Not the board game!
We are Marvin the Mouse, who desperately wants to win back the heart of his ex-girlfriend who left him for another. She must be quite the materialistic female, when you think about the plan he's come up with to win her back: scrounge dozens of lethal rooms looking for precious items that are gonna impress her. Yep, that'll work. Hmm, women...
Anyhow, this is a cruel and unforgiving platformer: make one mistake, and it's often impossible to go back and try again, which usually means a life lost as you replay. Each screen needs every item collected before you can progress to the next. Finishing each is a matter of working out the best route rather than what appears the quickest.
There is a time limit, so hit the 'F' key to pause - now study the layout to figure out the best route.
No, he's not floating but simply in mid-fall. And that aspect took me a while to fully master...
Wow! Those colours... This game is incredibly different from the norm, and I love that.
Some levels are pretty simple. Not only to look at but complete very quickly. Like this one!
Input & Outputs
The controls are excellent. However, I initially found them a little fiddly and quite perplexing. For example, if you're facing left and then tap "right" (to turn around), Marvin will not only do that, BUT he also walks a couple of steps in that direction. I'm used to Manic Miner, so this frustrating mechanic took me some time to master. And I did.
The controls are excellent. However, I initially found them a little fiddly and quite perplexing. For example, if you're facing left and then tap "right" (to turn around), Marvin will not only do that, BUT he also walks a couple of steps in that direction. I'm used to Manic Miner, so this frustrating mechanic took me some time to master. And I did.
Visually, Mouse Trap looks like an 8-bit platformer but with the ST's extra pixels and colours. It's kinda weird and features the oddest sprites: check out the old man with the big nose who appears on level two!! A weird-looking game with sprites that are either excellent or just plain crud: like the floating skulls, which are awful. Yet somehow it works.
Music is eerily enjoyable but will get annoying, so press M to turn it off when your ears begin to bleed.
This baffled me at first, but it's actually a lot easier than you realise. Love the sinking ledges!
Some of the levels are far simpler than you first think. Just take your time...
This baffled me at first, but it's actually a lot easier than you realise. Love the sinking ledges!
Some of the levels are far simpler than you first think. Just take your time...
There is the odd dodgy screen, but then it redeems itself with this blue beauty!
The CryptO'pinion?
Mouse Trap is a charming platformer with an incredible variety of different screens - all as difficult as they are quirky, and you will always be drawn back for that one-more-go! The only negative aspect is the lack of passwords or a save-game feature. Baffling, because there are so many levels to plunder (IE, you are forced to replay).
Having said that, I've enjoyed Mouse Trap. It's a blimmin' excellent platformer, so (nearly) top marks from me!!
Having said that, I've enjoyed Mouse Trap. It's a blimmin' excellent platformer, so (nearly) top marks from me!!
Only after a few games, I'm rocking the high-score table. Can you beat me?
No, I didn't think so!! :p
This game was one of ten games bundled with my Atari ST. My sister and I played this game a lot. We were excited about the attract mode which cycled through all levels.
ReplyDeleteAt the start? Yes, this is much like the old MM/JSW and something I like as it gives a good glimpse to the levels you've not reached. Tempts you! (sorry about the late reply, I didn't get an alert for your comment)
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