Reviews

Sequel to "Sweevo's World" that is superior to the original. The graphics are much-improved with the underwater feel of the environment being well-conveyed and the various puzzles being less irritatingly tricky than in its prequel.

A nice follow-up to Sweevo's world. There's an underwater theme to everything and a great Rob Hubbard soundtrack, but it's essentially more of the same; a mixture of logical puzzles, atrocious puns and about the usual level of inscrutability you'd expect from Gargoyle/FTL.

Overall, it's not particularly novel and if you've not got a taste for isometric arcade adventures it's unlikely to convert you. However, if you do, it's pretty good fun.

Unlike Head Over Heals, which I'd recommend to anybody, you'd have to be a fan of isometric games to really appreciate this one.
First up its all too easy to wander aimlessly and if you don't know how to deal with the underwater denizens they'll make short work of you.
Fortunately this game looks excuisite, it really feels like your underwater. Its also incredibly smooth, none of the slow down you find in the likes of (the also excellent) Greyfell.
Hydrofool has a real charm and I've come back to it again and again.

Excellent gem, and worth to play for these sunny days. Every aspect of the game is polished till extreme, and so it's fun and delightful to play.
You can find quality and fun at a same level.



This marvel doesn't give up on anything

1987 Faster Than Light/Gargoyle (UK)
by Roy Carter, Greg Follis and Rob Hubbard

Sequel to the already excellent Sweevo's World, Hydrofool manages to be an upgrade on almost every aspect.
Even non-isometric fans can enjoy this great piece of software. Graphics, animation, sound and overall atmosphere is simply wonderful. And unlike some isometric games, Hydrofool doesn't suffer from slowness when the screen is crowded.
The game is filled with the usual puzzles found in titles like this one, but some are not so obvious for the casual player, specially without instructions, so some study must be done.
Also, the loading screen deserves a mention, I'm not sure but it does seem made using a technique popular this days but not usual back then.

Pretty, pretty pretty videogame, and in fact one that gives you the false impression to be much bigger than really it is, say a 128K one.
Neat, big and equilibrated present for the Spectrum, a perfect example for a 5/5 software