The BBC and Master Computer Public Domain Library

RICOCHET

Professional, Originally Released On Cassette Only

Game Type          : Arcade Adventure

Authors            : N. G. Davidson & D. J. Willams

Standalone Release(s)   : 1990: RICOCHET, Superior/Acornsoft, £9.95

Compilation Release(s)   : 1991: PLAY IT AGAIN SAM 15, Superior/Acornsoft, £9.95

Stated compatibility    : Electron Side A, BBC Side B

Actual compatibility    : As stated. Electron version works on BBC.

Supplier            : SUPERIOR/ACORNSOFT

Disc compatibility     : CDFS E00, DFS E00

Instructions

The objective of the game is to find the hourglass on each level and then teleport out. When you do this you will be given the password to the next level. (You can subsequently enter that level directly by pressing the P key and giving the password.) The ultimate objective is to finish all five levels in a row, hence gain the full 100% score and discover the secret message.

To jump, you must press the Squish key, and then let go. How high you jump depends on how much you squish. You can also jump to the left or right, by pressing the Roll Left or Roll Right key as you leave the ground. You can practice moves before commencing play by pressing SHIFT-SPACE.

Your energy level (bar at right of screen) is increased by eating foodstuff by walking on top of it and pressing the Pick Up/Drop Object key. Objects may be used to vanish obstacles blocking your way. Keys open doors, which disappear, but the keys remain; some may open more than one door. You can hold a maximum of two objects (including keys) at any one time. Look out for secret passages, par-

ticularly on the later levels.

Some objects, obstacles and characters to look out for as you richochet through the five levels of the game include:

FORTRESS - power drill (then look for the hole in the wall), lead, bunsen burner, alchemist, robber, ghost. (When you have the hourglass, the fire and a 15% score, jump down the deep hole and find the teleport.)

TECHLEV - fruit machine, tax demand, computer disc, stamp, sodium, slug.

DERELICT - flower pot, crystal ball, match, map, maiden, witch, beggar.                      

THE UFO - cocktail glass, extinguisher, identity card, oil, guard, robot.

ANCIENT - dagger, world, Cyclops, Mercury, Caesar, Atlas, Hermes.

Game Controls

Z - Roll Left,   X - Roll Right,   * - Roll Up,   ? - Roll Down

* - Pick Up/Drop Object,   ? - Squish

<COPY>/<DELETE> - Pause On/Off,   S/Q - Sound/Quiet

<SPACE> - Start Game,   <SHIFT><ESCAPE> - Lose Life

Instructions' Source   : PLAY IT AGAIN SAM 15 (Superior/Acornsoft) Inner Inlay

Review (Electron User) - "Having A Ball"

RICOCHET is more than just another arcade adventure from the Superior stable. It's brilliant. After the disappointment of BARON in the SAM 11 compilation I needed something to lift my spirits and RICOCHET did the job admirably.

Anyone who has seen CITADEL or PALACE OF MAGIC will instantly recognise the format. The display is a side view of the current location and moving off the left, right, top or bottom quickly flicks to the next screen.

In this game you control Sprat - the Small Partially Robotic Alien Time-traveller - a cute little rubber ball with a happy smiling face and sunglasses. You don't walk. You roll or bounce your way around the ladders and levels, or take a swim.

Levels that can't be reached can quite often be bounced up to. You hold down the Squish key to squash Sprat as flat as possible then let go and he springs up. Aiming straight up isn't a problem, but trying to make Sprat go in any other direction is difficult to say the least - he flies around the screen bouncing off every object within reach. It's very frustrating but good addictive fun, trying to get him through a small hole to the left or right.

Your aim, amid all this mayhem, is to collect an hourglass from each of the five worlds of RICOCHET and then teleport out. You are given a password on doing this, so you can skip the completed levels on subsequent games. You start on the mystical Fortress world, then move on to the exciting futuristic Techlev and dismal Derelict worlds.

Your energy is displayed as a bar running up the right hand side of the screen and is deleted by rolling into the various monsters that inhabit the worlds or the dangerous objects that litter each screen. Energy is increased by eating the food left lying around.

Keys must be collected in order to open doors - usually one key will open one particular door. Other objects can be found, such as a tomato, a coin and a spade, but I'm not yet sure what to do with them. They can be placed on pads located in certain places and I'm sure that they'll have some beneficial effect when I've located the right pad for each object.

The graphics are among the best seen on the Electron, and the sprites are superbly animated. The title screens are particularly well drawn and worth the wait while they load. The sound effects are minimal but didn't affect my enjoyment.

This latest arcade adventure is causing me a few headaches and sleepless nights - it is very addictive. If you have completed CITADEL and PALACE OF MAGIC and are looking for a fresh challenge, RICOCHET fits the bill quite nicely.

Roland Waddilove

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

Not since PALACE OF MAGIC have I been hooked to an arcade adventure, but this frustrating game has me securely in its grip. The way the ball bounces round the screen drives me round the bend. The objects and obstacles are mini puzzles - find the object and place it on the corresponding pad. A brilliant game that makes a welcome change from the usual SAM repeats.

Janice Murray

Sound ........................... 6

Graphics ....................... 10

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

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

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

"Electron User Golden Game"

ELECTRON USER 7. 2