Personal Computer News


Hexpert

Author: Bob Chappell
Publisher: Anirog
Machine: Commodore 64

 
Published in Personal Computer News #035

Bert Likes Bounce

Another arcade original comes to the personal computer. Bert, forsaking his old heap of hexagons, has taken up residence on a new pile of blocks. Although he can now be found bouncing around on the Commodore 64, he still hasn't shaken off his pursuers.

Objectives

An odd, furry creature, Bert has been abducted by Zoganaar, a wicked witch and forced to play on her fiendish Pyramid of hexagons. Bert must leap from block to block, avoiding two massive rubber balls which are bouncing around after him. Not only that, the witch's pet snake Coiley, has also decided to yomp round the Pyramid.

Bert must change the colour of every hexagon by jumping on each one. If he is touched by a ball of the snake, he loses one of his five lives. If he inadvertently leaps off the edge, bye bye Bert for good.

Hexpert

Bert has some help. He can jump on one of two spinning disks which will transport him to the top of the pyramids.

In Play

No introductory music, just a simple title page with the title slowly moving from the bottom to the top of the screen. You can't start until it reaches the top. Unfortunately, this pause occurs every time you start a new game and slows down the pace. The pyramid of 21 three-dimensional blue hexagons appears, with a chocolate-coloured spinning disk on both sides.

A spinning barrel descends from on high, depositing Bert part way down the pyramid. The game is afoot, and that's quite an apt phrase since Bert needs to be very fleet of foot.

He's hardly started leaping when two giant Maltesers start bouncing down the pyramid, immediately followed by the coiled snake. If he's leapt upon, Bert loses a life. Fair enough. What's not quite so sporting is that if, in leaping, he just touches any of these creatures in passing, he still loses a life. Even worse, if he should jump off the pyramid altogether, he loses all his lives and that makes it a bit frustrating. If Bert can turn all the hexagons yellow by landing on them, he gains bonus points and has to start again, with the action faster.

Sound effects are minimal. The graphics are pleasant if lacking in animation. However, I was impressed by the bounce of the rubber balls, and the 3D effect is a saving grace.

Verdict

The graphics and sound could have been livelier and there's not enough variety to hold the attention for long. Nevertheless, it is a challenging little game and worth a spin.

Bob Chappell

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