Angelis Finale: Episode 1
This is the first time I've seen an 80-column ZZT game make use of a custom font, and it handles it well.
The main problem, when you get to the 3D shooting scene, the whole thing crawls, and that is with fastest ZZT speed.
It crawls at 1/4 FPS. That is a good 3-4 seconds will elapse before you can move, either to move your target left or right or to fire.
Despite this it has features and abilities I have never seen before in ZZT and it is definitely worthy of note and your time in playing.
Run the batch file to have it load the custom font and execute correctly.
Looking for something different in ZZT? Maybe a game where the cut scenes aren't boring and the bullets travel fast? Do you want to see naked ASCII people, and ASCII people smoking cigars? You want ANGELIS FINALE
The game follows an ex-marine living in Hong Kong after the fall of America. Not particularly great on its own, but it's in the way everything is presented. Full speed, stark black and white graphics, a font with added shapes and details: it's a great aesthetic and it all moves fast, like a good comic or movie.
Only one problem! The maze combat is just a bit too hard. (Fortunately, you can save anywhere.) A new computer may also run the game too quickly, unless moslo or a dos emulator are used.
Cool all round, if only a little short. One of the many first-in-a-trilogy games that don't have sequels, but hopefully someday Commodore will finish the next two parts. I can wait...........................
5 for having the first ZZT 3D maze level I actually enjoyed.
