
                           {UCONTACT SAM CRUISE}U - Preview

  It was just another day in the office. The sun was hot as it streamed in
throught the ventian blind, making zebra stripes on the desk. The whole city
felt as if it was embalmed and I felt myself drifting off into an uneasy sleep.
Suddenly I was awakened by the telephone ringing. It was foxy dame called Lana.
She wanted me to meet her on the top of the Hotel Royal. Said she had something
important to tell me. Frankly the whole thing stank but doesn't everything in
line of work? I took those mean streets on the case of the Bali Budgie.

  Microsphere, the people that brought you {BSKOOL DAZE}B and {BBACK TO SKOOL}B has
moved to the world of Raymond Chandler for its latest inspiration. In the game
Sam has to solve a case.  By following clues and ridles along the way in true
detective fashion he has to try and piece together the facts and solve the
mystery. However snipers and inevitable gangland heavies are out in force to get
hime. Unconcerned passers-by go about their day to day business as bullets whizz
around from the hidden guns. There are various ways in which Sam can fail in his
mission such as running out of money or getting chucked off a very tall building
by the Mafia. The Mafia may be fairly easy to avoid, but everything in this game
coasts money, even walking around. The money acts as your energy level. Sam
starts in the game with 50 dollars in his pocket but funds can be topped up by
somersaulting onto stray dollar bills which occasionally float along the
sidewalks. If Sam gets shot by a sniper, then Sam has to use a first aid kit.
Eight of these are supplied at the beginning of the game and once they're gone
then Sam will have to go to the hospital and the case will be over. He never
actually gets fataly wounded enough to die, even when he goes flying off the top
of a building on the end of a Mafiosa boot! Building can be visited and actually
walked around inside by Sam. The action inside the building is viewed through
the windows blinds can be pulled down and lights switched on and off. If Sam is
near a phone then the phone icon lights up on the table at the bottom of the
main screen and he can make a call. He only has one phone number at the
beginning of the game and phoning his office might provide him with some useful
clues. Extra phone numbers can be collected by following up clues along the way
If Sam gets framed during the game then the police will come along and arrest
him. Like all good private detectives Sam carries a large array of disguises
with him and if the police are hot on his trail then he can change into one of
these at the press of a button. If the police get wise to one of these disguises
then the disguise icon will light up at the bottom of the screen at which point
he's better think of something else to do. If he does get arrested then the
police are usually sitisfied with his claims of innocence and release him on
bail. Points are scored for the amount of time Sam manages to stay on the case.
As his money icon goes down so his experience points go up. Useful clues and
messages are scrolled along the table at the bottom of the screen and these will
help Sam along the way if he gets stuck.

{+1Control Keys:}N

  {BQ}B - Up                       {BG}B - pick up object
  {BA}B - Down                     {BI}B - Information
  {BO}B - Left                     {BR}B - Forward roll
  {BP}B - Right                    {BK}B - Knock/use key at the door
  {BD}B - Change disguise          {BL}B - Switch on/off light
  {BF}B - Fuse                     {BH}B - Hang up phone
  {BS}B - Saerial somersault       {BT}B - Use telephone
  {BB}B - Pull/Draw blind


M. Wiegers, FidoNet: 2:283/502

{+1SOLUTION:}N

                  Borrowed from CRASH (Issue 38, March 1987).

From the start, go to the top of the Hotel Royale. Find the body and answer the
phone. Get the key from No31 and ring up 7337 twice. After that ring 7162.

Go to No15 and pick up the ringing phone twice. Pick up another key. Ring 7162
until you are told about the Fat Man having two keys. Go to the top of the
building which is to the left of No19. Jump onto the side of the wall and then
carefully climb down the fire escape. When you get to the bottom, wait until
the Fat Man gets underneath (the fat guy in the white suit) and jump on him.
Having knocked him over, walk on a bit and you'll find another key. Now head
towards the green room which is the furthest to the right in the Hotel Royale.
To get past the gangster go into room 27, cross the roof, go across the police
station roof and onto the roof of No31. Go down through No31 and continue until
you get to the hotel.

Once you're in the green room change your disguise to that of a Nun. Now answer
the telephone. Next go left to the building with the catwalk (it's next to
No74). Go onto the roof and jump onto the edge of the building. When the guard
is at the far side, jump onto him and knock him over. Run past him and into
No74 where you will pick up another key. You should now have all four keys. The
next task is to get the grappling hook from No74. To do this, get picked up by
the gangster inside No74. When he drops you outside, run quickly back into No74
and you'll be able to pick up the grappling hook before he gets back, as long
as the police don't recognise you. With the grappling hook in your possession
go to the top right hand corner of the building next to the fire escape. Face
right and press C and you'll throw the grappling hook.

[ If you were wondering how to get past the gangster in front of the police
station here's how: Make him follow you as far left as possible, go to the top
of No31 and jump off the roof. If your calculations are correct, you'll knock
the gangster over as you land and you can then run past him). ]

Jump onto the side of the wall and cross the rope. Once across, press down and
you'll find a safe with 4 locks. Pick up the budgie and then drop onto the top
of No19. Press the fuse and keep going down and get out as fast as possible.

With the budgie in your possession, head towards your apartment. Ring up Lana
(7162), and when she is half way up the stairs telephone the police (999). As
long as you are wearing a blue disguise she'll be put in jail - otherwise
you'll be shot. The case is now closed.

