|
Galactic Games |
Copyright/Publisher: Activision, Produced By: Software Studios & Tigress Designs,
Release Year: 1987, Genre: Multi Events, Number Of Players: 1 or 2
On a planet far away from their original home, the Olympic Games take a Galactic
turn. Competitors are faced with five unusual events: the 100m slither, space hockey,
psychic judo, head throwing and the metamorph marathon.
In the 100m slither, racing worms speedily slide along the track, bunching
their bodies in caterpillar motion. Rhythmic joystick wobbling induces the fastest
motion, and occasionally a 'super slither' may be used to zoom up the course -
although care must be taken not to overheat the worm.
Once the worms have been dismissed, space hockey appears on the agenda. Here,
two spheres enter a giant playing field and attempt to drive a living puck into
the opposition's goal.
Next is psychic judo, where two mindbenders stand at either end of a corridor
and attempt to destroy each other with energy bolts squeezed from their stomachs.
When an energy bolt has been released it's directed to avoid the defensive shields
that the opponent erects. If the bolt gets through, points are awarded.
Head throwing follows. The competitors in this sport are a strange pair, who are
obsessed with removing their heads and throwing them as far as they can. This action
takes place on a small track down which competitors run. Before the foul throw line,
they rip off their heads and throw them into the air. There are three throws per
contest and the longest throw wins.
The last event is the metamorph marathon, during whcih one of five forms - runner,
burrower, jumper, flyer or rest state - is adopted by the metamorph to negotiate the
ever-changing terrain. The energy supply of each form is limited, so a little
planning is required to finish the course.
|
S.J. |
Galactic Games is certainly weird and wacky - but unfortunately it's
also pretty dire. Control is slow and often sluggish, and added to the fact that
many of the events are hard to master, I can't see many people returning to it very
often.
The multiload is pretty laborious and one point that really annoys me is the
'humourous' information printout that appears periodically during the game - usually
at the beginning of an event.
The first time it's funny, second time it's a little tedious, and by the third
time you feel like screaming. It's slow, endless and has to be endured game after
game. Galactic Games could have been fun, but at the end of the day I'm sad to say
that it falls flat on it's face, a long way short of the finishing line.
|
P.S. |
Not content with bringing us Earthbound athletic type games, those cheerful chappies
from Activision are taking us out to the starts to thrill to such events as the
metamorphs marathon, head throwing and psychic judo.
Control of most events is a touch on the finnicky side, and even when mastered
I often felt that I wasn't totally in control. Graphically Galactic Games is a bit
of a mixed bag, varying from average on the 100 metre slither, to horribly naff
on psychic judo. Sound is also disappointing, with a few annoying effects and no
tune. It's not exactly one of my favourite sports games, and can't be called a
bargain at £10, but it's fun to play - for a while.
|
