C&VG


Doctor Who And The Mines Of Terror

Categories: Review: Software
Publisher: Micro Power
Machine: BBC Model B

 
Published in Computer & Video Games #53

Doctor Who And The Mines Of Terror

My, my! What a huge package! Looking rather like an exaggerated videocassette holder, this game demands attention! This is the follow-up to Castle Quest, and bears similarities, though the "MP4 Scrollerama" system has regressed to the standard of JCB (alias "Judder").

The ROM went in without too much bother, except having to bend all the legs inwards so they'd stay in the damned holes! And the program loaded beautifully with no trouble at all. A quite masterful title screen appeared and the BBC played the well-known theme tune.

This is another game with piles of instructions to wade through. Unfortunately, you won't get far unless you do just that. Skipping the German, French and Spanish, I eventually found on what was going on...

Doctor Who And The Mines Of Terror

Cutting through the waffle, here is the mission: You have to go into the mines, stop the aliens mining something-or-another, disable the instrument-of-death-and-destruction, and whip the plans so the Master can't make another one.

K has now changed into a moggie. No ordinary moggie, though. This one turns into a pink bubble when it moves! Of course, this frightful creature plays an integral part is solving the game, so - as much as the idea appeals - you can't hurl him off a cliff. Indeed, the Doctor, under my inept control, fell over a good number of cliffs. Micropower describe the game as "Brain to brain combat". I feel, "Brain to spikey rock impact" would be more apt...!

The scrolling pretty abominable. It isn't flickery as such, but not a patch on Castle Quest. The graphics are colourful, and while you can see what everything is, 'okay' is the only adjective that really fits...

Doctor Who And The Mines Of Terror

Fairly complicated instructions can be given to the Sphinx (cat), and as it is invisible to the nasties, it can be pretty handy.

In the game's favour, it is very big, and will take a long time to solve. It has been thoroughly planned and represents an impressive challenge.

Hindrance is provided (initially) by track-driven things which look vaguely like a cross between a dalek and a Panzer. Actually playing the game is pleasant enough. Timing jumps is frustration itself, but satisfying when achieved.

After a very short time I found myself not particularly caring what fate the Master had in mind for the universe. If you like games of this ilk, though, you will probably love it.

Doc Who fans will buy the game and may be disappointed. Of course, they could be extremely satisfied. Ask the dealer for a demo before you decide.

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