REVIEW

AT 9,17; "CRAP, TAPIR, SLIPPERS"

Reviewer: Grrrl
Developer: R Tape
Genre: Catch-em-up
Platform: Spectrum 48K
Language: BASIC

"...it's not 'good', yet not CGC material" said R Tape in this WoS Post, however, one poorly digitised loader, some witty UDGs and a title change later and HEY PRESTO - one CSSCGC entry coming right up!

I like to think of this as an exclusive CGC Edition and, despite only cosmetic changes, it feels like a surprisingly different beast! (B'dum T'shh - Ed)

For example, there's no reason for the first comma on this loader to have a cyan edge - it's either half-arsed or ingenious inattention to detail but, either way, absolutely on the money for our humble compo!

Unfortunately it all starts to fall apart on the menu screen as, even without the fancy custom font, those cute UDGs begin to hint at the more-so-than-usual effort put into a game not originally developed with us in mind.

I mean - he didn't even remove the REFINE KEYS code - schoolboy error!

Let's JUGAR! (Play - Ed) and see if he's at least managed to knobble the gameplay a little...

The rules of Rock, Paper, Scissors are virtually etched into your psyche during your school years - or at least they were mine - so playing R Tape's original had a sort of built-in autopilot.

With a simple change of UDGs the game instantly becomes more difficult as you now have to repeatedly convert between Rock and Crap, Paper and Tapir & Scissors and Slippers as you play. Sure, you get a rhythm going eventually, but it's surprising how much additional effort you have to put in!

In case you haven't played either version the goal is to flip between your UDG symbols, in this case; Crap, Tapir or Slippers, in order to catch - and beat - the symbols falling down the screen towards you, i.e.: Crap beats Slippers, Tapir beats Crap and Slippers beats Tapir.

I stand by my original comments*; "Clean, crisp graphics, fairly responsive controls and, dare I say it, a bit addictive!" - definitely not what we're looking for here at CGC Towers.

* I can't stand by my original High Score though - I'm a good 3000 points more rubbish at this version!

Bonus Criticism

"Think of it as a bit of fun, an attempt to improve my BASIC"

"I may do a fancier version in assembly."

You disappoint me, Mr Tape - get out of my sight.

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