The BBC and Master Computer Public Domain Library

TRAPPER

Professional, Originally Released On Cassette Only

Game Type          : Arcade; Frantic Overhead Maze Game

Author             :

Standalone Release(s)   : 1988: TRAPPER, Blue Ribbon, £1.99

Compilation Release(s)   : None

Stated compatibility    : Electron

Actual compatibility    : Electron, BBC B, B+ and Master 128

Supplier            : BLUE RIBBON, CDS House, Beckett Road, DONCASTER DN2 4AD

                    Tel: 01322 21134

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

Instructions

"Quick wits and skill are the essential requirements in this simple yet addictive game. Six levels of play, time limits, increasing numbers of "Nasties" and limited lives will make your task difficult to say the least. Take up the challenge and wipe the smile off their faces!"

Your aim is to move the bricks around in order to trap and squash the Nasties. Any number of bricks can be pushed at the same time. The number of Nasties increaes on each new level, but there will only be a maximum of four Nasties on the screen at any one time.

Each screen must be cleared within a certain time. The time limit and counter is displayed in the top right hand corner of the screen. There are six levels of difficulty and an extra life is received after 4,000 points have been scored.

Game Controls

Z - Left,   X - Right,   : - Up,   / - Down

S/Q - Sound On/Off,   <COPY>/<DELETE> - Pause/Continue Game,   <ESCAPE> - Quit

Instructions' Source   : TRAPPER (Blue Ribbon) Inner Inlay

Review (Electron User) - "Another Brick In The Wall"

The aim of this budget arcade game is to trap monsters by pushing brick walls around to box them in and finally to squash them.

The title screen is typical of Blue Ribbon - simple and quick to load. There isn't a demonstration mode, so the game flicks between a list of control keys and a high score table.

On starting you are asked to input the difficulty level from one to six. This controls the monster's speed. One is slow and six is fast. I found the slowest speed quite fast enough for me.

The screen consists of a pile of bricks enclosed in a large box. Inside the box are you and a monster, which obviously considers you to be a rather tasty tit-bit. Fortunately, you are a strong chap and can push the bricks around quite easily. The monster can't push the bricks, nor can it pass through them.

So by pushing them round and piling them up you can eventually trap it (if you're lucky and can avoid it for long enough). Having done this, you then push a brick into it and squash it flat.

Screen two is pretty much the same as screen one, except that you now have two monsters to contend with - double trouble. The game now starts to get a bit hectic as you try to trap both. While you're concentrating on one, the other is sneaking up behind you.

Screen three brings three monsters and four brings four. The final two rooms only have four monsters, but another is born immediately you trap and squash one.

On top of all this, there is also a time limit. A clock in the top-right corner of the screen slowly ticks away. If it reaches zero before you've trapped and squashed all the monsters you die and lose a life.

Although the game has a very simple theme, it is difficult, frustrating and challenging enough to make it highly addictive. The devilish grin on the faces of the monsters is a nice touch and it all adds up to a fun game that doesn't cost the earth. This is recommended.

Sound ........................... 5

Graphics ........................ 6

Playability ..................... 9

Value for money ................ 10

Overall ......................... 8

Roland Waddilove, ELECTRON USER 5. 4