Planet Bob - Virocop

RSS Bot · April 30, 2006

Hi there!

Welcome to the grand Graftgold Finale with:

Virocop

Programming: Iain Wallington, Steve Turner, Andrew Braybrook

Graphics: Colin Seaman, John Kershaw, Steve Wilkins, Terry Cattrell

Design: Iain Wallington, Colin Seaman, John Kershaw, Steve Turner

Music & SFX: Lee Banyard

Ratings:

Amiga Format: 83% Amiga Joker: 74%

LemonAmiga: 7.52

Overview:

Here comes a game, so over the top that I have two screenshots this time, as words could never describe it.

You control a robot called DAVE, that already has some good starting arsenal of weapons. Inbetween levels you can upgrade him with even more weapons, stuff like flamethrowers, AI missilies, etc.

Your basic mission is just to find the exit in every level. In it's core, Virocop is a game not unlike "The Chaos Engine", if you remember that per chance, or, in its most primitve form, Gauntlet.

It is just... well... the designers went totally berzerk here.

I guess you can identify the yellow guy in the second shot? There's dozens of weird enemies like that - per level! You're attacked by killer bees, invisible baseball players, football robots, kids "armed" with RC planes, hydrants, twisters, billiard balls, gophers, carrera racers, anything you can imagine...

On the other screenshot for example, you were rescuing cheerleaders in an ice rink, who'd then thank you with a little dance. (See Cool Coyote in the audience?)

Fun in 2006:

Ooooohhhhh what great game did I miss! Playing it in 2006 for the first time, it instantly won me over with it's charm. It'd deserve to be considered a "classic", but I fear it's a victim of a late birth.

Virocop compared to previous Graftgold titles:

I think it shares something with Magnetron. The pseudo 3D environment, and controling some trashcan-shaped droid, it just gives you a familiar feel. It's definitely no Magnetron/Paradroid successor though. There's no grappling game and it plays very different. I'm a bit curious wether this was a complete in-house production from Graftgold. Besides Steve Turner and Andrew Braybrook, it's been done by a different team than the older Graftgold titles. Also, all Graftgold genius aside, their games are ususally a lot more "serious"

Greetings,

Manuel

http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?a...&showentry=1514