The BBC and Master Computer Public Domain Library

GHOULS

Professional, Originally Released On Cassette Only

Game Type          : Arcade Platform Game

Author             : David J. Hoskins

Standalone Release(s)   : 1984: GHOULS, Micro Power, £7.95

Compilation Release(s) : 1987: PRES GAMES DISC 3, PRES, £9.95

                    1988: 10 COMPUTER HITS, Beau Jolly, £9.95

                    1989: 10 COMPUTER HITS 4, Beau Jolly, £9.95

                    1989: PLAY IT AGAIN SAM 7, Superior/Acornsoft, £9.95

Stated compatibility    : Electron

Actual compatibility    : Electron

Supplier            : MICRO POWER, 8/8A Regent Street, Chapel Allerton, LEEDS

                    LS7 4PE. Tel: 01532 683186.

Disc compatibility     : ADFS 1D00, CDFS 1D00, DFS 1D00

Instructions

Many have tried to rescue the power jewels from the creepy mansion on the top of the hill. None has lived to tell the tale. Now it is up to you to try to wrest the treasure from the mansion's deadly inhabitants.

Run through the Spectres' Lair, Horrid Hall, the Spider's Parlour and Death Tower. Leap over the poison-smeared spikes, scamper along the moving platforms and contracting floorboards, run past bouncing spiders and use the powerful springs to propel you onto overhanging platforms.

Consuming the yellow titbits earns you extra points and eating the stray power jewel causes the ghost (or ghosts on higher levels) to disappear for about fifteen seconds.

A bonus score in the top right hand corner of the screen counts from 50 down to zero. If you don't reach the top of the screen within this time limit, you lose a life. You start with 4 lives. An extra life is awarded every four screens up to a maximum of 6 lives.

Game Controls

Z - Left,   X - Right,   <RETURN> - Jump

<SPACE> - Start Game,   P/O - Pause On/Off,   <ESCAPE> - Quit Game

Instructions' Source   : PLAY IT AGAIN SAM 7 (Superior/Acornsoft) Inner Inlay

Review (ELBUG)

GHOULS takes place inside a creepy mansion set on the top of a hill. Your aim is to find the "power jewels" whilst trying to avoid the nasty inhabitants of the mansion, deadliest of which is the ghost. You have to run and jump around the floors, avoiding poisonous spiked traps and trying not to fall off the escalators. Avoid the ghosts at all costs, though these can be made to disappear for a time by eating a stray "power pill".

There are four different screens in this game and each screen has its own room name. In my opinion the sound in this game detracts from the overall enjoyment, but this can be switched off if required from within the program.

I am sure that this game will sell well as it is a lot of fun to play. It requires the use of only three keys so that it is easy to operate. As an extra bonus, for people who have a joystick interface, this game will allow you to use switched-type joysticks (i.e. the type used by the FIRST BYTE interface reviewed in ELBUG 1. 7) to play the game. Rating: ****

Alan Webster, ELBUG 1.10

Review (Electron User)

Hidden away in the creepy mansion at the top of the hill are a number of power jewels. Many have been to search for them but no one has lived to tell the tale. Have you the courage to succeed where others have failed? This is the
challenge issued by GHOULS.

You control the star of the show, a little man with the appearance of a pac-man on two legs. His ever munching mouth continuously snaps up titbits for bonus points as you attempt to reach the various levels in your search for treasure.

You start off in the first of four screens - Spectre's Lair. Here to hinder you in your quest you will find the mansion's frowning ghost who's out to get you. Let him catch you and you'll die and that frown will change to an enormous cheeky grin. This chap follows you through every screen, and at times his appearance is positively painful.

You have a time limit in which to get to the box of jewels at the top of the screen in order to access the next landing. Titbits and the occasional stray jewel munched en route count for bonus points. The jewel has the additional perk in that it makes the ghost disappear for a short while. However, there are other hazards to make life unpleasant.

In order to make progress you must balance on a moving platform and leap to and from it to higher levels. There is also a set of poison-soaked spikes in your way and contact with any one will prove fatal. Should you succeed on the first screen you will progress to the more difficult Horrid Hall. As well as all the other nasties you also have to avoid contracting floorboards.

Succeed on screen two and the Spider's Parlour awaits you. The spider is something to behold but not touch. The fortunate thing is that he stays in one spot bouncing up and down waiting patiently for a tasty morsel - usually me!

The infuriating aspect of the game, as with most multi-level ones, is that as soon as you "die" you start back at the beginning of the screen no matter how far you have progressed. I must confess it is because of this beast that I haven't seen screen four, the Death Tower.

Even so I've seen enough to consider it excellent value. It is extremely addictive as there is always that incentive to "crack it this time". The graphics are well presented and the eerie sounds make the game come to life. We've come to expect high standard games from Micro Power and GHOULS is one of their best!

Alan Sergeant, ELECTRON USER 2. 5