C&VG


Doomsday Blues
By PSS
Amstrad CPC464

 
Published in Computer & Video Games #55

Doomsday Blues

Like the cry of a million lost souls, the icy wind howled its ghostly lament across the deserted plains, echoing amongst the frozen walls of the once-bustling town and finally dying against the granite walls of the prison.

Inside, the only movement was mechanical. Machines ruled the Earth - and they had mercilessly exterminated all life. All life except the prisoner pounding on the door of Cell 412!

The occupant's misery was equalled by his confusion. Why had the robots spared him? What evil designs did they have for this sole survivor of the human race?

Doomsday Blues

He kicked at the door, oblivious to the pain and suddenly the door swung slowly open. Freedom - or a trap? He peered outside.

The cell was halfway along a passageway. To the left was a dead end - no escape that way. To the right was another passage with three corridors crossing it.

Cautiously he tiptoed out of the cell. He had taken no more than half a dozen steps when horror struck. The aluminium sphere that was one of his captors hovered silently into view. Rooted to the spot, the solitary survivor could only watch in terror as the robot's single eye turned slowly towards him. Momentarily the two gazed at each other and then the prisoner threw himself full stretch to the floor as a laser bolt left a smoking hole in the wall only centimetres from his head. Before the robot could take aim again, he was on his feet and racing back to the open door of his cell - his only refuge.

Doomsday Blues

Later he jerked upright his eyes wide with terror. He had been sleeping and in his nightmarish dreams he had heard a girl crying over and again for help. Looking round the cell, now lit by a harsh naked bulk, he realised he had been dreaming. But ut had sounded so real. Wait! There is was again - it seemed a little louder this time. It was definitely a girl's voice...

He wasn't alone - there was someone else left alive. Hope surged basck into his defeated mind - a reason to live, but more - a reason to escape! He had to get out and find her...

So reads the introduction to the second French Amstrad game from PSS.

Doomsday Blues

It's a lot harder to play than Get Dexter - not so easy to get into. But once you've managed to work out what's going on you discover that there's a lot to Doomsday Blues - more than meets the eye.

The aim of the game is to rescue the girl - plain and simple. But you have to survive to do that - and that's not so simple.

Before you begin the game you have to allocate 70 "points" between strength, courage and fitness - represented by icons at the bottom of the screen.

Doomsday Blues

Your strength, courage and stamina ratings decrease as you play - but you can boost them from time to time if you find the right objects.

All doors have to be kicked open - which costs you energy. Some doors are tougher than others. You can zap some robots and freeze others depending on your courage and fitness ratings. Attacking robots costs you fitness and courage points.

The graphics create a real doom-laden atmosphere and are really unlike anything seen before on the Amstrad - just like controlling a TV cartoon.