[{"TitleName":"Cavern Fighter","Publisher":"Bug-Byte Software Ltd","Author":"John K. Jameson","YearOfRelease":"1983","ZxDbId":"0000859","Reviews":[{"Issue":{"Name":"Crash Issue 3, Apr 1984","Price":"£0.75","ReleaseDate":"1984-03-16","Editor":"Roger Kean","TotalPages":128,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Roger Kean\r\nConsultant Editor: Franco Frey\r\nProduction Designer: David Western\r\nArt Editor: Oliver Frey\r\nClient Liaison: John Edwards\r\nStaff Writer: Lloyd Mangram\r\nContributing Writers: Matthew Uffindel, Chris Passey\r\nSubscription Manager: Denise Roberts\r\n\r\n©1984 Newsfield Ltd.\r\nCrash Micro is published monthly by Newsfield Ltd. [redacted]\r\n\r\nTelephone numbers\r\nEditorial [redacted]\r\nSubscriptions [redacted]\r\nAdvertising [redacted]\r\nHot Line [redacted]\r\nNo material may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent from the copyright holders.\r\n\r\nColour origination by Scan Studio, [redacted]\r\nPrinted in England by Plymouth Web Offset Ltd, [redacted].\r\nDistribution by Comag, [redacted]\r\nAdditional setting and process work by The Tortoise Shell Press, [redacted].\r\n\r\nSubscriptions: 12 issues £9.00 UK Mainland (post free)\r\nEurope: 12 issues £15 (post free).\r\n\r\nWe cannot undertake to return any written or photographic material sent to CRASH MICRO unless accompanied by a stamped addressed envelope.\r\n\r\nCover by Oliver Frey"},"MainText":"Producer: Bug-Byte\r\nMemory Required: 48K\r\nRetail Price: £5.95\r\nLanguage: Machine code\r\nAuthor: J.K.J\r\n\r\nIt 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a very durable arcade game as it combines those very skills of timing, speed and hand and eye co-ordination which originally made computer arcade games so popular.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.\r\n\r\nIt'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.\r\n\r\nCOMMENTS\r\n\r\nControl keys: user-definable, requires up/down/thrust/brake/ laser/bomb\r\nJoystick: Kempston, but usable with most via user-definable keys\r\nKeyboard play: very responsive\r\nColour: very good\r\nGraphics: very good\r\nSound: excellent\r\nSkill levels: progressive difficulty\r\nLives: 3\r\nScreens: continuously scrolling - 6 sectors","ReviewerComments":["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.\r\r\nUnknown","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.\r\r\nUnknown","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!\r\nUnknown"],"OverallSummary":"General Rating: Excellent value, a high quality version of a popular arcade game, very addictive.","Page":"9","Denied":false,"Award":"Crash Game Of The Month","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Unknown","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""},{"Name":"Unknown","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""},{"Name":"Unknown","Score":"","ScoreSuffix":""}],"ScreenshotText":[{"Text":"Entering sector 4 - The City."},{"Text":"Sector 1 of the Zragg Caverns and a long, dangerous journey ahead."}],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Use of Computer","Score":"85%","Text":""},{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"85%","Text":""},{"Header":"Playability","Score":"92%","Text":""},{"Header":"Getting Started","Score":"88%","Text":""},{"Header":"Addictive Qualities","Score":"93%","Text":""},{"Header":"Value For Money","Score":"90%","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"89%","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Your Spectrum Issue 3, May 1984","Price":"£0.85","ReleaseDate":"1984-04-09","Editor":"Roger Munford","TotalPages":122,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Roger Munford\r\nManaging Editor: Bruce Sawford\r\nDeputy Editor: Tina Boylan\r\nEditorial Assistant: Pete Shaw\r\nSoftware Consultant: Gavin Monk\r\nSub Editor: Nik Lumsden\r\nContributors: Phil Manchester, Ian Beardsmore, Ron Smith, Mike Mepham, Sandy Dewhurst, Colin Young, Andrew Wright, Richard Archdeacon, Stephen Adams, Damir Skrgatic, Dilwyn Jones, Simon Goodwin, Toni Baker, SQ Factor\r\nArt Editor: Jimmy Egerton\r\nArt Assistant: Steve Broadhurst\r\nGroup Advertisement Manager: Jeff Raggett\r\nAdvertisement Managers: Shane Campbell, Gill Harris, Jason Wood\r\nProduction Editor: Derek Cohen\r\nTypesetters: Beverley Douglas, Maggie Kayley, Velma Miller\r\nProduction Manager: Sonia Hunt\r\nGroup Art Director: Perry Neville\r\nPublisher: Stephen England\r\nDistribution Manager: Colin James\r\n\r\nPublished by Sportscene Specialist Press Ltd, [redacted] Company registered in England. Telephone (all departments): [redacted]\r\nReproduction: Graphic Ideas, London\r\nPrinters: Chase Web Offset [redacted]\r\nDistribution: Seymour Press [redacted]\r\n\r\nAll material in Your Spectrum ©1984 Felden productions, and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of the publishers. Your Spectrum is a monthly publication.\r\n\r\nCover photography by Ian McKinnell"},"MainText":"CAVERN FIGHTER\r\nBug-Byte\r\n£5.95\r\n\r\nThe 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.","ReviewerComments":["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.\r\nJohn Hall\r\n7/10","This is an incredibly fast game considering the amount going on, but the graphics aren't very appealing, neither is the choice of colour.\r\nTony Samuels\r\n5/10","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.\r\nMark Knight\r\n8/10"],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"70","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"John Hall","Score":"7","ScoreSuffix":"/10"},{"Name":"Tony Samuels","Score":"5","ScoreSuffix":"/10"},{"Name":"Mark Knight","Score":"8","ScoreSuffix":"/10"}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":null,"CompilationReviewScores":[]},{"Issue":{"Name":"Personal Computer Games Issue 5, Apr 1984","Price":"£0.75","ReleaseDate":"1984-03-15","Editor":"Chris Anderson","TotalPages":176,"HasCoverTape":false,"FlannelPanel":"Editor: Chris Anderson\r\nProduction Editor: Roderick George\r\nArt Editor: Ian Findlay\r\nTechnical Editor: Stuart Cooke\r\nStaff Writers: Steve Cooke, Peter Connor\r\nEditorial Assistant: Samantha Hemens\r\nSoftware Consultant: Tony Takoushi\r\nCartoons: Kipper Williams\r\nProgram Control Guardians: Jeff Riddle\r\nGame-of-the-month poster: Pat Weedon\r\nScreenshots: Chris Bell\r\nCover Illustration: Richard Evans\r\nGroup Editor: Cyndy Miles\r\nArt Director: Jim Dansie\r\nPublisher: Mark Eisen\r\nAssistant Publishing Manager: Sue Clements\r\nPublishing Secretary: Jenny Dunne\r\nAdvertising Manager: Herbert Wright\r\nAssistant Advertisement Manager: Jan Martin\r\nGroup Advertisement Manager: Pat Dolan\r\nAdvertisement Production: Simon Carter\r\nAdvertisement Assistant: Coraline Turner\r\nSales Executives: Joey Davies, Marion O'Neill\r\n\r\nPublished by VNU Business Publications, [redacted]. Typesetting by Spectrum Typesetting, [redacted] Origination by Fourmost Colour [redacted]. Printed and bound by Chase Web Offset [redacted]. © VNU Business Publications 1984."},"MainText":"MACHINE: Spectrum 48K\r\nJOYSTICK: Optional\r\nCATEGORY: Arcade\r\nSUPPLIER: Bug-Byte\r\nPRICE: N/A\r\n\r\nThis is a terrific rendering of Scramble, one which threatens to leave the other Spectrum versions smouldering on the launch-pad.\r\n\r\nYou can read all about the other games in the Scramble comparison on page 40, but right here is where the real action is.\r\n\r\nCavern Fighter features a frighteningly narrow cavern which requires constant vigilance if you're to avoid crashing into its twisting walls.\r\n\r\nMovement is oh-so-smooth, and ah-so-fast. But you don't need a joystick. You can select your own control keys which means you can have a single key to fire your laser, drop bombs, and slow down.\r\n\r\nSo you can concentrate on obliterating everything that moves without tying your fingers in knots.\r\n\r\nAll the usual features are there: rockets, fuel dumps, phizzers, fireballs. Get in there and blast them.","ReviewerComments":[],"OverallSummary":"","Page":"86","Denied":false,"Award":"Not Awarded","Reviewers":[{"Name":"Chris Anderson","Score":"8","ScoreSuffix":"/10"}],"ScreenshotText":[],"BlurbText":[],"TranscriptBy":"Chris Bourne","ReviewScores":[{"Header":"Graphics","Score":"9/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Sound","Score":"7/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Ease Of Use","Score":"8/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Originality","Score":"1/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Lasting Interest","Score":"8/10","Text":""},{"Header":"Overall","Score":"8/10","Text":""}],"CompilationReviewScores":[]}]}]