The BBC and Master Computer Public Domain Library

JET BOOT JACK

Professional, Originally Released On Cassette Only

Game Type          : Arcade Platform Game

Author             : David Woodhouse

Standalone Release(s)   : 1983: JET BOOT JACK, English, £7.95

Compilation Release(s) : 1988: 10 COMPUTER HITS 2, Beau Jolly, £9.95

Stated compatibility    : Electron

Actual compatibility    : Electron

Supplier            : ENGLISH, PO Box 45, MANCHESTER M60 3AD. Tel: 061 835 1558

Disc compatibility     : CDFS E00, DFS E00

Instructions

JET BOOT JACK, space-age jogger, zips his way through the Record Processing Plant, collecting musical notes as he goes. Unfortunately, bugs and gremlins are trying to prevent him from achieving his aim - that is, amassing the greatest music collection in the world!

He must eliminate the nasty creatures by travelling above their heads and bouncing on top of them until they fall to their deaths. In his search for musical satisfaction, Jack needs fuel to power his Jet-Boots, which he can collect

by colliding with the overhanging vinyl pods - the energy is quickly transformed into fast action Jet-Boot Jack propellant!

So, the scene is set, now commence play and see just what JET BOOT JACK must contend with in the first Ten Screen Adventure undertaken by our intrepid hero of the future!                                                    

Note that Jet Boot Jack may only climb on and off the lifts and sliders when they are stationary.

Skill Levels

SKILL LEVEL P - Practice mode. No bugs. Five refills per vinyl pod and a BONUS of 100 for each vinyl pod collected.

SKILL LEVEL 1 - Two bugs per screen. Five refills per vinyl pod and 100 BONUS multiplier.

SKILL LEVEL 2 - Four bugs per screen. Four refills per vinyl pod and 200 BONUS multiplier.

SKILL LEVEL 3 - Six bugs per screen. Four refills per vinyl pod and 300 BONUS multiplier.

SKILL LEVEL 4 - Eight bugs per screen. Four refills per vinyl pod and 400 BONUS multiplier.

SKILL LEVEL 5 - Ten bugs per screen. Four refills per vinyl pod and 500 BONUS multiplier.

Game Controls

Z - Left,   X - Right,   / - Jump Up and Down on the spot

: - Activate (If Jack is on a lift or slider, this key controls its movement)

<RETURN> - Duck under low ceilings and bugs. He rises again after a while

<SHIFT> - Selects the skill level and determines the number of bugs and gremlins, the number of refills available from each vinyl pod, the initial amount of fuel, and the BONUS multiplier.

<SPACE> - Controls the maximum jump factor. i.e. it lets you bypass the early screens you have already completed, so that you may recommence on the same screen when you play your next game. N.B. When you have completed Screen Ten, the next screen will always be Screen One, irrespective of the jump value.

The <RETURN> key will start the game using the values set on the current options page.

During play, pressing <SPACE> will pause the game, until pressed again.

Pressing <ESCAPE> will return to the title screen if pressed while playing a game.

Scoring

Each musical note collected = 75 points.

Bugs and gremlins are killed by jumping up and down on them, giving a RANDOM BONUS: 100-300 points.

SCREEN COMPLETION BONUS: x 100 - x 500.

Number of pods left x the BONUS MULTIPLIER.

Each screen is completed by collecting all the notes.

Extra lives are awarded when scre reaches 10,000, 30,000, 50,000 and 80,000.

Fuel

Each pod contains a fixed number of refills - if your reserves are high, duck under the pods to score more points!

WARNING - A siren sounds if Jack has been standing still for too long.

Bugs And Gremlins

Stators    - They remain in one position but descend and rise at regular intervals. They can only be killed in the raised position.

Patrollers - They travel from side to side.

Flappers   - They move under the slider supports and cannot be killed - very dangerous!

Instructions' Source   : 10 COMPUTER HITS 2 (Beau Jolly) Inner Inlay

Review (Electron User)

A couple of months ago I played this game's BBC version on the big brother machine and found it fascinating. It is one of those annoyingly addictive games that Micro Power have the knack of producing. I was delighted on receiving the Electron version to find that it is identical - no scaled down sound or fewer features, but the full implementation with no perceptible change, not even in speed.

Perhaps I should add that I find the game a little too fast, as I prefer to achieve some degree of success straight away, and my young son also enjoys trying the games out. But we both found the initial action too speedy. I have tried the BBC version on the Electron and found I was able to accumulate a decent score and develop a strategy.

There are five screens, which may be accessed separately from the menu. If screen one is chosen, and you are a better player than I, the other screens are encountered in order. On each the basic format is the same, with a spaceship on the left needing to be refuelled with fuel which is on the right. Shades of JET PAC, perhaps, which I enjoyed greatly in my misspent youth on the Sp*ctr*m.

The man is moved across the screen by careful use of the left/right controls, and the hover motor. There are safe platforms to rest on briefly, but nearly everything else is quite lethal to Jack. Each screen has different problems, with elements of other games appearing, such as the vertically moving monsters which have the same effects as the lifts in CORPORATE CLIMBER.

The graphics are good, the smoothness of the movement superb. Sound is fair, and can be turned off if required. The key response is quick, precise and accurate. I just wish my reactions were!

Phil Tayler, ELECTRON USER 2. 4