ZX Computing


Rocketman
By The Software Farm
Sinclair ZX81

 
Published in ZX Computing #16

Rocketman

As regular readers of this column may recall, I was very favourably impressed with Forty-Niner, the first hi-resolution game from Software Farm.

Rocketman is their follow-up, hi-res game and it is even better. Once you're up and running there can be little doubt that you will be transfixed for hours. The game takes time to master, but that doesn't seem to matter at all.

Rocketman is a slightly misleading title. This is *not* a 'star wars' type game. The object is to collect five diamonds which rest of ledges on the left of the screen. Your man starts on the right hand side of the screen on a system of platforms and ladders. You have to hurry round these collecting fuel cans which appear at random positions. Once you have sufficient fuel, you get your rocket and with this strapped to your back, fly off across the expanse of sea to the ledges to get those diamonds.

Of course it's not that easy. Any slight misjudgement as you jump from platform to platform and climb up and down the ladders, and you end up in the drink. There is a "bubloid" whose sole object is to chase and catch you. The hi-res display is very good indeed, even down to the realistic splash as you fall to your death in the sea.

If you can get through this first easy (?) section, you are faced with a more difficult stage in which you have to collect enough legs of lamb to feed your vulture in order to fly over to the diamonds. I don't think I've seen a better game for the ZX81. Superb.

Nick Pearce

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