Blast Annual


Elon Musk With Jetpack

Categories: Review: Software
Author: Gordon King
Publisher: Matra
Machine: Spectrum 48K/128K/+2/+3

 
Published in Blast Annual 2020 Volume 2

Elon Musk With Jetpack

It's brave enough to replicate the style of an Ultimate Play The Game title. To replicate one of the finest arcade experiences ever to grace the ZX Spectrum, you must have kahunas the size of Everest. When Jetpac appeared on our Speccies way back in 1983, it was the talk-of-the-town. With its slick gameplay and highly addictive qualities it was considered by many to be game of the year.

As the decades moved on by, the popularity of this title never waned; it continued to be in players' top tens. Jetpac had staying power, Jetpac had legacy. Very few came close to capturing the magical space dust that this game emitted from our portable TV's. Very few considered attempting it. Now after all these years, and utilising the power given by AGD, can this ultimate homage deliver a similar experience to gamers in 2019?

Gameplay

Just as with Jetpac, the game is based around single screen levels in which the player controls a spaceman who has to assemble his fragmented spacecraft and then refuel it from the random drops that happen. "Oh, that's rather easy", I hear you say. That would be all well and good if it wasn't for the pesky indiginous aliens that flutter about the world when you're trying to do your day job. Fortunately, and armed with a laser blaster with a depleting charge, the vermin can be shot out of the sky.

Elon Musk With Jetpack

But like any videogame foe, they just love to respawn and cause the player more distress. There are also various floating platforms on each of the levels. These serve, primarily, as landing points for the dropzones but are also strategically placed to cause the player hindrance in trying to manoeuvre around the screen. On successfully fuelling the spacecraft, the player hops on board and launches off which provides a segue to the next level.

Each of the levels/worlds are varied and have their own type of alien, all of which being modern interpretations of those in the original game. On every seventh level, the player finds himself having to construct a newer spacecraft which is more advanced looking than the one prior. This provides a bit more variety in the game.

Likes

This game delivers what it says on the tin. It doesn't pretend to be anything other than a respectful homage to the greatest shooter the Spectrum ever had.

Elon Musk With Jetpack

The graphics are detailed, varied and colourful. It plays reasonably well, but in a different way from the original. I love how the author has taken all the original aliens and spruced them up. The more varied platforms give the game a less repetitious look to it.

Dislikes

It simply isn't as fluid to play as the original and has less of an arcade feel. It feels like an AGD game trying to be Jetpac as it's nigh on impossible to mask the engine's core mechanics. I found the spawning points of the aliens very frustrating as it seemed very limited to where they were coming from at the sides of the screen. My biggest gripe in the game is the music - it grates, it's almost tuneless and it doesn't suit the vibe.

Verdict

Overall, a very noteworthy attempt but limited within the constraints of the AGD engine. Fans of the original will certainly play this, but will soon drop it in favour of the better version. Perhaps there just isn't room for two Jetpacs in this world.

Gordon King

Other Spectrum 48K/128K/+2/+3 Game Reviews By Gordon King


  • Higgy 2: The Wrath Of McMania Front Cover
    Higgy 2: The Wrath Of McMania
  • Misifu Remeow Front Cover
    Misifu Remeow
  • Mabus Mania Front Cover
    Mabus Mania
  • Coloristic Front Cover
    Coloristic
  • Gluf Front Cover
    Gluf
  • Sophia II Front Cover
    Sophia II
  • Marsmare: Alienation Front Cover
    Marsmare: Alienation
  • The Perils Of Willy Front Cover
    The Perils Of Willy
  • Tardigrade Front Cover
    Tardigrade
  • Savage Princess Front Cover
    Savage Princess