Previous Next

3D isometric maze games for the Amstrad are rather old hat at the moment. Everybody and his dog thinks that they can produce a good game of this type, because they are so easy to program. Few moving objects, no smooth scrolling to worry about and it need not be too fast. Everything is set for such games to be churned out by the boat load, with just differing graphics and a few puzzles.

However, once in a while, a reasonable type of game in this mould appears. What makes it more enjoyable than any of the others? Is is graphically better? Not necessarily. Does it have more challenging problems? Probably not. You can either take them or leave them. Is the presentation more impressive? Is the scenario more stimulating or realistic? Probably not, but some games have just that little something that will separate them from the crowd and make them that much more enjoyable. It is for reasons like this our X-Factor rating was devised. When you can't measure it and you can't define it, what can you call it?

MGT has this quality. This is nothing else that separates it from the herd of bad 3D maze games that plague the world. Is it slower than most, has less movement on the screen and has solvable puzzles. Perhaps it is the puzzles that make it a good game. A lot of puzzles in these sorts of games have no obvious solution. The programmer feels he has a duty to prevent the player getting any further and sets up a ridiculous chain of events to stop the player solving the puzzle!

In MGT, the puzzles can be pursued logically, nothing is unattainable and little bit of ingenuity and a good map will take you a long way. Your task is to guide your hover tank through a single level 'castle' (for want of a better word). However, entrances to rooms are at different levels and you have to plan your route carefully.

Progress around the maze is via doors, some of which have barriers across them. There are keys to unlock there and lift pads to take you up to different levels as well as iced walkways to take you around. However, against you are security robots, laser sentinels and dummy keys that will do you harm.

All this combines to make an enjoyable and attainable game that will tax your mind and deductive powers and make you feel as it you have completed something worthwhile, and make you feel proud (and exhausted) that you finished it (I did). But I'm not sure why...