Computer Gamer


Strike

Publisher: Mastertronic Added Dimension
Machine: Spectrum 48K/128K/+2

 
Published in Computer Gamer #27

Strike

My first reaction to this game was disappointment once I discovered that Arthur Scargill didn't feature anywhere in it despite the title. In fact, what the game really is, is a ten-pin bowling simulation, a sort of budget 10th Frame.

There are two logical ways to display a bowling alley; you can have a side-on view of bowler and lane or a bowler's eye view looking straight down towards the skittles. Mastertronic has gone for a diagonal perspective! Your man wobbles about as though he has got ants in his pants; this too makes judging your position on the lane somewhat difficult.

The game consists entirely of lining yourself up and timing the release of the ball which then just dribbles out in front of you if you are too quick; too late and you throw the ball up in the air and it drops down behind your leading leg (ouch!). But if you time the release properly, the ball drops down onto the lane, miraculously picks up speed and rolls down towards the pins. There is no variation in the game, such as being able to hook the ball although there are four skill levels, these just merely improve the ability of your opponent.

The idea of the MAD range was that they were supposed considerably better than the normal run-of-the-mill budget game. But, like too many of the recent MAD releases, this one just isn't.