Previous Next

Another exciting game by the author of Airstrike 1 and 2, S. A. Riding, which is up to his usual exacting standards.

Do not be put off by the screen title which appears while the main game loads. A good feature of this screen is a graph which shows you how much of the main program has been loaded, instead of watching a blank screen.

On to the game itself; after a short demonstration program you use the option key to choose one or two player mode, then push start or joystick fire button to start the game. You may also start an any zone level by pressing keys 1 to 8.

The main instruction and title page has some superb scrolling colours, although this feature tends to make the smaller characters difficult to read. These excellent colours are also followed up in the game itself.

At the top of the screen is Captain Sticky's ship with your diving platform and winch at its rear. The joystick's controls allow for all directional movement. You must control your diver down through various sea creatures to collect Captain Sticky's gold, with which he will buy this ever-diminishing supply of gum. Your diver descends to the depths on a rope, this rope is used by the captain to collect the gold after you have attached it. Hazards include the sea creatures (which increase in quantity at higher zone levels) and may be shot with horizontally travelling harpoons.

Also to hinder your task are helicopters dropping homing depth charges, leaches and force fields which produce energised crabs (they just love a tasty diver). If you are caught by the leach, it sucks away at your ever-precious air supply. Your air supply is restored when you return to the ship for a new gold line.

The screen layout is superb with very clear and fast graphics. The sound is adequate and provides ample warning of impending dangers like lack of gold and shortage of air. Although this sound may become annoying to anyone who is just spectating.