Computer Gamer


Bounty Bob Strikes Back
By Big Five Software
Commodore 64

 
Published in Computer Gamer #3

Bounty Bob Strikes Back

The return of Bounty Bob from Miner 2049:er has been well worth waiting for unless your name is Yulon Uohan, Bob's arch-enemy. Again we join Bob down a mine full of manic mutants intent on murder in this platform game.

Each of the twenty-five screens must be solved if Yohan is to be defeated and with the mine alive with mutant beasts and rogue machinery, it is not easy.

The mutants evolved from small furry animals when radioactive waste from Yohan's dump seeped down into the mine, contaminating their food. In some of the caverns, this waste still drips dangerously from the stalagtites adding to Bob's nightmare journey.

Bounty Bob Strikes Back

One touch from a creature or a drop of this acid rain costs our friend a life but if he collects one of the many items left by the mine's previous occupant, Bob becomes temporarily lethal to the creatures and one touch from him will give them terminal relief. The mutants know this and assume less hideous appearances whilst Bob is in his supercharged state.

Completion of a screen means that you have guided Bob over every inch of ground. As he moves on a new area it becomes a solid block of colour and lifts, suction tubes and matter transporters are there to assist you.

A sufficiently high score allows you to enter your name on the high score board, which is an entertainment in itself. Two bulldozers are used to select the letters of your name which are pushed on to a conveyor belt. From here they are picked up by intelligent pigeons which swoop around the board moving until the board is correctly reorganised. Any names which are pushed off the board are deposited underneath the board where the two bulldozers crush them into a solid block which is unceremoniously kicked into touch.

Function keys may be used to select display screens and the left arrow key permits you to pause the game so that a route can be planned through each new cavern.

Great skill and fast reactions are the order of the day if you are to get through every ordeal before your air runs out and I hope US Gold have more than just a "miner" success with this program.