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Neighbours |
Copyright/Publisher: Impulze/Zeppelin, Coding By: I.Copeland, Graphics By: David Taylor,
Music By: Adam GilmoreRelease Year: 1901, Genre: Skateboard, Number Of Players: 1 to 4
The soap that's done more to damage British pop than Jive Bunny, been condemned by the Tories
and made Australia almost trendy (despite Rolf Harris!) has finally been converted to the
C64. When conversion began, Neighbours ruled the roost of Aussie soaps, but after endless
wranglers with the BBC most of the good characters have left and even Young Doctors seems
more hip!
In the game you play the part of Scott Robinson and his skateboard, in a wacky race against
a choice of past and present Neighbours characters around various locations in Erinsborough.
Opponents include Charlene who has tuned up a Go-Kart from Jim Robinson's garage, Mike Young
on another skateboard, Henry in his souped-up Tractor Lawnmower, and sneaky Matt Robinson
who's borrowed Mike's motorbike.
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Popularity stakes |
The aim of the game is to keep Scott's popularity high, whilst reaching the highest
possible race position. A popularity Meter incorporated in a large Neighbours logo at the
bottom of the screen enables you to keep a check on what the viewing audience think of
Scott. To increase your popularity it's good idea to pick up pieces of rubbish, but you
decrease your progression to the next. If you successfully complete a race you simply do
the same course in reverse - there's only one race track!
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Good neighbours! |
Hazards to watch out for are Mrs Mangel waving her rolling pin, Des pulling out into the
road without looking where he's going, Todd's radio-controlled car causing havoc in the
street, an escaped kangaroo and many more. It's well worth knowing that by positioning
the cursor over the kangaroo in the Selection Screen and pressing fire you eliminate the
hazards, which may help while learning to master the spinning skateboard.
Scott is controlled via joystick movement that results in the skateboard spinning to the
left or right. It's fairly difficult to begin with and even when you've got the hang of it
there's no real enjoyment in negotiating the race course.
To enjoy this game you need a superb imagination as the graphics are inaccurate and bear
no resemblance to the Aussie soap. There's no thought to the laws of perspective (ie space
behind fences) and unrecognisable sprites in brash colours are standard for a budget game,
not full price. If the game wasn't in a Neighbours package it's unlikely you'd associate the
monotonous gameplay with the TV soap at all. (Or perhaps you would!)
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Phil |
Here it is at last, the computer conversion of our friends at Ramsay St. It all starts with
that infuriating theme tune ringing in your ears. In fact this suits the game very well...
it being equally tedious. It's graphically embarrassing, and is so predictable to play,
you'd probably rather watch the real thing!
After battling with the awkward control of ol' 'Dono', you progress through frustration,
despair and eventually boredom as the game goes on. Be warned: by playing this you could
develop violent tendencies towards your 64 - watch out.
Zeppelin have produced plenty of truly excellent budget games, unfortunately this is
dire at any price and bears exceedingly little relationship to the soap itself. Save
yourself and your machinery by buying a decent game and sticking on a Neighbous logo
yourself.
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