Amstrad Computer User


Mission Elevator

Publisher: Eurogold
Machine: Amstrad CPC464

 
Published in Amstrad Computer User #24

Mission Elevator

The first task in this spy caper is to fi nd the English instructions hidden away in the densely packed and fiercely multilingual information sheet. Once this is achieved, the story unfolds. A hotel has been the cover for the Central Intelligence units of the FBI (eh?), but a hostile Secret Service unit has the place under siege. They hope to coerce the US Government into releasing their buddies by threatening to blow said hotel sky-high with a bomb that's going ka-booom real soon now.

Good guys inside this four star can of worms located the bomb, and the passwords to its electronic detonator. However, the bad guys caught on and disposed of the men in white hats. But the disposees have managed to hide the info all around the place.

At this point Control decide to send in their superagent, called (no, don't laugh) Trevor. Imagine "My names Bond. Trevor Bond." Giggle. Straight face now, because Our Trev's in dead schtuck. He has to get to the bomb on the 62nd floor, and in so doing get all the bits of the password. Trouble is, the hotel has some weird architecture, and every eight floors there's a locked emergency exit. To pass this, Trevor must find the porters for those eight floors. And the porters, sensibly enough, have locked themselves in rooms.

Mission Elevator

So Trevor has to find the master key. Each and every floor is swarming with enemy agents, called Trevorski, just dying to squeeze a shot off at the bod of our hero. So even with the master key to open the doors to find the porter to cross the exit to get to floor 62 things ain't easy. It's a good idea to bear in mind the ancient Chinese adage, "Not only porters hide behind locked doors". And some people have vital information, but are reluctant to leak the lentils without being bribed. Together with the fact that cluelettes are scattered everywhere, you can see that Our Man In the Hotel has his work cut out. And you're him.

The action is presented in a cutaway view of three floors of the Terrorist House Forte. As you move up and down via the elevators, the screen pans to follow you. Enemy agents spring forth in profusion from behind curtains and make for your floor. There they pull a pistol and take potshots at you. You can crouch or leap out of the path of the bullet, and fire back. While you're crouched down you can examine the various objects scattered around and about,

Everything is nicely portrayed on screen. The enemy have an evil, sordid air about them, the chairs, tables, pictures and other hotel-ish items are very convincing and those Doric columns...

Mission Elevator

All aspects of the game are controlled by joystick or cursor keys, including little games of dice and poker which the computer throws at you from time to time to help you keep your slush fund liquid.

The animation's not bad at all, the action's brisk and there are lots of little surprises to keep the interest going. An action game with lashings of strategy, spiced with humour.

Nigel

Gosh, another mission. Does this make me a missionary? Well at least this game is something new. A madcap, shoot everything in sight, rush around the screen game or a find the objects and use them in the right order adventure? The choice is yours.

Mission Elevator

The game starts with a naff print out of your orders but don't switch off. This is followed by some superbly smooth fast graphic action. You must search the large hotel for objects and clues to complete your task. Out to stop you are a gang of secret agents with an unlimited supply of manpower. Shoot 10. shoot 20, shoot 50 and they still keep coming. Don't they worry about paying pensions in this game?

The pace of the game is reminiscent of Rambo, Green Beret and so on. So if you liked them, you'll like this.

Colin

It's Eurospy time, folks. Our dashing agent dashes around an hotel, getting the gen to defuse a bomb, On the way bullets, bribery and booze play a part in getting past the swarms of ne'er-do-wells, Quick wits and red-hot reactions won't hurt, either. And the graphics are delightful.

Mission Elevator

If you ever get bored with the game (I haven't yet), you can always wonder why the Danish loading instructions look uncannily like English. You'll always get a lift from this one.

Liz

Games from unknown software houses should be treated with caution, but the excellent stuff from France which has been migrating this way in recent months shows that the Europeans can code. This first immigrant from Germany heralds the birth of the EuroGold label.

The people who wrote this know their stuff. It's a shame they went for Mode 0 - I always feel that the higher resolution of Mode 1 merits the sacrifice of colours. The game scores in that you can play the whole thing with the joystick, although using it to enter your name is a pain,

Still, a fun game with plenty of "one more go" appeal.