C&VG


Popeye
By Macmillan
Commodore 64

 
Published in Computer & Video Games #57

Popeye

Og-a-gug-gug! Crunch, splat, scrunge, etc, etc. Yes, folks, everyone's favourite sailor has found his way onto a computer game. Popeye was around last year on the Spectrum, and now Macmillan have converted it for the Commodore.

The storyline - such as it is - goes like this. Olive Oyl, Popeye's perennial girlfriend is running short on love. To avoid the horrendous heartbeak he'd have to suffer if he lost this beauty, Pops will have to prove his affection. What better way to do this than to give her some hearts. He must travel around the various screens, picking up these, and giving them to Olive.

Once the game has loaded, you are played a rather good version of the dreadful tune which always accompanies the spinach-chewing hero. As it tootles away, the game begins, and a positive spectrum of colour fills the screen! The graphics are huge! Each character is fully animated.

Popeye

Sometimes the game is a little unfair: after you get "killed", a can of spinach will come across from the side of the screen, and revive you. Unfortunately, other characters will go about their business while you're on the deck. Often you wak up just as they are passing, causing you to be decked for another few seconds.

Although the screen is presented side-on, it's possible to play in semi-3D. As well as moving left and right, you can move "into" the screen by ducking into doorways. It's quite clever.

The doorways play a more important part in the game than you may imagine. By collecting the keys which are dotted around, you can open certain doors, allowing access to more hearts.

Although the idea of the game is pretty simple, it's fun to play, and there are lots of different items, such as the witch and a fire-breathing dragon.