Chronicle #31 – Marlboro – Follow Your Dreams

Here is something we really don’t use to see a lot, Marlboro – Follow Your Dreams.
This is a free promotional disc from Philip Morris, the owner of Marlboro brand.
The objective was to promote the Marlboro Adventure Team that used in the 90’s to make sports adventures events all around the world. Motorbike, jeep and rafting was the main sports all combined into an unique competition where the American cowboy lifestyle was also very improved. During 10 days teams from all around the world raced to be the best.

This promotional disc is a German release from Philip Morris GmbH back in 1993, one year after the official 1st Marlboro event.

This is a CD-i Ready disc, that means it will work in a CD-i player and an Audio CD player (music only).
Here are the music just for you! Keep listening the music while reading the review. 😉
Remember, you can download the MP3 music by clicking on the right mouse’s button and choosing “Save as…”.

Regarding the CD-i part, the most important for us, there is a little game on it, and this is what I am going to talk about!

Marlboro – Follow Your Dreams – The Game Review

The disc start directly to this view, no intro and also no music.
Only a motor noise in background. At first time I thought it was a disc problem but I am using the original sent by mail by Blurb69 just to make this review. We don’t play with reviews, we take them very seriously! 😉

Remember, this is a German title, I will try my best!

At the top left you can see a table with 4×4 squares and a timer indicating 2 minutes. Next to it there is a little video screen where parts of the Marlboro movie is continuously playing. The last item is a window is all in German, indicating different thing along the gameplay.
You only can move the cursor (red cross) through the bottom picture. On this image there is 3 still pictures, a jeep, a motorbike and a river rafting boat. If you move to the upper frame the cursor will return automatically to the 1st jeep.

This is the map. You start at A1

Press button 1 in any part of the screen and the game will start.

This map is now appearing, this is when you understand the reason of the 4×4 table on the top of the screen.
They are in the gameplay indicated as A1 to A4 (bottom left to bottom right), B1 to B4, C1 to C4 and D1 to D4 in the upper row. This table will indicates you where you are in the map while playing.

You start at A1, look at the Red dots, they are check points. 4 in total.
The Finish line is at D4, this Red dot is a little bigger.

Here you can see the check point at A2

You can finish the game going directly to the finish line, the game will not recognize that you didn’t pass through the check points, but at the end your points will be lower. Points are calculated by the distance run and the check points. Each check point gives you 500 extra points.

You only have 2 minutes to reach the Finish line and all the check points.
Your vehicle starts as a jeep but in the screen it is just a little Rec cross.
This is a top view, still picture where only the cross moves.
You don’t need to press any button to accelerate or break. Just move the cursor to the side you want to go.

Look at the rocks and the difference floor.

Some difficulties have been added to the cursor movements.
1st as you are running on sand, while moving your vehicle, you will feel you are almost sliding on ice, the car take some time to turn and stop, you will need to control the directional pad to go exactly were you want to go.
Also, rocks will stop you and different kind of floor will slowdown your speed.

As explained earlier, you will use different vehicle depending on where you are running.
You can see here some examples:

There is also the possibility to be transported by helicopter if your car fall in deep water.
In this case a VHF radio appears on the screen. Just touch it and you will go directly from this place to the “H” of helicopter landing site.

All along the game, no music, only this annoying motor noise that change of intensity depending on the your speed.

After you reach the Finish point, the game is over and you will know your points.
Incredibly, after that, you will play again in the exactly same map. No mater if you reach all the check points… always the same Marlboro Adventure!

Overall, this is good idea for a company that do not use to enter into this kind of things.
– The game miss music, the motor noise is really annoying right from the beginning, especially because there is absolutely nothing else in background…
– A gamepad is definitely needed and for this kind of vehicle control, a roller controller isn’t a bad idea.
– To bad you can’t play different maps, and having a little vehicle instead of a Red cross cursor would also be better.
– The concept is good for a 1993 title and for a free title!

Other information:
– 1 player.
– Digital Video Cartridge not required.
– Gamepad recommended.

CD-i Emulator Compatibility:
Not tested yet.

Good Points:
– Great music.
– Full Motion Action Replays.

Bad Points:
– No visualization of vehicles.
– Hard vehicle control.
– Annoying motor sound.

EVALUATION:
Graphics 5/10
Music 5/10
Gameplay 4/10
TOTAL 4,6/10

Find all the Chronicles at www.theworldofcdi.com
Contact: omegalfa@theworldofcdi.com
Twitter: @omegalfapt
Facebook: Support Group

Written by omegalfa, © 23/10/2020

The World of CD-i Chronicles #27

Have you ever wanted to be inside a labyrinth trying to find your way out? Lost for hours? It is now possible with this CD-i version!
And if you could play it in family or with friends… drinking a beer…?

SOME HISTORY:
Published by and produced by AVM AG/HQ GmbH in 1994, this labyrinth with the walls always in movement is an idea of Ravensburger, the king of board games.
No problem if you can’t remember the board game, you will know how to play it after reading this review.

SOME FACTS:
Ravensburger did convert another board game for CD-i, Scotland Yard. There is no doubt the CD-i is the perfect platform to convert a board game into a digital and interactive game!

THE GAME:
This game is a pure labyrinth game style.
It starts with the new Philips Media animation and the Interactive Entertainment Found.

A 3D video present the game showing an old manor… accompanied by a sinister music and noises from the forest… a good way to put you in the ambiance of what is coming for you…

As I am reviewing the European version, once the video finished, you will have to choose the language between:
German, Dutch, English and French.

Once chosen, an animation will brings you to Main Menu, the place that you can choose the number of players, between 1 to 4 (alternatively).

In the options, you can choose the number of magic objects that will have to find. They can be 7, 13 or 21.
You also can play with or without the 3D labyrinth (we will talk about this later).

After setting the options and the number of players, you are going the the basement of the manor… the underground labyrinth…

WITHOUT 3D LABYRINTH GAMEPLAY:
I choose 4 players and 21 magical objects. The 1st game a am playing is without 3D labyrinth, this way it is easy to understand the way you play the game.
4 player represented by 4 icons that are:
Red star, Green cross, Yellow heart and Blue triangle.

Each player have to reach a Magical Object (treasure) numbered 1, 2 and 3 to win points (the brown boxes). Treasure 1 is the one with less points and treasure 3 the one with more points. But the points aren’t linear as the quicker you reach them, more points you will get.

But before you can reach them, you need to add a wall piece into the labyrinth. Doing this you will change the line you are going to insert it. You can rotate the new piece to be more appropriate to your next move. Once you have added it, you can move your player.
Even if more than 1 treasure is on your way, your turn pass after taking the first, so be clever and think well before taking it… choose the one with more points!

By moving the walls, you are also destroying or helping your opponent next move!
Be sure you are fast, the clock will limit you and if you are not fast enough, your turn will pass…

If you play the game alone (1 player) the game rules are the same, but you are the only one playing (the opponents are just present but not playing).

After getting all the Magical Objects, the player with more points are the winner and you will write your name one the Guestbook of the mansion.

WITH 3D LABYRINTH GAMEPLAY:
Now playing the 3D labyrinth gives more interactivity to the game.
It starts the same way, you need to add a piece before playing, but after that, you will walk in the labyrinth.

You will always start facing North, just like the board game. Use the arrows to go forward, turn left or right.
You will meet entities and you will have to choose if they are friends or phantoms… to decide who it is, just click the left or the right icon.
If you are wrong and give a hand-check to a phantom, you will lose your points… if you get the right answer, you will follow your way.

If you find a treasure, you also will decide if it is a real one or a magical one… if you are right and decide that it is a magical one, then you can double or triplicate your points! If it is not a magical one but decided it is… you will lose the treasure.

After you finish the game, an animation with the player will appear in a party in the mansion.

To conclude, this is a very good game to play with friends or even alone. I do prefer playing without the 3D labyrinth, it is faster. The 3D labyrinth is a little bit confusion to find your way, even if you can always check your position on the boar.

When exiting the game, you will see the pictures of the people who worked on the game.

I recommend you to play this game, it deserve it and with friends you will get a fun time!

Other information:
– 4 players (alternatively).
– No Digital Video Cartridge required.
– Gamepad recommended.

CD-i Emulator Compatibility:
Not working

Good Points:
– 4 players.
– Fun moment with friends.
– The ambiance with the sound…

Bad Points:
– 3D labyrinth a little bit confusiong.

EVALUATION:
Graphics 8/10
Music 8/10
Gameplay 8/10
TOTAL 8/10

Find all the Chronicles at www.theworldofcdi.com
Contact: omegalfa@theworldofcdi.com
Twitter: @omegalfapt
Facebook: Support Group

Written by omegalfa, © 11/09/2020