Zzap


Cabal
By The Hit Squad
Commodore 64/128

 
Published in Zzap #76

Cabal

This rather obscure TAD coin-op made for a surprisingly good C64 blaster. Looking rather like Op Wolf, Cabal plays significantly differently as there's no scrolling. There are instead 20 static screens on each of which you must demolish all the key buildings to progress to the next level. Your man is at the bottom of the screen and can run left/right while the cursor for his machine-gun can be moved up/down. If you think your man is okay behind a bit of cover, you can hold down fire to move the cursor in any direction. Bullets are unlimited, unlike grenades or special weapons.

It's good, clean fun which soon has you sweating buckets. The static backgrounds are attractive if unspectacular, but the various helicopters, tanks and soldiers are nicely animated - watch out for the gunship copter! There's also some great mega-villains to take on.

Although it's not as technically impressive as say, Predator 2, it looks good and plays hard. There isn't much variety but at this price that doesn't matter so much.

Cabal

Anyone who missed it first time around should definitely catch it now.

In Issue 56 it got 89% with Robin raving, "Gameplay this fast and furious shrugs off accusations of simplicity and unoriginality... it's great fun period." Stu agreed. "The action is fierce and relentless. Running left to right, from cover to cover, while all the time blasting... soon has you bathed in sweat."

So get sweaty now with Cabal!