Crash


Danger Mouse In Double Trouble

Categories: Review: Software
Publisher: Creative Sparks
Machine: Spectrum 48K

 
Published in Crash #10

Danger Mouse In Double Trouble

Television characters are making it big in computer games just now what with The Fall Guy, Minder and now Dangermouse. Of all of them, Dangermouse is the most likely candidate - he being a graphic character already. Double Trouble is a three-part game, each game being very different. According to the scenario Crocodilian intelligence has just heard that the evil Baron Greenback has developed an android version of DM and the first one is about to be switched on. It could be curtains for London if Dangermouse and Penfold can't get to the secret base in time to prevent this dastardly event.

Part one sees DM and Penfold tucked safely in the aerocar, but Baron Greenback has dispatched a variety of flying robots to defend his base. The top half of the screen displays a horizontal picture with the aerocar at the left and the oncoming robots at different heights approaching from the right. This image is repeated head on at the bottom left.

They are destroyed by playing a tune and this is done automatically on the easier level for a while, otherwise by selecting the correct robot in the VDU at bottom left When the correct number of miles have been travelled, DM and Penfold have to hoof it through a jungle, hopping over swamps on the back of a crocodile and climbing a tree to avoid a mouse eating puma.

Danger Mouse In Double Trouble

The third screen is set at the secret base where the android mouse is about to be electronically born. The object is to make DM leap up and bounce along a row of buttons which have the effect of altering the colours of the grid of lamps. Baron Greenback's finger can be seen pressing buttons on the side. If the light in line with DM's button is also in line with BG 's button then the chain of yellow lights is decreased by one. Turning them all red saves the world.

Criticism

Danger Mouse In Double Trouble is quite a difficult game to explain, and there is a long and complicated inlay included to do this for you. Actually, playing is easier than reading, although without consultation it is hard to see exactly what is going on or why? No doubt Danger Mouse is intended to appeal mainly to younger players, but it seems overcomplicated and in so many ways rather pointless. The graphics are all very lively and attractive and it is a busy game, but I just couldn't really get on with it, which is a pity because it is a sort of prestige program, and Creative Sparks have certainly shown that they know how to make a good game (like Delta Wing).

The fact that this is a "DM" game will attract many young (and old) fans just for the sake of it. Double Trouble itself is quite a good game that young players will enjoy. The various stages all have a little of that DM wit, as seen on TV like the balancing act on light bulbs with his index finger. The heroes and villains are well represented in computer graphics, but at £6.95 even for Danger Mouse it's a little pricey. I didn't find it all that addictive, but I feel that it is aimed at children and should be considered from that point of view for addictiveness.

Good Grief - Danger Mouse is in a video game. This is the first one - and it's good! Controlling your ever super Dangermouse with his stupid sidekick Penfold (oo eck) is a delight, the animation is very good and fortunately you only have to control Dangermouse as the bungling Penfold will follow (oo eck) unless there is a black cat in the way. You can climb the tree and do a Tarzan call and elephants will stampede the cat away. The game is split into three distinct stages, each graphically breathtaking (especially the third) and well executed. This is fun to play but not totally addictive. The graphics enhance the program and the sound Isn't too bad. A must for Danger Mouse fans but not for everyday arcadians.

Comments

Control keys: 9/1 up/down, 1/2 left/right, zero to fire.
Joystick: Kempston, Fuller, ZX1, AGF, Protek.
Keyboard play: rather awkward keys but responsive.
Use of colour: generally good, although some characters are a bit hard to see in jungle stage.
Graphics: good to excellent with close resemblance to TV original.
Sound: Average.
Skill levels: Two.
Lives: Time limit.
Screens: 4 in 3 stages
General Rating: Good to very good for Danger Mouse fans, perhaps less interesting to general arcade fans.

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