Beatcha

Your Spectrum

Dave Nicholls 0/5 MISS

Roger Willis 1/5 MISS

Ross Holman 0/5 MISS

JOYSTICK JURY What's on your software shopping list for Christmas? Let Ross Holman, Dave Nicholls and Roger Willis help you make your mind up! This month, our motley crew of Joystick Jurors include Dave Nicholls, a self-confessed adventure fanatic and seasoned hacker; Ross Holman, ace games player and winner of the Jet Set Willy prize; and, last but by no means least, Roger Willis, a relative newcomer to the Spectrum scene. Dave and Ross you'll already know from our monthly major games reviews. Roger Willis, on the other hand, is probably more at home in the saddle of a massive motorbike... but that was before he discovered the thrills and spills of the Spectrum. Check out what they thought of the latest in games software... BEATCHA Romik Software £6.99 Dave: At first glance, Beatcha looks a bit like Gulpman, which was one of the first Pacman-type games to come out on the Spectrum. It takes, however, a few more glances to realise just how similar they actually are!! The object of the game is to move around various 'classrooms' and collect keys. When all the keys are collected you have to reach the main door and escape. Your man is a single cursor 'Smiley' face which moves at a ridiculous rate and is chased by unhappy little faces (the teachers) which in some eases move so fast that you lose several of your 26 lives before you can get out of the way. In fact the game's only redeeming feature is that there are quite a few classrooms to be killed in. In short this game is about as much fun as a three-hour 'partly predictable' broadcast On behalf of any party you care to mention. It might make a useful dustbin filler.

Read it at Your Spectrum Unofficial Archive

Crash

Use of Computer 55%

Graphics 45%

Playability 27%

Getting Started 42%

Addictive Qualities 26%

Value For Money 39%

Overall 39%

Unknown

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Producer: Romik Memory Required: 48K Retail Price: £6.99 Language: Machine code Author: Jon Smith The struggle to put a sensible story line to arcade type games goes on - Beatcha certainly has pushed the limits in the sense that you won't get any idea of what the game looks like from either the title, inlay card or loading screen, with its similar look to that of Skool Daze. According to the scenario Beatcha is set in Quange Hill Comprehensive school on Sirius B. Putting it on an alien planet allows poetic licence in the look of the pupils and teachers! The objective of the game is to negotiate the maze of crazy classrooms and collect all the keys so you can get out of the front door. This is Romik's first game for the Spectrum for a year, and to celebrate the fact, they are giving you 26 fives in this game, one for each letter of the alphabet. And you'll need them!! Each screen represents corridors and classrooms, actually quite simple mazes made from character blocks in various diagonal shapes. Teachers come in blue, red and white, some slow, some very fast. If you get hit, you leave a skull behind which blocks your progress next life, or kills if you hit it. Collecting keys arms your stun gun, which can be used to momentarily stun the teachers. Access from screen to screen is via small doors, which may lead you to a totally different screen, or just to the next door one. COMMENTS Control keys: Z/X left/right, L/M up/down, M to fire Joystick: Kempston, Sinclair Keyboard play: sensible positions, but not as responsive as they should be Use of colour: quite good and varied Graphics: small, undetailed, rather jerky block movement Sound: quite strident effects Skill levels: 3 - dunces, swots and big 'eds Lives: 26 Screens: unknown but several Special features:

A lively and atmospheric loading screen in BEATCHA gives no clue to the games graphics.

Rather old fashioned graphics moving at insane speed in BEATCHA.