Planet Lander! (Odyssey 2)
Genre Perspective Visual Gameplay Vehicular Setting |
...
Critic Score
100 point score based on reviews from various critics. ...
User Score
5 point score based on user ratings. |
| write a review of this game read more reviews by Bruce Clarke |
Summary
Fun lunar lander type game
The Good
Apparently this cartridge-based game is only 2KB in size, yet for such a small program it does a lot. Random hills and valleys are generated, your little lander swivels left and right, and has a small orange rocket flame when you hit the thrust button. The graphics are quite presentable for a late 70s game console. Sound effects are the usual 8-bit beeps and bloops. The display gives X and Y coordinate speeds, and after a successful landing, the gravity level increases for the next planet. The game is challenging but not overly so; I found after a few crashes that I am able to land on the first planet most of the time and often land on the second planet successfully. Considering this is a homebrew game, the production values are very good. The glossy cart label and instruction manual look like they were produced by the original Magnavox factory. Unlike other O2 homebrews I own, this cart even had the metal sliding door intact on the cartridge.
The Bad
About the only negative is that the games did not come with a box or case. I tucked the label into the cover of an old VHS tape shell; although not as slick as a nicely made cardboard box, I certainly do understand that making professional quality boxes is a huge hassle and expense, so I can live without that.
