C&VG


Through The Trap Door
By Piranha
Spectrum 48K

 
Published in Computer & Video Games #74

Through The Trap Door

Berk is back in his most daring adventure yet! Together with Drutt, he must go down through the Trap Door and rescue Boni the skull from the evil clutches of the skeleton which has kidnapped him. The aim of the game is to find Boni, and escape.

There are four different areas to the game, each requiring several tasks to be performed before you can exit through a door to the next one. You can play either Berk or Drutt, swapping between characters whenever the game demands it.

Berk will come across a variety of magic potions while on his travels which give him special powers and will help him considerably. Certain tasks, during the game, will have to be performed by either Berk or Drutt. Most of the time, Drutt will be responsible for achieving a lot of the given tasks that are presented to them. The main task in each region is to retrieve a key, which is needed to open the exit door to the next region, and key. A whole host of the most uncanny and evil creatures roam each region, and are intent on preventing you, completing your quest. Only quick reactions and logical thinking can ensure old Boni's release.

Through The Trap Door

The game begins with you witnessing the abduction of Boni by a headless, winged skeleton. You, as Berk, pick up Drutt and head down into the gloomy depths of the Trap Door. Down there, you must take control of Drutt, and search for the first key. Once found, Berk must retrieve it from its resting place.

When he's got it, proceed to the next couple of screens where an enormous pit is located. Once across it, the first of the exit doors is found on the next screen. The following three regions are played the same way, and the use of a magic potion in each one is essential. Each magic potion comes in the form of a particular item, which Berk must eat. They include sausages, eyeballs [That's disgusting! - Ed], sweets and mushrooms.

The graphics are exactly the same as the original Trap Door game, simple, but effective. The use of colour and sound is of average standard, and could have been different to the original. The game is extremely hard to complete, and will require a lot of trial and error practice to actually get off the first region. Getting to the second region is a feat in itself. Through The Trap Door is a game where you must like arcade adventures to really appreciate it. The multitude of problems and puzzles are extremely taxing. But, once solved, leave you with a feeling of satisfaction.

Through The Trap Door is an ideal game for all of you who love a challenge now and then.