The BBC and Master Computer Public Domain Library
MINESHAFT
Professional, Originally Released On Cassette Only
Game Type : Arcade Platform Game
Authors : Julian Todd and Nick Wilson
Standalone Release(s) : 1984: MINESHAFT, Durell, £6.95
1990: MINESHAFT, Alternative, £1.99
Compilation Release(s) : 1987: 10 COMPUTER HITS 3, Beau Jolly, £9.95
Stated compatibility : Electron Side A, BBC Side B
Actual compatibility : As stated
Supplier : DURELL, Castle Lodge, Castle Green, Taunton, SOMERSET TA1
4AB. Tel: 0823 54489
Disc compatibility : ADFS 1D00, CDFS 1D00, DFS 1D00
Instructions
Your aim is to collect all the lumps of coal in the twenty rooms of the Mineshaft. You have to be quick, daring and sometimes near suicidal to accomplish your task, and beware - you only have a limited air supply! The game should be compatible with all joysticks.
To collect the lumps of coal you will have to move and jump around the screen. Sometimes you must jump whilst also moving sideways. Watch out for the disintegrating sludge which disappears as you walk over it. (Hint: It disintegrates more slowly if you bounce along it!) Watch out for the obstacles that may kill you!
After completing each screen you may move to the next through the door, or if you get stuck you can press <ESCAPE> to make your exit. It's up to you to work out how to collect all the lumps of coal - sorry!
Points
Disintegrating sludge - 1 point per step
Lumps of Coal - 100 points per heap
Bonus points - 1 point per unit of air left after each screen
The Screens
1 The Derelict Place 11 Chamber of Horrors
2 Crumbs - Conveyors 12 The Resting Place
3 The Ice Box 13 Impossible Jump?
4 The Hotel 14 Impossible Screen?
5 Stinking Hotel 15 The Water Works
6 Complex Cavern 16 The Pink Grotto
7 Mutant Matches 17 The Junkhouse
8 Elevator Shaft 18 The Furnace
9 Ghosties' Revenge 19 The Junkhouse Mk II
10 The Minefield 20 La Fin
Game Controls
Z - Left, X - Right, SHIFT - Jump (NB. You can jump while moving)
Q - Quiet, S - Sound, <ESCAPE> - Move To Next Screen
Press <SPACE> or FIRE BUTTON to start the game.
Instructions' Source : MINESHAFT (Durell) Inner Inlay
Review (Electron User)
We've all heard about a manic character who has been very popular on other micros and many people have wondered whether such a game was available for the Electron. The search is now over because Durell have come up with MINESHAFT.
Your job is to collect the coal that has been left scattered about in each of
twenty different rooms and then make your way to the next room. The controls
are simple - just left, right and jump - which makes the game easy to learn.
Like all good games though, it's a tough one to master. There are many problems
to overcome. These range from water drops to furnaces and from mutant matches
to mine trucks. To make matters worse, you're running out of air and some of
the jumps you have to perform are, to say the least, near suicidal.
As you learn the game you'll probably need the three lives you are given for
each level but with practice some screens become possible without losing any of
them. Having said that, "The Impossible Screen" still beats me but my
son, aged eight, says it's easy. All the rooms have interesting names such as
"The Pink Grotto" or "Ghosties' Revenge".
Should you manage to complete all twenty screens, you start again but due to
your state of exhaustion you use your air more quickly. Technically the game is
excellent, with smooth flicker-free graphics which make good use of Mode 5
colour but are also quite clear in monochrome.
A very pleasant rendition of Greensleeves is available as an option but there
is no other sound. A particular plus with MINESHAFT is that by pressing
<ESCAPE> you move on to the next screen with a full set of lives again.
Just occasionally though, the program is seized by a little devil who covers
the screen with blobs. Pressing ESCAPE seems to sort out this problem however.
In short, MINESHAFT is a quality game which is simple in concept but absolutely
addictive. Strongly recommended.
Rog Frost, ELECTRON USER 3. 2