Dragon User


Time Attack
By Tudor Williams
Dragon 32

 
Published in Dragon User #022

Time Police

Time Attack is one of those programs that is hard to categorise. It tries to be a game and an educational program, but it fails on both counts.

The object of the game part is to destroy the evil Time Police and their computer. The player is first presented with a timeship control panel. A little experimentation reveals that the 'up arrow' and 'down arrow' keys move the ship forward and backward through time, and E places the player outside the ship. If the latter is selected, the computer draws a low-res picture of the timeship's surroundings at the particular year you have arrived at. This usually consists of a group of buildings which, although colourful, doesn't differ much from year to year.

Once outside, providing the player isn't arrested or shot at, there are three courses of action he or she can take. If there is an old timeship lying around, any remaining fuel can be transferred to the player's ship. If the Time Police Computer happens to be outside, the lucky player can shoot it up. If all else fails, pressing E takes you back into the timeship to try another year.

The educational part of the program comes in the form of the "Mind Probe". This devious Time Police weapon asks you history questions, and then shoots you if you get them wrong. A lot of effort has obviously gone into Time Attack; the aim of which seems to be to "bring history to life". But it doesn't really succeed, and the overall effect is not up to scratch.

David Rowntree

Other Dragon 32 Game Reviews By David Rowntree


  • Music Master Front Cover
    Music Master
  • Dragon Darts Front Cover
    Dragon Darts
  • Perilous Pit Front Cover
    Perilous Pit
  • Cu*Ber Front Cover
    Cu*Ber