C&VG


Citadel

Publisher: Superior
Machine: Acorn Electron

 
Published in Computer & Video Games #52

Citadel

Calling any game "The best arcade adventure ever" isn't very sensible. For one reason something just a little better will appear eventually, and more importantly, it sounds incredibly false!

Superior have, until now, concentrated on getting programs onto the market in quantity. Now, thankfully, they have adopted a more agreeable attitude. If they want to be considered as a quality software house, Citadel will help a good deal.

On running the program, a pleasant enough title page appears. It is, in fact, one of the best I've seen on the Beeb. "Citadel, Citadel, Citadel," growls the BBC. Gosh! Speech too! Well, no. Not really. After announcing itself in rather tinny tones, the speech clams up.

Citadel

The game contains 100 screens, all in colour. The idea is to beam yourself to an alien planet, grab a figurine, get back to the teleport, and smash it all to bits; thus avoiding the alien invasion and saving the world. Simple, eh?

Gameplay is fast and exciting, with trampolines, rope swings, platforms and elevators to walk over. Death manifests itself in the form of monks, stardust, cannonballs, thorns, big square things, big flashing square things, spotted things on spindly green legs and a few others besides.

Superior have backed the game with yet another competition. The first person to complete the game gets a cool 200 greenbacks and a plaque. Also, three crowns have been hidden in hard-to-reach locations. The first person to tell Superior where two of the three can be found gets £100.

Citadel is fun to play, and allows extensive exploration without having to complete a sticky problem to reach the next screen. It represents good value for money, even if you don't win the competition!