ZX Computing


Bubble Bugs/Bank Robber

Author: Patrick Cain
Publisher: Romik
Machine: Sinclair ZX81

 
Published in ZX Computing #13

Bubble Bugs And Bank Robber

I thoroughly enjoyed Bubble Bugs. It is, I suppose, an invaders-type game. Your base ship is at the bottom left hand corner of the screen (where it remains during the game) and is under attack from the bubble bugs. You race backwards and forwards along the bottom of the screen, firing missiles and "popping" the bubbles. The bubble bugs drop bombs which can damage both your craft and your base ship. Your ship can tolerate a certain amount of damage but eventually is destroyed whereupon the game ends.

Not only do bubble bugs bomb you but, when hit, they shatter and the debris can also inflict damage. When your craft is hit, a rescue vehicle is automatically sent out from the base ship to carry out repairs. You consume a unit of fuel each time you fire a missile and, as you can only carry ten units, you have to return to the base ship regularly to replenish stocks. Alternatively, the rescue craft will come to your aid should you run out completely.

You can select an attack speed from 1 (easy) to 10 (impossible), the screen display is good and the action is smooth and responsive. Quite an impressive game.

In some respects, Bank Robber is similar. You rush along the bottom of the screen taking money from the bank on the left and depositing it in your house on the right. As usual, life just isn't that easy. You operate in a street constantly bombarded by meteorites which you must avoid, and occasionally bricks and pills drop from the sky. If you catch a brick, a protective building will be rebuilt and a pill gives you another "life".

The protective buildings resemble the shields in an invaders type game. It is worth trying to keep them built (the meteorites quickly destroy them) in order to facilitate your dashes between the bank and your house. Unfortunately, you can only enter your house or the bank when the doors are open: they occasionally close during the game.

There are twenty levels of play and the density of the meteorites is selectable from 1 to 3. Another good quality action game from Romik Software.

Both Bank Robber and Bubble Bugs are 16K games. They include on-screen instructions and each has a "freeze frame" whereby if the action all gets too much you can freeze everything while composing yourself.

Patrick Cain