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This is a great Scramble clone, capturing the addictiveness and frustration to perfection. The graphics are large and bright and the sound is surprisingly good. Although it was a relative latecomer to the Scramble conversion party, Cavern Fighter proved to be one of the most smartly dressed.

CAVERN FIGHTER
Bug-Byte / £5.95
The aim of the game is to protect Watford from hostile attack (Why bother? Ed.), and this is done by taking control of a Gamma 14 flight craft and winging your way through long narrow caverns, shotting out the enemy rockets' fuel dumps and destroying meteors.
Tony This is an incredibly fast game considering the amount going on, but the graphics aren't very appealing, neither is the choice of colour. 5/10
John It's a bit quick in the early stages, but this is far from a disadvantage. On the contrary, it quickly makes the player more skilful, and better prepared for the later stages. 7/10
Mark Colour is well used which makes the player's own craft, as well as the assorted aliens, stand out against the background. The graphics are smooth and fast. 8/10

Cavern Fighter
Producer: Bug-Byte
Memory required: 48K
Retail price: £5.95
Language: Machine code
Author: J.K.J.




Sector 1 of the Zragg caverns and a long, dangerous journey ahead.

It might seem a little late in the day for a major software house like Bug Byte to be releasing a ‘Scramble’ type game, but that all depends on how good the game is. ‘Scramble’ has proved a very durable arcade game as it combines those very skills of timing, speed and hand and eye co-ordination which originally made computer arcade games so popular. As our reviewers, generally ‘jaded’ experts, found, Cavern Fighter is a worthy addition to the shoot em up tradition.

It’s a quite classic version with caves, missiles, city, fuel dumps (for fuel and points), defence installation, asteroids and alien fighters. Once a sector is completed, it means that on loss of life you start at the beginning of the sector. The object of course, is to penetrate as deep as you can into the caverns (of Zragg in this case) and destroy the Dictator’s lair (and save Watford — for what?) whilst avoiding the automatic missiles and guardians, and without crashing into the zig-zagging walls and ceiling at a reckless speed.

CRITICISM
‘The loading time on this cassette was so short I thought it must be for the 16K Spectrum. It has all the usual features including asteroids. The game is very fast and fun to play and a good version of ‘Scramble’. I stress the word ‘version’ because in some ways it’s different from the arcade original — for instance, it all takes place in the caverns. The graphics are very good and the game is highly addictive to play.’

‘One of the problems with a ‘Scramble’ type game is the handful of keys required to play it well — so top marks to Bug-Byte for providing user-definable keys. I think this is the most colourful version I have seen for the Spectrum, and certainly one of the most playable. The graphics are good, very fast, large and well detailed and they move very smoothly. The explosions are not what you would call spectacular, but somehow they seem very vicious and realistic. Great sound too. An excellent version and worth buying.’

‘If you haven’t got a copy of a Spectrum ‘Scramble’ type game, then this would be a good buy. The graphics are smooth and colourful, good sound. I couldn’t stop playing it is extremely addictive!’




Entering sector 4 — The City.

COMMENTS
Control keys: user-definable, requires up/down/thrust/brake/ laser/bomb
Joystick: Kempston, but usable with most via user-definable keys
Keyboard play: very responsive
Colour: very good
Graphics: very good
Sound: excellent
Skill levels: progressive difficulty
Lives: 3
Screens: continuously scrolling — 6 sectors
General rating: excellent value, a high quality version of a popular arcade game, very addictive.

Use of computer 85%
Graphics 85%
Playability 92%
Getting started 88%
Addictive qualities 93%
Value for money 90%
Overall 89%