Sinclair User


Total Recall

Author: Marc Richards
Publisher: The Hit Squad
Machine: Spectrum 128K

 
Published in Sinclair User #127

Total Recall

If you ask me, I don't think it's humanly possible for one man to be the size of Arnie Schwarzenegger. I reckon he's really two smaller men standing on top of each other in a latex costume; one called Mr. Schwarz and the other Mr. Negger.

But enough about my theories, onto the Hit Squad's latex... sorry, latest muscle bound re-release. Total Recall (if you recall) was the biggest and most successful film of 1990, and was the most expensive film ever made until Terminator 2. As with all of Arnie's recent films, the special FX and stunt sequences are amazing, and this flick has to be one of my all time favourite movies.

There are five massive levels, three shoot 'em up-cum-beat 'em up platformers and two horizontally scrolling car chases.

Total Recall

The platform levels (1, 3 and 5) are absolutely excellent, with wonderful monochrome graphics and fantastic sound. The sprites are massive and as smooth as a new born baby bum, and there's a nice puzzley element to do with turning on and off switches to open and close various doors and force fields.

However, as with virtually all of Ocean's film tie-ins, we have two obligatory car chase levels (2 and 4) to split the game up a bit. Although this does add variety and help break the game up, it is a little on the naff side.

This by no means ruins the game - these two levels just act as in-between refreshers in which you can prepare yourself for the next big platformer. If you treat them as space-fillers, you won be disappointed.

Total Recall

Today Total Recall still stands as a top quality piece of software. Taking this into account alongside the fact that it's now available for four pounds, I'm going to knock the score up a little! C'mon Ocean, don't forget our Speccies! When games are produced as good, playable and cheap as this, who needs a console or a 16-bit?

Label: Hit Squad Memory: 48K/128K Price: £3.99 Tape Reviewer: Marc Richards

Overall Summary

Although I think that this format of movie-game has gone a bit stale through over use and abuse in titles like Robocop 2, Terminator 2, etc, Total Recall is still a real gem and has deservedly earned itself a Best Budget title. Well worth having.

Marc Richards

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