Personal Compuer Games


Brian Bloodaxe
By The Edge
Spectrum 48K

 
Published in Personal Computer Games #15

Brian Bloodaxe

No, it's not another Viking adventure game from Level 9; it's a wacky, wayout, wonky and extremely challenging platform game with over 100 screens and 300 sprites, quirky surprises, and objects to collect.

Your on-screen identity is in the care of one Brian Bloodaxe, a horn-helmeted hero who can move and jump in all the usual directions as well as pick up, drop, or use assorted items as and when he comes across them.

Items include pints of lager to boost your energy, which otherwise deteriorates as you move about. The display also shows your score, the current hi-score, and a group of little Vikings (representing whatever remains of your four lives) doing the hokey-cokey in the corner.

Brian Bloodaxe

Other essential articles include various different colour keys which will enable you to open similarly coloured gates to proceed to new pillaging grounds.

The sprites also have their surprises. Ducks, for example, may trample you to death, but you can also jump onto their backs and from there to another screen. Platforms that look safe and secure may suddenly dodge out of the way if you jump towards them.

In fact, there are a whole host of unusual features in this game. Your horny helmet, for example, isn't just there for the sake of appearances - it can be a real pain in the backside for some of your opponents. What's more, you can jump and stick yourself to the ceiling sometimes if you're in a really tight spot.

Brian Bloodaxe

Other innovations include the ability to dig through platforms (sometimes the only way to access certain areas) - but find your spade first. One screen even features a giant pool table, which will almost certainly have you snookered if you're not very careful. If you fancy a bit of a shoot-'em-up, there's even a pistol to be found.

If you've been playing Knight Lore, you'll be familiar with the idea of using objects as stepping stones. Brian can drop an object, climb onto it, and then jump for all he's worth to reach otherwise inaccessible areas.

Some great music starts the game and play is accompanied by melodious beeps. Every screen has a humorous link with a town or area of Great Britain (Snooker table = Poole, geddit?) and your task is nothing less than the conquest of every square inch of GB. Yes, Brian, definitely a platform game that has the edge over all the others...

Marcus Jeffery

Brian Bloodaxe

This Norse-variant of the platform theme will really keep the Viking blood running hot. Not only plenty of screens, but lots of unusual ways to get across them.

There are surprises around every corner, and the most obvious way of crossing the screen is not necessarily the best. For instance, if you were faced with an impassable stretch of water, would you consider trying to walk on it, or even hitch a lift from a passing shark?

The main problem is not knowing what you can or can't walk on safely. Also, be very careful, because some objects may be okay when you're on top, but deadly otherwise.

Alan Green

Brian Bloodaxe

For those who are looking out for a decent platform game, this is the one to get hold of. I particularly liked the idea of each screen being a proper location and the variety of Brian's nicely drawn enemies is commendable. However, most of you Spectrum owners will have got dozens of platform games like this and despite its many original touches, Brian is a little too closely related to our friend Willy.

Samantha Hemens

Basically another platform game, but there are some nice touches, such as being able to jump on baddies but not walk into them and Brian's amazing ability to walk on water and hang from wooden platforms using his horned helmet.

Oh, by the way, watch out for the loading error hoax at the beginning - it nearly got me! A lot of fun if you're into jokes.

Steve Cooke

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