Please login to submit a screenshot

"Weird, but very enjoyable side-scrolling-shooter."

It's not every day you have the opportunity to play the role of a disgruntled goat riding on the back of a laser firing camel through a blue desert filled with ultra-violence. If this sounds like something you'd like to experience, this game is for you.

At the time of its release, Revenge of the Mutant Camels was a revolution for Commodore 64 players. It's predecessor, Attack of the Mutant Camels, was enjoyable, but nothing at all special. When this sequel was released in 1984, it was seen as a major step forward for C64 gaming.

Being one of the first games to make use of the new ''fast-load'' system, which allowed the game to load in an incredible 2 minutes. Alright, it may seem slow by today's standards, but the death of 10 minute loading times was a welcome relief for Commodore owners.

Although the loading times were shorter, the game itself was much longer. 42 levels of non-stop action presented the player with a shooter of near epic proportions which would keep them entertained for quite a while.

There are two main characters in the game: a goat and a camel. The player can choose to either control both at the same time (not as difficult as it sounds, as both characters follow the player's commands simultaneously) or have a friend or the computer join in and take control of one character each. Either way, there's a difficult road of manic firing ahead. You must battle your way through hoards of freaky enemies to reach the end of the game, which is no easy feat. The attackers come thick and fast, and you'll have to be quick on the trigger button to defeat them all. If one of your characters takes a hit, they're mutilated, but return a few seconds later. What makes this game difficult is that the screen is forever moving to the right, and you must take out your attackers swiftly to survive. There are many helpful pick-ups to aid you on your side-scrolling quest, such as extra lives, temporary invincibility, and weapon upgrades. You'll need to make use of everything available to you if you're to defeat the many treacherous enemies ahead.

In comparison to today's games, Revenge of the Mutant Camels is really nothing outstanding. Still, if you're ever in the mood for a retro gaming moment, this is the one to go for. Alongside the other games available on the Commodore 64 at the time, this game is years ahead of the competition, and generally more fun to play.

Graphics: 6/10
Even by today's standards, this game does look nice. The characters are obviously limited by the C64's classic style, but the colorful backdrops are gorgeous, and resemble something from the hallucinations of a dope addict. Apart from that, there's not really much here that would impress today's gamer, but it more than lives up to the standards of the mid 80s.

Sound: 3/10
Pretty repetitive soundtrack, and an annoying ''muuur'' sound that your characters won't stop making whenever pretty much anything happens. The irritating, high pitched firing of your weapons may make you hesitant to use them. Combined with the trippy visuals, the poor so may just drive you insane. Definitely the game's falling point. Sound like this belongs in the arcade, where it can be easily drowned out.

Gameplay: 7/10
It would be higher, but for the repetition factor. There's only so much side-scrolling that can be done before it becomes a bit tedious. I'm not saying the game isn't enjoyable, but it'll take alot of patience to work your way through all 42 of the frantic levels. It's definitely not for those who live at a slow pace. You'll also more than likely be a little irritated by the difficulty. However, this sounds like your cup of tea, you'll love this game. It's unrelenting, furious fun made for the gamer who likes shooting down weird looking objects. How could it not be enjoyable?

Lifespan: 6/10
It's such an enjoyable game that you'll most likely find yourself going back to it often, whether you complete it or get fried on the early levels. The first task is to get good at it, which will take a few attempts and much patience. Once you learn all the tricks, and you can get far enough into the game to appreciate it, you'll never want to stop playing. Your patience may be tried, but if you're anything like me, you'll find the enjoyment of this game makes it more addictive than most.


Reviewer's Score: 6/10 | Originally Posted: 12/22/02, Updated 12/22/02