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Well, it's me again, reviewing another great Amiga classic. This is the first time I'm reviewing a game that has already been reviewed. I never really thought it was necessary, however, I just HAD to go for it because this game is so special to me. I'm talking about the amazing Escape from Colditz!
Some parts based on a true story:
This game takes you back to one of the darkest times Earth has ever faced: The early 1940's during World War 2.
Colditz was a prison castle, which was very hard, almost impossible to escape. It lies in Germany and can still be visited today and is a huge tourist attraction.
The proof that someone actually has succeeded to escape from the prison castle Colditz was that a Major managed to escape and return to his homeland where he wrote a book about it.
The prisoners and their quarters:
You control 4 prisoners-of-war from 4 different countries: British, French, American & Polish. Your mission is to help them escape.
(ALL OF THEM must escape! Or it won't be a victory for you.)
It is not an easy task since the castle is enormously huge and has many (and I mean MANY) nazis guarding every corner of the castle. Your prisoners start in each of their home quarters were they can walk around and spend their time. It is strictly forbidden for them to leave their quarter! If a nazi notices one of your prisoners outside their quarter, they will be sent to solitary confinement. But at certain times the prisoners can walk through open access corridors and spend time outside.
Many rooms and corridors in the castle are restricted areas, the prisoners are forbidden in those areas and will immediately be sent to solitary confinement if they are noticed.
How to escape from Colditz:
It is recommended to explore the castle and find out where to escape and where to find useful items to help you. The enormous castle has many useful tools that lie on places which the nazis haven't discovered yet and the prisoners should use the tools wisely. Here are some of the items you can find in the castle:
Lock Pick: Opens low security doors.
Grade 1 Key: Opens Medium security doors.
Grade 2 Key: Opens Highly security doors.
Nazi Uniform: Dress up as a nazi to sneak through real nazis, sadly the nazis will quickly find you suspicious and ask you for pass all the time.
Pass: You need the pass when dressed as a nazi, if you don't have pass, the nazis will find out that you are a prisoner and send you to solitary.
Paper: If you manage to escape you need papers (under a false name) to prove that you can leave Germany, if not, you will be sent back to Colditz.
Saw: Find a tunnel under some loose planks.
Candle: When crawling in a tunnel underground, you need a candle to see through the dark.
Shovel: To dig yourself up to other side of the tunnel. (You can use this tunnel all the time you want with all your prisoners.)
Stone: When the nazis are trying to arrest you as you are trying to run from them, you can throw a rock at them. This will make them a bit scared and lower their speed for a short while.
During the game I have also found many other useful items, including guns. Though I haven't found out how to use all of them, but with time it will eventually show...
It is very important to use the items correctly. For example, if you open a door that leads to nowhere and has no items in there, you would have used up an item that could have been used for something better. If you get arrested and have no choice but to give up, try to drop all of your items as fast as you can. Luckily the nazi won't notice it and you can collect them later. If you get arrested with the items on you, they will be confiscated. If you lose all your items and can't find any more, the game will be very very difficult to complete since you can't open any more doors etc.
Tips:
Here are a couple of tips to help you on your quest:
- Your 4 prisoners can help each other. They can hide in each others quarters and pick up the items from the other prisoners.
(The screenshot above shows which room all of you 4 prisoners are in meanwhile.)
- If one of your prisoners is about to be arrested, don't try to run away from them if it seems hopeless, get caught instead. They will shoot you if you refuse to stop. You may continue the game with the other survivors you have but as I said, it won't be a victory for you even if they manage to escape. All of them must survive, remember!
- Sometimes there is also hope to run away from the nazis. If you run to another room, they will wait for you for a couple of minutes. If you never show up, they will give up and go back to their patrol. Do also know that the nazis can't shoot trough the wall so then you will be safe. It is a risk to take. You either try to run away or get arrested, but as long as you don't get shot it is okay.
- Solitary Confinement only lasts for a little while. Your prisoner will be sent back to the quarter after a while and then your prisoner may continue to try to escape. Luckily you can get caught as many time as you want without getting killed. It is just important that all of them are not in Solitary at the same time, because then you will lose the game. Remember that the game ends when you don't have control on any of the prisoners. If all are in solitary except one, it is better to wait for them to be released before you send him out to the task.
- You can find the chapel in the central of the castle. I really recommend that place because the nazis are never in it and you are safe there all the time, you can find a lot of items there and one of the secret tunnels are underneath it.
- Play this game many times and find out where the items are and where you should go and the games will be much easier.
I hope you found some of my tips useful if you decide to play this game.
Conclusion:
Escape from Coldtiz is a brilliant and very underrated game! This is one of my all-time favourite Amiga games along with IK+, It Came From the Desert and Projectyle. The game is so exciting, never gets boring and gives you lots of butterflies in you stomach! Go and play this game now! It's extremely fun!
LONG LIVE THE AMIGA!
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For using such few colours, the graphics are excellent and enjoyable. The game doesn't need any better graphics than this.
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Bjørn Lynne's opening tune is a masterpiece and opens the game with a touch of excitement!
The sounds are sparse, only stepping sounds and the sounds of doors opening/closing. They suit the game perfectly though, and you will never find them annoying.
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The playability is too good for words. You want to play this game all the time. It gives you countless hours of fun and thinking.
The huge game has thousands of rooms you can step in, but doesn't have any loading times at all during game play.
It doesn't have any save or password function, but that doesn't bother me. Perhaps the game would have been too easy if it included.
Even though the game is hard and you start from the beginning everytime you play it, you will never find it boring or annoying. Non-stop excitement and fun, all the time!
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This game is Heaven! A must-have Amiga-game. Play it right away, you will love it so much! Trust me.
The very best game Digital Magic Software has made and this game IS digital magic! RECOMMENDED! |
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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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