Games Computing


Creepers

Publisher: Virgin Games
Machine: Commodore Vic 20

 
Published in Games Computing #2

Creepers (Virgin Games)

Creepers is the strange sounding name of Virgin Games new game for the 8K expanded VIC-20.

Upon loading the first section of the program you are presented with instructions in colour! They explain that you are in control of the last fighter, providing the final defence of your subterranean cities' energy supply.

On the screen your fighter is controlled by either the joystick or keyboard. It can face left and right but only move up and down. To the left the aliens' power store is built up when they have enough you are, naturally enough, "doomed to die". To the right the aliens cling to the ceiling and descend to take your energy blocks which are situated to the bottom right. You must try to destroy them before they get the energy blocks or after when they ascend at twice their descending speed. On sheet one the aliens drop one by one and on sheet two they drop in bunches of two, etc. If the aliens manage to relieve you of all your bricks in a particular zone, they mutate and attack you.

Creepers

Not only do aliens attack your energy blocks but "watchers" may appear and "watch" you, then remove all blocks in a zone in one swoop. The game requires good eye-hand co-ordination and speedy reflexes. In play, it is colourful with reasonable sound effects with mainly user-defined graphics.

Two points which weren't so hot are:

  1. The screen is not centered very well; and
  2. Where does the title "Creepers" come into it?!

Can anyone tell me?