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Microdeal
Price £24.95
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It's hard to
keep up with Microdeal nowadays. Just when you think they'll stop
for a while because they've released something good, (i.e.
Goldrunner) they go and release yet another superb game. Their
latest offering is Airball, a three dimensional arcade adventure of
exceptional quality.
The plot of
the game is this : You have been transformed into a rubber 'airball'
by an evil wizard (goodness knows why, but you have!). Your task is
to move about the mansion in which you have been imprisoned and find
the spellbook so that you can return to being a human. Amongst the
things that are hindering your path through the mansion are spikes,
killer pads, and steep drops. Also, to add to your many worries,
your ball has a slow puncture which means that every now and the you
have to find a pump with which to re-inflate yourself.
The graphics in the game are superb, each room is depicted in many
shades of grey with cracked tiles in the floor and very solid
looking pillars and sculptures. The graphics have all been done by
the now famous Pete Lyon, who, as you know, did the graphics for
Karate Kid II and Goldrunner. The music and sound within the game
are also very good. There are four tunes in all – one on the title
screen, one during the game, a depressing sorrowful tune when you
die, and a perky little tune on the high score table.
The game can be controlled by either mouse, joystick or keyboard,
and I would say that a joystick is most definitely the best control
method. The mouse is probably the worst as it is very difficult to
master, but then I would imagine that it depends on what you are
used to.
I can thoroughly recommend this game as it is both very playable and
impressive to look at, which is sadly quite a novelty compared to
many recent ST games. Most companies now appear to be putting their
all into the graphics and sound, but making a game which is very
boring to play. Airball on the other hand is different, being a
worthy addition to anyones collection. In fact many would say it's
an essential buy and, like some of its predecessors from Microdeal,
it is most likely to become a classic.
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