C&VG


Savage Island Part 1

Categories: Review: Software
Publisher: Adventure International
Machine: Acorn Electron

 
Published in Computer & Video Games #67

Savage Island Part 1

The first in the Savage Island duo is, aptly enough, called Savage Island Part 1. The game starts off with you on the beach of the island, standing next to a large stone head rather like those found at Easter Island.

From this starting position you can wander along three other beaches, and if you really want to, you can take a swim in the shark-infested waters. But this doesn't get you very far, so you have to start making decisions about what to do.

First thing on your agenda should be to take some coconuts from the conveniently positioned tree on one of the beaches. But if you hang around too long before finding shelter, a nasty hurricane called Alexis comes and rips you apart in a very unfriendly manner.

Savage Island Part 1

But this ill wind there indeed does blow some good, as the hurricane knocks down some trees which you can somehow pick up and carry for use later.

The island's dormant volcano has a crater which has been filled in with rain water to form a lake. One use of the log is as a means for floating any heavy objects across that you think will be useful.

Also be be found in the volcano is a rather gruesome grizzly bear. But the bear is the least of your problems as the random hurricane tears around the island. I call it random because it is. As far as I know, whether you survive the hurricane or not is a purely random affair. During the days I spent playing it, the hurricane never left without killing me!

Savage Island is too outdated now to be a decent game. It was first released on the TRS-80 back in 1982, and although it now has some nice quickly-drawn graphics (the screen is split into two, with graphics in the top part and scrolling text below it), it is nothing to write home about.