Previous Next

Jet Pac, which first appeared for the Spectrum, has been translated to work on the expanded Vic 20. Considering the excellence of Ultimate's products for the Spectrum, how well does this new version cope with the translation? Answer: It should have stayed on the Spectrum.

The Acme Instellar Transport Company currently delivers spaceship kits to various planets throughout the known universe. You, its chief test pilot, have to follow after them, assembling the rockets and then blasting off to the next planet.

As an added bonus, various treasures appear on the screen from time to time. Since this is an all-expenses paid trip you might as well do what any self-respecting test pilot would do, namely grab the treasures and fiddle the expenses.

Just to make life a little awkward for you, a variety of meanies are doing their best to prevent you leaving the planet surface. However, you are equipped with a Quad Photon Laser Phaser to destroy them with.

If I'd never seen the Spectrum version of this game, I think I'd like it. But the graphical displays of that computer and the Vic 20 are light years apart, and since this game is a little short on plot it depends a great deal for success on the effectiveness of the graphics.

Treated in its own right, the screen display shows platforms, on two of which rest parts of the rocket, while the main fuel stage to the device is lying conveniently on the ground.

Using your fuel pack (or joystick), you must move about the screen collecting the two stages of the rocket.

The aliens are a mean bunch, and appear with almost frightening rapidity, but it's fairly easy to blast them all and collect the next item on your agenda - the six fuel pods that appear on the screen.

Having done all that, you then just return to the rocket and whisk away to the next planet, where the same thing happens all over again. The difference is the aliens are a different shape, but that apart, the game just goes on and on and...

Jet Pac does have some redeeming features - in particular the choice of keys if you haven't got a joystick is very good; it's virtually up to you. And high scores, two player options, and other little touches all show the Ultimate stamp.

However, this Vic offering is just an average shoot-'em-up and blast-'em-down game, that ultimately gets very boring indeed.