Zzap
1st May 1992Okay blue eyes. It's the concrete boots for you if you don't come up with the goods. Erm, sorry folks we're just getting into character for the latest Codemasters game, which is set in 1930's Chicago. Mark 'Big Sleep' Caswell picks up a tommy gun, a fedora hat and Murray his pet mouse as he goes out to become an Untouchable ('coz no-one wants to touch him - Man Ed)...
Murray Mouse: Supercop
They call Chicago "the windy city", not surprising when gangsters screech around the streets in cars, shooting at each other with huge machine guns (phrrt-inducing stuff). The year is 1930, the place is downtown Chicago and the time is... oh sod it, get yet own watch. Prohibition is in full swing, but unlike real life the banned substance is green cheese rather than booze (hic, worsh luck). The Mouse Mafia under the control of Mose Malone have heard the rumour that the moon is made from green cheese (and my Granny's false teeth sing 'The Yellow Rose Of Texas' backwards).
Cheesy Grin
So they are planning to nab our celestial neighbour and cut it up to sell on the black market. But who is going to save the moon? The Mafia have already run Elephant Ness (the local Untouchable) out of town, so enter stage left the player in the guise of Sgt Murray Mouse, a squeaky-clean undercover cop with a heart of gold (and a passion for the smelly stuff). Murray has to bring to justice the top ten members of the mouse Mafia organisation, and he'll need all the help he can get.
The game style is very similar to the Dizzy/Seymour adventures. Murray starts the game with nowt but the clothes on his back. But as he explores the landscape he comes across loadsa different objects. Some of them are red herrings (something smells fishy here), but more are of use. As an item is picked up, it's shoved into the inventory for later. And as with many previous Codemasters arcade-adventure games there are many puzzles to solve before you can progress. None are so tricky as to really cheese you off, though!
Wot's Dis For?
If you have the correct item to continue, you can give yourself a pat on the back and use it to negotiate the trouble spot. Although a word of warning is in order here, as some locations are impossible to escape from if you don't possess the proper item. Along the way are the members of the mouse Mafia: to complete the game, Murray has to nab them ('ello, 'ello what's going on 'ere then?) and bring 'em to justice. It's as easy as falling off a log (ouch, that hurt).
Even though the game looks to have been programmed by a five-year-old, it's very playable. I'm a big Dizzy gan and though I generally end up swearing at the computer, I always persevere. The puzzles are definite brain-teasers, but with bit of common sense (Wot, the breakfast cereal?) Murray is soon nabbing the bad guys. Although the game is colourful, the graphics are simplistic (Murray looks like a spud with arms and legs). Though the in-game tune is a jolly little ditty that has you whistling along with the action. Puzzle freaks are well catered for in Murray Mouse: Supercop. I hope to see more games starring our cheese-nibbling rodent pal. 82%
Phil
Codemasters have got a new star! Murray Mouse is a cute little chap, and this is a stonker of a game. It ranks with the best Dizzy games with loads of fiendish puzzles to solve, useful objects to collect and secret passages to locate.
Just as you think you're completely and utterly stuck, a bit of logical thought about what objects you haven't used usually results in a brainwave - or failing that, extra exploration and experimentation with the torch switches reveals new locations - reaching the cheesy moon itself is truly an uplifting experience.
Graphics aren't impressive, but still appealing in a cutesy way. I must admit I was glued to the screen playing Murray Mouse, occasionally tearing my hair out, until I completed it.
For experienced arcade adventurers, this shouldn't take that long, but the process is still a lot of fun. I'm sure we haven't seen the last of this mighty mouse. 86%
Verdict
Presentation 80%
Pretty intro screen, and no multi-load (hurrah!).
Graphics 82%
Although simplistic the sprites are colourful and amusing.
Sound 85%
A pleasant ditty plays throughout the game.
Hookability 79%
Although this is a puzzle game, progress is rapid.
Lastability 73%
Experienced gamers should finish it in little over an hour!
Overall 84%