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CHICKIN
CHASE
Firebird,
£2.50 cass, joystick or keys
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O
A little French number to make Buzby blush |
This
is a slightly risque, but fun, addition to Firebird's
growing silver range -- they bought it from the French
and it shows.
Essentially
there is only one screen although, as you will see,
there is some important off-screen action. The screen
is the inside of the hen-house, complete with nests,
grain, and a door to the hen's 'boudoir'.
You
control a cockerel and must do all things that cockerels
like to do: eat grain, peck at rats and worms, and um,
well . . . take part in the aforementioned off-screen
action which you instigate by moving through the door
to the boudoir after Madame hen.
While
in there a jolly tune plays, and red hearts appear on
screen -- up to a total of ten if you wait long enough!
Mon ami, what can zis mean? Then the cockerel staggers
out (yes, literally) and must eat the grain lying around.
This will give him further vigour and speed for chasing
off nasties and, er, doing other things.
Meanwhile
Madame lays her eggs in the nests at the top of the
screen (there are ten nests in all). These must be allowed
to hatch and need to be protected from the various predators
in the vicinity. Snakes, rats, hedgehogs, stoats and
racoons are all after your pride and joy.
A
hedge-hog descents the ladder carrying
the last egg, and you pay the penalty with
a vicious whack from Madame.
The
snakes are the fastest of the group and are a real pain.
All of these nasties can be driven off with a swift
peck, but increase in number and speed as your score
rises.
If
all ten nests should become empty -- through either
all the eggs hatching or being stolen -- then Madame
won't be too amused and will let the cockerel have it
with her rolling pin.
Occasionally
a worm makes an appearance from below ground, and a
hefty bonus is awarded if it's caught before disappearing.
The
graphical representation of the inside of a hen-house
is very good. The sprites too are good and, although
large and a little blocky, effective. Another high point
is the great title screen picture of a winking cockerel.
The sound effects and tunes are as good as the graphics,
and are put to good use throughout the game.
Oh,
and I mustn't forget the game instructions which brilliantly
and humourously reflect the game's French origins. Ohh
la la. Ees magnifique!
GP
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