ZX Computing


Captain Slog
By Alpha-Omega
Spectrum 48K

 
Published in ZX Computing #30

Captain Slog

This game is of the maze, chase, search and find variety and a most acceptable one at that. The cassette insert instructions are beautiful in their brevity. I quote:

"There are three types of barrier key, red green and white. Each key allows you to pass through the corresponding colour barrier. The nine blue-prints are spread out into different sections within the game. You have to collect all nine before you are allowed access to the teleport room."

There are several other objects which you collect to increase your score, others will give you more energy or use it up. Avoid all contact with robots."

Captain Slog

Given just this I would not be inspired to open the case let alone load the program, and that would have been a shame because for me it had that perfect blend of difficulty and challenge that makes a game addictive. OK, so it is an old format, similar to many others, the animation is pretty simple, enemy sprites are few in variety and sound is fairly elementary. But for me it works.

Much as I loved pitting wits with a programmer who has taken great pains to devise a difficult, devious game, I also love relaxing with a straight-forward five key exercise in pure reactions.

The five keys in this game control L/R/U/D and fire. Collecting an object is done by getting next to it, screens are entered and exited by wandering off the edge and a new one is presented, no scrolling or tiresome fades.

Mapping is a possibility as blue-prints and keys appear to be in the same locations, certainly the maze is not randomly formed, personally this is too much like hard work for a program which I intend to use for simple pleasure, but anyone who desires to take it more seriously would be able to do so.

Locations vary and are nicely designed, watch out for the blob which simply blocks your way, it can trap you and then it's a case of end of game. You are only given one life and not much energy.

Worth adding to your collection, as long as you do not expect a state of the art program.