Home Computing Weekly


Villain

Author: A.W.
Publisher: Interceptor Micros
Machine: Commodore Vic 20

 
Published in Home Computing Weekly #132

Fed up with killing aliens? Try this one for size. You play the part of a rather athletic thief who spends much of his time running away from PC Plod. Each screen involves running 1000 yards, collecting points and jumping obstacles.

Before each screen, you must run 200 yards in less than 16 seconds (eat your heart out Jessie Owens). This is achieved by thrashing your joystick from side to side as fast as possible. During each sprint, you are pursued by our erstwhile copper and if you go ·too slowly, he catches you.

Each main screen is similar.

You can obviate the need to thrash the joystick by detonating bombs which stimulate the thief's adrenalin (neat eh?). Progressive screens give higher obstacles to jump and you collect points by catching items of swag.

The running effect is achieved by scrolling the background from left to right. The figures are large sprite-like characters (over an inch tall) plonked in the middle of the screen. The use of colour and animation is excellent.

This is the most challenging VIC game I've met in a long time and it shows how much can be achieved on the Vic (in 11.5K!!!) with some thought and imagination.

A.W.

Other Commodore Vic 20 Game Reviews By A.W.


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