Database


Drol

Author: Cliff McKnight
Publisher: Broderbund
Machine: Apple II

 
Published in Apple User Volume 4 Number 11

Drol

"Broderbund", I thought "tee hee fancy, spelling the title wrong!". I don't know if it really is a spelling mistake, but the game itself is droll - odd, amusing, laughable, as my dictionary defines it.

A red-haired little girl and her propeller-beanied brother have been lured by a witch doctor's curse into the multi-levelled ruins of a lost civilisation. They wander aimlessly through the underground corridors, oblivious to the dangers.

What dangers? Oh, the usual... hopping scorpions, monsters and snakes, flying turkeys, swords, daggers, arrows, magnets, witch doctors, vacuum cleaners.

Drol

The turkeys require repeated shooting, whereupon they turn into turkey roast, and the green vacuum cleaners are indestructible, as you might imagine.

Level 1 involves trying to rescue the girl and her pet lizard. The little boy, star of level 2, has a pet crocodile. Cute kids! On level 3 you get to rescue their mother, or at least you get to try.

In play, the game involves moving along the scrolling corridors, with movement between corridors only being possible at certain places. The usual A, Z, Left and Right keys are used for movement, with spacebar being used to fire your endless supply of reality pellets. Optionally, joystick control is possible.

Drol

To help in your task, there is a "wide-screen radar-scope" at the top of the screen. According to the instructions, this "will prove indispensable in your quest". However, I think the only people who will make full use of it will be those whose eyes are capable of fully independent action!

Personally, I found it too small to read "at a glance" and concentrating on it meant that I missed the main action. The Escape key pauses the game, and the sounds can be toggled on or off. Additionally, the volume can be toggled between high and low.

Drol is an obvious rival to Bouncing Kamungas for the title of Silliest Game Of The Year. It's fun to play in a familiar sort of way - it reminded me a little of Jawbreaker - and it is difficult enough to give most people a challenge.

Ultimately though, it's the scenario that's unusual rather than the nature of the game.

Cliff McKnight

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