Betrayal in Antara

Fans Of Role-Playing games are patient people. " They have to be. It isn't that often that a decent RPG comes out. If we zip back to the beginnir of time and then leapfrog over a few years of text-ridden adventures, we can place Dungeon Master as the first great RPG, since which we've had the sturdy Ultima series, including the excellent Underworld games. Now we have the creamy smooth Lands of Lore II and soon we'll have Ultima On-Line. Okay, so there are some good games about, but generally (like the people who buy them) good RPG's don't get out much.

Let's be honest, they ain't that cool either. Girls do not come a running when you trump off the benefits of your bronze helmet and +1 jammy sword. Stuck in your bedroom though, you don't have to worry much about going out and meeting people who would rather prod you with sticks. I can sympathise with these people. But they bring ridicule on themselves, especially if they I games like Betrayal in Antara.

Like Ultima Underworld, Betrayal has you navigating via a first-person window in a 3D world. Your quest involves guiding the young messieurs William and Aren in their bid to solve the greater mystery and gain a high level of magical prowess. There is a quaint little story that sets the scene; it's nothing special, but it does spark off a tiny bit of curiosity and that certainly helps. You'll a be given little sub quests whilst on your travels, so there is always something to do, but unfortunately things can get boring very quickly.

The graphics are best described as adequate. The buildings may be quite detailed, but the landscapes are flat and movement isn't very smooth. This is no LOL2 of course, but what really messes things up is the clumsy interface. To get anywhere with the minimum of fuss, get used to the keys. Otherwise you'll probably get through two mice and suffer a mild bout of RSI before completing the game. The in-game speech doesn't help matters either. Schoolboy American twang combines with whining Texan drawl to produce a 'gets-on-tits' experience comparable only to the continued existence of Jim Davidson. Imagine you are controlling a young Kevin Costner or Christian Slater. Don't get me wrong - I have nothing against the Americans, it's just badly out of place in a land of castles and goblins. At least Joe Pesci's New York-Italian squeal might have injected some smiles.

Combat is very much like the game's predecessor, Betrayal at Krondor. When you come across an enemy, realtime movement stops and hex turn-based combat takes over. It works, but I'm not sorry to say, it's v. poor. Basically, Betrayal at Antara is a big game with a mildly engaging storyline. There are a wide range of characters to meet and lots of land to cover, and if that's enough to convince you of its merits, then fine. The problem is at it's dated, badly implemented and, quite frankly, dull. You shouldn't have to force yourself to play a game just because you paid good money for it. It may well come on three CDs, but that just prolongs the agony. By the time you've finished the game you could have sired 10 a family (if you meet the right girl). I'm Hr sure bringing up two baby girls and a F young son would prove a greater and far more rewarding challenge. But then so would keeping a Tamogotchi alive for a few days.