PrinceWatercress plays Snake (Acornsoft)

...and now, another simple, arcade-style BBC Micro game.

Longplay

In my upkeep of my interest in retrogaming, I've learned that "snake games" have been around since the arcades and the beginning of arcades and the home consoles...and that they weren't always called "snake games;" that term would show up in the late 1990s with games like "Snake" on the Nokia 2210. They used to be called "Blockade games" or "Blockade clones" after Boundary, a 1976 arcade game by Gremlin Industries (not to be confused with Gremlin Graphics from the United Kingdom).

The instructions are simple: guide the snake towards the food, which it gobbles up on contact. The more food the snake eats, the more points you get and the more the snake grows. However, you must keep the snake from running into the wall or itself, or else you will lose a life. You have three lives, and if you earn 400 points, you can earn a fourth one - but that's the only extra life you're going to get.

The food varies in value - the bigger the food is, the more points you score. The food will get small until it disappears, and when it disappears, it re-appears somewhere else.

Z moves left, X moves right, / moves Down and - moves Up. The Space Bar restarts the game when the game is over. There are two types of game: the slow game and the fast game. The slow game is a nice pace and is the game to start with, while the fast game starts off a lot faster and stays that way, and will take practice to get really good at.

The game starts out rather easily, but as it goes along, your snake will get a lot longer and it will soon get a lot harder to not lose a life. It can get pretty difficult on the slow game, but on the fast game, it can get even more difficult to maintain control of your snake. Not surprisingly, my games on the fast mode ended much more quickly.

It's a simple game with the most basic of graphics and sound for the BBC Micro and it came out early for the Beeb's lifespan, but it's a fun one. There were no errors in the programming that I could find, the game controlled rather well, and fun was had all around. If you need an arcade-style game for the BBC Micro that you can pick up and play for a couple of minutes, Snake from Acornsoft's Arcade Action series is a good place to start.

PrinceWatercress plays Planet Patrol - The Longplay

...and now, a session of this game minus commentary! Enjoy!

Let's Play

Planet Patrol is a horizontal shmup from Spectravision for the Atari 2600 from 1982. The game can be played with one or two players, and there are two game modes - one slow and one fast - for both the one- and two-player modes. You play as the white ship on the right side of the ship, and you move up and down with the joystick while firing missiles at the red ship with the fire button. 

You'll want to take down as many red ships as you can while also avoiding the blue projectiles that look like lances. According to the bottom of the screen, you only have three lives and a fuel tank, and if you get hit by enemy fire or run out of fuel, you'll lose a life.

You'll eventually see a black ship. When you see it, run into it to dock with it. This allows you to reach the bonus stage for a chance to refuel. The black ship is usually one of the last ships to appear before you see the enemy refueling depots. You'll need to destroy these green machines before you hit the green border and lose a life.

Once you destroy the enemy refueling depots, you'll have to fly through a minefield. You can't fire your weapon here, and all you can do is move up and down to avoid the walls of mines that are in your way. When you get past the mine field, you'll need to line yourself up with the black line. This is the refueling road, and if you successfully line yourself up with it, you'll refuel your ship.

In the next area, day will turn into night once you score enough points. When it turns into night, the red enemy ships become harder to see until they become totally invisible, and your weapon fire is the only thing that will temporarily reveal them for a second. Keep firing and you should be able to see them and either destroy or avoid accordingly. 

After that, you'll get the bonus area if you run into the black ship again and destroy the enemy refueling station, then you can go for a refuel again. After that, the game keeps going until you run out of lives.

This is a rather fine, yet serviceable, game. I have the feeling more people would be talking about this one if this game had come out just a little bit earlier. I didn't have much in the way of problems with the controls, and while the graphics are pretty basic, you can easily identify most of everything. This one is worth giving a shot, at the very least.

PrinceWatercress plays Planet Patrol

It's time for another Atari 2600, and this time, we play a horizontral shmup from the time of the North American game crash.

Longplay

Planet Patrol is a horizontal shmup from Spectravision for the Atari 2600 from 1982. The game can be played with one or two players, and there are two game modes - one slow and one fast - for both the one- and two-player modes. You play as the white ship on the right side of the ship, and you move up and down with the joystick while firing missiles at the red ship with the fire button. 

You'll want to take down as many red ships as you can while also avoiding the blue projectiles that look like lances. According to the bottom of the screen, you only have three lives and a fuel tank, and if you get hit by enemy fire or run out of fuel, you'll lose a life.

You'll eventually see a black ship. When you see it, run into it to dock with it. This allows you to reach the bonus stage for a chance to refuel. The black ship is usually one of the last ships to appear before you see the enemy refueling depots. You'll need to destroy these green machines before you hit the green border and lose a life.

Once you destroy the enemy refueling depots, you'll have to fly through a minefield. You can't fire your weapon here, and all you can do is move up and down to avoid the walls of mines that are in your way. When you get past the mine field, you'll need to line yourself up with the black line. This is the refueling road, and if you successfully line yourself up with it, you'll refuel your ship.

In the next area, day will turn into night once you score enough points. When it turns into night, the red enemy ships become harder to see until they become totally invisible, and your weapon fire is the only thing that will temporarily reveal them for a second. Keep firing and you should be able to see them and either destroy or avoid accordingly. 

After that, you'll get the bonus area if you run into the black ship again and destroy the enemy refueling station, then you can go for a refuel again. After that, the game keeps going until you run out of lives.

This is a rather fine, yet serviceable, game. I have the feeling more people would be talking about this one if this game had come out just a little bit earlier. I didn't have much in the way of problems with the controls, and while the graphics are pretty basic, you can easily identify most of everything. This one is worth giving a shot, at the very least.

PrinceWatercress plays Math Rescue - Part 19 of 19

...and with this entry, Math Rescue is complete.

First | Previous

Level 15: The Dark Cave

In the final level of the game, you're going to be going through a ton of warps in order to get to where you need to go. However, if you can memorize where some of the numbers are, you can cut down on the backtracking in such a way that said backtracking will be reduced...assuming you're collecting all the numbers in order.

When you beat this level, you'll get the ending for Episode 3 as well as the entire game.

Whew! You've returned the numbers to their rightful places and captured a Gruzzle! It is a touching moment when the Gruzzle, Zorja, recognizes Benny as a long lost cousin.

Benny explains to the young Zorja that Gruzzles were not always pets and convinces her to choose freedom over the Glixerians.

With Benny translating, you invite all Gruzzles to come and live forever on planet Earth. In doing so, you have succeeded, not only in saving Earth's numbers for good, but in providing the gardeners on Earth with built-in slug control. The Gruzzles decide to move from the purple slime planet to the muckless, blue planet of Earth.

Best of all, your mother, who has been locked in the bathroom this whole time comes out into the living room. She is so happy to have the numbers back on her paycheck that she order pizza for everyone. In California, the highway patrol is so relieved that for a whole day, the officers give out doughnuts instead of traffic tickets.

For the Glixerians on Glixer II, however, things aren't so sunny. They fling stink mud at the backs of departing Gruzzles. Then things get out of hand and they begin throwing stick mud at each other. Soon the whole planet reeks of skunk!

But the Glixerians are not finished with the planet Earth! Watch for more episodes in the upcoming Gruzzle Puzzles.

Sadly, Gruzzle Puzzles never came out. But, hey, at least you've beaten Math Rescue!

PrinceWatercress plays Math Rescue - Part 18 of 19

The Asteroid Belt can be a little tricky for younger gamers, but thankfully you can climb up or down on the asteroids if you need to look up or down.

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Level 13: The Asteroid Belt

You're going to be jumping around in this level...a lot. If you know what you're doing, you can get all the Gruzzles to fall all the way to the bottom of the level and never have to deal with them again. If you're wondering where that is, it's slightly below the exit door. 

You can climb up and down on the asteroid platforms, and that can help you look up and down if you need to. 

Level 14: Exploring the Caves

Compared to The Asteroid Belt, this level is much more pleasant.

There is a warp before the "8" and "9" near the start.

If you don't find something leaping into the center of the underside of an arch near the start and moving around, try leaping into an arch from the side. You'll find a warp for your efforts.

PrinceWatercress plays Math Rescue - Part 17 of 19

In this entry, the levels start getting a little more frustrating...but thankfully, not too much.

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Level 11: Inside the Gruzzles' Spaceship

If you pick up all the numbers in the proper order, you'll hit all the warps and you'll hit all the trucks in the order you need to hit them in (for the most part).

Level 12: The Space Maze

Accurate level name is accurate.

Hitting all of the warps is fun. One seems to lead to a dead end, but if you leap into the wall there, you'll see more of the level. You'll eventually be warped back to the start, so if you missed anything on the drop at the beginning, you can go for it again.

PrinceWatercress plays Math Rescue - Part 16 of 19

Time to make some more progress in Episode 3...and this is where the level design starts getting messy again.

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Level 8: Lava Castle

You'll get bonus points off a green truck at the start. There is also a ceiling to jump through for a secret area left of the start.

Level 9: Return to Space

Yep, it's back to platforming and maze-like level design again. I want to say it's not too bad, but it's too easy to hit the wrong number and there are Gruzzles everywhere.

Level 10: Space Attack!

Be careful on the pipe platforms, as you can accidentally drop through them by pressing Down on the arrow keys.

Follow the pipes when you see all the "Danger" signs, so you don't accidentally take a leap (or drop) of faith for the "9".

PrinceWatercress plays Math Rescue - Part 15 of 19

The lava is back, and so is all of the platforming that comes with it.

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Level 5: Blueberry Boardwalk

You'll need to leap through the wall next to the exit to find the second set of numbers. Thankfully, the whole first set is there in the way towards the exit from the start.

Watch for openings in the walls if you need to find a way to continue.

Level 6: Caramel City

Just below the start, you can leap into the wall at the far-left and be taken into a secret area.

Also, how dare they put the 7 before the 6. Why.

Level 7: Lava Land

The numbers are all over the place here, so keep that in mind in case you're getting that number sequence bonus.

There are two warps, both in the lower corners, and they lead to various items.

PrinceWatercress plays Math Rescue - Part 14 of 19

We end up doing another two levels here because I can't keep track of which numbers I've already gotten very well. Ah, well.

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Level 3: Sweet Secrets

I'm finding a three when I don't need a three because I already hit a three and I can't even remember that I hit a three. Go figure.

Be sure to jump into the walls if they're thick enough; the one that is leads to another room if you do. You also have a couple of warps; make sure you enter them all.

Level 4: Dessert Delight

Compared to the slightly confusing layout of the previous level, this one is a bit more linear. The door is at the upper-left corner of the level. Thankfully, there are no secret areas.

Also, I just realized that some of the platforms are made out of gummy bears.

PrinceWatercress plays Math Rescue - Part 13 of 19

I didn't look at the story for this episode, so I put it at the beginning here. Anyway, here's Episode 3.

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Your butterfly friend, Benny, warned you that the Gruzzles would return, and sure enough...

The very next day, California Highway Patrol officers are thrown into a panic when, once again, the numbers vanish off the speed limit signs across the state.

Level 1: Candy Land

The level design here is pretty linear, with some warps thrown in. Given that this place has three whole sets of numbers to collect before you can get the key for the next level, that's a good way to start the episode. Be sure to look for a ladder at the bottom of the level, you'll find a "3" there.

Level 2: Rocky Road Way

Be careful here, as it can be pretty easy to grab the wrong number on accident. Also, your platforming skills will really be put to the test, and you'll want to be pinpoint with the marshmallow platforms to ensure you don't overshoot them. Also, to find all the numbers, you'll need to find all the warps.

PrinceWatercress plays Math Rescue - Part 12 of 19

...and Episode Two is done! Stay tuned for Episode Three!

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Level 15: Back at the Space Station

Episode Two gives us one more maze-like level with three sets of numbers to collect in order to get the key to the door.

Whatever you do, do not drop down at the right-most part of the stage. That only leads to bottomless pits and frustration. Instead, it's the area to the left of the ladder leading to the "0" that you'll need to drop down from to find everything. This is where you'll find everything else as well as some warps.

Once you beat this level, you'll get to the ending.

As the number-stealers retreat for a second time, you are shocked to hear your butterfly friend suddenly speak. He tells you about Glixer II and the Gruzzles. Most surprisingly, you learn that Benny was once a Gruzzle. He long ago sought refuge on the planet Earth to escape the fate of being a pet to the greedy Glixerians!

The slime he dumps on the Gruzzles, your friend tells you, is stink mud , a common element on Glixer II. Its disgusting aroma, much akin to terrestrial skunk, makes the Gruzzles so ill that they have to zap back to their spaceship to take a bath. Furthermore, your friend warns you that your battle is not yet over. The Gruzzles are sure to return!

Be sure to order the final exciting episode! In episode #3 you journey to Candy Land in order to defeat the Gruzzles once and for all (well, maybe not)!

Don't miss the surprise ending!

PrinceWatercress plays Math Rescue - Part 11 of 19

Next episode: Episode 2 gets finished, but not before we go all over the place among the last few levels to do as much as we can!

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Level 12: Afternoon on Mars

The level makes it feel like I'm jumping from one apartment balcony on a tower to another. The two areas between the lava waterfall are separated by walls, so you'll can't just jump from one half of the level to the other.

Level 13: Pluto - the Cold Planet

After the slope leading downwards into the level, jump into the wall to the left to access the secret area.

Level 14: The Caves of Pluto

Yet another level that has three sets of numbers after having to deal with either one or two! If you want to get them in order, you'll have to go all over the place to do it!

After the first whole set of numbers, you can jump into a wall and find a hidden rope leading downwards inside. There is a number below where that rope is, and it can be easy to miss.

Another hidden wall hides a warp. There will be a number on the other side.

PrinceWatercress plays Math Rescue - Part 10 of 19

Our new volcanic adventures take us to Mars...and Episode 2 is nearing completion.

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Level 9: Living By the Volcano

You'll need to hit all three warps in order to find all the secrets here. At least getting all of the numbers here isn't that hard.

Level 10: Dangerous Terrain

Well, they weren't lying about the level name. It's also very maze-like over here, and you'll be looking around if you want to get all the numbers in order. One of the warps takes you to a platform with a "Danger" sign. If you find that area, don't drop down; nothing good will come of it.

Also, you only have one set of numbers to collect here for the key. 

Level 11: Mars

The first four trucks to hit are near the start, while the last two are below the first four.

You'll need to fall to the right through the big wall to the right of the start for a secret area.

PrinceWatercress plays Math Rescue - Part 9 of 19

In this entry, we revisit previous level themes as we explore Venus.

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Level 5: Volcanos of Venus

Oh, look, previous level themes.

Love how the smaller numbers are positioned after the larger numbers at the start. There's also numbers everywhere, as you'll need three whole sets of numbers just to get the key for the exit door.

There are three warps here, and you'll need to find them all in order to find all the secret areas.

Level 6: Under The Seas of Venus

We're back underwater! Compared to the last level, this one is pretty pleasant. It's also not as big, either, so finding all the secret areas is here.

Level 7: The Submarines

There is a hidden warp in the wall in the lower-right corner of the level, near the exit.

Level 8: Hidden Ocean Passages

The numbers here are all over the place. You'll have to go back and forth to get some of them in order.

You'll have to go through a wall to enter the vast secret area at the bottom of the level.

PrinceWatercress plays Math Rescue - Part 8 of 19

 Man, all these levels are starting to look the same, now that I'm looking at them again...

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Level 2: Gruzzles Invade The Space Station

The second set of numbers at the bottom of the level are all over the place, and you'll have to watch out for the Gruzzles as you go back and forth to get them all in order.

Level 3: Moon Station

The hallways of this level are pretty narrow, so make sure you explore thoroughly so you can use your slimes less often.

Also, I never even explored that big area that you can only access with the warps. Ugh.

Level 4: Outside the Moon Station

There are quite a few warps in this level, and you'll need to use them all to get everything in the level. The warp in the upper-left corner will take you to an area in the middle that cannot be reached any other way.

PrinceWatercress plays Math Rescue - Part 7 of 19

In this entry, we start Episode Two, and the maze-like paths of the first level bring this off to a slow start.

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On an outer arm of the Milky Way Galaxy, the planet Glixer II glints purpley in its orbit like a tiny galactic eggplant...

In the Grand Hall of Glixer, the Glixerian Commander sits in eggplanty gloom, attended by one of is captains.

"Captain Escargoto, the pet Gruzzles have become a tentacle-witling bore. How goes the plan to import new pets from Earth?"

"I will send Zorja and Grizz to report, Your Slimyness!"

"Have the Human creasures we chose to honor as our pets yet submitted to their good fortune?"

"No, revered Scum Master, they do not seem overjoyed at their good fortune."

"Have you succeeded in stealing the Humans' numbers and rendering their technology inaccessible to them?"

"We had some problems, Your Scumliness. But we will get right back and try again!"

Back on Planet Earth, you settle down to watch TV when you realize that you can't change the channels.

The number stealers are at it again!

Level 1: Follow the Gruzzles Into Space

From Episode 2 onwards, multiplication and division problems will start showing up. The division word problems will usually mention a large number of something, then list how many of that item are in a container (Glixerians in a UFO, marshmallows in a bag, etc.), which makes them easier to identify. As for the multiplication word problems, they'll usually list how many of an object exist, then list how many people or things interact with that items (i.e., there are 4 theaters, and 6 Gruzzles go to each one). Some of them also mention something being done a certain number of things being done a certain amount of times a day for a certain amount of weeks.

This level is very maze-like, and the Gruzzles are positioned in areas that make it a little harder to get around. Thankfully, all you have to do to find all the secret ares is to touch all the warps.

PrinceWatercress plays Math Rescue - Part 6 of 19

Man, that final level took forever. But we did it! Now on to Episode 2...

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Level 14: Spelunking

You'll need to leap off to the left at the top of that tall later to enter that closed-off room with the warp and get the items inside.

Level 15: The Ice Cave

In this level, you'll have three sets of numbers from 0 to 9, and you'll have to collect all three sets to get the key.

Jump through the wall to the right of the exit to find a secret area.

Once again, there's an area without a "Danger" sign that really needs it, and it's left of the start. If you fall into the gap left of the two garbage can lids, you'll fall into a bottomless pit. To enter the secret area near the beginning, you'll need to go through the wall to the left of the ladder at the start.

Love how I missed that sailboat and never went back to get it at the end.

Ending

When you beat Level 15, the first episode ends.

With the help of your mysterious butterfly companion, you have defeated the number stealers for now! But what did they want with Earth's numbers? And are they really gone?

Meanwhile...

On an outer arm of the Milky Way Galaxy, the planet Glixer II glints purpley in its orbit like a tiny galactic eggplant...

In the Grand Hall of Glixer, the Glixerian Commander sits in eggplanty gloom, attended by one of is captains.

"How dare those miserable Gruzzles return before the conquest of Earth is complete?"

"I will send the Gruzzles back to Earth immediately, Your Slimyness!"

Oh, no! The Gruzzles are back! And they're overrunning the space station! Find out why these pesky Gruzzles are stealing numbers!

Don't miss the next exciting episode...

Be sure to order the final exciting episode! In episode #3 you journey to Candy Land in order to defeat the Gruzzles once and for all (well, maybe not)!

Don't miss the surprise ending!

PrinceWatercress plays Math Rescue - Part 5 of 19

We go spelunking in this entry. Also, heads up: the first episode of this ends next time.

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Level 11: Cave of the Ice Worms

Compared to previous levels, everything is a lot more linear. As for that secret area leading to all those items and garbage can lids, it's directly below the start. Just go through that wall on the right hand side.

Level 12: The Crystal Cave (Where's Milo?)

Shout-out to the obvious Crystal Caves reference.

If you're looking for the secret area, it's to the right of the area with the truck at the bottom of the level.

Level 13: Phosphorescent Cave

Watch out in the lower-left corner of the level. That drop off past the small platform to the side is a bottomless pit, and the game doesn't provide a danger sign telling you that it is indeed a dangerous pit. Boo!

There's also a secret area to the left of where you start. It's the only one in the level, and it's easy to miss.

PrinceWatercress plays Math Rescue - Part 4 of 19

In this entry, we continue our volcanic exploration before entering some caves.

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Level 8: Red Hot Volcano

The door out of the level is just to the right of where you start. Make sure that you find all of the warps so you can easily find everything that the level has to hunt down.

Level 9: The Volcano In Spring

Compared to all the other levels that we've been in, the trucks are all in one place: the place all the way to the right of where you start where you can warp. The trucks can be taken care of from bottom to top.

The second "6" is near the lower-right warp, away from the other numbers that come after it.

Level 10: Climbing The Volcano

Be careful where you're going in this level, as you'll have to go out of your way to get some of the numbers and a few of the numbers will be in your way as you're trying to get from one part of the level to another.