Caesar the Cat

Your Spectrum

Ian Simmonds 9/10

Jon Warner 9/10

Simon Cox 9/10

Sticks at the ready, the Chiltern Computer Club buckled down to some concentrated critique as they sifted through the latest bundle of software to give us their unbiased evaluations. Any club wishing to offer their reviewing services should contact Ron Smith, Spectrum Soft, [redacted]. This month, the reviewers in the YS jury hot-seat are all members of Chiltern Computer Club, Eaton Bray, near Dunstable. They are (in alphabetical order) Simon Cox, Ian Simmonds and Jon Warner. To be honest it wasn't an easy job for them, with many of the latest offerings falling short of an acceptable level - in fact, sheer crud in some cases. Read on to find out what (and what not) to buy. The Chiltern Computer Club was formed around two years ago, and usually it manages to attract about 35 members - ages ranging from 13 years to near senility. Membership is currently £4 per year, for which potential members can expect practical help with their computer problems, and guest speakers and lecturers from time to time. Club contacts can be made via Steve Betts, [redacted]. Finally thanks go to Steve for the ultra-fast speed at which he pulled the test together. CAESAR THE CAT Mirrorsoft £6.95 You, as Caesar the Cat. must chase mice from the well-stocked larder before they start nibbling the food, and without knocking stuff off the shelf - especially the crockery.

Read it at Your Spectrum Unofficial Archive

Sinclair User

Gilbert Factor 7/10

Memory: 48K Price: £8.95 Joystick: Kempston Fancy yourself as a good mouser? If so, sharpen your computerised claws and get into the larder - the family has a plague of hungry mice and if you cannot move Caesar the Cat round the screen fast enough there will be no more fish for you. Caesar is the guardian of four shelves of assorted food and its aim is not only to catch as many ravenous rodents as possible but also to beat the score clock counting down to zero at high speed. Caesar must take the mice out of the larder door for the score to register. Easy? Not really, as there are jars around which, if knocked over, will reduce the score still further. There are three waves of mice. Items will disappear from the cupboard as the mice munch at them. Catch the full 30 and stores will be replenished - but only to attract more mice. Caesar can be moved with convenient keys or there is a Kempston joystick option. The graphics are clear and in colourful cartoon style which may appeal to younger age groups. The game, from Mirrorsoft, is nevertheless likely to attract all the family.

Read it at Sinclair User Magazine Online

Crash

Use of Computer 70%

Graphics 75%

Playability 68%

Getting Started 75%

Addictive Qualities 72%

Value For Money 68%

Overall 71%

Roger Kean

Unknown

Unknown

Unknown

Producer: Mirrorsoft Memory Required: 48K Retail Price: £6.95 Language: Machine code Author: Andromeda Software Caesar the Cat is a game designed with younger players in mind, but its graphics, content and playability lift it into the realm of original arcade games probably worth anyone having a look at. The larder comes with four shelves, well stocked with items of food and a few jars. Caesar must prowl the shelves and catch the mice which are constantly nibbling away at the food. He can walk either way along any of the shelves as well as jump up or down. But knocking over a jar will cost a 1,000 points, and the red jar will end the game. However, Caesar may walk behind them without any harm, it's only if he jumps up or down where a jar stands, or when he's right beside one that he trouble happens. Catching mice is not an easy task as they refuse to stay on the same shelf as Caesar, so the cat has to act in a cunning way. If he gets hold of a mouse, a door out of the larder opens. It may be at the end of any of the shelves. The object is to carry the mouse out and then return for the rest. There are three kinds of mice: black one's that earn 300 points, blue ones worth 500 points and red ones each worth 700 points. There are 10 of each kind and when you have caught the 10 an alarm clock rings and the blues appear, followed by the reds. As the game progresses the mice move quicker, nibble faster and it all gets harder. Other problems are that Caesar must not be allowed to sit down or your score goes down rapidly to zero. The cat is also docked points for banging his head on walls or ceilings. COMMENTS Control keys: good positions, A/S left/right, P/L up/down Joystick: Kempston Keyboard play: responsive Use of colour: very good Graphics: very good, large, well animated and detailed Sounds: good tunes, less during the game itself Skill levels: progressive difficulty

Food, glorious food - Caesar's vitamin-rich diet darts all over the screen.

Sinclair Programs

June Mortimer

The scene is a well-stocked larder which the player, as Caesar the Cat, must protect from the hungry mice. Caesar is the most attractive, cuddly cat you are likely to see on your computer screen. He bounds from shelf to shelf, pads along contentedly once he has caught a mouse, and sometimes whisks crockery from the shelf with his tail. The object is to catch the mice one by one and deposit them outside the larder. The only way to gain points is by catching mice, otherwise your points decline rapidly, especially if you knock crockery from the shelf, stay still, or allow the mice to eat too much food. The graphics are very unusual. The screen is cluttered with objects in the larder. Caesar is a large sprite graphic which winds around objects as he moves to left and right. The screen is full of colour and gives the impression of an animated cartoon. Caesar the Cat is an excellent game and Caesar could well soon become one of the cult characters of the computer games world. Caesar the Cat is produced for the 48K Spectrum by Mirrorsoft, [redacted] and costs £8.95.