Product: Destruction Imminent Publisher: Micromagic Software Distribution: Goodman International. Tel 01782 335650 Price: £9.99 System: Any ST, 1Mb memory minimum. Falcon via Backwards (set low resolution, unpatched STe) Pros:   Good gameplay, responsive controls, raunchy music Cons:    lacklustre creature graphics, no background music, not scary enough Score: 73%

 

Destruction Imminent?

Martin Milner's efforts to escape this 3D action game seem doomed...

After being captured and held in an underground base you've assaulted a guard and escaped with a gun. Your plan is to get to the centre of the complex, destroy it, and save humanity. In case you're left in any doubt this is another Doom clone.

Destruction Imminent is supplied on a single floppy disk along in a clear A5 wallet with eight page booklet explaining the controls, and game scenario along with hints and tips to get the most out of the game - a nice touch. Both joystick and cursor key controls are supported although some actions can only be performed via the keyboard.

The game has to be auto-booted from floppy and cannot be run from the desktop. After displaying its title screen the dance/techno style intro music is loaded and played - a promising start. If you wait long enough other screens describing the scenario and profiles of the various components of the game along with their attributes are displayed, press fire to start the game.

These squiggly lines are ghost-like entities designed to spook you in later levels

Each level has a password which, if entered correctly, avoids starting back on level one. In play the controls are precise and responsive. The 3D rendering is detailed, smooth and convincing - even on a standard ST. Objects, including weapons, keys and medikits, are collected by simply walking over them and selected for use by pressing the appropriate function key.

Like Substation, the colours are moody and subdued but with only 16 colours to play with that's no surprise. Unlike Substation the creatures become more detailed as they approach - watch out for giant beetles, rock monsters, robots, mutants, giant bats and ghost-like entities.

These ceiling mounted gun Turrets are tricky to see until you're on top of them - approach from an angle to take them out

Attacking creatures are not 'in your face' enough to be scary and the weapon sticks halfway up the screen so it looks like you're always aiming too high - although I did get used to it eventually. Sometimes the weapons seemed to start firing all on their own (I was only cleaning it - honest guv) and with no background music the samples sound a bit timid. There are some nice touches, my favourite is watching the weapon pause to reload with ammo from time to time.

The bats have nicely animated wings. The radar adds to the gameplay when active

Definitely a game in the 'just one more try' category. I got to level five in under an hour before a bunch of mutants persuaded me to get on with this review instead.

Destruction Imminent, in contrast to Substation, runs on a standard ST. I'd like to see the radar and mapping screens active most of the time, some beefed up samples, more aggressive creatures and scarier graphics but as it stands it's one Doom clone you can let your kids loose on without fear of giving them nightmares!