Airbrush

C&VG (Computer & Video Games)

Getting Started 8/10

Graphics 5/10

Value 8/10

Playability 6/10

DULUXE, THE PLANET WITH PROBLEMS Life on the planet Duluxe is far from tranquil for BBC and Spectrum owners. The second issue of Soft Hits, is due out in November and consists of a cassette with a game for the 16k Spectrum on one side and the same game for the BBC B on the reverse. The game is called Airbrush and your job is to paint the floors of the prison in which you work while avoiding the waste bin and the armed guards. At least that's what the Spectrum version is about. The BBC game involves life on the planet Duluxe and you have to collect enough local currency to afford a home, while avoiding the radio-active dustbins. This sounds like two different games but is in fact only one. It seems as though two different people were hired to write the blurb and no one could decide which was best. The game itself is quite playable, at least on the Spectrum version. Control of the paint roller is via the Caps Shift, Z, P and L keys although if you don't press any key then you move downwards. The idea is to roam the screen collecting paint pots to replenish your supply which is used up as you wander the screen. The program uses only normal character resolution graphics with user defined characters. Your roller moves by a whole character each step which is not ideal. The BBC version uses mode 1 graphics which should improve the situation. Sound effects are included and are quite effective, even if it does sound like water gurgling down a plug hole. You'll find Soft Hits in your newsagent for a very reasonable £2.45.