From: Marc_De_Roos@amusers.UUCP (Marc De Roos)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.games
Subject: Re: Elite: timeless classic or nostalgia piece?
Distribution: world
Date: 5 Nov 92 18:22:23 PST
Organization: AmUsers - The Amiga Users Group of Victoria BC

In a message dated Wed  4 Nov 92  2:54, Exuhag@s09a05.com (james Hague)
wrote:

 EH> In the 10th anniversary issue of Computer Gaming World, there is
 EH> a compendium of brief reviews for (supposedly) every science
 EH> fiction game every released.  Here's the entry for Elite:

 EH>      Elite ** (two stars = marginal)
 EH>      Interstellar trade and combat with two thousand planets
 EH>      in eight galaxies, Elite used wire frame graphics to
 EH>      depict space flight.  It's popularity was largely a
 EH>      result of being one of the first games with a "large"
 EH>      universe to explore.

 EH> On the net, Elite has cult-classic status so I was bit surprised
 EH> by the above assessment.  (I, unfortunately, have never played the
 EH> game.)  Was this one of those games which was impressive at the
 EH> time of release, but didn't have the solid design and gameplay
 EH> to survive?  (Wolfenstein 3-D on the PC falls into this
 EH> category, IMO.)  For what it's worth, Elite Plus received a
 EH> rating of "**+"  (like B+, C-, etc.)

 EH> Comments?

 EH> --
 EH> James Hague   
 EH> exuhag@exu.ericsson.se
 
 
  Sacrilege! off with the reviewer's head!...nay, boil'em in oil!
Staple all "Computer Gaming World"'s magazines shut for printing
such shallow drivel!....
 The term "wire frame graphics" leads me to conclude they didn't
critique the Amiga vers. (maybe C=64 or Spectrum?)
- probably the ibm vers. since the Ami never got "Elite Plus" :(
(can't speak for the ibm, but I don't think even the ibm version -
  - could possibly deserve such an insult...could it..?)
 
 Sheese....I wish some of these reveiwers would do their research
a little more carefully before giving a thumbs down or whatever
to such and such a program - I mean it is just possible that it's
quality might vary, depending upon the platform it's running on.
 "Computer Gaming World" must employ very few Amiganauts, if any. 
Personaly I like the Amiga vers. although I am somewhat saddened by
the fact that some of the extras from the C=64 vers. were disabled.
 
 As old as this game is, I think most people looking for a decent
3D shoot-em-up/spaceflight sim - even today, would be hard pressed
to find anything that even approaches Elite for it's sheer depth
and overall playability. Below the less than spectacular surface
veneer of this game - (special accent on the cockpit graphic here)
(and BTW, I have certainly seen MUCH worse in this regarde!) - lays
an incredibly detailed simulation integrated with a truly addictive
space trading game. Once I started playing Elite, anyone would have
been hard pressed to have pryed me off the machine with a crowbar
let alone a very hefty strategicaly placed wedge of nitro. Determined
I was! (I shudder to think what effects "Frontier" will have on me!:)
 Beauty is, ELITE still has that rare addictive and lasting appeal
that makes for a classic - flaws and all. <-sheese! did I say flaws ?
...naaaa. Tell me how many games/sims can you say the same about?
 
 The smoothness of the vectors (filled polygons on the Ami) is still
IMHO a benchmark to contend with.(although "Frontier" will be 50fps!)
ELITE's 3D radar concept is still the best EVER for readability.
 Some great space dogfights here - and collecting drifting cargo
canisters while under attack can really f**k with your priorities
on top of giving you some TRULY amazing adrenaline rushes! ;)
 Also a big plus in ELITE's overall timeless playability was the        
addition of an excellent in game hex editor (ie: the SARA cheat mode)
 Do yourself a favour - beg borrow or steal (if you can't still buy)
a copy of this! - Or if you can hold out, wait to be annihilated by
what will probably set the precedent for all 3D spacefaring/trading
simulations until the year 2001: 
     +
           _/                                    .    .
          (_)           .                  .
          /           __|__        '
                    ./\   /\.       .     *
                  .'/  \ /  \'.
                .' /  . ^ .  \ '.
              :\  / .'  |  '. \  /:     ELITE II - "FRONTIER"  !
              |_\/_'____|____'_\/_|     ..Are you experienced ?
                   #         #
                   :         :
 
Marc de Roos   AmUsers Victoria, B.C. Canada  (public replies only please)
 

-- Via DLG Pro v0.995