[net.micro.cbm] Bunch of C-64 game mini-reviews

doug@terak.UUCP (Doug Pardee) (05/14/86)

Well folks, you won't have *me* to kick around much longer :-)

Sanders/CalComp is closing this facility, and sometime between now
and the end of July both our VAX-780 and I will be looking for new
homes.  In the meantime, I'm going to be busy with the traditional
wind-down activities.  I won't have much time (if any) to read the
news, although I'll try to keep up with my mail until the VAX goes
dark or until the door hits me in the backside on my way out...

As a parting shot, I'm providing a mini-review of every program in my
small C-64 game library.  Some comments on my categorization:

	I'm ignoring the title screens in these reviews, even though
	these often have the most ingenious sound and graphics.

	"Adequate sound" means that the sound effects are simple noises
	like roaring motors and firing guns, where sophistication isn't
	really possible.

BC's Quest for Tires -- Sierra Online
	Cute cartoon graphics, simple game play.  Mostly reaction,
	some tactics, no strategy.  Adequate sound.  Although the
	game play is simple, it is somehow fascinating.
Beach Head -- Access
	A sequence of different scenarios, with varying demands on
	reaction and tactics.  Very little strategy.  Nice graphics in
	some of the scenarios.  Adequate sound effects.
Blue Max -- Synapse
	A game whose time has gone.  The Zaxxon-style diagonal scrolling
	graphics have been rendered obsolete by the out-the-window
	graphics of Flight Simulator, SkyFox, Jet, AcroJet, F15 Strike
	Eagle, etc.  Some strategy, some reaction, some tactics, and
	a lot of luck.  Adequate sound.
Deadline -- Infocom
	I've never had enough patience to become an "adventure" freak,
	but Infocom is clearly the current leader in the text-adventure
	category.
Fort Apocalypse -- Synapse
	Nice combination of strategy, tactics, and reaction make this
	one of my favorites.  The profile-view scrolling graphics are a
	bit dated now.  Adequate sound effects.
Flight Simulator II -- SubLogic
	Outstanding achievement in graphics and simulation.  But almost
	totally devoid of any game play.  No strategy, no reaction.
	The only tactics are to keep the plane from crashing.  The WW-I
	warfare simulation is feeble at best.  Buy this one for showing
	off your C-64's capabilities, but not much else.
Murder on the Zinderneuf -- Electronic Arts
	My all-time favorite.  A murder mystery, with you as the sleuth.
	You figure out who has the best motive by questioning the
	suspects.  Different victim and different motive every time you
	play.  Some of the motives are bizarre; ever heard of a tontine?
	Adequate graphics and sound.
Music Construction Set -- Electronic Arts
	Big disappointment from Electronic Arts.  Too many restrictions.
	Buy one of the many other music programs instead.
Pole Position -- AtariSoft
	Nice translation of the arcade game.  My only complaint is that
	you can and must run full-throttle at all times, reducing the
	complexity of the game play.  Good translation of the arcade
	graphics.  Adequate sound.
Racing Destruction Set -- Electronic Arts
	Very imaginative extension of the slot-car concept.  Ever seen	
	a slot-car track with icy surfaces and Moon gravity? One player
	against the computer or two players against each other.  Good
	graphics, adequate sound.
Richard Petty's Talladega -- Cosmi Curb
	Outstandingly balanced game play.  Lot of reaction and tactics,
	some strategy.  Great game play and unusually low price
	compensate for unimaginative "Pole Position rip-off" graphics
	and laughable sound effects.
Seven Cities of Gold -- Electronic Arts
	Exploring the New World was apparently a slow-moving and often
	boring task... this is a zero-pressure game.  As with Monopoly,
	don't start playing unless you have a lot of time; you will
	spend hours on each exploration.  Barely adequate graphics and
	sound.  (Not really as bad as the above makes it sound -- like
	Flight Simulator, a lot of work went into this program to make
	it an accurate simulation.  But accuracy does not equal fun).
SkyFox -- Electronic Arts
	Nice out-the-window graphics highlight this aerial combat game.
	Mostly tactics, but using some strategy will improve your
	performance.  Adequate sound effects.
Star Trek -- Sega
	Trash.  Poor graphics, absurd sound, and nonsense game play.
	And bugs in the program, to boot.  Avoid at all costs.
Temple of Apshai -- Epyx
	1980-vintage Basic program converted for the C-64 by adding
	sprite graphics and sound effects.  This program is terribly
	dated in almost every aspect; if Epyx didn't own it I bet it'd
	appear on Electronic Arts' "Golden Oldies" disk.  Game play is
	short-term-only because the "save game" feature doesn't work.
Zeppelin -- Synapse
	Profile-view scrolling graphics are a bit dated.  Game play is a
	mixture of reaction, tactics, and strategy, but the reaction
	part is so frantic that you won't get much of a chance to plan
	tactics or strategy.  Cooperative two-player game is unusual.
	One steers and one shoots.  Good sound effects.  I think this
	one is just too difficult to be fun.

As noted above, I probably won't see any comments you post.  If you want
me to read it, mail it.  Y'all have a good time with your Commodores...
-- 
Doug Pardee -- CalComp Display Products Div, Scottsdale AZ --
{elrond,seismo,decvax,ihnp4}!terak!doug (soon to disappear from the net)