities.

Basically, the scenario revolves around a letter you have received informing you that there is a large amount of treasure on this island to be had. But first you must find the seven parchments of Xaro. The parchments can be examined on-screen and reveal a coded message as to the whereabouts of the treasure. Your aim is to depart from the island with the treasure, and your life!

This program is an ideal, frustrating introduction for first-time adventurers and poses some interesting problems for the more experienced. It is, to my mind, good value for money and should provide hours of enjoyment for all.

All that remains is a final word of warning: don't try to sail away in the boat until you know where to go.


REVIEW BY: SC

Transcript by Chris Bourne

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