C&VG


Snoopy And The Red Baron

Publisher: Atarisoft
Machine: Atari 2600

 
Published in Computer & Video Games #31

Snoopy And The Red Baron

Here's the famous air ace preparing for another dangerous mission. I know you're up there, Red Baron! This time I'll get you for sure! Stealing my dog-dish was the last straw!

That famous beagle Snoopy, from the equally famous cartoon strip Peanuts, takes to the air in a video dramatisation of his battles with the evil Red Baron.

This is a dogfight in the true sense of the word! Snoopy flies his kennel in search of the Baron - who has stolen the Peanuts' gang's food supplies. Hamburgers, ice cream cones, popcorn and other tasty treats have disappeared into the Baron's crimson triplane. Snoopy has to shoot down the Baron and recapture the goodies.

Snoopy And The Red Baron

Snoopy begins his mission with four kennels - armed with a deadly machine gun! It takes eight direct hits to down the Baron's plane. The Baron can shoot back - and Snoopy's kennel gets riddled with bullet holes! Eight hits and he is in the doghouse too!

The Red Baron drops stolen food from his plane as Snoopy harries him. To catch the supplies, you must dive after them and touch them with the kennel.

The Baron also drops a skull and crossbones - don't catch this otherwise Snoopy loses all the goodies he's managed to collect. Also, if Snoopy is defeated by the Baron, all accumulated food will be lost and the Peanuts gang will go hungry.

Snoopy And The Red Baron

When you start the game, Snoopy has to shoot down the Baron four times before moving on to the next stage when the dastardly air ace gets even trickier to catch.

After the end of each stage - or when the game ends - you see a scoreboard with the number of planes shot down and the amount of food recaptured. A really nice feature this.

You get bonus points for each bit of food captured - and earn a Gold Baron after fifty red ones have been shot down!

Snoopy And The Red Baron

I really enjoyed playing this game. It's fast, the graphics are cute and it's very addictive. Snoopy looks just right sitting on his flying kennel, complete with goggles and scarf.

Snoopy fans will be pleased to know that, when his kennel has been riddled with bullets, he doesn't crash to the ground in flames. He simply floats gently earthwards - sustaining no terminal damage!

As with all Atari VCS games, there are several game options ranging from children's to expert.

Snoopy And The Red Baron is available from Atari for the Atari VCS and is a bargain at £19.95. Could this be the first in a range of Atari-Peanuts video games? Just wait and see!

A great "cute" action game for all of you who like dog-fight games - and Snoopy fans of course!