Katakis | カタキス

Bionic Granny (Commodore 64)

Worst. Mastertronic Game. Ever.

The Good
It’s 1984, and something is wrong with Granny, who has lived the quiet life somewhere in London. She has been possessed by a demon who gives her a walking stick that she has no control of and orders her to wait outside the school gates around four o’clock. That’s when the kids leave the school, make their way across the road, and down toward her. Granny must use her newly-acquired walking stick to whack as many children as she can.

The crossing guard not far from her is supposed to guide these children across the road, but she would rather abandon her post and run left and right across it at an insane speed, occasionally making a turnoff. She detests Granny whacking children as they go past, but instead of calling the police, she decides to hurl lollipops down at her. If she manages to knock her out, the demon is released from Granny’s body and she loses a life.

I think the cover art is great; it really shows Granny’s intentions. The huge skull behind her looks great as well. Colorful instructions are displayed before the game, but make sure you memorize them, because once you hit a key, you will never see them again unless you restart the tape. I enjoyed the animation of Granny going down on the ground when you are hit.

The Bad
I feel bad for those children who mistakenly thought they were going to control one of the children trying to get away from Granny, and that she was going to hit them with her “laser-powered brolly”. This is because the core gameplay contradicts the cassette inlay.

You are required to whack a specific number of children before you can proceed to the next level. There can be 999 of these levels, judging by the three-digit figure. If there actually are that many, imagine looking at the same bland graphics and boring level design. If you want to know how close you are to entering the next level, I suppose the only clue you have is the number of children leaving the school at the one time. But get hit by a lollipop, and you will restart the level again even if there is only one kid leaving.

Speaking of lollipops, they drop too fast, and it is too late to turn back if you see one being dropped just inches from you. The background music, although memorable, is also irritating.

The Bottom Line
Bionic Granny is a horrible game with bland graphics, annoying music, and gameplay that doesn’t match what is described on the inlay. The only good thing about it is the well-drawn cover. I don’t recommend this game at all. Do yourself a favor and try out Bionik Granny Returns, which is a remake of this game. It addresses all of the concerns I have raised.

By Katakis | カタキス on October 20, 2022

Frogger (Arcade)

Going on an amphibious adventure

The Good
Back in the early Eighties, people were used to games such as Space Invaders and Galaxian, where they moved their laser left or right across the screen while shooting aliens swooping down at them. Then Konami’s Frogger appeared out of nowhere, and players suddenly found themselves controlling a frog, and they could move up - not just left or right - toward their five homes on the other side within a time limit.

To reach these homes, however, they must cross a busy highway to a median strip, and from there negotiate a river full of logs and diving turtles, and finally into all of their five homes. Fifty points are awarded to the player for reaching one home, but more points are awarded for bringing their lady frog along with them and gobbling an insect. The game starts off easy, allowing players to get used to the game. It eventually gets harder, with the game introducing snakes, alligators, and otters into the mix. The level design also differs slightly and everything is sped up, requiring them to time their moves carefully.

Besides the gameplay itself, Frogger was innovative in two other ways. There are more ways you can die, such as being run over by a vehicle, letting the timer expire, staying on a diving turtle, missing the homes, being eaten, and falling into the river. The gameplay is complemented by well-composed music. As well as the standard songs, the US version of the game has “Yankee Doodle” thrown in for good measure. The animations are brilliant; I like how the skull and crossbones are formed when a life has been lost. The game also has that “just one more go” vibe to it.

The Bad
I can’t find any flaws to this timeless classic.

The Bottom Line
Frogger is a refreshing change from the shooters that dominated the arcades way back in the early Eighties, and it contained many innovative features such as the use of background music and the number of ways you can die. The graphics and sound are excellent, and the game’s addictive nature will keep you coming back for more. Two thumbs up, way up!

By Katakis | カタキス on October 16, 2022

Bath Time (Commodore 64)

No, you don’t get to have a bath

The Good
Personal Software Services (PSS) was not a company I was familiar with when I still had my Commodore 64 back in the day; it was only through emulation that I discovered their many classic gems. One of these is Bath Time, an unusual game set around a huge bath. The game is for 1-2 players, with each player controlling a fairy who can move left and right operating six valves which control the flow of water.

Swimming in the pool is a swan and fish, both of which the lower player is keeping in for as long as they can (about forty seconds). The player on the opposite side is trying to prevent this from happening, trying to fill or empty the pool. When it gets full, the chutes will also fill with water, allowing the swan to escape. But emptying the pool increases the chance of the fish perishing. If either one of these happen, the lower player loses. Occasionally, a boy emerges from the right side, bucket in hand, and fills up the pool. His pet elephant also appears from the opposite side to drain it. Both characters are there to work for or against the players.

Timing also plays a crucial role in the game; there is no point in the lower player releasing water if the swan is past the center of the screen, making its way toward the chutes filled with water, especially since you move at the same pace. Before the game, you can select the number of players, the speed of the water, and the skill level. The game will go on forever, but pressing the [Run/Stop] key brings you back to the title screen and allows you to select different options.

Snippets of Tchaikovsky’s ‘Dying Swan’ and Schubert’s ‘Trout Quartet’ help deliver a relaxing mood, and these pieces fade in and out depending on what is happening on the screen. The characters are drawn nicely, and their animations are smooth. I think the overall appearance of the pool is impressive; as well as its three layers, there are fountains on each side, in which water spits out of. The appearance of the boy and elephant add to the tension, and the way the swan just drifts along the chutes makes me laugh every time. The one-player option is useful not only for practice runs, but ideal for anyone who can’t find somebody to play with.

The Bad
Since the valves are quite small, I found it easy to miss hitting them.

The Bottom Line
Bath Time is an unusual game in which two players are working against each other. One player prevents the other from keeping the swan and fish in the pool. Two more characters appear from the sides of the screen to help out. The graphics are excellent, the music delivers a relaxing mood, and there is some customization that occurs before the start of the game. Excellent, overall.

By Katakis | カタキス on October 14, 2022

Alien Rescue (Commodore 64)

A good <i>Lunar Rescue</i> variant

The Good
There was an epic space battle in which your team lost, and any remaining survivors were placed in life capsules and sent out to drift aimlessly through space. These same capsules eventually ran out of fuel and crash-landed on a nearby planet. You are now the commander sent out to pick up these capsules and transport them to the mothership orbiting above, while avoiding the projectiles coming from the gun skimming the planet’s surface.

It is best to take down the gun before getting a capsule (achieved by hovering over it and pressing the fire button). When you do, you have about ten seconds to carry them off to the mothership before the gun reappears. If you drop the capsules into the mothership, it takes them away to a safe haven before returning, then another capsule drops to take its place. Make sure not to be in the one place; they have the tendency to drop right on top of you. If you are hit by a projectile, or touch a capsule or the mothership, you lose a life. Losing all your lives means the game is over.

This game plays like Lunar Rescue but it is quite easy, given that there are no obstacles you have to deal with on the way back, other than the gun itself. If you are playing the game at the maximum skill level, it is quite a challenge; your craft is sped up, and the moving gun shoots every five seconds. The green craft looks good, and the mothership is quite colorful. I think the sound effects are excellent; I like the way the mothership hums at different pitches depending on what it is doing, and you always know when your craft has latched onto a capsule. I like how there are instructions before the start of the game, and each paragraph is different colors to make them stand out.

The Bad
It is too easy to crash into the life capsules as you have to get up close before you can pick them up, and it is also difficult to drop one into the mothership since it moves all the time.

The Bottom Line
In Alien Rescue, you have to pick up life capsules being dropped onto the planet’s surface and carry them off to the mothership. The game is simple to get through, and the graphics and sound are quite good. Unfortunately, unlike other games from the early Eighties, I found myself not playing this game after a few weeks.

By Katakis | カタキス on October 9, 2022

Donkey Kong (Arcade)

A timeless classic

The Good
If you were wandering through your local arcade in the early Eighties, you would have probably found a classic gem called Donkey Kong. My first glimpse of the game was the tabletop version by Coleco, which contained inferior hardware and featured basic graphics, different sounds, and no animations whatsoever. Then I remember getting the version for my Commodore 64 made by Ocean, which is so faithful to Nintendo’s original coin-op. The game was responsible for introducing us to the Big N’s two major characters – Mario and Donkey Kong – who would eventually say good-bye to each other and feature in their own individual series.

The setting is a construction area consisting of four separate screens, which include construction site, cement factory, elevator level, and finally the rivet level. No matter what screen you’re on, the object is the same: jump over barrels, trays of cement, and fireballs - or use a hammer on them - while making your way to the top. Once there, both Mario and Pauline are together for a few seconds until the gorilla carries her off to the next screen. On the fourth screen, you also have to remove all the rivets by walking over them. Along the way, Mario can grab items belonging to Pauline, such as hats, parasols, and purses for bonus points. Let the bonus counter run out or collide with an enemy, and Mario will lose a life. The game ends when there are no lives left.

The artwork around the cabinet, featuring the main characters, is well designed, and the graphics and animations are impressive. The background music consists of small loops that never grow tired. The “How High Can You Get?” intermission encourages players to have ”just one more go”, not only to get a lot further than their previous game, but also to make their mark on the high score table. The controls are simple, with a joystick used to direct Mario and the one button to jump.

The Bad
Just like most home ports, the coin-op version punishes players who don’t go far enough, denying them access to some levels. On level one, you don’t get to play the cement factory or elevator levels. On level two, only the elevator level is unlocked, and on level three, all four screens are playable. Also, there is a limited amount of time in which you can destroy obstacles with the hammer, but I don’t think this is long enough, even on the earlier levels.

The Bottom Line
Donkey Kong is a popular game that requires you to make your way to the top of the screen to rescue the damsel-in-distress, while avoiding the obstacles that come your way. The graphics, animation, and sound is excellent, but the major disadvantage is the way the game omits some screens on the earlier levels. Official ports and clones were released for a multitude of platforms, and each platform also has its own drawbacks.

By Katakis | カタキス on October 8, 2022

King & Balloon (MSX)

Aiming for a royal hit

The Good
King and Balloon makes a refreshing change from the Space Invaders-style shooters that seem to be popular in the arcades. A squadron of forty-two balloons swoop down toward you and try to abduct the king walking back and forth below you, and you must try to prevent this from happening. I found the best way to do this is to maneuver your cannon in front of him, while making sure you steer clear of any projectiles the balloons throw at you. Some of the balloons form one huge hot-air balloon, and points are multiplied every time you shoot it.

One game mechanic I like is that it does not matter how many hits your cannon receives from the projectiles; if you happen to let the king get abducted, you will lose one of your lives. If you hit all the balloons on screen, you will proceed to the next round. Occasionally, you enter a bonus round that plays similar to Galaga, with you shooting groups of balloons that go about in a wavy pattern, and receiving bonus points for every one you shoot.

I was impressed by the way the MSX version is faithful to the arcade game, right down to the attract mode featuring the score advance table. I also like the appearance of the cannon. The walking animation of the two figures standing on either side of it provides some realism, and I like how it breaks apart when it is hit by one of the projectiles. The graphics and animations are really good. I found the game a bit challenging as far as rescuing the king is concerned. Although the balloons carry the king off in a straight line, some of them move diagonally, making it difficult to get a clear shot. Like Space Invaders and other shooters of its time, the game is quite addictive, having that “just one more game” vibe to it in an attempt to beat your previous score.

The Bad
As with other shooters released around the same time as this, there are hardly any flaws.

The Bottom Line
Back in the Eighties when arcade manufacturers got the player to blast aliens on screen, Namco eventually bucked the trend when they decided to release a game where the enemies are balloons who threaten to kidnap something you are protecting. Called King & Balloons, the game mechanics are similar to Galaxian, in the way these balloons swoop down and fire projectiles you have to avoid. A unique feature is the infinite lives the player has, and you can keep playing as long as all the kings are not abducted. This is an overlooked game considering that it was not as popular as Space Invaders and only one port was available. If you own an MSX, the computer which the port was made for, I would recommend this game if you like this type of shooter.

By Katakis | カタキス on September 27, 2022

Spartan X 2 (NES)

An excellent sequel to <i>Spartan X</i>, packed with more features

The Good
Spartan X 2 (スパルタンX 2) is a horizontally-scrolling action game released exclusively for the Family Computer in Japan, and it is also the sequel to Spartan X (Kung-Fu Master in the West). Johnny Thomas rescued his girlfriend Sylvia held captive in a five-story pagoda. Now he is going after a drug syndicate responsible for the death of his mother and sister after the syndicate used his father as an experiment.

The game comprises six stages, and has Johnny fighting through outdoor scenes such as train, warehouse, and airplane. The mechanics are the same as in the first game. As you make your way right, enemies approach you both in front and from behind. When they are at arm’s length, they will grab you in a headlock and will remain there until you shake them off. The longer you stay in the headlock, the more your energy drains. Before they can get you, though, you can use the same two moves from the first game. In addition, two new ones are also available: an uppercut and an over-the-shoulder throw.

Missing from the first game is the ability to restore health. In Spartan X 2, this comes in the form of a “Stamina X” bottle left behind by certain enemies. When you get to the end of each stage, you need to defeat a boss in order to continue, and you must learn their attack patterns to make it easy on yourself. At the end-of-stage statistics that follow the boss battles, the amount of health you are awarded depends on how much time you have remaining. In between the stages are cut-scenes telling you what areas you’re going to next and the boss at the end of each.

The graphics are very good, and almost every soundtrack in the game features the same beats I talked about in my review of Metal Storm. Unlike that game, however, the background music is the same for each boss. I was relieved that there is no “Extra mode” or “Super game mode”, in which you have to go through the game again. I enjoyed watching the cut-scenes; I think they add some depth to the game.

The Bad
I question why there is only Japanese text in the game, given that in Holy Diver, another Irem game only released in Japan, was written entirely in English.

The Bottom Line
I think Spartan X 2 is a great game. It has good graphics and sound, and it has the same mechanics as its predecessor. This is an overlooked game because the sequel only saw a release on the Family Computer in Japan, and there were no plans to release the game in the West. This all changed in 2016 when Retro-Bit released it in North America as a pack-in title for their console. If you are curious about this game but don’t want to buy the console, then sites such as romhacking.net may help.

By Katakis | カタキス on September 26, 2022

Quantum Gate (Windows 3.x)

Quantum Gate: No One Explores Here

The Good
In the year 2057, an advanced environmental simulation program called Earth-5 has predicted that industrialization, pollution, and the overuse and destruction of natural resources decades earlier were key factors of Earth’s imminent decline five years later, and the only hope of saving the blue planet is the Eden Initiative, a project aimed at extracting a rare material called iridium oxide only found on AJ3905 and returning it to Earth. Due to the hazardous nature of the planet – which promises a gruesome death for anyone foolish enough to set foot on it – it can only be accessed through an interplanetary device called the Quantum Gate. Private Drew Griffin, an army medical student, along with his fellow army recruits, is called upon to protect the mining crew during the extraction.

Much of the game is spent exploring your surroundings and talking to people, before being called upon to perform necessary tasks that include attending briefings, having breakfast, performing KP duty, and going to bed. When interacting with characters, small videos will pop up somewhere on the screen, and occasionally you have some dialogue choices while getting an insight on Griffin’s thoughts. There are no right or wrong answers when it comes to the choices you make, and you are encouraged to play the game more than once, making different choices, to see all the videos Quantum Gate has to offer and to fully grasp what’s really going on. The videos are encoded in both Apple QuickTime for Windows and Microsoft Video for Windows, and you are asked to install these. This is all thanks to VirtualCinema, a technique pioneered by HyberBole Studios which uses your computer’s multimedia capabilities to its full advantage so that it provides a platform for storytelling. According to MobyGames, only three games used VirtualCinema: Quantum Gate and its sequel, and The X-Files Game. Games have three layers; in order they are physical environment, videos, and character’s thoughts.

Navigating around the complex is done by moving the mouse off screen to the direction where you want Griffin to go, and clicking the mouse button. If you hover over something you can look at, a look icon will appear. The only thing worth looking at is Griffin’s journal which gets updated each day and provides an interesting insight of his disturbing past. If you hover your mouse at the top of the screen, you can click the circle icon to be taken back to the main menu. Those are all the icons you’ll see in the game. “MiniTerms” scattered throughout the three-level complex allow you to check your e-mails, access important information, and look at maps, among other things.

My favorite part of Quantum Gate is accessing the VR simulation, which your fellow army recruit, Private Michaels, warns you about. The object is to go around wiping out “bugs”, while protecting your colleagues, which are represented as blue chess pieces. The simulation warns you if you are firing upon someone, when a bug is right behind you, or if you are out of bounds. I enjoyed seeing all my colleagues getting wiped out in one session, then having the remaining bugs gang up on me. The arrow keys are used for movement, while the left mouse button is used to fire a laser. The simulation terminates when you run out of health.

Although you cannot save the game, there is an option in the main menu labeled "Go to Movie" containing four or five checkpoints over three days. Not only does this save you from completing the entire game in one go, it lets you replay a specific movie, allowing you to select a different response if there is any.

The hallways are well designed and have a futuristic feel to them. When you move in a certain direction, you see Griffin walk there instead of just teleporting himself, and the sound of his footsteps as he is doing so provides some realism. There are other nice touches. One of them is the introduction, where Griffin screams as he is traveling through the Gate, even though he said “I hope this doesn’t hurt.” The other thing is the amusing ending. I love the song that plays over the end credits.

The manual is well detailed and worth a read before launching the game. It starts by giving a brief explanation on VirtualCinema. After that, it goes into detail on how to use the interface. Interestingly, it explains hovering around the video clips will trigger the Memory icon. Click the left mouse button while this icon is present to hear what Griffin is thinking. Although the feature didn’t make the final cut, this would have been made redundant anyway since we automatically hear his thoughts. Scattered throughout the manual are the three maps of the complex and a definition of the terms used throughout the game.

The Bad
Contrary to the manual, there is hardly time for any exploration; you only have about five minutes before being summoned, and some of the areas are inaccessible. While areas such as the mess hall and lounge are always open to you, others will trigger an "Access Denied" message (even if you have already visited the area before).

Each person featured in the game has their own backdrop when their video clips get displayed on screen. This is strange because those backdrops don’t match what is seen when there are no videos playing. There are even times when more than one video featuring the same person start to clutter up the screen. The worst of these are the ones featuring Michaels; five video clips are displayed one by one as he is trying to finish the one sentence.

The Adjust Sound option in the main menu does not work, and there are references to “SpectraScope” in both the game and manual that you don’t even get to make use of.

The Bottom Line
Quantum Gate is an okay game, but not one of the best full-motion video games I have played. The object is to explore a station, get called upon to perform certain duties, and watch video clips, some involving you selecting from a list of choices that will trigger an alternate version of the clip. You also get to participate in a VR simulation that sports an excellent interface, and that’s the only really good thing I can say about this game. The manual is also worth a read.

Exploration is almost non-existent, and there are certain missing features as well. HyberBole Studios wanted Quantum Gate to be one big game, but MVT insisted that the game be shipped in two separate instalments, meaning the sequel picks up where this game left off. To fully know what the game is about, eight replays are required, but I doubt many people would do so.

By Katakis | カタキス on September 22, 2022

Tower of Evil (VIC-20)

Not as evil as it looks

The Good
Tower of Evil is a flick-screen action game in which you play a little green man called Andros on a quest to rescue Princess Diana from the Necromancer’s lair. First, you must negotiate all seven floors and retrieve the stolen treasures from each one. Things will not be so easy for you, as various creatures such as Valfors, Xaphans, and Baphonets are out to get you, but these can be either avoided or shot at. Their appearances vary depending on what floor you’re on. For example, the creatures on the first floor look as if they came straight out of Pac-Man, while the creatures on the fifth look like worms. If they get too much for you, you can find a goblet that will make you invincible for a short time.

Once you have gotten the required amount of treasures on each floor, a teleporter awaits you somewhere. Go through it, and you will proceed to the next floor where more treasures and creatures await. When all 28 treasures have been collected, you must store them in a chest on the seventh floor to be able to rescue the princess. If you come into contact with any creature along the way, you lose one of your lives; and the game ends when you run out. Assuming you find her, she will start walking up and give you a kiss. The game then restarts.

Andros’ walking animation is impressive, and I find it funny that he is always looking at you while moving in a certain direction. The way he breaks apart if he comes in contact with a creature is impressive; it’s like watching an animation of a door opening. Killing each creature is challenging, given that they constantly move around, making it difficult to get a clear shot. Although some of them have the ability to shoot at you with clear accuracy, they can shoot each other as well, not only making you get points for nothing, but making your job much easier. There is no map provided, but the floors are not that big and it is easy to find all the treasures on a floor within five minutes.

The Bad
Regardless of whether creatures are already in the room when you enter, more will come through one of the doorways. More often than not, you will lose a life trying to go through a certain doorway because it would be too late to turn back once one of them appears all of a sudden. Even if you make it through the door, there is the possibility of losing a life when a new room appears. The constant beeping sound is irritating, also.

The Bottom Line
Games from Creative Sparks are really entertaining to play, and Tower of Evil is no exception, especially if they involve a lot of exploration. In this game, you have to explore each floor of the Necromancer’s lair, collecting all the treasures and storing them in a chest so you can rescue the princess. The graphics and animation are good, and the game itself is rather challenging. There is hardly any sound other than beeping, and Tower of Evil is one of those games where you only play it once and never again.

By Katakis | カタキス on September 22, 2022

Tank Commander (VIC-20)

An excellent Creative Sparks game that has lots of exploration

The Good
When the VIC-20 was unleashed by Commodore in the early Eighties, the machine came with a paltry 3.5KB of RAM. While some game companies managed to fit the games within that amount of memory, there were quite a few companies that went beyond this limitation. One of these was Creative Sparks, with Tank Commander requiring 8KB.

The action takes place in a huge, remote landscape. There are mountains to the north, water to the south, and a mixture of hills, rivers, roads (complete with bridges), and vegetation in between. You commandeer a tank that must infiltrate enemy territory, destroying its oil reserves and ammunition dumps. You only have to destroy one of each, and doing so will award you with bonus points depending on how much ammo you have remaining, as well as a trip to the next level.

These two commodities are vital for the enemy’s business, so to make sure you don’t get anywhere near them, three types of dangers appear. The most common of these are the mines scattered around the landscape, threatening to blow up any vehicle that drives through them. Tanks approach you from the right. They move, turn, and shoot at the same speed as you, and are attracted to any vehicle that travels on roads. Then there are the fighter jets that appear from time to time, dropping bombs at you as they make their run. Come into contact with any of these and you lose one of your three lives. If you run out of lives, the game is over.

The first thing I like about this game is that it encourages you to explore the landscape fully in order to find these, and at your own free will; you don’t have to worry about completing your objective within a certain time. The ammo counter at the bottom of the screen is impressive; it is actually a supply of bullets, not a number, and I enjoyed watching the score increase as the bullets are taken off the screen. You can drive over vegetation instead of wiping it out, and I think this is neat. The menu before the start of the game is colorful, and there are options for either a one- or two-player game (two players take turns), joystick or keyboard, and interlace. A right brace - > - means that that option is selected. I could not get the interlace option to select, but I assume that’s because I don’t have the required expansion.

The Bad
I could not find any flaws with this game; Creative Sparks seem to have ironed them out.

The Bottom Line
Tank Commander is an excellent game from Creative Sparks in which you need to destroy oil reserves and ammunition dumps while fighting off tanks and avoiding mines. It features a well-drawn landscape that encourages exploration. The graphics and sound are great, and the game can be customized before the game starts. CS has definitely put 8K to good use here.

By Katakis | カタキス on September 15, 2022

Follow the Leader / Electronic Music (1292 Advanced Programmable Video System)

Time to face the music

The Good
Suppose as a child growing up, you had a music class where you composed one of your songs using a musical instrument. There was a chance that you couldn’t take it with you, even if you needed to practice at home. You could buy a console and buy a music program designed for it, such as Musical Memory for the Database (part of the 1292 APVS family). It would be a lot cheaper than purchasing an instrument from a music shop.

You can compose your own masterpieces of up to 32 notes, and play them back, editing as you go along. As you do, the note appears on screen until you depress the key. I composed some interesting tunes myself, and I was able to memorize the note’s appearance and sound. I enjoyed the Database’s rendition of “When the Saints Go Marching In”, and the way you can manipulate it, changing the pitch of the song and making it play out of tune.

Musical Memory also contains a built-in game where you must repeat the note the game throws at you, and it can be presented in four- or six-color variations. I went well in the game, but realized my memory wasn’t good enough the further I got. Leaving the screen idle in both modes for about thirty seconds will cause the program to flash yellow until you touch a key, and this helps reduce screen tear.

The Bad
There are no flaws in this music program; it works like you expected it to.

The Bottom Line
Musical Memory is a program where you can construct your own music and play it back. If you don’t like what it sounds like, you can edit it at your own leisure. You can even manipulate the built-in melodies and see what interesting takes you can come up with. The “Memory” part refers to the game, a clone of “Simon Says” where you need to repeat the pattern that the game dishes out. An excellent music program overall.

By Katakis | カタキス on September 13, 2022

Metal Storm (NES)

Excellent action game where its outstanding feature is required to progress

The Good
The year is 2501. On the “Cyberg” battle station on Pluto lies the LaserGun, whose purpose is to protect Earth from hostile alien forces. One day, a computer malfunction causes the system to start wiping out the Solar System, starting with Neptune. The machine’s self-destruct device, the only way to save the galaxy, is mysteriously jammed and the LaserGun has pointed toward the Blue Planet. Your mission, as the M-308 Gunner, is to infiltrate Cyberg and unlock the device to prevent the destruction of Earth.

The game consists of six stages, consisting of two zones each. In each stage, the M-308 has to deal with the many mechs guarding Cyberg. The protagonist starts with the Fusion Weapon, but can get additional weapons along the way including the Power Beam, Shield Force, and Gravity Fireball. Each stage is challenging, but the M-308 can get through them with the help of the Gravity Flip. Using this is, in fact, essential for completing certain stages, such as the maze in stage two. At the end of each stage is a boss that you need to fight. These bosses have their own attack patterns that you must memorize, and defeating most of them requires the Gravity Flip. In between each stage is a statistics screen where bonus points are given. A ten-character password is also provided and used to begin a stage at a later date.

As with any platform game or shoot-’em-up, there are power-ups scattered throughout the stages that will help you achieve your mission. Normally, the M-308 explodes when it is hit by an enemy, but collecting the Armor power-up (“A”) will allow you to take an extra hit. The bonus power-up (“B”) will award you with 5,000 bonus points. The rare “C” power-up crushes every enemy on screen. “T” awards you with extra time, while power-ups marked “1up” award an extra life.

Once all six stages have been completed, you have to participate in a Boss Rush - defeating each boss in succession – before dealing with the LaserGun itself. Then you move onto Expert Mode, a much harder version of the game featuring new enemies. Metal Storm is not the only game where you have to play all the stages again. I think Irem did this so that you can memorize each stage before tackling them again.

Each stage has their own backgrounds, and all of them scroll smoothly. The walking animations of both the M-308 and the mechs are impressive. The background music is excellent, and one instrument provides a nice beat. My favorite is the BGM that serves for the final battle; not only has it got a superb beat, but it gets faster as time ticks down to zero.

The Japanese version of the game (十力装光メタルストーム/Jūryoku Sōkō Metal Storm) was released after the US version and has a few differences, namely the change in the graphics and an added introduction. In addition to this, WARNING in big, red letters replaces RED ALERT just before the showdown with one of the bosses. It’s also more challenging than the US version, especially near the end.

The Bad
I could not find any flaws to this excellent game.

The Bottom Line
Metal Storm is overlooked, despite featuring in Issue 22 of Nintendo Power. I think it is also the result of the game being released only for the NES. It plays like any platform game out there, but the outstanding feature is the Gravity Flip which is needed for some of the stages. The plotline, graphics, and sound are excellent. The game will also keep you on your toes, judging by the way it is quite challenging. If you are into challenging, action games, this is definitely one for your NES collection.

By Katakis | カタキス on September 12, 2022

Race Fun (VIC-20)

No such thing as a finish line in this race

The Good
I have played many racing games as a child growing up in the Eighties, and all of them have one thing in common: you’ve got to make your way to the finish line before the time runs out. Do this and it will be extended, giving you more chance of making it to the next one. Rabbit Software’s Race Fun is slightly different, though. All you need to do is survive for as long as you can and avoid cars without losing all your lives. The number of points you get depends on how slow or fast you are traveling along the road. Lose all your lives and the game will be over.

The game excels in the graphics department. The cars are colorful, and they are of different shapes and sizes so that you can tell them apart. Both sides of the road have an interesting pattern I like. As for the sound effects, the engine noise is quite good, and I like the way it changes pitch when you accelerate or decelerate. When you crash into a car, the resulting explosion is satisfying.

The Bad
The figures in the scoreboard on the left of the screen go right to the border, and this looks strange. The game will make your car go faster the further you progress through the game, making the ability to change speeds redundant.

The Bottom Line
Race Fun is a racing game with one unique feature: there is no finish line to get to. You basically need to survive as long as you can without losing all your lives. You are free to accelerate or decelerate to be awarded more points than usual, but the imminent speed-up of your car means that this mechanic gets redundant. The graphics and sound are good, and the game provides a quick-fix for anyone who is a fan of old-school racers.

By Katakis | カタキス on September 7, 2022

Musician (Odyssey 2)

Transform your Videopac into a musical powerhouse

The Good
Musician is one of the first music-based programs that turns your home system into a musical keyboard. Unlike others of its kind, it is quite special as well. It comes with an overlay owners of the program are encouraged to slip over their normal keyboard. The overlay is similar to those musical keyboards for children. It only has 16 keys, but the only difference is the symbols above, which the well-designed, landscape-oriented manual refers to.

The program allows you to record and playback your own masterpieces of up to 81 notes. As soon as you enter each key, a note is displayed on the screen as bass and treble staves, and the note’s name appears at the top of the screen. As you create your own masterpieces, you will recognize the note and its correct pitch. You can also edit the notes if you dislike your composition. I like how the notes scroll left if your piece contains more than four, rather than just blanking the line. I also like the built-in metronome, which helps you keep track of time. It is set at 90 beats per minute, but this can be adjusted from 20 to 199.

The manual is quite detailed and is worth a read before composition. It comprises important topics such as recording, editing, playback, and transposing. A glossary is also included. In between the instructions are songs you can key in, including “This Old Man”, “Brother Jacob”, “The Entertainer”, and “Merrily We Roll Along”. Even if you don’t feel like composing tunes, built-in demos are available to listen to.

The Bad
I can find no faults.

The Bottom Line
Videopac Cartridge 31 is a good music program, nothing more. The overlay is a nice touch; just make sure to slip it on the keyboard before using the program, otherwise you have no idea where the symbols are if you’re looking in the manual. The demos and metronome are excellent. If you have a Videopac and like to compose your own music, you should check this one out.

By Katakis | カタキス on September 4, 2022

Punchy (VIC-20)

A poorly programmed piece of garbage

The Good
From time to time, two puppets known as Punch and Judy would entertain audiences in England and around the world, and other cast members would feature during a performance. One of these is the Constable. Now Commodore owners have the opportunity to control him. The premise of the game is Punch has imprisoned Judy in the Punch and Judy booth, and has placed obstacles in the Constable’s path to make sure he doesn’t get anywhere near her. These obstacles include crocodile-infested waters and even pits in which Punch himself pokes a spear up at anyone trying to make their way across.

You control Bobby who has the ability to jump over these obstacles with the fire button. Sixteen screens need to be negotiated, and each one is completed by touching a pole a baby (?) dressed in a cute suit is on top of. Your progress is shown at the top of the screen. You can jump up and get a sausage flying your way to warp to the next screen. The game imposes a time limit; let this run down to zero, and the baby will slide down the pole and you lose a life. You also lose a life if you touch an obstacle. The game ends when all lives are lost.

I think the screen layout is excellent. Two groups of information, at the top and bottom of the screen, are presented in scrolls. The graphics are also colorful. The moving clouds below the status area are a nice touch, and the platform you walk Bobby along is reminiscent to the actual Punch and Judy booth. The two pictures on either side of this pattern look good, and Bobby’s walking animations are impressive.

The Bad
Because this game was poorly programmed, it faces several problems. Even though the game requires 16KB, the game slows down if there is enough activity on the screen. You really have to time your jumps, but due to the inconsistent speeds, this is not possible.

The game also expects you to jump from a particular spot at the right time, otherwise you may end up losing a life. An example of this are screens with moving platforms where I was careful to find the spot I needed to jump from, but since I jumped at the wrong time, I fell through the platform after I landed on it. Even if I made it to the other side, pressing the fire button to jump off would result in me falling through it again.

The timer counts down from 10 000, yet this runs at turbo speed. There are times when I felt the urge to pick up my keyboard and throw it across the room because I was about to reach the pole just as time expired, and all because I had to time when I should jump over obstacles on the same screen.

The Bottom Line
If I have to pick between Hunchback and this game, it would be Ocean's. Mr. Micro's version of the game has good, colorful graphics, but it is badly programmed that it is impossible to finish the game. I didn't talk about the sound because there is hardly any. Waste a waste of 16K!

By Katakis | カタキス on September 1, 2022

Phantom Attack (VIC-20)

Enjoy the spectacular display, but be prepared to turn off the sound

The Good
Phantom Attack is a fixed-screen shooter released only for the VIC-20. You control a ship which can move left and right along the bottom of the screen, and you need to fire upon phantoms that grow in size at the top of the screen and swoop down at you. The phantoms have two ways of swooping down; either they swoop in a straight line, or do so diagonally. If it is the latter, you’d better not be in the wrong spot. Sometimes, even missiles are sent down your way. Coming into contact with a phantom results in a loss of one of your lives, and the game ends when you run out.

Like other games from Mastertronic, this one is well presented, and right away I could tell the game was not written in BASIC. I was impressed by the space-age font used throughout the game. The use of color throughout the game is impressive. The invaders, as well as your projectiles, are presented in a multitude of colors. Most impressive is the way game will imitate loading bars when you lose a life.

You control the ship by joystick, but you can use the function keys to pause the game, end it, or select a different wave. Of these, pausing the game will make the screen look colorful, and any phantoms on screen freeze. These F-keys are displayed before the game starts. I found Phantom Attack addictive; I mastered the early waves, and had a go at the challenging later ones, and I kept wanting to play again.

The Bad
Starting from the title screen, screeching sound effects are aplenty throughout the game, and there was no need for the quick white flashes if the game is over.

The Bottom Line
Phantom Attack is a fixed-screen shooter where you kill phantoms that form at the top of the screen and swoop down at you. Excellent presentation, colorful gameplay, and quite addictive. Minus one for the annoying sounds.

By Katakis | カタキス on August 26, 2022

Warlords (Atari 2600)

Battle of the warlords

The Good
Once upon a time in a faraway land, King Frederick decided to start a family with his wife Queen Christina and soon gave birth to quadruplets who were to later grow up to be strong men. Frederick had hoped his four sons – Dominick, Marcus, Felipe, and Restivo – were as peaceful as their father. But instead, they waged war over anything and everything. Fearing that the kingdom would be destroyed after he was gone, Frederick told the four to conduct their business elsewhere and banished them to a forbidden land. It’s in this land that they became warlords, dividing their newly-acquired territory into four quadrants, in which they built their own castles. They attacked each other with catapults and lightning bolts, only to take a break while they rebuild their damaged and war-torn castles. After that, the battle recommenced with greater ferocity.

Up to four players control one of Frederick’s sons. All of them are supplied with a shield, which they use to deflect the ball away from their castle in which their warlord resides, while at the same time directing it toward their opponent’s castles. If the ball touches any of the castle’s walls, it will take a chunk out of the castle; and if it hits a warlord, the player who was supposed to protect it is out of the game, which continues until one player has scored a total of five matches.

Warlords is an addictive game that I never got to play since I didn’t have an Atari 2600 at the time, and Atarisoft took no interest in porting the game over to other platforms. Having said that, I had the luxury of playing the game through Stella, an open-source Atari 2600 emulator. When I first heard of the title, I thought Warlords would be a role-playing game of some sort. I was quite surprised that it is actually a cross between Breakout and Quadrapong.

The game doesn’t have spectacular graphics as its arcade cousin, due to hardware limitations, but Atari made up for it by adding twenty-four variations, which are listed at the top of the screen, along with the number of players. The first few let you determine how many players are to participate, while the last four are aimed at children, basically making the ball not reach lightning speeds. A feature unique to the Atari 2600 are the white flashes seen briefly when one of the castles takes a hit. I like these because you can get a glimpse of the dead warlord in the corner of the screen.

The Bad
Warlords was released at a time when games were addictive. There are hardly any flaws I can think of.

The Bottom Line
In conclusion, Warlords is an enjoyable game that can be played by up to four players. It contains a mixture of Breakout and Quadrapong, in that you must ricochet your ball off your paddle. The only difference is if you miss the ball, part of your castle will take a hit. There are nice variations to this game, including the ability to control two paddles at once. This is another Atari 2600 classic that deserves to be in your collection.

By Katakis | カタキス on August 26, 2022

Laser Blast (Atari 2600)

No time to hang around

The Good
The second game by David Crane during his time at Activision is a horizontally-scrolling shooter where the player controls a flying saucer. What sets this game apart from other games of its kind is that it scrolls until three turrets are seen. These turrets take turns at firing pot shots at you, and it is up to you to take all three out. Once you do, three more appear. It’s important not to stay in the one spot, otherwise a turret will zero-in on you and you’ll be taken down in no time. If you are hit by one of them, you will lose one of your lives. In the early stages of the game, you can fly low to avoid detection, but this is not possible later as an invisible force field will separate you and the turrets.

The game features four variations, as well as an unusual twist. If you are struck, you can still move, landing on one of the turrets to take them out. The variations themselves represent a specific rank. While you are playing on the first one – the “Cadet” level - it is easy to time how long each turret fires a laser at you. The last variation - the "Commander" level - makes this impossible. Using my own playing strategy, I managed to get over 20,000 points and stocked up on reserves (the maximum number is six). If anyone managed to get 100,000 points or more back in the day, they could post a screenshot to Activision to receive a badge. Getting a million rewards you an alternate badge.

The idea is to play the game on the lowest variation to get familiar with the gameplay, then once you work out a strategy on how to avoid being struck down, you then proceed onto the next variation. The higher you go, the faster the screen scrolls and the more aggressive the turrets become. I like the light show you and your turrets create and the BOOM sound that is heard when the turret fires. The six-page manual is beautifully presented, with detailed instructions and tips from Crane himself.

The Bad
I can’t think of anything bad about this game. It was released at the time when Atari 2600 games had no flaws.

The Bottom Line
I enjoyed Crane's last game, Dragster, and he did not disappoint me with this release. This is an addictive game where you have to shoot three turrets at a time before they have a chance to fire at you. The graphics and sound are fantastic, and if you work out a certain strategy to destroying the turrets, you will find that you can't stop playing. Anyone who enjoys earlier games from Activision should definitely get this.

By Katakis | カタキス on August 18, 2022

Ten Little Indians (Commodore 64)

The tenth Mysterious Adventure is as exciting as the ones before it

The Good
Ten Little Indians is the tenth game in the ”Mysterious Adventure” series (coincidence, much?) designed by Brian Howarth and Wherner Barnes. It is said that the late Major Johnstone-Smythe has hidden a mysterious gold figurine inside his mansion. Its whereabouts are only revealed by finding other figurines that are of different colors. Some of them are easy enough to find, while others are rather difficult. Locations you will explore include the railway station, riverside wharf, and the mansion itself, as well as its surroundings.

The game is presented in much the same way as every Mysterious Adventure, with the game split between text or graphics and command input. The illustrations look fantastic, and I enjoyed watching the game draw and color in each scene; it bears a striking resemblance to the 1984 version of King’s Quest. If you don’t want to see them, you can press [Return] to be presented with more detailed information including a one-sentence description of the scene, the objects in that scene, and the available exits. This is ideal for moving between a lot of scenes quickly without seeing the game redraw the graphics.

Commands are usually in the verb-noun format, but directions and the inventory can be shortened to one letter (e.g. E for east, I for inventory). What I like about this parser is that if you happen to make a typo, the game will know what you mean and accept your command. This happens in other Mysterious Adventures that I have completed, not just this one. A maximum of five items can be stored in your inventory, and at some point you will have to drop some items to make way for any that you need right away, then come back for the dropped items later.

Like many adventure games, it is important to track where you have been and the objects in a particular location. The game world is huge, and it is quite easy to go around in circles without a map of some sort. It is also possible to die in the game, from certain situations like waiting too long on the railroad tracks until a train runs you over and spending too much time underwater. In which case, an illustration appears with a black background and a gravestone in the middle.

The Bad
When you switch to text-only mode then change back to graphic mode, the illustrations re-draw themselves. This can be frustrating especially if you have to move between a whole lot of scenes.

The Bottom Line
Ten Little Indians is game number ten in the "Mysterious Adventures" series, presented in the same way with a split between text/graphics and command input. Two-word commands need to be entered, but certain abbreviations can be entered as well. I enjoyed this game since you do not have to deal with obstacles as much and can explore your surroundings as long as you like.

By Katakis | カタキス on August 17, 2022

Holy Diver (NES)

It's <i>Castlevania</i> with a hint of magic

The Good
In the 666th year, Ronnie IV, the 16th Crimson Emperor, realizes that he is on his last legs so one of his final acts is to hook his two infant sons, Randy and Zakk, up with his faithful servant, Ozzy. Together, they are transported to another dimension in the hope of defeating Black Slayer, the Demon King of the Underground Dark Empire, who has planned the destruction of the Crimson Kingdom. Over 17 years, the three train themselves to become wizard kings. Something happens to Ozzy and Zakk, leaving Randy to defeat Black Slayer, who had eventually ruled over the countryside. To do this, five Crimson Emblem Seals must be obtained in order to end his reign.

Holy Diver is an action game reminiscent of Castlevania, featuring characters named after rock legends. It never saw a release outside Japan, probably due to the use of the word “Holy” in the title and religious imagery throughout the game. That remained this way until Retro-Bit released the collector’s edition of the game for a limited time. It is also one of the few games from Irem not to debut in the arcades. In the game, you go to the end of each of the game’s six stages, killing enemies unique to each stage and defeating one of Black Slayer’s henchmen at the end of each. Coming into contact with them drains your health, and the player loses a life when you run out of health. When killed, enemies leave behind red and blue potions; when collected, they award you with more health and mana, respectively.

The difference between this and Konami’s game is the use of magic spells needed to overcome most of the obstacles, and you get a new one when you defeat a boss. One of the first spells turns lava pools into blocks of ice which you can walk on, and you can even shoot your way through them. Another one lets you destroy a huge demon face, which prevents you jumping up to a platform. There are a total of five spells, and you can select them by pausing the game and activating the spells on the status screen. Next to the name of the spell is a number indicating the mana you will use when the spell is activated.

Each stage in the game has their own backdrops, and these look impressive. Also impressive is Randy’s appearance, as well as his walking animations. The enemies and the bosses look good, too. Some of the music pieces in the game have a beat to them, while some of them are much darker in tone, such as the music for each boss battle. As I have mentioned earlier, Holy Diver has a lot of religious imagery. For example, you see Zakk pinned to a crucifix when you are defeating the boss in the fifth stage.

The Bad
The music is the same for each boss fight, and it did my head in. Also, there is some kickback when you are hit by an enemy, and it is annoying when you are on a narrow platform and one of the enemies makes you fall off, into whatever dangers lurk below.

The Bottom Line
Holy Diver was an extremely rare game because it was only released in Japan. The game plays similar to Castlevania. However, to get through most of the levels, you have to put several magic spells to good use. The game is very good, but I found the kickback annoying and there is some irritating music, such as that used in the boss battles. If you like Castlevania, then this title is worth checking out.

By Katakis | カタキス on August 12, 2022

Dragster (Atari 2600)

Classic drag-racing game from the man who brought us <i>Pitfall</i>

The Good
In the mid-Eighties, one of the games that I played in my spare time was Pitfall! for the Commodore 64. The object is to explore a jungle collecting treasure, while avoiding the many hazards along the way. It was released at the time when Activision produced fun and addictive games, a far cry from their usual attitude of “Call of Duty this, and Call of Duty that”. Before David Crane created the game, he released a drag racing simulator called Dragster for the Atari 2600.

The premise is simple: two players compete to race to the other side of the screen ahead of their opponent or, as a single player, race across it in the shortest time possible. There are two variations. Game number one is what the manual calls “Straight-Ahead Dragster”. The challenge is making sure not to blow your engine, which is what I often did when I changed gears! Game number two is “Steerable Dragster”, which is where you can move up and down along the track. In a one-player game, I got as far as eight seconds. Both variations are for one or two players.

During the game, you always hear the sound of your car’s engine, and the way that it goes up a pitch as you move across the screen makes the game realistic, as do the animations of the moving wheel at the rear of your car and the wheelies you can perform. I like the design of the cars themselves, although some writing on the front of them would have been nice. I found the four-page instructions interesting to read. Each section is nicely laid out with specific information contained in a purple border. There are even tips from the man himself!

The Bad
When you start the race early or blow your engine, you are penalized and have to wait for the next race. In a two-player game, this is fine because it’s a free run for your opponent. In a one-player game, though, nothing will happen and you are forced to reset the game.

The Bottom Line
As one of the earlier Activision titles, this one remains a classic to this day due to its addictive nature. Can’t say much more than that.

By Katakis | カタキス on August 8, 2022

Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)

The ultimate Mario adventure for the NES

The Good
The original Super Mario Bros. came out in 1985 and it was a flagship title for the NES. Its huge success meant that a sequel appeared three years later. The Western release of the game was very different from its Japanese counterpart (which was released in 1986), due to Nintendo of America’s objections that the true sequel to SMB was harder and that NoA should frame the game around Yume Kōjō: Dokidoki Panic. Although the game was successful as well, this didn’t stop Nintendo going back to their roots.

It has been some time since Mario defeated Bowser. He infiltrated eight of his castles looking for Princess Toadstool, and he was disappointed that seven of them only contained an impostor. He was more disappointed when Toad told him that the “princess is in another castle”. Eventually, Mario managed to find the real Bowser and the princess, and peace was finally returned to the Mushroom Kingdom. Three years on, and Bowser is not happy that his adversary tossed him into a pool of lava, so he sends his seven offspring to conquer the Mushroom Kingdom, stealing each of the wands belonging to the kings of the seven kingdoms and transforming them into animals. SMB3 expands upon the original game in a number of ways.

SMB3 includes eight world maps complete with dancing vegetation and other scenery, and you can do many things beside entering levels. You can, for example, run across a Spade Panel, a memory game in which you are awarded an extra life or bonus points if you play your cards right. There are also fortresses in which you need to find and defeat the Koopaling inside to get further into the map.

The levels behave the same as the first game, and the heads-up display is similar to the first game, with score, time, lives, etc. but a “power meter” has been added. This only applies to certain power-ups such as Raccoon Mario and Tanooki Mario; with these activated, you can run through the level until your power meter is full, pressing B to fly upwards onto any platforms in the air. Other power-ups include the Super Leaf, Magic Wing, Frog Suit, and Hammer Suit. Also, there is no checkpoint at the end of the level, rather a black area where you need to get a card to advance. You can get some extra lives if you collect more than one of the same card, and a spectacular display if you manage to get all three of the same.

Once you have conquered all ten levels on a map, you can proceed to the castle where you find out what animal the kings have turned into, and board an airship before it flies off without you. The airships contain only cannonballs and flame-jets which have to be avoided before you reach the only pipe on the airship. You go down and defeat the Koopaling inside to get the wand. You see the King transformed (you don’t get to see the transformation taking place), and get a letter from the Princess.

SMB3 excels in both graphics and sound. Both the maps and levels are colorful. I like the appearance of Ice World and how everything is enlarged in Giant World. The music is excellent, with tunes ranging from happy melodies to sinister ones. I like how the later levels also pose quite a challenge. One of the last few levels of the game has you walking across nipper plants while putting several Starman power-ups to good use. Another one has you negotiating a level containing nothing but pipes and the few odd enemies, and you have to stand on special lifts that will hoist you up, making sure not to bump into anything.

The Bad
Similar to SMB, Nintendo expects you to complete the game in one sitting.

The Bottom Line
It's easy to see why most reviewers here list Super Mario Bros. 3 as their favorite Mario game. It features the same gameplay as the original game that came out in '85, while adding new elements such as world maps, mini-games, and character transformations. Anyone who has played the original game should get their hands on a copy of SMB3. It just shows how amazing games on the NES were capable of being.

By Katakis | カタキス on August 4, 2022

The Damsel and the Beast (ZX81)

An early action game for the ZX-81 packed with suspense

The Good
The Damsel and the Beast (D&B) is an action game developed for the ZX-81 equipped with the 16K expansion pack, in which you need to do several tasks. You must find the girl (D) trapped in a 35-room dungeon, kill the beast (*) lurking somewhere, come back for her, and then guide her to the exit. The catch is that the dungeon is dark, and you can’t see where you’re going. However, you are armed with clubs, which you can use to break down any walls or kill the beast. You also have a supply of torches which light your way, but they are extinguished after each single use. Scattered throughout the dungeons are holes. Although not fatal, they reduce the number of clubs and torches you carry.

You move a marker using the W, A, D, and X keys, and it changes depending on what’s happening. If it displays C, for instance, that means that you are holding a club. W and L means that the beast is aware of your presence, and F means that it is following your trail ($). Three difficulty settings are available which determine how many clubs and torches you start off with. If you play the game with the Easy setting, the beast will reveal himself (flash) if you are idle. Once you have successfully led the damsel to the exit, the game reveals the full dungeon and the path you took through it.

I like how D&B is possibly the first ZX-81 game I played that adds suspense. While navigating the dark dungeon, my head was full of questions: Where are the damsel and beast? How far right can I go without bumping into a wall? Is there a hole in the middle of the room I am in? How many items do I lose if I happen to fall into one? I also like how the game keeps you on edge, by limiting the number of moves you can make while you are leading the damsel to the exit. Let the number of moves reach zero, and she will die of suffocation. The random dungeons mean the game can be played more than once. I also found the four pages of instructions interesting, and I recommend anyone who is new to the game to spend five minutes reading over these.

The Bad
The instructions state that people who are new to the game should break into Sinclair BASIC and enter GOTO 1000 to get a view of the current dungeon. Although this should help them get through the dungeon, this completely ruins the suspense. Also, the number of moves which you can make after the rescue operation is about 20-30. If the damsel is somewhere on the far left, it is next to impossible to get her to the exit, which is located on the bottom-right.

The Bottom Line
This is a great game in which you need to walk around the dungeon, find the damsel, kill the beast, and guide her to the exit (in that order). The game adds a bit of suspense mainly due to the way the dungeon is completely black and you can’t see where you are going. The instructions are excellent, telling new players what they need to do. Since the game was written in Sinclair BASIC, anyone familiar with it will know how to modify the program so they can get more items than what the game gives them.

By Katakis | カタキス on August 1, 2022

The Time Machine (Commodore 64)

An early Mysterious Adventure that involves time travel

The Good
The Time Machine is the second game in the ”Mysterious Adventure” series designed by Brian Howarth. He also ported the graphics version of Adventureland over to the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum, which is why the two games feature the same presentation. You are a journalist sent out to interview Dr. Potter in his old manor. When you get there, the Doctor is not even present. He took it upon himself to get lost somewhere in time, and it is up to you to find his contraption, using it to travel to different time periods. Ultimately, you need to locate three glass prisms and fit them in the machine one by one. Only then will you be able to control the time machine.

The time periods that you have to warp to include the brig of a deserted ship, a swamp inhabited by dinosaurs, and the treacherous sands of Egypt. Most of the scenes within these time periods look fantastic. The highlight of this game is the time machine itself. To operate it, there are two buttons: one that moves you forward in time, and the other moving you backward. When you push them, there is a ten-second wait as the game switches the display of two different scenes.

The screen is split into two portions. The top half is reserved for illustrations of each of the game’s scenes, while the bottom half is used to enter two-word commands. Although these usually take the form of a verb-noun sequence, directions and the inventory can be entered as a single letter. If you press [Return] without entering anything, the game switches to text-only mode reminiscent of the Zork games. I enjoy playing the game in this mode; not only does it give you additional information such as a description of the scene, the objects in that scene, and the available exits, but it also allows you to move between a lot of scenes quickly without worrying about the illustrations coloring in themselves.

You can save the game at any time, but make sure you have a blank cassette handy. Before the game starts, you are asked if you want to load a saved game. Like many adventures, it is important to map out each scene on graph paper, as well as any characters and objects that inhabit each scene. The game world is huge, and it is quite easy enough to go around in circles.

The Bad
When you switch to text-only mode then change back to graphic mode, the illustrations re-draw themselves. This can be frustrating especially if you have to move between a whole lot of scenes.

The Bottom Line
The Time Machine is the second game in the "Mysterious Adventures" series, in which you must travel through time to rescue a doctor. To progress through the game, two-word commands must be entered, although single letters can be used for movement and for listing your inventory. You can also go back and forth between graphics and text-only modes. The illustrations look fantastic, but although it is nice to have each of them colored in, this could be annoying because it repeats this every time you switch back from text-only mode.

By Katakis | カタキス on July 28, 2022

Monster Maze (VIC-20)

An interesting, but flawed, take on the <i>Pac-Man</i> concept

The Good
If you were a child of the Eighties, then you have probably heard of Pac-Man. The object is to go around a maze collecting dots and avoiding ghosts that pursue you non-stop. It was widely popular, and several game companies tried to improve on the gameplay. One of these was Epyx (formerly known as Automated Simulations) with its version called Monster Maze. Here, the maze is delivered through a first-person perspective, meaning you cannot see where you are headed.

The maze is littered with gold bars that need to be picked up. When there is none left in the maze, you are transported to the next, more difficult one. This is not simple, however. Monsters roam about, and the game warns you if there is one nearby. You can get vitamins to charge yourself up (for a limited time) and can then kill any monsters that you come across. Added to the mix are teleporters that warp you to a different part of the maze, and holes that take you down to another maze.

In case you get lost, you can bring up a map by pressing the P key to get an idea of where in the maze you are. Your current position is represented by the green X, gold bars by black dots, and monsters by solid red circles. Vitamin pills are shown as yellow plus signs, while black zeroes indicate teleporters. You cannot move while you are looking at the map. Other controls are < and > to turn left and right, and Space to go forward.

The walls of the maze look good, and I quite liked the appearance of the monsters; they actually look like demons, judging by their sinister look. The walls are well designed. Sound-wise, the effects are very basic and there is no background music, but Monster Maze was released when all this was the norm. Apparently back then, game companies had a thing for programming their own rendition of the Funeral March when you lose a life or when the game ends.

The Bad
Monster Maze is poorly programmed. The distances in which you travel through the maze are inconsistent; one move can take you one meter to the left, while another move in the same direction can be five meters away. As a result, passages you need to go down are bypassed, no matter what route you take to get to the same one. I noticed some other problems in the game. I could not pick up some gold bars or vitamin pills no matter which direction I was facing, and the monsters didn’t seem to move; they stayed in the same spot.

The Bottom Line
Although Monster Maze is an interesting take on the Pac-Man concept, where the game is presented in a first-person perspective and you cannot really see what is ahead of you, I found several problems in the game such as not being able to collect certain items or access some passages, and the monsters stayed in the same spot. Thank God you are able to select the starting level before the game starts. The game was only released for the Atari 400/800 and the VIC-20, but the author wasn't interested in porting the game over to other machines, meaning that if you want to try this game out for yourself, you need to get a hold of either of these two.

By Katakis | カタキス on July 19, 2022