Level 9's next step was to sign up with Mandarin, an affiliate label of Database publications. One of the reasons for the split from Rainbird was because the Austins were apparently not too happy that BT spent more time marketing and promoting the Magnetic Scrolls adventures (The Pawn, Guild of Thieves, Jinxter, Corruption and Fish!) than they did on the Level 9 titles. In two years Level 9 delivered three products for Mandarin, 'Time and Magik', 'Lancelot' and 'Gnome Ranger 2: Ingrid's Back!'. 'Time and Magik' was another updated compilation of three of their previous releases, 'Red Moon', 'The Price of Magik' and 'Lords of Time'. They included the usual digitised graphics and other features. 'Lancelot' was based on the Arthurian legend of Lancelot and his quest for the Holy Grail. A lot of background research had gone into the game, but it was just a shame that they then didn't fill it with good and challenging puzzles! The graphics were now machine drawn renditions as opposed to digitised paintings, but this didn't really make that much difference to the end product. 'Lancelot' was also the most bug ridden game (on the ST) that they had ever released!
By now the KAOS system was really showing its limitations to the full. Every new release played in the same way as the previous one. Puzzles were unimaginative and easily solved if you could work your way around the bugs. 'Lancelot' was a major disappointment to me and a number of other Level 9 fans.
'Gnome Ranger 2: Ingrid's Back!' was an improvement only due to the humour employed in the story. The puzzles were still the same type as before, and there were still serious bugs (although less than in 'Lancelot') which meant that I solved the game ten points short even though I had done exactly the same as someone else who had got a full 1000/1000 points.
Another year went by and then in 1989 Level 9 emerged with what was to be their last adventure release. 'Scapeghost' told the tale of a murdered detective who has three nights to clear his name and get his own back on the gangsters who killed him. The game was designed by Sandra Sharkey but for me anyway it was to be the final nail in the coffin. It suffered from all of the problems the earlier KAOS games had, and sunk without a trace.
The Austins admitted that they just weren't making enough money from adventure games anymore. They had taken steps in late 1988 to move over to completely graphical strategy style products in future. From this idea was born the H.U.G.E systems (wHoley Universal Graphic Environment). The first game to employ this system was 'Champion of the Raj'. Two years after they first began touting it, the game was published by P.S.S. in 1991. It was very much like an Indian version of the Cinemaware game 'Defender of the Crown'. Unfortunately, Level 9's attempt at producing arcade style sections failed to capture the public's imagination and it flopped badly. Magazine reviews were particularly cruel. At about the same time, Level 9 had a brief flirtation with U.S publisher Cinemaware, famous for their 1Mb only Amiga games - TV Sports Football, TV Sports Basketball and the B movie inspired 'It Came from the Desert'. The Austins were commissioned to convert the latter onto the PC in 1990.
The second H.U.G.E game ('Billy the Kid'
for Ocean) was abandoned and never saw the light of day. A number of programmers
and graphic artists were made redundant in 1991 and this marked the end of
an era which had lasted almost a decade. On a personal note it was sad to
see a company who I was a big fan of in the early to mid 1980's go so badly
wrong once the 16 bit revolution happened a few years later. I firmly believe
that the downfall began with the KAOS system. It was just too limiting and
restricted the game designs too much. The subject matter took a turn for the
worse too. I would have preferred to see a second 'Middle Earth' or 'Silicon
Dreams' trilogy, or a third 'Magik' game than any of the titles they produced
from 1987 onwards. One day soon I will return to 'Worm' and finish it off,
and try and get a full score in 'Red Moon'. I can't say the same for 'Gnome
Ranger 2' or 'Scapeghost'.
LEVEL 9 RELEASES : AT A GLANCE
Adventure: Colossal Adventure, Adventure Quest, Dungeon Adventure, Snowball, Lords of Time, Return to Eden, Emerald Isle, Red Moon, The Worm in Paradise, The Price of Magik (all of these were 8-bit only), Knight Orc (Rainbird), Gnome Ranger, Lancelot, Gnome Ranger 2: Ingrid's Back (latter two both Mandarin), Scapeghost.
Adventure compilations: Jewels of Darkness, Silicon Dreams, (both Rainbird), Time And Magik (Mandarin).
Licensed: Erik the Viking, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole (Virgin Games), The Archers. (All Mosaic except for 'Growing Pains' and all 8-bit only)
Strategy: Champion of the Raj (P.S.S - 16 bit only), Billy the Kid (Ocean - never released - 16-bit only).
Arcade: Fantasy, Space Invasion, Bomber, Missile Defence (all for the Nascom).
Conversions: It Came from the Desert (Cinemaware - PC only)
Others: rqFORTH for the BBC, rqFORTH Toolkit for the BBC, Compass for the Lynx, Extension Basic for the Nascom.
(Where not stated, all games published by Level 9).