ZX Computing


Galivan

Publisher: Imagine
Machine: Spectrum 48K

 
Published in ZX Computing #32

Galivan

At least I think it's called Galivan, as the various bits of packaging can't seem to decide whether it's Galivan or Galvan. Anyway, whatever the guy's name is, he's the last member of the Cosmo Police and has been sent to the planet Cynep to destroy the demons who have been terrorising the galaxy.

The planet surface is riddled with Techno Caverns, where lurk all manner of dangerous robots and aliens, and at the end of each level of caverns there is a multi-headed demon who has to be destroyed before you can pass onto the next level. Earlier Cosmo Policeman who have passed this way have left behind them a number of Power Pyramids, and if you can find these they will boost your energy and provide you with a series of increasingly powerful weapons.

The game reminds me of an old Quicksilva title that I used to like called Mighty Magus. In that you have a sideways-on view of a maze rather than the usual overhead view, and have to wander up and down between levels in order to find the correct route to the deepest level.

The graphics are good, and all the moving sprites, though small, are finely detailed. But for some reason, the programmers have placed a large box at each side of the screen display, so that the actul area showing Gal(i)van in the caves is very narrow. This spoils the game a little, since it means that any creature approaching from the sides is right on to of you as soon as it appears on screen, which doesn't really give you enough time to react and defend yourself. And while the animation is good, the 'jump' control seems to respond too slowly - there's a noticeable delay between pushing the joystick up and actually seeing your figure jump.

These things don't ruin the game, and I have to admit that I enjoyed blasting my way around the caves, but they do make it less addictive in the long run as you can often find yourself getting hit and losing lives through no fault of your own. So - nice game, good graphics, but not a classic.