Zzap
1st May 1992
Power Hits Volume One
There are ten, yes ten games in the latest Activision compilation. "But are they any cop?" I hear you cry...
Rampage
Up to two people have a choice of three monstrous characters: Ralph The Wolfman, George The Gorilla or Lisa The Lizard.
Great fun is to be had by all as you rampage (hence the title) through many American cities mangling, maiming and generally having a good time. Of course, there are killjoys out to stop you, but you can deal with them very easily. A crusty but most excellent game. Rampage is a brill bash-'em-up.
BattleTech
BattleTech is a complex game that's impossible to describe in a couple of paragraphs. It's pretty good if you're an RPG buff, though the main bugbear is the multi-load.
Every single event is preceded by a lengthy whirring of the disk drive, highly annoying. A nice idea that failed somewhere between drawing board and computer screen.
Last Ninja
When Shogun Kunitoki does something, he means business. Take the time a bunch of naughty Ninjas teed him off, for example. He didn't just write a nasty letter. He destroyed the whole Clan!
Or so he thought... there is one survivor; a young Mystic Shadow Warrior who swears revenge on Kunitoki. They're stationed on the island of Lin Fen, so pick up your sword and kick ass.
Here it is, the game that started the isometric 3D craze is still as good now as on its first appearance five years ago.
The trilogy of Last Ninja games are an arcade adventure fan's dream come true. This is no exception.
Star Rank Boxing II
In Star Rank Boxing II you play the part of both manager and boxer. In manager mode you choose and train a boxer, while in fighter mode you pummel either a human or computer opponent into the canvass.
The aim of the game (as if you didn't know) is to either outscore your adversary or simply pinch his lights out. Each round is three minutes long (accelerated game time) and as the punches connect each boxer's energy drops like a stone. Three judges award marks (often dubious) to both boxers after every round.
This isn't the worst boxing game I've seen, but it's not a shining example either. The main moan is the size and shape of the boxers (pygmy hippos ahoy).
Fighter Bomber
If you've ever fancied yourself as a Biggles type then Fighter Bomber is the game for you. After choosing a plane for yourself and your computer-controlled opponent, a range of missions appear, so choose one and prepare to go up.
Hang on, you haven't grabbed your ordnance yet, but there's a wide range of large and lethal weaponry to choose from. Although the game is graphically good, the gameplay lets it down. The final mission is both difficult and deadly dull; I normally like flight sims but this one sent me to sleep.
Die Hard
Based on one of my favourite movies, Die Hard plonks the player in the shoes of John McClane, an off-duty policeman who's in a lot of trouble. The new high-rise HQ of the Nakitomi Corporation has been taken over by a bunch of terrorists. With his sharp wits and a variety of collectable objects, McClane is gunning for the bad guys.
As he explores the 40 floors, he collects the bits and bobs needed to release the hostages (among them his missus), and knock off the terrorists. The Bruce Willis sprite is a fat git and the locations look very samey. Despite that, it's a playable collect- and beat-'em-up, and the price is right this time around.
Shanghai
Shanghai is (apparently) based on an old Chinese game called mah-jongg, and consists of 144 tiles split into 108 suit tiles, twelve Dragon tiles, sixteen Wind, four Seasons and four Flowers.
The tiles are set out in the 'Dragon formation', and the rules are simple. Just remove two identical tiles from the pile at a time, but they must be 'free' (i.e. be bordered by tiles on one side only). Okay, it takes a bit to understand the set of rules, but it's well rewarded.
Ghostbusters II
Vigo the Carpathian is the evil spirit causing havoc here. He's trying to return to the land of the living, and if he isn't stopped before New Year some not-very-nice things will happen.
The game is split into three sections and follows the movie's plot fairly closely; although the film is a laugh, the game is pretty crud.
Gee Bee Air Rally
Inspired by the air-race epics held in the 1930s, Gee Bee Air Rally plonks you in the cockpit of a 250mph aircraft. The task at hand is to race round the sixteen courses and win as many trophies as possible.
There are computer-controlled opponents out for your blood, though, and even if collision with them isn't fatal (you wear a parachute) you do waste precious time.
Gee Bee Air Rally is initially very playable. The fast 3D sprites are large and nearly animated, though the sound is limited. The main drawback is the samey-looking courses. Sadly interest soon wanes and the game is put onto a shelf.
Grave Yardage
This is a cross between the Addams Family and the Monday night game. The rules are simple: grab the ball and mash, mangle and main the opposition.
But the game starts with the obligatory option screens, and I must say that half the fun is choosing our own players, building a pitch and changing the rule book.
The pitch changing is especially fun if against a friend: add a few landmines and don't tell your opponent where they are (har har). Fans of gridiron football are well-catered-for and this is definitely for the sick-minded among you.
Verdict
Most of the titles here are average to good - Last Ninja is the only real blockbuster. If this were a tape compilation, I'd advise you to go out and buy the best games individually on budget.
However, ten generally good games on a single disk ain't bad value for under twenty quid.
