Netherworld

Hewson/ Imagetec(198?). Programmed by Mark Barker. Graphics by Cooky. Music by Nigel Pritchard. Game design by Jukka Tapanimaki.

I've always had a soft spot for Hewson's games. I can't quite place what it is, but something about them, even if they are distinctly average, like this one, makes me enjoy them nonetheless.. You control some sort of spinning thing that shoots in all four directions every time you press the fire button. You travel round a very smooth scrolling level, which is annoyingly cluttered by objects making it somewhat like a maze. You have to collect various 'things' (crystals, fuel, McDonald's cheeseburgers, I'm not sure what they are!), while avoiding nasties, all of which don't look very frightening. Warp tunnels exist to help you get round the level faster. Getting all the 'things' and then jumping into a warp takes you to a bonus round, and then to the next level, where a even more difficult maze awaits. There are a few 'bonus' items mainly in the way of points, but also some very frustrating things that reverse your controls (yes that old chesnut) or make you bounce around like the ball in Breakout (aargh!). Graphically and sonically this game is good if slightly 8bit in the looks department, and if there is a fault it something to do with the game design. It's hard, complicated to play and you'd have to be incredibly flukey to get very far on your first go. For some reason I quite like it though.

Zogging Hell Rating: 6/10

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