Rupert and the Ice Castle


Bug-Byte Software Ltd
Unknown
Crash Issue 32, Sep 1986   page(s) 20

Producer: Bug Byte
Retail Price: £2.99
Author: Bug Byte

Rupert and his chums are getting some serious hassle from Jenny Frost, Jack's sister. Not content with covering the countryside in an icy blanket, she has also kidnapped Rupert's friends. Bingo, Edward Trunk, Algy and Badger Bill have all been frozen solid and are being held captive in the Ice Castle. Rupert must go to the Ice Castle to defrost them. The only way he can unfreeze his woodland chums is by giving them an ice pill.

Before setting out, Rupert can choose how many ice pills to take with him - up to eight are available - and select which of the three levels to attempt. Rupert has to climb the ramparts and jump onto icy ridges to try and return his friends to the land of the living.

Apart from the bitter cold inside the Ice Palace, Rupert also has to contend with the traps that Jenny Frost has set to try and trick him into becoming like his frozen friends. Contact with the nasties in the game - which include falling icicles, a helicopter and a car - robs Rupert one of his precious ice pills. Once all his pills have been used up, Rupert is turned into a block of ice.

The game is over when each level has been completed and all of Rupert's friends have pottered back to Norwood for a hot cup of cocoa in front of a roaring fire.

COMMENTS

Control keys: O left, P right, A pick up, Z jump
Joystick: Kempston, Sinclair
Keyboard play: unresponsive
Use of colour: colourful but without attribute clashes
Graphics: finely detailed
Sound: a few spot effects
Skill levels: one
Screens: 12


This is a very jolly game. The multi-coloured Rupert is nice, but it causes clashes which rather spoil the otherwise attractive graphics. The game is nicely packaged, and BUG BYTE have made a good job of the game, though the instructions are a bit on the short side. Rupert and the Ice Castle is certainly nothing amazingly mega-brill, but it's still a good game.


Well this is certainly a step up from the last Rupert game. It is a lot more playable and addictive for a start and it's much easier to get into. The graphics are, on the whole, good. The characters are well designed, move around smoothly and even look like the comic book characters. The backgrounds are very well detailed but the sound is a little disappointing. There are a few spot effects but no tune. Generally, I am quite impressed with this one as it has great addictive qualities and it is very compelling.


I can remember seeing Rupert on television ages ago, and he certainly didn't live in an Ice Palace then. He must be climbing the social ladder. The graphics are well coloured and detailed. Attribute clashes are kept to a minimum, usually with a single coloured background. Sound is very poor - I couldn't hear any beeps anywhere - and the keyboard control is very unresponsive. I really didn't like the game much, even though I'm Rupert's biggest fan.

Use of Computer: 54%
Graphics: 47%
Playability: 47%
Getting Started: 55%
Addictive Qualities: 47%
Value for Money: 54%
Overall: 50%

Summary: General Rating: A pretty platform game.

Transcript by Chris Bourne

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