Games Computing


Steeple Jack

Publisher: English
Machine: Atari 400/800

 
Published in Games Computing #4

Steeple Jack (English)

The first thing you notice is the front cover is a screenshot, not a misleading artists impression.

You are supposed to be a boy (name of Jack) having a dream about climbing a chimney, by using the joystick and fire button, to climb ladders on a never-ending chimney which has random gaps. These gaps must be avoided or you fall off.

Easy? Well yes, but there are other hazards, pac-man like ghosts and multi-coloured falling elephants whose resemblance is more like that of a single bed.

Steeple Jack

The general response of the joystick is good, once you get into the fact flow of the game. Skill levels are 0-4 inclusive. The superb sound effects that are available on the Atari, have not been used to full effect. The scrolling effect of the graphics on the chimney and ladders are smooth and consistent I especially liked that animated face of Jack, with flashing eyes and darting tongue (but why just a head).

My overall opinion is good, but not to the usual standards of English Software, it soon became boring and the poor sounds were annoying.

There was a bug on the first loading which no matter how many times I tried I could not repeat, it was that by holding the joystick fully left and pressing start, Jack jumped off the ladder but did not fall. There by avoiding all hazards.

This did give a chance to let the game run on and seemed to reach a maximum speed but the format never changed in the 3,000 metres that I sat through.

Not a game I would recommend.