Previous Next

For thirty years now, that lovable layabout Andy Capp has been ducking and diving, scrounging and skiving, propping up the bar and dispensing wisdom to Mirror readers and admirers the world over.

And now Andy's starring in a computer game and the programmers have succeeded in producing an animated cartoon character who is exactly like the original. After years of unspeakable cartoon conversions, from Quicksilva's Flintstones to Melbourne House's Asterix, the software industry has finally coughed up a comic-strip character who wouldn't be instantly disowned by his creator.

Certainly the style of Reg Smythe's drawings - the simple line backgrounds, the clear sharp detail and the limited range of actions which Andy and his mates perform - is ideal for transferring to the computer screen, and the programming team (Blitter Animations) have thankfully avoided any attempt add colour to the stark black and white images. Andy, Flo, Chalkie and the rest stroll through a monochrome world of terraced backstreets, corner shops, brick walls and lamposts.

At the start of play, we find Andy in his living room, uncharacteristically wide awake at six in the morning, he's also uncharacteristically got eight quid in his pocket. The game inlay tells us that Flo is waiting for Andy's dole cheque - which has unaccountably gone missing - and she threatens to be off to her mother's if it doesn't turn up.

And so Andy ambles off, hands in pockets, to see if he can scrounge a few readies and locate the wayward giro. A row of icons below the animation screen allow him to buy things, speak to other characters, duff them over, and examine and use any items collected along the way. Andy's also got a battery of devastating kisses to resort to in times of crisis. If he blows one at an approaching bobby, the latter will be so stunned he'll stop dead in his tracks.

Though the playing area is only 80 screens or so, the number of corners and similar scenery will have Andy going round in circles if he just follows his nose. Once the streets are mapped, Andy will be able to take the shortest routes between the newsagents and the bookies, the Town Hall and the dole office, popping in for a quick jar en route.

Play soon boils down to the usual trial-and-error technique, as you get Andy endlessly trudging the pavements, bumping into the wrong people, asking the wrong questions, and arriving at pubs, shops and council offices just after they've closed. Things you might try include getting a loan off an unbelievably gullible newsagent, buying the Racing Times and placing a bet on the top for Wednesday's races. This will be rewarded with the bookie handing over Andy's rent-book, and with this (and twenty quid) Andy can pay his arrears at the Town Hall.

Things to be avoided are any confrontations with Flo, the police or the rent collector. Though Andy might resort to fisticuffs in sticky situations - and even pick up some cash in the process - sooner or later he'll get imprisoned.

At all times it's essential to keep Andy's alcohol level topped up, so you've got to time his rambling so that he can sup a few jars during opening time, and if necessary, but a take-out. Enough beer, and six hours' kip every day, will get you through what is, on the whole, a reasonably typical week in the life of Andy Capp.

Except there's one thing missing: Humour. There's not one laugh in the game, as far as I can see. The closest thing you get to a joke is a smart-ass one-liner from the woman in the dole office.

Despite all the fancy trimmings - near-perfect graphics and animation, the Hovis brass band music - what Mirrorsoft is serving up here is yet another tired explore-and-collect game. Mildly challenging and frequently tedious, Andy Capp is about as funny as being trapped in a lift with Gyles Brandreth.