Computer Gamer


St. Crippens

Publisher: Sparklers
Machine: Spectrum 48K

 
Published in Computer Gamer #6

St. Crippens

Everybody has their own favourite horror story about hospitals. The Carry On films and Doctor In The House books add to our deepest suspicions. Such a hospital is St. Crippens.

Coming around after a major accident, you discover that you have been admitted to the worst hospital in the world. Your only thought is how quickly can you get out. Needless to say, it is not going to be easy.

Your first problem is that you are only wearing pyjamas and you have no chance of sneaking past the guards on the door unless you acquire a set of civvies. So you start wandering through the many wards and rooms trying to find various garments. Intent on stopping you through are assorted nurses, porters and escaped mutants from the genetic engineering laboratory. You can also come a cropper (literally) by falling over one of the many bedpans that litter the place or skidding in a pool of polish.

There is a message line on the screen which tells you how to go about your job, e.g. "Get me a bedpan and I'll give you a pair of shoes". Bedpans seem very popular. The colours are very limited - white drawings on a blue background and the movement round the screen is somewhat jerky, and while it may keep you quiet for an hour or so, it is unlikely to make you keep coming back for more.