Crash


Double Dare

Author: Alan Green
Publisher: Alternative
Machine: Spectrum 48K

 
Published in Crash #97

Suddenly discovering you've got a brain cell at the grand old age of 23 comes as a bit of a shock to anyone. Big Al Green was so gob-smacked by his discovery he walked straight into a wall! Since then, he's been seeing "double" so we "dared" him to write this review (ho ho).

Double Dare

It's good news for all you Going Live! fans out there. No, it's not a chance to drool over Sarah (no relation) Green or Philip Schofield [Phwoar! - Ed] but a Speccy version of that wacky TV quiz, Double Dare. Presented by zany Peter Simon [Don't mention the ring doughnuts - what a dick!], this is the brain-strain game where you end up hot, sticky and very, very green.

Definitely not for the dim-witted [That rules out the Crash team - Ed], if you get an answer wrong it's green gunge galore all over your pretty little bonce. But it you're one of those weirdos who can't get enough of this sort of thing, get stuck in from the slime-free safety of your armchair.

Celeb Squares

As on TV, two teams battle it out in a trivia quiz, but here you take on a mate or the computer. Each multiple choice (/guess) question's directed to one team at a time. If you're a right royal thicko and can't answer, 'Dare' it over to the other team. If they're equally brain-dead they can 'Double Dare' it back. Then either come up with the answer quick for loadsa points or down comes the green gunge and you face one of three challenges!

Double Dare

First up there's a moving square picture puzzle (of Jason Donovan and other 'great' stars from the world of pop), the second a 'Simon' style pattern-following game, and finally a kind of computerised thought puzzle of the kind Oriental monks supposedly sit and play for years on end. Each is a little game in its own right.

The questions are of the classic 'Which star of Coronation St...?', 'Which great sportsman...?' variety, all with a selection of inspired answers. Questions repeat themselves before long but there's more to load in and an unlimited time to answer them, so you could even pop down to the local library to figure out the trickier ones!

Assault And Splattery

The winning team go on to part two - the assault course. The arcade-style action takes you across several screens in search of ten flags, avoiding vast tanks of gunge on the way. It's a simple platform game with a bit of thought and strategy thrown in.

Your man's very difficult to control and there's not a lot in the graphics or gameplay to keep your interest for long. It's more or less a case of getting from one side of the screen to the other using the rollers, platforms and so on, collecting flags where appropriate (often trickier than it appears).

A nice touch in the quiz section are the changing expressions of the contestants, who grimace and smile appropriately, while Mr. Simon's jaw rattles up and down as the questions are revealed.

There's nothing special about this game, but for a budget price it'll give die-hard Double Dare fans a giggle or two.

Nick

There can't be anyone out there who hasn't seen Peter Simon's ramblings on "Going Live!" every Saturday morning, Isn't he an annoying bloke? No wonder the kids cover him in slime every week! The idea behind the programme's great, though, and makes an addictive computer game thanks to Bizarre 'Did you spill my pint?' Developments.

The quiz section's a little slow, text printed one character at a time, but this gives the player a chance to get their brain into gear [and let's face it, Nicko needs to! - Ed]. It's the challenge and assault course sections that make the game of varying difficulty to appeal to all ages.

The assault course is excellent - grabbing chickens by the bum to find a flag and falling into vats of green gunge is my idea of fun [Maybe you should see a doctor, Nick - Ed]!

Double Dare's a playable mixture of quiz and arcade styles and well worth the dosh.

Verdict

Overalll 68%
As seen on TV, minus the gunge - worth a splash out!

Alan Green

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