REVIEWS COURTESY OF ZXSR

Stunt Bike Simulator
by Daren White
Silverbird Software Ltd
1988
Crash Issue 55, Aug 1988   page(s) 103

Producer: Silverbird
Retail Price: £1.99
Author: D White

Ace stuntman, Chad Adams, has set himself a number of tasks to show that he is the best in the world. His specialty is performing daring feats on a stunt motorbike.

The player must guide Chad through five levels of dangerous stunts, all of which involve controlling his bike and avoiding obstacles in the horizontally-scrolling road. The player's starting score is reduced by hitting obstacles and the passage of time. Unless a stage is completed before this score drops to nil, the player loses one of his three lives.

Chad starts the first level in his hang-glider, flying above the road. The player controls the riderless bike, weaving it between obstacles till the opportunity arises to drop Chad onto it. Next it's on to the log jump. As well as avoiding static obstacles, he must bunny hop logs which roll towards him.

Level three contains even more danger as Chad attempts to leap off his bike through hoops of fire. If he fails to jump at the right time, the fire will burn him, reducing his score and wasting valuable time.

Chad's next feat involves riding his bike up a ramp into the back of a moving lorry.

The final task is to jump from his bike and catch the hanger suspended from a moving helicopter. If he achieves all this, Chad will have proved that he's the best in the business.

COMMENTS

Joysticks: Kempston
Graphics: jerky, blocky and awkward
Sound: limited to basic spot effects


Although Stunt Bike Simulator contains five levels, they all take place on an identical scrolling road with nothing by a change in backdrop. The bike itself is very simply animated and the scrolling is extremely jerky - once character block at a time. The first level is soon mastered, although how Chad manages to steer his stunt bike when he's up in the hang-glider I'll never know! Both the second and third levels are initially difficult to master, while the final levels are comparatively easy. Such a hotchpotch of difficult and very easy parts soon loses its appeal.
PHIL [57%]


The graphics are blocky and most barely resemble the objects they are supposed to depict (the helicopter looks like a large airborne blob). Stunt Bike Simulator will keep most purchasers busy for the first couple of hours or so but I can't see it having much long term appeal.
MARK [53%]

REVIEW BY: Phil King, Mark Caswell

Presentation53%
Graphics52%
Playability61%
Addictive Qualities54%
Overall55%
Summary: General Rating: An uninspired simulator that won't breathe life into more than a few hours of play.

Transcript by Chris Bourne

Your Sinclair Issue 33, Sep 1988   page(s) 51

BARGAIN BASEMENT

Come on down! The Pryce is right! (Groan - Ed) Once again Nat Pryce single-handedly guides us through the treacherous world of the budget game.

Silverbird
£1.99
Reviewer: Nat Pryce

You are Chad Adams, ace stuntman. But to prove your excellence you must undertake five gruelling tests of skill and courage; first leap onto your bike from a swooping hang-glider, then bunny-hop over rolling logs, leap through blazing hoops of fire, dive up onto a moving truck and finally jump from your bike onto a low flying chopper (oo-er). Colt Seevers eat your heart out!

If only the game was as stirring as the macho plot, but unfortunately it's a bit limp on the playability and addictiveness stakes. It isn't helped by incorrect instructions and dodgy collision detection either. Nope, sorry. I can't recommend this.


REVIEW BY: Nat Pryce

Overall4/10
Transcript by Chris Bourne

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