Psygnosis
£34.95
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Here at last you have it, the mega
game, the 'smash' of PCW, the game that many have said sets a new
standard, that is even worth buying an ST for. So is it as good
as it has been heralded? Well before I give you my opinion let me
say straight out that hype turns me right off I refuse to go and
see all the films that are 'blockbusters' before they are even released
or buy something simply because a few journalists and TV people
were mightily impressed by all the freebies at a promotional launch.
From this point of view I found it hard to be objective about Brataccas.
At first sight I was quite disappointed, but I put it away and looked
at it again a few weeks later and was quite impressed.
It is a good game and somewhat
different from any you have seen before. It does have a cartoon
feel about it with some excellent animation and fine control of
your player and it does have challenges aplenty to keep you occupied.
You will not quickly solve the mystery of Brataccas. First off,
you will need to learn how to control Kyne the central character.
This can be by joystick, keyboard or mouse but the latter gives
the finest control. Kyne can have four basic stances, facing left
or right, away from or facing the screen. In each of these stances,
movement can be normal, as in walking or running or action, as in
fighting. Additionally there is emphasised movement and double movement
which each achieve a different reaction. Control is fine and difficult
to master but this alone adds to the complexity and challenge of
the game. The plot is simple. You have been accused of a crime you
did not commit and set out to prove your innocence on a strange
world called Brataccas. You will meet many adversaries, human and
otherwise and will have many puzzles to solve, not least of which
is to find who is your enemy and who is your friend. You will need
to read the manual thoroughly which is in itself a work of art featuring
illustrations by Roger Dean famous for his Yes album covers.
Brataccas begins with an excellent
loading sequence with music played throughout the load and continues
with good graphics and excellent action but there is somehow something
missing about the look of it. Maybe it looks too much like a conversion
from the QL. Maybe it is just all the hype putting me off.
So is it as good as they say? Well,
it is very good, but it is by no means the definitive game on the
ST. This is still early days and there will be many games coming
along that will make people wonder what all the fuss was about.
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