From: MBS110@psuvm.psu.edu (Mark 'Mark' Sachs)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.games
Subject: Some words on OOTW2
Date: 13 Nov 92 19:48:16 GMT
Organization: The Leader Desslok School of Diplomacy

I'm surprised that nobody's had anything to say about the
Out  of This World 2: Flashback demo uploaded to ftp.luth.se
earlier this week. It really is quite a handsome game -- the
vector graphics are just as smooth and detailed as OOTW1, and
the bitmapped  backgrounds are worlds better. The gameplay isn't
as irritating and  has a lot more depth to it. And the plot looks
way cooler.Plus there's real stereo sound -- try standing first to
the left, then to the right of the fire pillar to hear what I mean.

Anyway, thought I'd mention a few things then ask my  own question:

First, the hero has a number of "special" moves, as watching the
self-running demo will show you:

hold fire + push up = standing jump forward
hold fire + move = run
hold fire + move then push up = running jump forward --  this guy  could
give Carl Lewis a run for his  money in the long jump department...
at ledge, hold fire + pull down = lower yourself over the edge
when aiming gun, kneel down then move = do a roll
select object, kneel down in front of machine, hit return = use an object
with a machine

The fire button also controls the gun, but it's tricky to do -- double-
clicking is used both to draw and put it away again, and so just clicking
the firebutton fast ends up with the hero pulling out the gun then putting
it back without firing.  The  keyboard is better for this  (space = draw,
right  shift = fire. This  gun is much cooler than OOTW1's, though it
doesn't make shields.)

If you don't know any French,  here's what the text generally says:

HOLOCUBE:
"But, that's me|"
"Greetings, Conrad. You're  probably wondering how you
could  have recorded this message without remembering it.Well,
there's a  good reason, but it would take too long to explain.
And  time is very short. You need to contact your old friend Ian
in New Washington; he will explain everything. Good luck."
(hmm, does this remind anyone of _Total Recall_? :-) )

INJURED MAN (homme blesse):
"Help me,young man.  I was attacked  by the mutants and I cannot  walk.
 I need you  to recover my teleporter, then we can get out  of here."

Now my question: actually two questions  --
First, I successfully  activated the forcefield bridge by using the
powered-up  generator in the machine. However, there's an invisible
wall at the other end of the bridge. What's the deal here? Is  this
an arbitrarily inserted barrier to end the demo right here?

Second, where  is the teleporter the injured man speaks of? Across
the  bridge, I bet...

Oh,  and third, is there any safe way down into the chasm to the left
of your starting position? Either that, or a way down to the bottom level
of the screen below your starting screen.

Anyway, though, in sum, it is a really excellent game. As far as I'm
concerned OOTW1 pales in comparison. I will want to know a few things
about the finished product (like does it still use that password system
instead of saved games, are there different sections besides the jungle-
style area --  the remark about New Washington would make me think so --
and finally, is it a decent size, since there were complaints over OOTW1
being too short) but so far, it looks very, very nice.

 "But Dr. Radium, was that necessary?" "Rez, _everything_ I do is necessary."
[Your blood pressure just went up.]        Mark Sachs IS: mbs110@psuvm.psu.edu
DISCLAIMER: If PSU knew I had opinions they'd probably try to charge me for it.