The BBC and Master Computer Public Domain Library

CLOGGER

 

 

Professional, Originally Released On Cassette Only

 

Game Type          : Overhead Maze Game; Large Sprites!

Author             :

Standalone Release(s)   : 1988: CLOGGER, Impact, £4.95

Compilation Release(s)   : None

Stated compatibility    : Electron Side A, BBC Side B

Actual compatibility    : As stated

Supplier            : IMPACT, Neepsend House, 1 Percy Street, SHEFFIELD S3 8AU.

                    Tel: 01742 769950

Disc compatibility     : CDFS E00, DFS E00

 

 

Instructions

"In a strange and mystical land, many years ago, lived a peaceful race of beings known as the Cloggers. Cloggers were unusual creatures with three feet and no head but with strange powers that enabled them to perceive their environment in a way incomprehenisble to man.

 

Cloggers also had a great love of art and, in order to achieve the status of Master Clogger, needed to prove their artistic appreciation. To do this, all young Cloggers had to undertake a series of cunningly conceived tests. These consisted of reassembling various pieces of artwork scattered around dangerous landscapes in the hidden valleys of Clogland.

 

Few Cloggers ever reached the status of Master Clogger. The task is truly awesome with countless problems to be solved and pitfalls to overcome. The time taken to complete each landscape is also crucial but the powers that be have kindly left a little food. However, this should be eaten with moderation as guzzling it down can lose some of its energy value.

 

Each of the eighteen landscapes becomes progressively more complex with increasing numbers of individual tests of initiative.

 

There are drills to be found which can be used (sparingly!) to create essential passageways; powerful lawnmowers to clear the deadly Cloggrass; plus springs, rebounding gyroscopes and buffers which all hinder your progress.

 

One ill-considered action can render your whole future worthless.

 

Would you have become a Master Clogger?"

 

Loading

The game consists of a main program plus four game files of five levels each.

 

You will be given a loading picture and then a menu from which you can select one of the four game files: SLIPPER, BRUSHES, ARTIST or PAINT.

 

Other game files can be loaded from the Instruction Page in the game itself.

 

The game objective is to become a Master Clogger, you must complete the twenty levels without using passwords. You have five lives with which to do this.

 

Each level requires you to gather 21 pieces of a picture and push them to the finish area. They must then be inserted in the right way to build up the complete piece of artwork. You must also eat all the cakes. When both the above have been achieved, the level will end and you can move on to the next one. You will then be given the password for that level.

 

The finish area is always seven objects wide by three objects high. This can be at any position on each particular level. It will be full of earth, which will need to be removed before the pieces of artwork can be inserted.

 

Playing Instructions

Certain pieces of artwork may seem inaccessible. You will have to find out the route to them by using or moving the drills, lawnmowers, buffers and gyroscopes on the way. This must be done within a limited time period.

 

Maps

A map of each level can be obtained by pressing M during the gamm. Time will continue to tick away so plan your strategy quickly.

 

Picture Screen

To see the finished piece of artwork that needs to be assembled press P during the game. You can also see the clock ticking away. Appreciating the finer points of the artwork is not recommended at this stage.

 

Time Limit

Time is limited for each level and if time runs out, you will run out of energy and lose a life. However your energy can be increased, and therefore your time increased, by eating cakes which will each give an extra 30 seconds worth of energy. (Don't eat too much at a time - the maximum time you can have at any stage is ten minutes). The only stage that time will stand still is on the status screen. So don't hang about!

 

Clogger's Almanack

Whilst completing the tests that will make you a Master Clogger are largely dependent on your skill and initiative, the Clogland Council does supply a brief advisory almanack. This advises of the hazards that await you and tools that will be at your disposal.

 

Read carefully:

Cakes     - Eating a cake increases your energy and thereby increases your time by 30 seconds. (Note - Don't forget that all the cakes must be eaten before a level can be completed)

Apples    - Eating these increases your score and removes a possible barrier

Earth     - This can get in the way. If in doubt, remove it but don't waste time

Cloggrass - This is fatal on contact. It can be removed with a lawnmower

Lawnmower - Used to remove Cloggrass

Springs   - These are a barrier unless approached from one particular side. If you find the right way to approach it then it will be removed Gyroscopes - When pushed, these will fly off until stopped by another object or reflected by a spring. If reflected by a spring, they will return to their original position

Buffers   - These can be used to solve problems caused by gyroscopes

Drills    - There are two of these on each level. One drills to the left and the other drills to the right. Each drill will cut through any THREE objects and then disappear. It is advisable to only use drills to cut through objects that cannot be removed in any other way.

 

Game Controls

Z - Left,   X - Right,   : - Up,   / - Down,   <ESCAPE> - Suicide

P - View Picture,   M - View Map,   S - View Status Screen & Pause

 

Status Screen Controls:

P - View Picture,   M - View Map,   <ESCAPE> - Quit Game,   <SPACE> - Return to Game

 

Controls Available From Instruction Page:

L - Load a file,   E - Enter password

 

Passwords

Puzzles 2, 3 and 4 of the SLIPPER set are accessed by typing BALLET, OXFORD and POLISH respectively.

Puzzles 2 and 3 of the BRUSHES set are accessed by typing HARRIET and MOTTLEY respectively.

Puzzles 2, 3 and 4 of the ARTIST set are accessed by typing TIPTOP, IMPALA and BRITISH respectively.

 

 

Instructions' Source   : CLOGGER (Impact) Back and Inner Inlay

 

Review (Electron User) - "Pretty As A Picture"

Every now and again something original and fun crops up in the Electron games market - remember FRAK! and the original, heady days of REPTON? Now here is a newcomer which will surely join the list of these all time classics. It's CLOGGER, a welcome new release from Impact who have moved on from posters, helpsheets and cheats and are now producing full feature arcade games.

 

Cloggers lived in a strange and mysterious land in days of yore. They were totally peaceful creatures who stomped merrily around on their three feet pushing a bulldozer in front of them. Their lack of a head in no way dimmed their intelligence - in fact they had wonderful powers of observation.

 

Cloggers also loved art, and it is this love that forms the main drive of the game, since in your attempt to become a Master Clogger you must find pieces of artwork and assemble them to make a complete picture.

 

You aim is to complete 20 landscapes - an Electron bonus as the BBC Micro version has only 18 - by collecting the 21 picture pieces and putting them together in the finish area. Each landscape is about sixteen times the size of the screen and the scrolling is very smooth, both sideways and up and down. Clogger in fact, stays firmly in the middle of the screen spinning his feet like a whirling Manxman while the scenery moves around him.

 

As well as making the picture, Clogger must also eat all the cakes which are scattered around. These boost your energy and provide 30 extra seconds in which to compete your task. The maximum survival time you can have is ten minutes, so it doesn't pay to gorge too long on cakes - far better to save them until you need them.

 

Apples are eaten to score points and to get them out of the way. Earth just needs removing before picture pieces can be pushed through it. The bouncy springs can cause a problem, but these can be removed if pushed from the correct side.

 

Apart from lack of time, there is only one fatal problem. Cloggrass grows lush and green in places. Any contact will it will cause Clogger to fade away, but it can be cut. A couple of lawnmowers can be found on each level and these remove the grass with a satisfying noise.

 

The other tools to be found are the drills. These can remove three thicknesses of wall - or anything else for that matter - and then they vanish. Their use must be carefully planned. There are two more scenery items. Gyroscopes will, if pushed, fly away until they hit a barrier. There they stop unless the barrier was a spring, in which case they fly back to their starting point. Buffers can be pushed around to control the wild movements of gyroscopes.

 

The task of completing pictures would be all but impossible if you could not access the map. Pressing M will display a clear map of the entire landscape. This shows the current positions of everything, including Clogger himself. The pieces of picture are just shown as blank tiles - no actual picture detail can be seen. Incidentally, while looking at the map, the time ticks away, so map work needs to be hasty.

 

It is also possible to see the completed picture by pressing P at any time. Once again, don't admire the artwork for too long. The third option is to press S to see the status screen which tells you how much time is left, how much of the picture you've completed and how many cakes you must still eat.

 

The status screen is a true game pause and Clogger time stands still. The game may also be ended here by pressing <ESCAPE>. At first sight, CLOGGER has many of the attributes of the REPTON games. They play is similar in that your character is steered around a maze in search of goodies. CLOGGER, however, uses the entire screen for the game and still achieves a speedy scroll.

 

The characters are all large and colourful, and Clogger himself was conceived with a real touch of humour. I particularly like the way he performs a wheel spin when he bumps into a wall.

 

The sound consists of various beeps and noises which signify different events - pushing a gyroscope, eating an apple and so on.

 

CLOGGER is another arcade adventure which will require brain power rather than manual dexterity to solve. At its bargain price, buy it and see it race to the top of the charts.

Rog Frost

 

* * * Second Opinion * * * (Electron User)

CLOGGER is a superb game very reminiscent of the REPTON series, but there are sufficient differences for it to avoid being simply a clone. The graphics are good, and the game is very playable. The main playing screen is a little dull and an attractive border would help brighten things up a little.

 

If you are a fan of this type of scrolling puzzle game and would like a change from Repton's adventures I can thoroughly recommend CLOGGER.

Janice Murray

 

Sound .......................... 10

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

Playability .................... 10

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

Overall ......................... 9

 

ELECTRON USER 6. 5