Commodore User


Shark

Author: Ken McMahon
Publisher: Firebird
Machine: Commodore 16

 
Published in Commodore User #34

Shark

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water. Well, I had to say it somewhere, might as well get it out of the way now.

I can't make up my mind about Shark. When I first set eyes on it I thought oh, groan, not another duffer from Firebird. When I'd played it for a while though, it went up ever so slightly in my estimation.

You are the intrepid diver, out to rid the waters of deadly man eaters. The Great White (it's always a Great White) swims back and forth across the surface while you lurk in the murky depths.

Shark

This particular breed of Great White shark, very conveniently (or stupidly) has a target placed halfway up its back. One well aimed shot from the trusty harpoon hits the target, and it's goodbye sharkey.

There are a few bits of piping lying around the place to provide some cover to the poor animal. All the same, it's not too difficult at this level and you can usually make it first shot, ensuring a hefty bonus for your remaining air supply. Level two adds more of a challenge to the proceedings. Anaemic-looking eels swim up and down, making it even more difficult, or rather, less easy, to get a shot in. Still plenty of air left by the time I managed it though.

Level three has you avoiding a killer goldfish which swims up and down erractically and kills on contact, slightly tricky, not, by any means, impossible.

Shark

On the next level you are dive-bombed by something that could either be a squid, or a jellyfish.

Wait a second, here are the jellyfish on level five. You can tell the difference because squid, jellyfish and eels, get the picture? It's seafood salad time.

Maybe I expect too much from cheapo games. But the gap between this and some of the more expensive stuff is far wider than you find on, say, Commodore 64 games.

If you're fairly new to gaming Shark will undoubtedly give you a few hours cheap entertainment. Firebird will have to do better than this, though, if they're going to match companies like Mastertronic.

Ken McMahon

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