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FRAK!
Statesoft,
£8.95 cass, £10.95 disk, joystick
only
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O
Cute, scrolling-window platform game
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This
was originally a British game for a British computer
(the BBC), but has now been assigned to a company dealing
in American games, for distribution in the UK on an
American machine! If you can puzzle that one out, you
shouldn't have too many problems with the game itself.
Quite simply, a platform game, but with a humourous
cartoon feel to it.
Armed
only with his trusty yo-yo, Trogg the caveman must be
guided around 96 levels of awkward, scrolling platform
action. Every time he dies, a speech bubble containing
the expletive FRAK! is displayed.
Each
level in Frak! is fairly large -- larger than
one screen in fact, so it's for this reason the picture
has to scroll. The screens are composed of groups of
platforms and 'ladders' that only differ on arrangement
and graphics on advancing a level. For example, the
first screen has actual ladders, these then change to
ropes on the second screen, and chains on the third.
In
order to complete a level, Trogg must collect all the
keys lying around within a given time limit. Once the
limit expires it becomes dark, and the yo-yo becomes
ineffective. To put some more light on the subject,
and to gain extra time and points, there is a lightbulb
that can be picked up. Other bonus points can be acquired
from the jewels scattered about. These aren't necessary
for completing the level, though.
Trogg
yo-yos an off-screen enemy on level 2.
On
each level there is a different group of nasties to
impede your progress. Scrubblies, Hooters, Poglets,
Bunyips, Ice Warriors and Trogg Clones must face the
wrath of the yo-yo. There are also balloons that rise
from below and daggers raining from the heavens to be
avoided or disposed of.
The
yo-yo is activated by pointing Trogg in the right direction
and pressing the fire button. The longer the button
is held down, the further the yo-yo goes, until it reaches
a maximum of a screen width before returning.
You
are given three lives to get as far as possible, and
if you attain a good enough score, you enter your name
in a high score table. The highest score achieved is
given an unusual high score verification code, in the
form of a short scrolling message at the bottom left
of the screen. 'Hairy gonks hit crazy beetles slowly'
-- No, I'm drunk, that's an example of a high score
code.
Trogg
is a graphic delight. Standing a quarter of the height
of the screen, he certainly looks impressive. His animation
is nothing special, but his definition is -- a large,
unexpanded group of multicolour sprites that are very
well implemented.
Nasties,
such as the Hooter, are also superbly defined, and although
inanimate, they have a distinct character about them.
Sound
effects are few and far between. A couple of scratchy
noises as Trogg walks, a ting when he gets an object,
and what sounds like him breaking wind when he extends
his yo-yo. An annoying music track is provided for the
masochists among you, but at least it can be turned
off -- phew!
Options
exist for up to nine players to compete against each
other at once, and a demo mode comes as selectable rather
than imposed upon.
GP
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