Commodore User


Outback 64
By Paramount
Commodore 64

 
Published in Commodore User #10

Outback 64

It's good on the Vic, and it's fair dinkum on the C64 - Jason Benham has redesigned his highly novel game to include three screens of action plus music ranging from boogie to Beethoven.

Before the compulsive play starts, personal handicaps can be inserted on the menu page, then it's all systems go. The Antipodean flavour is installed by baby kangaroos which you (boss roo) are protecting from the clutches of swagmen who first attempt to gatecrash by the aid of balloons. These balloons are easy meat (on Level One!) for your arrows, which you release at different heights from a strategically-erected pulley system: bonus objects appear at the top - zip up and grab 'em - while the would-be abductors pelt you with apples and boomerangs (which naturally have different flight paths).

Screen Two, and the swagmen have put their trust in a helicopter and parachutes which you must despatch with your archery. They alight at different levels, thus adding complications to the proceedings.

If you haven't assumed the garb of an angel too often, Screen Three presents itself: new problems to surmount. This time your adversaries are floating upwards in order to push a precariously-placed rock in your direction. Fast, accurate arrows are needed here, for each swagmen missed ensures that the rock inches closer. As a picturesque surprise is promised after each third screen I must get some practice in!

This is a very good, indeed excellent, implementation of an original idea. Plenty of animation to entertain, full of colour varying with each act and great sound effects. The scoring is exemplary with the best retained in a table. Deserves to be a bestseller as there is oodles of program for your money.