Xmas '85 saw Ballblazer earn 98% as "the computer equivalent of such classic sports as football and tennis". The belated Amiga conversion boasts additional features such as a tournament option for eight human or computer players and a race game. The core game uses a rectangular playfield surrounded by walls. The goals are constantly moving at either end, and 1-3 points are awarded depending how far away you are when a goal is scored.
You pilot a rotofoil which automatically points toward the ball - get close enough and it's captured in your pullfield. Pressing Fire triggers a pushfield firing the ball, also useful for knocking the ball out of your opponent's pullfield.
The Race Game uses the same basic graphics, only the goal posts serve as gates which you must race through, hopefully carrying the ball - there's one between each set of posts.
Phil
I thought the original Ballblazer was overrated. Five years later, Masterblazer features the same extraordinarily unsophisticated concept: a sort of high-tech blow football!
There are very few tactics involved - play is limited to a frenetic tussle between the two players. This can be fun for a few games but, even with its tournament mode and (dull) race game, Masterblazer is woefully lacking in content - especially for £25.
Stu
Excellent presentation is welcome, but the essential thing is the game and after five years it's a little dated. Fast, fun and frenetic it may be, but for long term play it lacks the subtlety of say, Kick Off 2 for one.
Purple Saturn Day contained a superior single-player variant among its four games and perhaps Rainbow Arts should have written some more games to go with the official conversion. The race game is less sophisticated than the main game and again, while fun in the short term, lacks lastability.
1st February 1991