Sunday, February 15, 2009

Dalek Attack (C64, 1993)



I don't know why exactly they decided to do a Dr.Who game in 1993. The original TV series had ended in the late 80's anyway. But I'm glad they did! It was a brave decision to do C64 and Spectrum versions as well, seeing that their respective commercial markets were pretty much deteriorating. So, cheers Admiral Software.



Is there really any point going through the plot? The Daleks are at it again. I don't know what they've done exactly but I know that they're bad and you should kick their ass. -) Basically, apart from the first level which is a simple horizontal shoot-em-up, the rest of the levels require you traveling around the world, rescuing hostages and, well, kicking the Dalek's ass.



I have to say, I didn't really like the game at first. It seemed a bit too difficult, with complex level maps to negotiate and with Daleks that were a bitch to kill if you didn't have the right weaponry. Basically, it took me a while to get into the groove. Most of the time it's easier avoiding the enemies, all the while you explore the various doorways and passages trying to find where the hostages are kept. After you have freed all the hostages, you can proceed to where the end-of-level guardian is and get rid of him.



Dalek Attack is mostly an exploration action game: a platform shoot-em-up with arcade-adventure overtones. It is very polished. The graphics are a delight to watch and the music is lovely. Like I said, at first it didn't grab me, but once I got into the groove it became immensely fun and I didn't stop until I finished it. It's a shame that not a lot of people seem to be aware of this game just because it came out in 1993. It seems that for most retro fans, the C64 is all about the 80's, which is plain wrong.

8/10

2 comments:

Unknown said...

As a Dr Who fan, I have to say this game is a travesty, and Sylvester McCoy (who is the only Doctor you can play on the C64 version) agrees. It's got very little to do with the series, and with minor graphic changes could be a whole new game. A wasted opportunity.

Microdeal's Dr Who & The Mines of Terror may have aged badly, but is a lot closer to the spirit of the series (solving puzzles and AVOIDING guns).

Jim Slip said...

OK, I agree, maybe it's not the best idea to have Dr.Who use guns, but hey, apart from that it's a great game. -)