DoDo

Crash

Use of Computer 40%

Graphics 58%

Playability 51%

Addictive Qualities 43%

Value For Money 48%

Chris Passey

Matthew Uffindell

BLOCK BUSTERS - PENGO TYPE GAMES Reviewers Chris Passey and Matthew Uffindell don their cold gear to play in the Arctic wastes... The Pengo scenario says that a penguin in the snowy wastes must stay alive by melting ice blocks, or shunting them along to squash the snow bugs which threaten him. The frame resembles one of those small hand-held word puzzles with letters printed on small squares which may be shuffled to rearrange them. The game requires a certain amount of strategic thinking in setting up kills. You can usually 'electrify' the walls (the edge of the screen) and daze any nasties that touch it, running them down if you are able. First in the market was Blaby's Dodo and the Snow Bees by a long margin. DODO (AND THE SNOW BEES) Memory Required: 48K Retail Price In £4.95 This is a reasonable copy of the Pengo game and it contains quite reasonable graphics too. They are a little jerky due to the character position movement. As with most Blaby games, the sound quality and content is excellent (Blaby sound seems loud too!). As far as sound goes, it's the best, but for playability it's possibly the worst. Keyboard control is bad because is uses the cursors - Kempston, AGF and Protek joystick owners need not worry though. I found the game average and it has been outclassed on most fronts by others, not surprising perhaps, as it preceeds them all by almost a year and Spectrum software has come a long way in that time. The snow bees in this game did resemble bees, which is more than can be said for most of the rest. CP Dodo is the oldest game out of the bunch, and it shows! Movement is by block and slow. The snow bees have a distinct advantage - they move faster than you do. Fences can be electrified four times during the entire game. The screen also seems very cramped. However, the ice blocks move smoothly. The colour is well used. One of the worst points if the keyboard layout, which is exceptionally poor. MU PENGO-TYPE GAMES COMPARISON TABLE The two reviewers' ratings have been averaged, but despite independent assessment of the games, they were very much in agreement. NB. Despite details printed on cassettes and in advertisements, due to an error Software Projects Push Off is not 16K but 48K. The same is true of Thrusta.

Crash

Producer: Blaby, 48K £5.50 Not at first sight a maze game, but this is one where you make your own maze for protection from the dreaded Snow Bees which infest the Arctic ice wastes where you, the last living Do Do, find yourself stranded (beat that for a scenario!). This innovative game from Blaby has charming graphics and good sound. Basically you must shunt the ice blocks around to escape the bees or crush them if you're clever you can electrocute them against the walls. Joystick: Kempston. Recommended.

Read it at Crash - The Online Edition

Crash

Producer: Blaby, 48K £5.50 Not at first sight a maze game, but this is one where you make your own maze for protection from the dreaded Snow Bees which infest the Arctic ice wastes where you, the last living Do Do, find yourself stranded (beat that for a scenario!). This innovative game from Blaby has charming graphics and good sound. Basically you must shunt the ice blocks around to escape the bees or crush them if you're clever you can electrocute them against the walls. Joystick: Kempston. Recommended.

Crash

Producer: Blaby, 48K £5.50 Not at first sight a maze game, but this is one where you make your own maze for protection from the dreaded Snow Bees which infest the Arctic ice wastes where you, the last living Do Do, find yourself stranded (beat that for a scenario!). This innovative game from Blaby has charming graphics and good sound. Basically you must shunt the ice blocks around to escape the bees or crush them if you're clever you can electrocute them against the walls. Joystick: Kempston. Recommended.

C&VG (Computer & Video Games)

SIX OF THE BEST FROM ARCADES Six new hi-res colour graphics games are lust out for the Spectrum from Blaby. The first is Killer Kong a version of the arcade favourite. It includes two hi-res screens with the usual features. You may also collect extra points by jumping up and snatching hamburgers! Next comes a game called High Rise Harry (48K). You are Harry and you have the job of rust-proofing iron girders that are patrolled by Rust Bugs. It includes three different screens and levels. Barmy Burgers is the title of the third game, a version of a C&VG favourite, Burger Time. The object of the game is to guide your Chef across all the ingredients to make up a super half pounder burger before the two sausages or fried egg catch you! You do have a helpful weapon - five sprinkles of pepper - which immobilises the furious food chasers. In Do Do you have to avoid getting stung by the Snow Bees. Sounds like Pengo to me - another C&VG favourite. You, the Penguin, slide ice blocks at the Snow Bees, but watch out they have long sharp stings which can shatter the ice. You carry an ace under your wing, as you can electrify the side walls and kill any bees which happen to be lurking on it. Right what's next? Lunar Lander?... not quite. Shuttle is the name of the game and the object is to guide your Shuttle-craft down to the surface of the planet Wexon and rescue the stranded patrol who's space ship has landed there. This must be done without colliding into the asteroid belt. Your mission ends when all of the stranded patrol have been rescued! Last, but not least, comes Confusion. You are a pilot of a spacecraft lost in a maze of corridors in space (naturally!) Your object is to thrust up and down the centre of the corridors turning and shooting opposing ships which would otherwise collide and kill you. You can obtain an extra bonus by entering an energy alley and collecting the pod, but get out as quickly as possible or you will be trapped by deadly missiles. All six games are available for the 48K Spectrum at £5.95 each from Leicester-based Blaby.