C&VG
1st October 1987Flunky
What did your last servant die of, then? Was he shot or blown up by a bomb? Didn't think so.
But as Flunky to the Royals - yes, those Royals - that could be your fate as you slave away around the corridors of Buck House.
Most of the famous family are here - The Queen, Prince Charles, Princess Diana, Prince Andrew and Fergie. And you're at the beck and call of all of them. Woe betide you if you don't complete your task!
This is Don Priestley's follow up to the highly praised Trap Door and both games have a lot in common, excellent cartoon graphics, large and extremely stylish, and problem-solving.
The first problem I found was how to switch from keyboard to joystick control. I must admit that I did have a copy without the full instructions but didn't expect it to be quite so difficult. (You do it by getting Flunky to push a select level to the required choice and then ring a bell!)
Flunky is first ordered to light the fires. He sets off at a sedate pace clutching a box of matches and an autograph book. And in the second item lies the clue to what the game is all about.
You must collect the autographs of all the members of the Royal family. But they will only sign when you have completed the task they set you.
For instance, in the first apartment you find Prince Andrew and Fergie. Prince Andrew, who is in the bath, asks you to get him a boat to play with. Now if you've been keeping an eye out, you'll have noticed various boats in the rooms you pass through. The obvious one to get the Prince is a purple boat on a table. But it's not the one he wants. In fact, it's the one high up on a shelf way out of Flunky's reach. I know how he can get it ... but that's a problem for you to solve. And the game carries on in much the same way.
Fail in your task and you soon find a guardsman in hot pursuit ready to shoot you. I tried running away, disappearing through different doors but he always managed to find me.
If and when you get Andrew's boat, you then have to provide Fergie with freckles!
It's then off to Charles and Di's apartment, again hunting for those rare autographs and then on to H. M. - The Queen herself.
All the cartoon Royals are instantly recognisable. Their looks and features are precisely captured and exaggerated to the point of cruelty. Just take a look at curvy Fergie, Andrew's giant choppers - teeth, that is, not helicopters! - and Charles' ears. They could put an elephant to shame.
Don Priestly will get a lot of praise for Flunky, but no knighthood.
Flunky is a thoroughly entertaining game in the tradition of The Trap Door. It's not overly difficult and it may lack enough action for the energetic player.