Sinclair User


Hudson Hawk

Author: Alan Dykes
Publisher: The Hit Squad
Machine: Spectrum 128K

 
Published in Sinclair User #131

Hudson Hawk

This time last year I was reclining on a hammock in SU Towers, twiddling my thumbs while mysterious veiled beauties fed me grapes and attended to my every whim and fancy. Then suddenly Garth Sumpter woke me up and told me Hudson Hawk had arrived.

At that moment I was less than excited at the prospect of looking at the game as the film was an incredible pile of old ants' droppings.

Once started though I couldn't stop playing the game for days. It was excellent. Right from the first puzzle (how to get in the window) through warding off kids on bikes, vicious thieves, nuns and monks of doom, avoiding electrocution and being laser frazzled, to eventually prancing off with the treasures of Rutherfords and the Vatican, Hudson Hawk is one hell of an enjoyable game.

Basically Hudson Hawk is a three leveller, starting off in an expensive and well guarded auctioneers where Bruce Willis has to steal Leonardo Da Vinci's famous 'Storza' horse sculpture. It then moves on to the Vatican where he tries to abscond with Leonardo's 'Codex', (a sketch book) and ends up (if you ever manage it) in an old castle where a 'mirrored crystal' lies waiting, ripe for Brucie's thieving tendencies.

The graphics are cute, chunky and detailed and the main sprite is a joy to behold. He's a little difficult to control due to a somewhat slippery pair of shoes but, although this will lead you into a few sticky situations, it never really impairs enjoyment. Sound is sparse but apt and the game has enough playability and hilarious features to ensure that you'll never get sick of it. Excellent dudes!!!!!

Overall Summary

Hudson Hawk has always been, in my opinion, one of the most enjoyable Spectrum games of the last year or two. It has plenty of puzzles, plenty of variety, plenty of speed and more than enough levels to keep you going for a long time. A beauty and no mistake.

Alan Dykes

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