Commodore Plus/4 Games Review #4

Game: Spectipede
Console: Commdore Plus/4
Developer: Tony Kelly
Release Date: 1985

Spectipede is an arcade type shooter, where the player takes control of a ship attempting to bring down the spectipede (a creature which roams about the levels with several sections) and its spidery comrades in order to advance to the next level. Bonus ships are given for every 10,000 points and all enemy targets have assigned point values, to be gained by the player if destroyed.

The player is allowed to move in the four basic directions around the playing area, with the spectipede moving diagonally and the spiders moving horizontally and vertically. There's also an enemy ship, which when hit will send a beam back at the player at high velocity. The player dies if hit by a spider, the ship or its beam, or the spectipede itself at any point.

Gameplay is fairly entertaining with basic but enjoyable and responsive controls, and animation. It's easy to move around and avoid being hit by enemies but the pace of gameplay is so quick that its hard to know where is safe to hide. As the levels progress, not much changes in terms of the level layout save for more spiders and sections on the body of the spectipede.

Soundwise, there's basic sound effects and the explosion sound when you lose a life is more akin to the destruction of a small planet than your ship. Graphically the game is kept very simple and although its easy to tell what is what due to the colours used, its not the most advanced game of the time by any means.

Rating: 41/100
Grade: E

Game: Treasure Island
Console: Commodore Plus/4
Developer: Commodore
Release Date: 1985

Treasure Island is more playable than most Commodore Plus/4 games in the sense that there's multiple screens to explore, and enemies to kill with cutlasses (although oddly all killing is done via throwing of cutlasses rather than any stabbing with them). The player's aim is to collect all of the treasure without having too many cutlasses pierce their flesh.

Although it has some fairly advanced features for a Commodore Plus/4 game, the actual gameplay remains simple and with some rather unfortunate cutlass walking animations (look them up) the game seems more like an old timey joke than something that's particularly enjoyable. I can see how it'd have entertained compared to the selection of games on the Commodore though.

Graphically it's fairly impressive for the system, looking almost like something the NES might have tried to show you. The humorous implication of the player's cutlass walk aside, the animation is also fairly well done. Soundwise there's not a lot to go on, besides a little theme tune on the title screen and some sound effects, but they're really not that special eitherway.

Overall I'd rate arcade type games on Commodore higher since they retain greater replay value today, and although this was a great effort at the time, it still gives about 5-10 minutes of interest before it gets repetitive. I'd recommend this game if you're looking out for Commodore titles, but I don't actually know of anyone who is.

Rating: 33/100
Grade: E

Game: The Magician's Curse
Console: Commodore Plus/4
Developer: Gremlin Graphics
Release Date: 1986

The Magician's Curse is a sort of epic adventure quest game, set within the constraints of Commodore Plus/4 software. With 48 screens including forests, streams, cottages, a church and a graveyard, there's plenty of exploring to do, and to complete the game the player must collect seven talismans whilst avoiding the attacks of bats and apples falling from trees.

The game is fairly exciting for a while, the player can find a key to unlock a house with powerups inside, and there's items scattered, including the talismans needed to complete the game. The player is able to walk around and jump, but that is the extent of their actions. Although the game attempts to make the playable area feel big, the repetition does interfere with that perception a little, as far as I can see.

Graphically, the game is only just above something that you could draw yourself in Microsoft Paint, and although this is a game for the Commodore Plus/4 and not a later system, it's still fair to say that its not the best looking game that was around in 1986. Soundwise there's not a lot of great effects, being damaged sounds a lot more painful than it looks, and there's no real musical accompaniment either.

Overall with some practice the game is fairly easy to complete although its not the most interesting thing to be doing. It's more fun than Treasure Island for adventuring but without any real attack options, you're left somewhat defenseless in a world out to kill you. Worth a try, its something you'll easy get bored of.

Rating: 28/100
Grade: F

Game: Petals Of Doom
Console: Commodore Plus/4
Developer: Gremlin Graphics
Release Date: 1985

In Petals of Doom, you're an astronaut tasked with protecting outer space flowers from the threat of being attacked. You can move around the screen and shoot at enemy forces, the less of them there are, the more chance that the flowers will grow to their maximum height, which allows you to move on to the next level. Each level features more enemies and flowers to protect than the previous level, making it harder than ever to move on.

Conceptually, the game is pretty fun and the style of the graphics is also a plus; the flowers seem almost Aztec in design, as do the enemies attempting to destroy them. The game is colourful and the sound effects are kept to the minimum with only shooting and taking damage making any noise. With a bit of practice, progressing is pretty easy, and the game is entertaining if only for a short while.

Rating: 35/100
Grade: E