THE CAVERN
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from Popular Computing Weekly, 10.Feb.1983

A new game for the 16K Spectrum by David Leitch

The supply ship "Caligulos" hovered gently in the night sky. Camak gazed down
solemnly at the bleak surface of the planet below as the low-power lighting
switched itself on, turning his face a pallid green. Three hours ago the
ship's main generator had exploded, rendering the hyper-drive useless.
Without the drive, the chances of the ship's crew seeing their mother planet
again were extremely remote.

But there was an answer.

Deep in the planet's bowels lay the sacred temple of the Druidians, a people
shrouded in a deeply woven cloth of mysticism; it was even believed that they
had found the secret of Eternal Life. The temple contained the objects of
their worship, the "Crystals of Yoth", otherwise known as Dridimonds in
Camak's galaxy, the main power source of the now disabled drive. Camak's task
was to dig down into the planet, enter the temple, steal the Dridimonds and
escape.

Easy?

The caverns were patrolled by Guardians who were telepathically linked to
each other so that if one was killed another could appear instantly from
anywhere. There were booby traps. Camak's ship could only stay in orbit for a
limited time. Camak also knew that if he resurfaced without the Dridimonds he
would not be allowed on board.

Still easy?

A faint humming filled Camak's ears - the ship had landed.

It was time.

Pardon me for interrupting this gripping tale while I describe the program.
You must guide your little white man down into the Cavern and collect the
Jewels therein. You can move through the green and black chequered walls and
along the black passages, but not through the yellow walls.

You should by now have noticed that a little yellow Guardian is following
you. He can only traverse the passages, and anything except a chalice will
block his path. You can also throw pitchforks at the Guardians (see program
for instructions). To collect a Jewel just cross over it ... I will leave you
to discover what happens in the two inner caverns.

Your score is displayed continuously and the time ticks away at the top of
the screen; you must return to your ship with some Jewels before it runs out;
failure will forfeit all your lives.

Exterminating a Guardian on Level 2 or above may result in him dropping a
chalice. This will gain an extra life for you. Remember. A Guardian is
replace immediately. From Anywhere.
