Previous Next

Cops 'N Robbers could never be accused of being the most original game in the world, but if you condemned every game on that basis there wouldn't be an awful lot left to rave about. No one's passed a law against rip-offs yet, have they?

You'll be relieved to hear that you are on the wrong side of the law - cast as the blagger (sounds like a good title for a game). You must work your wicked way around several simple, maze screens collecting diamonds as you go.

The idea is to pick up as many diamonds as you can before making it back to the getaway car and dumping them in the boot. The Old Bill are constantly in hot pursuit, but in true to life fashion are pretty stupid and not too difficult to outwit.

If they become a nuisance you can always blast them to kingdom come with your trusty Magnum .45. The only problem is that your ammunition is in limited supply, so you can't always waste as many as you might like to. The good news is that if you run out of bullets you get a new box when you return to the car to boot the loot, so to speak.

There are a few embellishments which take the game out of the mediocre league. Paths from the opening screen lead to the mines - populated by pacman-like ghosts - where you can find more diamonds and some TNT.

The remaining four screens comprise various floors of the ACME Diamond Company. On one floor is the safe, to which you must find the combination before making off with the big haul.

There are a few really annoying bugs. On occasion, when moving from room to room, or leaving the lift, you are instantly jumped upon by a cop, which I think is hardly fair. Speed and manoeuvrability are things I would place high on a list to move around. There's nothing more infuriating than not being able to get your villain through the door when the boys in blue are breathing down his neck and fingering his collar.

I have to say that I don't think this is worth three quid. I might be impressed if I'd found it in the listings at the back of Commodore User, but it doesn't quite make the grade when you're paying for it.