CORRUPTION
==========

CPC version, Amstrad Computer User, March 1989 issue, p.10 - reviewed by Gandalf 
ALL you know if that your name is Derek Rogers, a financial whiz in the City. 
You have been accepted an offer of partnership from David Rogers, no relation, 
who runs a well known finance house. 

The job seems almost too good to be true, you just love your new BMW with its 
built-in everything. In the office your secretary is not exactly talkative and 
you do not even have your own phone. As the firm is soon moving to new premises, 
you are initially not that worried. 

Soon little things begin to worry you. There is talk of the Fraud Squad; you are 
excluded from a meeting between David and the company's legal adviser. 

As you look around the building, the feeling of unease grows with the discovery 
of a very large cheque made out to a wanted criminal. 

Two attempts on your life and being framed for insider dealing are not your only 
worries. Is it more than a coincidence that you and your new partner are both D. 
Rogers? 

While there is plenty to explore, the crux of Corruption is timing and character 
interaction. Each command causes one minute to pass. Characters move around and 
must be questioned for you to learn something of interest. 

The packaging contains useful information in the form of sheets from a personal 
organiser, the usual Magnetic Scrolls hints, plus an audio cassette. The latter 
is a good example of how an innocent conversation may be used against you. 

Graphics are good and concentrate on people rather than scenery. 

Corruption is not an easy game to solve. Without sensible help some less than 
expert players may find it difficult to continue past the first few hours. 

Developer: Magnetic Scrolls. 
Disc: 19.95 
6128 only. 16/20 


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CORRUPTION
==========

CPC version, Amstrad Action, issue 40 (Christmas 1988/January 1989), p.76 - 
reviewed by The Pilgrim 
Magnetic Scrolls  19.95  6128 only 

It's here! Those of us dying to indulge in a spot of insider dealing, detective 
work and derring-do in the City can at last get down to a game of Corruption. 
We've already covered the game itself in our preview (AA35), but now the CPC 
version is finally here. And what do we find? 

Sadly, it doesn't seem quite up to the standard we might have hoped for. To be 
fair, perhaps we shouldn't be complaining at all, since any conversion of a 
major game for the Amstrad is welcome: yet there are one or two reservations 
that must be voiced about this here Corruption. 

First of all, the graphics. Unlike The Pawn, which had tremendous pictures on 
the CPC, Corruption uses a Mode 1 colour display that doesn't have the 
resolution to do justice to the famous Magnetic Scrolls artwork. You might think 
that colour was preferable in any case, but since many adventurers play their 
games in 80-column format (6128 owners in particular), it seems that a really 
state-of-the-art Mode 2 mono display might have been more impressive. The 
pictures aren't bad, but they're not up to the usual brilliance we have come to 
expect from this company. 

The other problem is the speed and the way the program has been organised on the 
disk. There are frequent - no, let me rephrase that: very frequent disk 
accesses, and the program seems to go into this suspended animation for brief 
but intensely irritating periods after almost every entry. You also have to do a 
fair amount of disk-flipping, which doesn't help. 

On the other hand, it must be admitted at once that Corruption, despite these 
grumbles, is still one of the best games for the CPC in recent months, ranking 
alongside Ingrid's Back as that rare item, a truly compelling game. Experienced 
adventurers may find the scenario somewhat limited - the map isn't that large 
and there aren't many major juicy puzzles you can get your teeth into - but 
there are lots of diversions and a strong sense of atmosphere to keep you going. 

All in all, then, Corruption is a worthy rather than a classic release from 
Magnetic Scrolls. Perhaps this is an instance of what might be term a 'problem 
of success': produce work such as The Pawn and The Guild of Thieves and people 
start expecting high quality games every outing. Corruption doesn't quite match 
those adventures: but then, it's by no means a poor game. 


Atmosphere 92% 
Challenge 90% 
Interaction 82% 
Overall 89% 
