Space Attack, Sheepdog, Torpedo and Snake are the four BASIC games in this compendium.
As far as I am concerned, Snake is the only game that's challenging enough to have much long-term appeal. It's an excellent version of the old game where you have to eat randomly-placed blocks. Control is by joystick or keys, and the display uses low-resolution graphics.
As for the rest. .. in Space Attack you are in the top left hand corner of the screen, and have to shoot at an enemy ship in the bottom right corner. To do this, you enter the direction and velocity of your shot.
Random planets half-heartedly block your way; and the enemy is meant to return your fire but doesn't, The path of your ship is not rubbed out, so if your next shot hits the path, a hit on the enemy is presumed. It just isn't worth playing.
From outer space to deepest countryside, you control a dog and have to round up three sheep in Sheepdog. Good graphics, but the game is rather slow, and the dog clearly needs obedience training; it doesn't respond well to the control keys.
And a thousand leagues under the sea in Torpedo, you are a submarine captain and have to launch a torpedo when a ship is in your sights. Good graphics give a realistic impression of looking through a periscope.
26th April 1983
