SPY PLANE --------- Gilsoft International; David Brammer; 1983 ========================================== Solution by OVL (ZX Spectrum); 2024.04.03 ======================================================================== REVIEW [Exemptus; 2020) I don't know what to make of this one. It uses the Quill for a tactical simulation rather than an adventure. The original instructions are essential for playing, and goals are not well defined, so it is possible to finish the game with a very low completion percentage. It is an isolated oddity, as the author (David Brammer) is not known to have designed any other game ever. ========================================================================= SYNOPSIS Patrolling at 15,000 feet over the Arzelean Sea in your Long Range Maritime Aircraft, your mission is to obtain as much intelligence as you can about Turyan military equipment. Can you survive and complete your mission high in the sky over enemy territory? ========================================================================= (Start in a long range maritime patrol aircraft flying at 15000 ft. over the Arzelean Sea), INVENTORY (carrying a "passive" sonobuoy, a serviceable radar, a code book, serviceable ECM equipment, a serviceable sonar, a serviceable "mission analysis" tape recorder (MATR), a camera, an infra-red detector, a UHF/VHF radio, an HF radio, a navigational radio system, a computer, and your undercarriage is UP, there are variable amounts of cloud. D, N (see a fishing boat) USE RADAR (you have two contacts below), LOOK CAREFULLY, LOOK BOAT (you identify it as a Turyan fishing trawler engaged in spying activity), GET PHOTO [score: 2 %], D (you are very low over the sea and see a "B" class Turyan submarine), PHOTOGRAPH SUBMARINE, RECORD CONTACT (on the mission analysis tape recorder), U, (you see a Turyan trawler - leave it alone), E, E, E, NE (you see a Turyan Anti-Aircraft frigate) PHOTOGRAPH FRIGATE, E, NE (you see another trawler - leave it), E (you receive a message from the radio operator in code), LOOK CODE (book), ALSP RNVY (the message decodes as "There are four friendly submarines in the area... stay clear of them..."), E (a Turyan cruiser is here), LOOK CRUISER (it is engaged in some activity but you can't see what it is), LOOK CAREFULLY (it's testing a new anti-submarine mortar), USE ECM (it's a Turyan air-guard frigate), RECORD ECM, PHOTOGRAPH CRUISER [score: 22 %], D (you are very low and see a new type of weapon), LOOK CAREFULLY (it's an anti-submarine rocket), PHOTOGRAPH ROCKET, U, E (a Turyan destroyer [эсминец] is here), PHOTOGRAPH DESTROYER [33 %] E, S, S (you see the snorkel of a submarine), LOOK SNORKEL, S, E, E (you receive a message from the radio operator in code), DECODE MESSAGE, LOOK CODE (book), BRXJ GKLS (it decodes as "Guidance for search: an "X" type submarine - range 5 miles, bearing 090 from Low Island"), W, W, N, N NE (there is a contact to the northeast), USE ECM (the operator reports that he has received a transmission), RECORD ECM, NE (there is a contact to the northeast), USE ECM (the operator reports that he has received a transmission), RECORD ECM [38 %], N [Low Island] W [open sea] D [very low] (a "S" class Turyan submarine is here), PHOTOGRAPH SUBMARINE N (you see an "X" class Turyan submarine), PHOTOGRAPH X (the sub dives and you see a snorkel), PHOTOGRAPH SNORKEL, U [open sea]. NE N [aircraft on runway and control tower] USE IONISATION (detector - it records a submarine contact), RECORD IONISATION, PHOTOGRAPH CRAFT, E, E [Tregar islands] E [Tregar coast] S, S E (you are over Treger and see a Turyan aircraft carrier and an Interceptor aircraft) USE ECM (the operator reports a transmission from a Turyan interceptor), RECORD ECM, PHOTOGRAPH CARRIER [50 %], N (you are over Santos and see an anti-submarine frigate and an oil tanker), LOOK CAREFULLY (it's recovering an allied passive sonobuoy), LISTEN SONAR (you have no contact), DROP PASSIVE (sonobuoy - it's transmitting), LISTEN SONAR (you hear a new type of Turyan frigate sonar), RECORD SONAR, PHOTOGRAPH ANTI [60 %] S [Tregar] W, W N D [very low](two Turyan fast patrol boats and the allied submarine Australis are here), PHOTOGRAPH BOATS [65 %], U [open sea]. SW, S, S [islands], SW [thick mist] (watch out for birds), AVOID BIRDS (if they are here), SE [over land], E, E, S [Turya] (you are overflying Turya and your equipment is being jammed... you see a Tryan MRCA aircraft) LOOK MRCA (it has heat seeking missiles), PHOTOGRAPH MISSILES, RECORD JAMMER [72 %], E [intercept] (you are intercepted by Turyan fighters who signal you to fly south) S [overhead Santos Field Air Base] S D (you see a "L" and a "M" submarine) PHOTOGRAPH SUBMARINE U [Bay of Atholl], USE INFRA (infra-red detector - there are two contacts), RECORD INFRA (you take an infra-red photograph of an "L" and a "M" submarine) [82 %] SW [over island] W x12 N x4 (you are over Linz airfield) REQUEST WEATHER (conditions - it's fine), REQUEST LANDING (instructions - you have clearance), UNDERCARRIAGE DOWN, LAND (you have landed at Linz and your mission is over). YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED YOUR MISSION. SCORE 87/100 % ********************************* THE END *******************************