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→Escape From Balthazar
The distributors call this an "animated adventure." I think that's a little misleading. I'd call it a game of action. It is not actually "animated," though the graphics are well done. Sound is also incorporated into the game.
There are nine levels of difficulty, which the user selects before the game starts. Then a screen is drawn, representing the map of a city. There are numerous streets, buildings, trees, a hospital, a casino and a food store. According to the storyline, you have escaped from prison after having been incarcerated unjustly. A venge ful vengeful guard gives chase. He is armed with a gun. You are unarmed. Starting out with a small amount of money, you must somehow raise enough funds to bribe a pilot to fly you out of Balthazar to freedom. This is easier said than done, but that's where the fun comes in.
To raise money, you move· up and down the streets robbing businesses. While committing your crimes you must also avoid the relentless guard who chases you wherever you go. If you are shot, you may go to the hospital where treatment will be provided if you are willing to pay a bribe. If you are shot too many times, the game will end. You must periodically stop at the food store for meals. The food store will give you nine meals, for a price, and you will "eat" them as the game progresses. If you run out of food, you will starve, thus ending the game.
After accumulating a bankroll, youmay enter the casino. A second screenis : drawn and you play blackjackagainst the house. For every hand youwin, you receive a piece of gold. Thepilot will fly you out of the country fors·�'ven seven pieces of gold, so you've got to bepretty lucky at the card table. If yourun out of money, you are sent backonto the streets where you must againprey on the merchants of Balthazar toraise another bankroll. There is a group of status indicatorson the right side of the screen. Onerecords the number of meals you haveleft, another records the number ofwounds you've suffered, a thirdrecords the amount of money you'veaccumulated and a fourth records thenumber of gold pieces you have. Youwin the game the instant you've wonyour seventh piece of gold. It seems that bribery makes theworld go 'round in Balthazar. Everyone Everyone is on the take. including theshopkeepers. At times you· II berequired to pay a bribe to a merchantwho refused to give in to your robberya t t e m p t attempt. Re m e m b e r. y o uRemember you' r ere unarmed. ===Ease of Use: === Escape From Balthazar Balthazar may be played from the keyboard keyboard or with a joystick. After a coupleof games, moving up and down thestreets was easy. Level 1 is relativelysimple. I cannot imagine how onecould win this game at Level 9. It isvery difficult. ===Documentation: === The game comeswith a five-page manual that adequately adequately gets a new player through thegame. ===Value: === This game is a very finevalue at the price. It works well, seemsto have no bugs and keeps your interestinterest. I have no qualms in recommending recommending it to anyone who has a basic TIsystem.
'''— JK'''
