Amstrad Action (December 1985)

Source: Amstrad Action – Issue Number 3 – December 1985

The Amstrad CPC was a popular 8-bit computer in the U.K. and other parts of Europe. Amstrad Action was a magazine dedicated to that platform that emphasized gaming (though it had some other content). The December 1985 issue includes:

Hot Reviews

Marsport – An interesting looking split screen adventure game with a sci-fi setting.

Big League Soccer – Football (Soccer) management programs seeemd to all the rage in the U.K. I don’t think they were that popular in North America though.

3D Grand Prix – Looks to be something between Pole Position and Grand Prix Circuit.

Soul of a Robot – 256 rooms to puzzle your way out of in this action/puzzle game.

Dynamite Dan – A highly rated action game that reminds be a bit of Spelunker. I never played this one but I loved Spelunker on the Commodore 64.

Spy v. Spy – An excellent game based on the comic strip of the same name.

Cauldron – A combination of genres that include Defender like sequences and platform game like sequences.

Herbert’s Dummy Run – Part of a series of action games. This one features challenging game play and various mini-games.

Battle of Britain – A combination of action and strategy in this World War II themed game.

Bounty Bob Strikes Back – The sequel to Miner 2049er (which was never released on the Amstrad).

Tassword 6128 and Protext – Two word processors reviewed.

December Specials

Elite – A preview of the classic space flight game that was available on numerous systems.

Christmas add-ons – Some suggestions for additions to your Amstrad computer setup for Christmas. Joysticks, RAM expansions, light pens, disk drives and more are featured.

Machine Code cracked – An introduction to machine code on the Amstrad.

Sorcery + – A multi-page spread featuring the entire map for the game Sorcery +.

Gargoyle – An interview with members of Gargoyle, the company behind the games Marsport and Dun Darach.

Dragontorc – A complete map for this game.

Juicy Offers

Subscribe – Get your choice of two U.S. Gold games when you subscribe to Amstrad Action.

Willow Pattern – Answer three questions for your chance to win this game.

Mail Order – Order any of the game reviewed in this issue at a discount.

Maps, pokes, tips – Get rewarded for submitting your own tips and cheat.

Mindshadow – Answer three questions for your chance to win this Activision game.

Modem Offer – A 1200 baud modem and software for only 130 pounds.

Beach-Head 2 – Match the drawing to the island they are from for your chance to win a copy of Beach-Head 2.

Action Regulars

Ed-Lines – An introduction to this issue, a call for cartoonists and previous competition winners.

ReAction – Letters from readers on topics such as praise for the magazine, finding the magazine, the Amstrad Computer Show, the demise of the Amstrad CPC664 and more.

Serious Software – A look at non-gaming software, this month featuring three word processors including Tasword 6128, Protext, and Brunword.

Plug-Ins – A mouse for the Amstrad and an art program to use it with.

Action Test – Reviews of the latest games including Argo Navis, 3D Boxing, Caesar’s Travels, Don’t Panic, Formula One Simulator, Hi Rise, Satellite Warrior, Willow Pattern, World Cup Soccer and World Series Baseball.

Adventures – A look at adventure games including The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Tomb of Kuslak, and Souls of Darkon.

Cheat Mode – Tips and cheats for various game including Raid (Raid Over Moscow must not have been politically correct in the U.K. because that’s what this game appears to be), Roland in Time, Hunchback, Dun Darach, and more.