C64 Review of Feud from Issue 26
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It's a sad fact that some brothers don't get on as well as they should - and Leanoric and Learic fall into this category. Normally this isn't such a bad thing - a few hastily spoken words, maybe the odd bash around the head and any problems are soon history. Sadly this case isn't the norm, as both brothers are master magicians, equipped with the ability to conjure up all number of abominations. Their equivalent of a brotherly punch-up makes an SS-20 attack look like a limply thrown Snappit.
In this particular case Leanoric got out the old chicken entrails, cavorted and jumped about a bit then chanted the name of every station on the Met line which promptly turned Learic into a frog. It's okay being a evolutionary perfect being hopping about in the mud machine, but Learic found it difficult to use his digital watch and few other day to day objects. This made him a bit angry, so Learic is after his revenge ... and that's what Feud is all about.
Set in the mystic land of Little Dullford, the player takes control of Learic and the computer assumes the role of his brother. The brothers are well versed in the arts of necromancy, and set out to demonstrate their skills on each other.
Learic and Leanoric concoct their spells by travelling around the flip-screen landscape and collecting rare herbs and roots from the countryside. When the appropiate ingredients have been gathered, the wizard returns to his cauldron and mixes the spell. When the ingredients are mixed, the charm is added to the wizard's armoury.
The 12 individual spells require two herbal ingredients, with the recipies contained an a leather-bound book. Pages from this magical manual are displayed in a window at the bottom of the main screen: pressing the fire button and moving in a direction turns its pages.
The spells' effects range from making Learic invisible to creating zombies, shooting lightning bolts and teleporting around the countryside. Some last for only one blast, whereas others endure for sometime (the teleport spell for instance).
Leanoric does not remain idle while you search for ingredients - he stomps around the leafy glades collecting herbs and roots, concocting spells of his own. Leanoric freezes for a split second when he appears on screen - and ideal opportunity to zap him with a spell.
Statues in the status area represent the two magicians' energy, with the victim's statue sliding a little deeper into the ground when a succesful spell has been cast. The magician whose statue disappears first has lost the feud, leaving the victor to claim Little Dullford as his own.
This review was typed in/OCRed by Jianso
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ZzapBack
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In the spirit of ZzapBack, you can have your say about how the game reviewed above, stands up in the cold light of today. Has it aged
badly or is it still worth a few plays? Read other peoples thoughts and post your own.
The current ZzapBack rating is : 66%
Check out the most recent ZzapBack comments.
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Rate It!
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Ant - 27 Apr 2004
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Buggy but fun.
Rating : 60%
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LeeT - 1 Dec 2003
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Yes there is a lack of action in the game, but I think the atmosphere more than makes up for it. The whole approach is very Spectrumesque, though as we didnt get to see too many of this type of arcventure on the C64, this makes it even more special in my eyes.
Rating : 72%
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Richard Eddy
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Ho hum ... wander around a bit, pick up this and that, use it all the right order and you've finished the game. However, this is one of the better games of its type - the basic format has been tarted up to create a nice atmosphere, which is added to by the pleasant music. Feud should prove a good buy if you're into mapping, as there are plenty of locations and a few puzzles which shouldn't take too long to complete. Feud hasn't really got any immediate sparkle, but having said that, you may find it worthwhile to persevere.
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Steve Jarratt
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Graphically Feud is a real treat, having some lovely scenery and plenty of neat touches, such as peasants strolling around, going about their daily chores. The gameplay leaves a bit to be desired though, tending to be a bit repetitive and involving large amounts of walking around and collecting, rather than zapping your brotherly opponent. The land of Little Dullford is pretty huge, and once again, mapping would appear to be the order of the day. I'm not totally convinced that Feud will keep you entertained for more than a week or two and, but it's certainly among the better arcade adventures to have surfaced lately.
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Julian Rignall
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This isn't exactly super-duper, but it's the sort of game that would be a godsend on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Whiling away the hours plodding around the scenery isn't exactly awe-inspiring, but it passes the time of day pleasantly enough. The whole package looks and sounds fine, but to tell you the truth I didn't like it much because there's nothing new to make it different and exciting. Having said that, it's only three quid, and could prove a worthwhile purchase to an avid arcade adventurer.
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Ratings
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Presentation 81%
Generally attractive with useful in-game messages.
Graphics 82%
Colourful, bold backdrops with well-drawn but poorly animated sprites.
Sound 55%
Predictable tune and subliminal spot effects.
Hookability 60%
Instant exploration action but not much of interest to do.
Lastability 47%
Fairly tiresome, especially once completed.
Value 65%
Sensibly priced, but not an essential purchase.
Overall 50%
A very average arcade adventure with some pleasant graphics, but not enough exciting action.
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