Please login to submit a screenshot

BOUNTY BOB
US Gold / £7.95

Ross: Scrambling around hundreds of screens looking for assorted objects and dodging hordes of nasties - sounds familiar, eh? Yep, it's yet another ladders and platforms game. But wait! Don't try for a getaway in sheer disgust, this one's a cut above yer average, believe me.
So what's it all about? You've got to guide bouncing Bounty Bob around quite a few screens, hording unlikely combinations of clutter like flower pots, gems and cakes. As you'd expect there's no shortage of nasties to hamper his progress, but Bounty's got a handy asset, his own insatiable appetite! Just like a magpie or an old billy goat, he'll greedily demolish every object in sight, and by doing this he transforms the yellow nasties into an appetising snack too! There's a lot to be said for greed in this game!
There's plenty of leaping and bounding for Bounty Bob to try, but don't let him fall too far or he's a gonner! With only three lives he can't afford to take too many risks!
If you manage to touch every platform in the Painter game part, you'll then be promoted to the next screen. And that's where the fun starts. Bounty Bob can take lifts, slide down the longest tracks possible, use the transporters and generally cause havoc amongst the idyllic lives of the nasty green things.
There's only one thing that you'll lack while playing Bounty Bob - that's time to think. Bob won't have time to hang around because the meanies will be on his tail if he does.
All in all, it's pretty addictive, but don't be fooled into thinking it's a cinch ... you'll see why ... 9/10

NOPE, this game is not about Maxwell's attempts to gain control of Sinclair Research. It is not even a sequel, though it is billed as one.

According to US Gold, only those of you who are discerning enough to own an Atari computer are likely to have seen the first Bounty Bob game, called Miner 2049er. You might have seen one version of it, though, called Manic Miner.

Bounty Bob Strikes Back is a levels and ladders game which takes place in a mine full of traps, aliens and acid rain - the author obviously has an affinity with Matthew Smith.

Once you have got over the inventive but not terribly relevant title screen you can guide Bob through a series of cunningly laid out screens. There are 25 in all and at least some attempt has been made to vary the components from which they are constructed.

Bob can move up and down screens in elevators, be pulled through suction tubes, and slip down slides in an attempt to collect objects and score points. You must clear each screen in 2500 seconds or lose a life.

Bounty Bob relies on screen layout to fox players rather than the aliens which are all important in Manic Miner and Jet Set Willy. It is unfortunate that the character has been introduced onto the Spectrum market so late. Most potential customers are likely to say "Oh no, not another levels and ladders game!" But if that's what you're into you'll enjoy Bounty Bob at least as much as Jet Set Willy.

Publisher US Gold
Price £7.95
Memory 48K
Joystick Kempston
***

John Gilbert