Zzap


Kamikaze
By Codemasters
Commodore 64/128

 
Published in Zzap #67

Kamikaze

At first sight this looks like any other horizontally scrolling plane game, but the title suggests a very strange twist: you must heroically smash your small plane into a castle gate to free the hostages held inside.

First, however, you must collect some explosives by shooting the plane that's carrying them. Other planes must be avoided or shot, along with soldiers and missile launchers on the ground. Just for fun, you can also shoot parachutes' chutes, with humorous results: the poor little bloke flaps his arms in a vain attempt to fly before plummeting to his death!

Once you've got the explosives it's time to crash into that gate. This may seem an incredibly noble sacrifice but, in fact, you miraculously survive - and another plane miraculously appears for you to take the hostages back to base! Your plane can only carry two hostages - the number on the first level; for each subsequent level there are two extra hostages, making return trips necessary.

Kamikaze is another game with a very simple concept which is nevertheless great fun to play, the sick humour adding a great deal to its appeal - at least in the short term. Graphics are technically no great snakes, but cute and funny, and there's a swinging Maniacs Of Noise title tune to tap your feet to before the next 'suicide' mission! Recommended.