Previous Next

This game could have been right up at the top of the charts if it wasn't for the poor choice of control keys. You patrol a stretch of seascape in your helicopter, armed with a machine-gun and depth charges. Below you a tanker is under attack from submarines and aircraft.

The scenery scrolls beneath you as you fly, and you can see what's coming up by keeping an eye on the long-range radar panel. To the east is your landing pad, and to the west lies a volcanic island with a few huts. The ocean lies in between.

The enemy come in from the west and, if they weren't enough to deal with, you must also try to rescue the people from the huts when they are threatened by the erupting volcano. You should also try to rescue seamen escaping from the tanker, if you've been careless enough to let it get hit.

Some of the status reports at the bottom of the screen are a bit obscure, and aren't explained, but the display is excellent and the sound about as good as one expects from the Spectrum.

So what about the control keys? You move down, up. and forward using the '3', '5' and '7' keys respectively, which isn't exactly brilliant design. Then you must use the '9' and the '0' keys to fire and drop depth-charges, the 'W' and 'R' keys to lower and raise the rope for the survivors, and any key on the bottom row to reverse. All rather too much of a fiddle for a game that needs some very careful manoeuvring.

But if you don't mind twisted fingers, then Krakatoa has a lot to offer.