Games Computing


Caverunner

Categories: Review: Software
Publisher: English
Machine: Atari 400/800/600XL/800XL/130XE

 
Published in Games Computing #7

Caverunner (English)

This game for the Atari 400/800 and XL models requires one joystick, BASIC cartridge and 32K of RAM.

Keeping the start button pressed, switch on, press play on tape deck then return. After loading which takes nine minutes you will see a screen title of constantly changing colours set in the background of a cave, and the caverunner runs from left to right; after two passes there is a short demonstration of the program followed by on screen instructions for select, option and start.

You are the caverunner who must gather all the treasure from two caverns by touching them and running back to base. If you select novice skill level simply touching them wins that piece of treasure. There are five pieces in each cavern, appearing as a flashing ? symbol each time.

Caverunner

Simply touching?. Well yes, but first you have to get to it, and therein lies the difficulty of this super game for all the family. Hazards and obstacles, of which there are many, and graphically well displayed consists of: green slime on the walls and roof of the caves which kills instantly if you touch it, patches of water which must be crossed and if all these don't zap you, then there are waterfalls, erupting volcanoes and flying missiles. Passing these and collecting the treasure on the way must of course all be done against the clock.

On the second level, there are hurdles, dripping weed and Mr. Kong, if you get that far. To help you, you have almost total control of the caverunner with a joystick in port one. Although it may take a while to master, because of the many combinations the fire button is put to, these are:

BUTTON NOT PRESSED: left or right and he runs thus, back and he dives on his belly, forward and he stands up again.

BUTTON PRESSED: left or right with joystick and he'll jump that way, but be careful the longer you press the further he jumps, forward makes him jump straight up.

The problem is remembering all these in a tight spot, as panic sets in. The superb graphics, colours and sounds of the Atari are well used (even a death march as you float off to heaven) in what must be another top-selling game from English Software.