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This was the first computer game I ever played. It was on a C64, but ofcourse when I got an Amiga I played this version as well.
The jolly titlescreen
So what's it all about? We have all seen Indiana Jones movies. This game really went along with that kind of adventurous atmosphere. You are the hero 'Rick Dangerous' who has one of the most dubious family names ever.
On a trip with a plane, searching for some lost tribe, the plane crashes but you bail out in time. You land in a jungle where you have to defeat some angry Amazonian... whatever. Basically you are in some sort of building which you will have to leave alive. In the progress you get to evade boulders, collect treasures, use bombs, use guns and not to forget duck for spears coming out of walls and such. Shortly you'll come across everything you might expect from an adventurous action-packed game.
Here is Rick in action running for his very life
If you have survive so far, you are sent to Egypt by some blokes in London and you actually go finding yourself looking for a stolen gem.
Actually you don't really have to look for the gem. It is the same cup of tea as before. Getting trough alive. Of course the puzzles get more and more difficult along the way.
It was always a challenge getting to the Egyptian level. Without a cheat you really needed some serious practice. At school there was always the exchange of tricks and bragging of who got to where.
Rick in Egypt looking for the lost gem
If you managed to get through the Egyptian levels without cheating, you must really be good. I must admit I've never made it to the European part without a cheat, but let's tell a bit about that.
Of course a European part was not to be omitted by the designers. Indiana Jones movies are always full of Nazi's so why should Rick not encounter them?
Rick in the European level facing some nasty dog
After your Egyptian success you must rescue prisoners from some German castle we have seen before (into eagles nest).
The cup of tea is the same again but not less fun for that matter. This time you encounter new challenges and opponents again. Dogs, secret passages and those sort of things are all present.
Honestly, reaching these levels and playing them through without a cheat is in my opinion impossible. You'd be really helped with a save game feature. Sadly this is not present and level codes are not included either. So if you loose all your lives, you are back in the Amazon.
If you do play it out. You get to infiltrate a secret missile base.
Here you see Rick inside the missile base
The missile base shares a lot with the European level. Not surprising since this base belongs to those Nazi's. This level actually sets the tone for Rick Dangerous II. More SciFi styled and such.
Summary
It's too difficult. Impossible even. But very addictive. Also the fact that each level has a different setting makes parts of the game recognizable to others. At school I could explain where I was and what my problem was at that part. Others could give you tips or even show you how it should be played.
In my memory that is what made Rick such a great game. The puzzles where hard and that made the game last.
Of course we used a cheat to complete the game but it were the puzzles it was about.
Great game. Great memories of it.
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The graphics used in this game are good. For 1989 they were very good. The designers had eye for detail and took care of good quality throughout the game. Not only the main character, but all characters look good and the backgrounds are full of eye candies.
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The sound does its job, but that's about it. For it's time it was pretty good but the game is not about the SFX. The gun sounds like a gun, you can hear foot steps, your bombs exploding, screaming... and so on. But nothing really jawdropping. The intro tune is very catchy.
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Although it is a fun and addictive game, the puzzles are too hard to give playability a very high rating. People tend to forget these things over time but if you don't have a cheat you cannot complete this game. There is too much trial and error involved and you'll run short of lives. Unless you've played it before it is impossible. As stated in the review this lack makes the game memorable in a way.
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Play it! If you're stuck don't go about asking on the school yard. No school kid plays this anymore. Maybe try you're luck on a forum then, to run into old veterans. ;-) Great game.
(After all, maybe school kids do play this nowadays. I've seen a version for the mobile phone) |
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Get Amiga Forever with pre-installed Workbench, games, applications, and much more.
It also contains the original Amiga ROM-files, 100% legally!
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