Computer Gamer


Labyrinthion

Categories: Review: Software
Publisher: Budgie
Machine: Spectrum 48K

 
Published in Computer Gamer #14

Labyrinthion

Lost inside a labyrinth, only the nine parts of a scroll will help you find your way out. The scroll though is scattered throughout 256 rooms which are divided into sectors. Before you can pass through the deadly mist into the next part of the game, you have to find the correct object for that particular sector. This though is invisible until you have found four tools used by an explorer - compasses, maps, ropes, water bottles and hour glasses etc. (When did you last see an explorer with an hour glass? I'm sure Indiana Jones never had one but I digress.) These tools must be dropped into the it for that sector, one at a time, whereupon the key will reveal itself. Add to this the fact that you are being relentlessly pursued by assorted nasties and you will see that your escape is not going to be an easy one.

The game is awkward to play, not least because there are no joystick options. Apart from moving and firing, there are also pick up shield, select an item and weapon change keys to be mastered, although you can redefine the keys to suit your style. In practice, I found that I was getting killed too quickly without knowing very much about what was going on. Nasties never seemed to die when I attacked them. There is assorted treasure lying around waiting to be collected and you can also find flyswatters, buckets and mousetraps which offer you some additional protection against the nasties.

The game is highly reminiscent of Ultimate's Atic Atac, although nowhere near as playable. The rooms are delineated with pictures of shields, anchors, and crowns, etc, with doors that open and close at random. Your hero and the nasties look reasonable until they all pile on top of each other (a frequent occurrence) when everything becomes horribly messy.

Labyrinthion suffers from being overly complex. Games do not become better by adding a few extra commands to be manipulated. Had Alligata simplified things and made the general appearance window clearer, this would have been a more than reasonable arcade adventure. As it stands, there are many better budget games available.

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