Atari User


Leapster

Author: Neil Fawcett
Publisher: Alternative
Machine: Atari 400/800/600XL/800XL/130XE

 
Published in Atari User #41

Leapster

This is one of the strangest games I have ever played on an Atari. You are a young schoolboy called Henry Leapster bent on getting to school on time.

To do so you must travel across the town, through the missile base - very strange town this is - and the graveyard. When I went to school I only got the bus. I must have been missing out on something when I was a young lad.

On each screen you must collect several items which will allow you to progress to the next one.

Leapster

On the debit side you have to avoid cars, missiles, troops and a number of unfriendly zombies - and before you ask, they aren't retired teachers.

Most of the objects up for collection are located in very difficult positions, so you'll find you heave to leap on to other things to reach them - hence the name of the game. Be very careful before you jump as a mistake can result in sudden death.

You control Henry using a joystick plugged into port one. If you want to take a coffee break press the Start function key - pressing it again will restart the game. Select will turn the sound effects on or off and Option will toggle the title music on or off. The graphics are nicely presented and the sound effects well implemented.

Playability caused me some concern though. Although I started off enjoying this very original game I quickly tired of it. This is unfortunately a problem with a lot of budget games today.

If Leapster cost £9.99 I would have to think very carefully about recommending it. As it's priced at £1.99, give it a try.

Neil Fawcett

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