Reviews

Very slick, well implemented vertically scrolling platform game where you play a bouncing ball in space - known as Astroball. The game consists of a set of self-contained levels of roughly increasing difficulty. Alhough, even the first level may take a few attempts before the uninitiated player finds success.

On loading the game, you are treated to a snappy upbeat AY sunth/drum tune and a choice of game controls. I just pressed '1' to start the game in keyboard mode where I was able to play using the familiar QAOP layout (also BREAK aborts the game). Before starting each level, the player is presented with a useful map, which can be studied and then used in advance to plan an approximate route. At least in the early levels, you start near the bottom of the level and must ascend to the exit near the top. When compared with the scale of the game objects, the height of each level is surprisingly great. You will learn pretty quickly that jumping down onto lower platforms is more risky than jumping up onto higher platforms.

Not only do you have to leap from platform to platform (and they are typically quite narrow) whilst the ball is bouncing, but you also need to avoid falling to the solid brick floor at the bottom of each level and also avoid some in-game lethal objects. That's two ways to lose a life. A third is to run out of time, as you are against the clock and the allocated time is not overly generous. If that's not difficult enough, then there are also platforms which flash in and out of existence, requiring some accurate jump timing. It should also be noted that each level contains several spinning coin-like objects and all of them must be collected before the level can be exited.

To help the player, there are fast-changing bonuses which for example grant additional time, an extra life, or even can propel the astroball a long way up the screen saving valuable time. In some levels it is vital that the correct bonus is collected or the level can't be completed. Again, this requires precise timing to get right.

The game also features a bonus sub-game appearing at the end of the level which is a bit like the Galaxian/Galaga genre. This plays equally as smooth as the main game itself.

My overall opinion of this game is that is very responsive, fast and enjoyable to play, with pleasing graphics and sound. It's also reasonably difficult to master. I can't see how a game of this type could ever be implemented much better on the speccy. Full marks indeed!

Very nice game with such compelling gameplay. Very addictive too. Great fun this one and well worth a look.

Excellent ball and platform game where you reach for new heights with a controllable bounce and ingenious power-ups.
Great game mechanics, wonderfully implemented and the scroll works really well.
The steep learning curve and sometimes uninspired level design combine to make it becomes slightly too challenging too quickly, and a bit short on out and out fun, but not enough to spoil it.
Top marks - just - for this one which is borderline 4 or 5/5.
A superb SAM Coupe version is worth hunting out if you enjoy this.

A very original and interesting premise marred by poor presentation , poor scrolling and lack of perspective ! ! ! Playable nontheless . . . 2,5 / 5 .

Ps 1 - The intro tune is stunning ! ! !

Ps 2 - Touch the ground and you are dead .

This looked good and it sounds great with its cool 128K music, but I struggled to get into this. The concept is pretty basic and looks straightforward but believe me it isn't, for it to be challenging and to test your true ability is one, for it to be accompanied by crap scrolling is another, and that's what spoils the game terribly. Everything else looks and seems fine but the gameplay is a but flawed. A pity really because I really thought this would be a game I would enjoy, but it's not.

1992 Digital Reality (UK)
by Balor Knight, Chris Pile and Jade Lucas

I see why this game is popular, it's fast, responsive and addictive, but somehow I can't seem to get into it.
Maybe I'm bad at it or I just dislike the simple looking graphics, or maybe because the screen scrolling is too fast to accurately control where the ball lands.
I think there are better polished ball platform games around, although the actual gameplay is rather good and compelling, but maybe I'm just a bad player.

A "Bouncing Ball" platform game, done really well.
Graphics are simple, but extremely smooth - which allows for some fast and fluid gameplay. The controls work really well, and level design is pretty good.
My kind of game, and bonus points for the demo scene vibe.