Previous Next

Carnival Massacre is one of the new games in the Creative Sparks range which is not just an old Thorn EMI game in a new box. The cartridge has all the elements of a modern horror film. Butcher Bill and Ruthless Rick are terrorising the funfair. It's down to you to reach for your gun and shoot them on sight.

The game is accompanied by fairground music which adds to the tension in an uncanny way. The first screen shows children enjoying a ride on three big wheels. Suddenly Butcher Bill appears on the roller coaster and starts hurling missiles at the riders, sending them hurtling groundwards.

To avoid a nasty mess on the ground, our hero, Super Sam, must rush over and catch them. Once you have bagged six falling kids, a gun appears with which you can fire pot shots at Butcher Bill. An egg timer counts down the limited amount of time you have to shoot Bill to score bonus points.

Meanwhile, Bill's even nastier brother, Ruthless Rick, is terrorising the passengers on the roller coaster by placing detonators on the tracks. Each time the car passes over a detonator, a passenger falls out of the car providing another amusing game of catch.

Just to make things even trickier for Super Sam, a vicious bouncing coil is sent bounding towards him if he lets too many riders fall to their deaths.

All the time the action is taking place, the same loony tune grinds away. But there is good news for those who get driven bananas by computer jingles - you can switch it off.

Fun to play and nice graphics, though I am not sure how long the challenge of the game will last. Atari 400/800/600XL. £9.95.