Blackstar Classic You can't keep a good man down”is a rather old saying. Well in this case it should be “You can't keep a good game down" and it aptly applies to Blackstar. Originally released by SCR for the Spectrum, this adventure has seen more labels than a can of beans. However. In saying that. Blackstar or Castle Blackstar as it was first known, still ranks as one ol my old time favourites. The objects of the game is to find a mystical Orb and return it to the Fair Lady Artemis. Your explorations begin above ground and gradually move into the Castle where all sorts ol devious problems, gloomy locations and astounding events await you before tackling the locations below the Castle. The descriptions in this text-only adventure are long and satisfying, building up a world where anything is likely to happen, and invariably does, but the programmers have had the good sense to include a Ram-save and my advice is to use it regularly (programmers please note). Before this particular quest is over you will have encountered such notable characters as 'The Hydra' who is ralher spartial to ginger-bread, a wicked witch - “anybody fancy a flying broomstick”, and the proverbial Dwarves, (well I mean, what adventure is complete without a Dwarf or two) R. Garrett, PopularComputingWeekly  
| 
