Bug-Byte
Cassette
£2.99
1 player
1 joystick
Despite their experience, Bug-Byte are not a company
noted for exceptionally high quality software and they have yet to
produce a serious threat to their competitors in the battle of the
budget barons, although their last release –CHICKEN CHASE – was a
step in the right direction. MISSING ... ONE DROID is Bug-Byte's
latest offering and has been released under licence from Analog. The
author – Paul Lay – is no stranger to PAGE 6, and you will
undoubtedly remember his fantastic game `Munchy Madness' that
appeared in issue 24.
This one is written entirely in machine code (not an
obvious statement to make when discussing Bug-Byte!) and boots up
from cassette in around one hundred seconds. A disk version is also
mentioned on the inlay, which hardly seems necessary for such a
short amount of code. Now for the customary elaborate story, which
tells of how Rusty the Droid has become separated from his Droid
companions due to his impetuous tendencies – he has foolishly
manipulated himself into a topo-dimensional converter and promptly
disappeared into a construct universe!! Intuition tells him that if
he keeps active and fights off the assailants, the construct
universe will become over-stressed and reality inertia will flip him
out of the construct and back to his pals in the real world!
Onto the game itself, which runs in a similar vein to
`Robotron 2084' and opens up with a title page almost identical to
the `Munchy Madness' one, complete with scrolling starscape,
reverberating colours and futuristic sound track. A press of the
START key reveals Rusty, in a blank void, all alone (ahh!). Enter
the wicked baddies, right, left and centre, whose only intent is
poor old Rusty's destruction. This is where you enter into the plot,
guiding Rusty around the screen to avoid various aliens, and
blasting them with Photon missiles at every available opportunity.
Clear one screen and it's onto the next level of increased
difficulty.
That's really all there is to it. Each collision with
a pursuer decreases your score and energy level, whilst a successful
hit increases the score, and extra energy may be obtained by
collecting heart symbols. The existing graphics are very well done
but are lacking in quantity and variety, with large and clearly
detailed PMGs, together with the scrolling starscape, adding
interest to an otherwise forgettable scene.
I can only describe MISSING:... ONE DROID as a competently
programmed revamp of an aged game concept that would merit
unreserved praise as a magazine listing, but one that is far too
simplistic and monotonous to warrant a 100% recommendation in
today's competitive budget market. Apologies, Rusty!
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