Amstrad Action


Play Your Cards Right
By Britannia
Amstrad CPC464

 
Published in Amstrad Action #6

Play Your Cards Right

The computer game takes exactly the same format as the TV show but with the twin reliefs of not having to watch Brucie's mug or be told it's nice to see you. The games can be played against the computer or another player but a human opponent will be more interesting.

To start with a simple question is put to the players, usually regarding the intimate or humorous escapades of 100 married couples, single men, vicars, etc. The player then has to guess how many of the hundred gave a particular answer, after which player two says whether he thinks the number is higher or lower than that guess. The one who gets nearest gets first crack at stage two.

This is a row of five playing cards which have to be turned over by predicting whether the next card will be higher or lower than its predecessor. If you get to the end of the row, the game is won. Failure will let the other player have a go and the questions and answers sessions go on until one player has won two games.

Play Your Cards Right

He now moves to the final stage where on TV you go for a prize. Here you just go for a high score. You start with 200 points and 11 cards arranged in rows of one, three, three and four from the top down. The first of the four cards is turned over and you bet points on the turn of the next card, doubling them if you correctly predict whether it's higher or lower and losing them if you don't. This continues up the rows until you finally win the car... I mean end the game on the last card.

The graphics and sound are unmemorable, the card prediction relies merely on the law of averages, and although the questions may raise the odd smile, it ruins the effect when you haven't got an audience of TV vegetables screaming "higher, higher!" In some questions, the structure is such that it's impossible to know whether you're supposed to be guessing how many people said yes, no or twice on Sundays.

Second Opinion

Brucie's software debut is unlikely to win the ratings battle for Britannia. It's dire. If you must do licensing deals then at least licence something worth licensing.

Good News

P. Brucie is confined to the title screen.
P. Fans of the show may enjoy it.

Bad News

N. The whole thing relies on guesswork and the law of averages - no skill.
N. The meaning of the questions is sometimes unclear.
N. There are no prizes, which is the whole point of game shows (for the public anyway).