Mr. Freeze

Personal Computer Games

Graphics 6/10

Sound 3/10

Originality 4/10

Lasting Interest 4/10

Overall 5/10

Bob Wade

Martyn Smith 5/10

Peter Walker

Steve Spittle

MACHINE: Spectrum 48K CONTROL: Keys, Kemp FROM: Firebird, £2.50 Mr Freeze is one of the games in British Telecom-owned Firebird Software's range. You control the title character who must de-freeze six compartments of a fridge. The fridge is a platform and ladders arrangement frosted for effect. To complete his task on each screen he must reach the de-ice box which is positioned in different places according to the screen. The various compartments can be attempted in any order. However, the fridge is packed with aliens and deadly food lasers which fly about all over the place. There are also ice cubes and gaps in the platforms which block Mr Freeze's path (these must be jumped). Falling from a height or contact with the aliens loses him a life. If this happens he becomes an ice-cube himself - an attractive piece of programming. The graphics are detailed and colourful, Mr Freeze himself is particularly well animated, clumping along in his heavy space-suit. Sound is minimal and the controls are hopeless. There is a Kempston joystick option but forget it. There are four directions to move in, and firing the laser pushes back the enemy alien. Jumping is achieved with joystick control by pushing the stick to the top-right or top-left diagonal position, and this mixes up with the direction controls making accurate movements difficult and jumping ice blocks almost impossible. So stick to the keyboard option it is marginally better. Platform games have reached a peak with games like Monty Mole and Jet Set Willy so perhaps software houses should be dreaming up new scenarios. Games such as Mr Freeze seem to be taking a step backwards in programming. Six compartments seem pretty unamazing but with the awful controls you have a hard job on your hands.