Mastertronic
Cassette £1.99
1 player
1 joystick |
![](images/page_79c.jpg) |
If there's an award going for worst Atari 8-bit game
of 1987, FRENESIS is certain to clinch the title – no sweat!
Graphics are diabolical, sound isn't up to much either and as for
the game itself...
The screen view is largely blank, apart from
so-called aliens disguised as blobs appearing from the perimeter of
the playfield and closing in towards a large cross. Your task is to
prevent them from ever reaching their destinations by careful
manipulation of a tooth edged line called a Straton. Vertical or
horizontal movement of the Straton is achieved by an appropriate
push on the joystick, and if an alien is hit by the toothed edge of
the Straton it disappears. Selected aliens require multiple zapping
and 'Mega annihilating smart bombs' are also available, if you can
be bothered to use them.
That's all there is to it. Forty levels of utter
boredom – hardly a frenetic experience by any twist of the
imagination! FRENESIS was 'programmed' by Tony Takoushi, well known
arcade games fanatic to readers of a certain computer publication.
If this is his idea of a joke then I'm definitely not amused! If
it's not, I would respectfully advise him to practice his talents on
the Oric Atmos or unexpanded Vic 20.
Without a shadow of doubt it's Mastertronic's most
unappealing release to date, and a step in the wrong direction for
the budget pioneers. Highly unrecommended!
top