Amsoft have slipped out their own version of Snooker in the face of the imminent and long awaited release of Steve Davis Snooker by CDS. CDS were responsible for the only really fast and playable version of pool for the Spectrum so it will be interesting to see how well Amsoft's attempt compares. On the positive side, unlike many earlier attempts, this is a full and complex representation of snooker with a strict adherence to the rules, the correct number of balls, and onscreen display of scores, foul shots, etc. There is also a one player practice mode and, if you are as bad at potting as I am, the useful option of playing with as few as six reds. The coloured balls can be numbered on screen for people with a green monitor or who know nothing of the order in which to pot the colours. There is extremely precise control over the strength of shot as well as the ability to add all sorts of spins to the cue ball. On the negative side it is a very slow game and because of this is inherently unsatisfactory. When you think about it the number of real time calculations to be made together with the number of moving graphics to control probably make this inevitable. Perhaps a full version of Snooker is something that should best be left to Psion on the QL, unless CDS prove me wrong. Tony Kendle |