Games Computing
1st October 1984
Categories: Review: Software
Publisher: Mogul
Machine: Commodore 64
Published in Games Computing #10
Fire Ant (Mogul)
The scenario of this game is based around the loyalty of the last remaining soldier ant whose queen has just been captured by a band of renegade scorpions and has therefore the perilous task of having to rescue her.
The ant's movements are controlled by the direction of the player's joystick (it would have been useful to allow for a keyboard option as the manoeuvrability of the ant could be hampered by the failings of a well used joystick, during a frantic chase).
There is only one skill level but as each screen is traversed the problems and mazes posed become progressively more complicated. The basic object of the game, that runs through each of the different screens is that of collecting the certain key that opens the specific door that could lead to the next screen, or the door that leads to another key.
To add to the game, the keys can only be taken in a specific sequence. So, passing over one key may have no effect whilst another may then be used to open a yellow door, revealing either the exit, another yellow barrier or some vital life preserving substance!
So far, I managed to work my way through five of the screens, but with only three lives, considerable practice will be required as an action in the wrong sequence, results in the loss of a life, i.e., not collecting the oxygen, crossing the water without building a bridge, crossing bad water etc. Then there is the ever daunting presence of the 3 scorpions, whose touch is fatal and who occasionally change colour and double their speed of movement. As an aid, there is on each screen, a spade-shaped podule, which once taken allows the ant to pass over the Scorpions unharmed, for a period of fifteen seconds.
On the whole, I found this to be a very exciting and addictive game.