ZX Computing


Slippery Sid
By Silversoft
Spectrum 16K

 
Published in ZX Computing #12

Slippery Sid

The majority of programs available for the 16 Spectrum come in attractive packages and Slippery Sid is no exception. However, often an attractive cover can conceal a poor, or even bug-ridden, program. Fortunately, this program lives up to all expectations. Basically simple in concept, the game is incredibly addictive.

On running, you are seen to be in a walled garden in which a number of frogs are sitting. You take the role of Slippery Sid the snake and your aim is to gobble up all the frogs. But beware! Every time you eat a frog, a white toad will appear at random in the garden. Also, the more frogs you eat, the longer you grow and the harder it becomes to get around the screen. Occasionally, a magic mushroom will appear and on eating this you can gobble up a toad and gain extra points. On eating all the frogs, the screen clearrs and you find yourself in the next garden which contains an extra wall. The game continues as before with more walls and hazards added each time you clear a screen. The control keys are well chosen and a high score can be achieved quite quickly. The battle is not over yet though as you have the choice of five levels of speed - from manageable to well-nigh impossible!

All in all, Slippery Sid is a very enjoyable game with good use of sound and graphics. I highly recommend it but would warn those of you who are married that it can cause marital stress. I am still trying to pry my wife away from the keyboard so that I can have another go.

Slippery Sid is available from most good software stockists and costs £5.95.

P. D. Jones