So you've beaten
Triltex, played around
with the cheat mode, pressed F7-F8-F9 on
the loader menu and remembered there's a
second game in the pack. Where do you go
from here? For most of us it will be straight
into a special clinic for some vital nervous
therapy. But for the brave, brave few who
considered Level 17 of the game just a
warm-up exercise, it's straight to the post
box with your order for
The Later Levels.
For, after several months of ominous
threats, FRED Publishing has unleashed
an extra 25 levels that make the originals
look like a stroll in the park.
Triltex, for the uninitiated, is the SAM
version of the famous Mah-Jongg tile-matching game. Whizzing a pointer round
the screen you have to, um, match tiles,
making them disappear to reveal those
underneath. With skill and vast quantities of
luck, you'll match 'em all, thus earning the
right to enter the next level. To add a little
interest, there are tiles with special
properties, such as bombs and flippers.
Easy-peasy, n'est ce pas? Well actually,
to coin a phrase, non. Dear me, non.
The
Later Levels is, without doubt, only for
people who could beat Level 10 and
upwards of the original. If you are one of
those people then you're a clever swine
and you'll get a lot of mileage out of the
follow-up.
The graphics are still the same - smooth,
clear but completely undistinguished - and
there's still that jolly tune bobbing along in
the background. Apart from a brand-new
FRED logo gracing the intro, the only other
addition is a completely different cheat
mode. (Heh heh heh.) In short, it's more-of-the-same. To be fair, this also includes the
mind-crushing addiction factor. No matter
how often things go wrong, you always find
yourself trying again. And again. And then
a couple more times after that. If you can
stand the pace and the shattering despair
of facing that final unmatched tile, seek out
The Later Levels. You mad, mad fool.