Posted by
Grim..., around 23rd December 2005:
I've just found
Stuart Campbell's Blog, and he's got some of the original reviews from the magazine on it.
It's nostalgic, and awesome.
Example time: This was Kick Off 96...
UPPERS It's a shabby rip-off aimed at separating desperate and gullible Amiga owners from their money. It's riddled with bugs, it's clearly been rushed out with the absolute minimum of effort, and the fact that there are still people out there stupid enough to buy it because of the name, or because they think "Well it's AMIGA POWER, they *would* say that", who'll then have 20 quid less to spend on food, rent and heating, possibly leading to their death from starvation or hypothermia and a subsequent microscopic increase in the world's average IQ, is the only reason it's getting any marks at all.
DOWNERS The fact that those responsible for it are still alive and free to walk the streets.
THE BOTTOM LINE Fittingly, the worst game in AP's history, on the grounds that you simply can't play it. At least Rise Of The Robots and International Rugby Challenge basically *worked*. (As I write, first half injury time in Germany vs the Czech Republic has been going on for two and a half hours (real time), and shows no signs of reaching an end, with the scores tightly poised at 75-0 to the Czechs.) If you buy it, or if you had any part in its development, I hope a hideous tropical disease renders you eternally sterile, incapable of infecting the future of the world with your failed and worthless genes.
1 PERCENT
Superb.
wowwww, you forget how far we've come:
www.crashonline.org.uk/04/t...
[1982] Looking for really original ideas in computer games is almost becoming an art in its own right. New Generation seem to have come up with another in Trashman. Even the cover design is different from anything seen before, with its dirty, over-crowded dustbin.
As a hero, this is likely to be the lowliest character you will ever play - a dustman. Players (there is a one- or two-player option) enter their names at the start and become the Trashman. The object of the game is to walk up and down a street, entering the houses' gardens, collect a dustbin, take it out to the dustcart, empty it and replace the bin from exactly where it came. You must empty five bins in the first road, Montague Road, and do this against a falling Bonus score. When the bonus reaches zero a message comes up to tell you that complaints have been received about your slowness. After the third such ticking off you are fired!
…
'The first thing to strike you about Trashman is the graphic quality, which is superb. The colours are all bright and solid but a lot of use has been made of NORMAL and BRIGHT to create the effect of shadows crossing paths and grass. The perspective view is also very realistic and reminiscent of New Generation's Escape. It takes a moment's practice to line Trashman up with a gate but once you get the hang of it's no problem. You must be careful when replacing empty bins, since walking to the correct spot will result in the bin being deposited. If you happen to have overstepped the mark, when you turn to leave, you pick the damned thing up again. Emptying a bin into the dustcart is easy enough, just walk up behind it and the emptying occurs automatically. The graphics, then, are wonderful, the sense of humour is also very good, and the game is hugely playable. The only thing I want to know is, what really goes on inside the house when Trashman does a favour?'
'The cars on the road are excellent, not only are they detailed but they move tremendously smoothly, at different speeds, in different directions, and at random intervals. The entire playing area is drawn very nicely. Amusing comments are put on the screen if you haven't trodden on the grass and therefore been able to collect your tip. I like the small touches like the cyclists riding on the paths and the dogs which chew your legs, leaving you limping. Trashman is an immensely playable game that is very addictive at first, but I think that quality might wear off after a while. Nevertheless, it's the best game that New Generation have produced yet.'
I found a "Commodore Format" archive on the internet once. It being the only computer magazine I've ever read, it reminded me of being twelve and having a C64 and Kixx and The Hit Squad and The New Zealand Story and Turrican 2. Joy!
Oh and there's a guy who drinks in the pub I work at who's a former Amstrad Action staff writer. Oh, the stories he has to tell!
Posted by
Grim..., around December 2005:
I'd quite like to try that game, Salt =]
Posted by
bumdog, around December 2005:
Glad to see Mr Campbell still has his shit hairdo.
From: "sanjay kareer"
Date: Tue, 3 Jan 2006 11:35:38 -0000
Subject: [FreeCycleLondon] Offered : Atrai 520 STE
Working condition, mouse, +50 copied games, covers and joy stick.
Collection from Ilford, weekends only.
free to anyone who wants it