The Games That Time Forgot: 1989 Edition

They'd probably have sold more without those terrible washed-out screenshots on the back

LOST CAVES

(Players)

It's okay for budget games to rip off full price games. It must be, as it happened as a matter of course. I think they largely got away with it because the expectations were much lower with a cheapo title, so originality wasn't usually expected. Just a hopefully not too terrible impression of an already established concept. Or maybe everyone thought budget firms had no money, so no-one bothered to sue them.

Think Players had a phase where they couldn't be bothered with load screens any more

Lost Caves And The Tomb Of Doom, to give it its occasionally-mentioned dreadful full name... in fact, forget that, we'll stick to Lost Caves, is clearly a rip of Rockford's first spelunky affair. Only the hero is a dude, while Rockford was... erm, a weird... I want to say armadillo? And the sprites in Lost Caves are bigger, almost too big really. They kind of dominate the screen a bit too much and make you want to sit further away from the computer.

Hot dang but those diamonds are big. As is everything around here

Here's what happened. You were chased by a band of cut-throat nomads (do nomads travel in groups? Doubtful) who have chased you into some diamond filled caverns by sheer fluke. You now have a choice, the inlay asserts. "Enter this subterranean nightmare or perish amongst the cold steel blades of a thousand nomads". Jinkies.

Don't wander into the top arrowy bit. You get stuck and can't move. Annoyingly

You have to retrieve a set number of diamonds on each level, then leave through the exit door. Like Boulder Dash. There is no time limit on the levels. Unlike Boulder Dash. There are enemies and yourself to drop rocks on. Like Boulder Dash. There is often just one route through the level to ensure not getting hemmed in by rocks. Unlike Boulder Dash.

Now would be the perfect time to leg it southwards like your butt is on fire

So there are differences then. Lost Caves is a more thinky affair, less frenetic than its predecessor, which isn't to say you don't have to run for your life now and then. 'Tis the spelunker's lot. Bombs, levers and walls you can pass through (I dunno) heap on the variety and keep you guessing. I haven't seen any of that green goop that spreads like crazy in this game yet though. They used that to make the gooey blobs in Chaos, you know.

"These rocks really pull the room together man". If you don't get that, well sorry

The visuals aren't bad at all, even if the hero appears from some angles to be wearing a chunky knit, like The Big Lebowski. Colour is bright for a cave and there's even a constant warbly tune to keep you company. All in all, a highly acceptable clone which should satisfy most Cave Dwellers, even Miles O'Keefe (gratuitous MST3K reference).

Adam Waring also did the colourful Ultima Ratio for Firebird

ROCKY RATING

72%

THE GAMES THAT TIME FORGOT: 1989 EDITION

2nd out of 5