THE SPECTRUM GAMES DATABASE

THE TRAPDOOR

PUBLISHER
Piranha

AUTHOR
Don Priestley (He has allowed this snapshot to be publicly
available)

YEAR
1986

DESCRIPTION
A puzzle like adventure based on the childrens TV Series.

CONTROLS:
Kempston Joystick
Redefinable Keyboard

INSTRUCTIONS
Playing the game.
Somewhere in the dark and nasty regions where nobody goes, stands
an old and spooky castle - home of the Bad Tempered Thing.  In
the dark lower regions of the castle, Berk grudgingly slaves away
carrying out the orders of the Thing.  To win his ultimate reward
- a safe full of loot - Berk has to complete up to five bizarre
tasks (Four in Learner mode) quickly and accurately before the
Thing's anger boils over.  Each task is complete when Berk sends
his offering Upstairs on the dumb waiter and the Thing accepts
it.

Learner Berk.
Before the game starts you can choose to be a Learner Berk or a
Super Berk.  When you first play it is a good idea to try the
humble Learner mode. It's easier, even if you don't socre so
highly or earn Berk's pay!

The Trap Door.
Under the trap door lurk 'orrible monstrosities all eager to
escape as soon as the trap is opened.  Most have a useful role
in completing Berk's tasks.  The problem is knowing which monster
is needed for which task.  If the wrong one gets out, it can be
a real time-waster and a danger to life and limb!  Get rid of
wrong 'uns (somehow!) as quickly as possible.

Spooks.
If the trapdoor is left open, spooks fly out.  Like almost
everything in Berk's world, they're hungry and the only way Berk
can get rid of them is by feeding them.  They'll eat anything -
worms, eggs, eye-juice, eyes, even Boni the skull!  If Berk
hasn't got food to hand, the spooks will send him reeling.  In
Learner Berk mode, the spooks have been given a holiday and
won't trouble you.

Boni and Drutt.
Boni's pretty bright as skulls go.  Each time Berk picks him up,
he utters a few words, sometimes useful advice on how to complete
a task.  Drutt the Spider spends his time hopping about getting
in Berk's way and eating worms.  It's hard to get rid of him!

The Tasks.
They can all be done!  Wait for the Thing to announce what it
wants then get cracking.  All the props for the tasks can be
found in the lower regions.  But you'll need some ingenuity to
figure out how to use the various objects (and their contents). 
Each task needs for completion a particular Trap Door Monster. 
The Anger-Meter at the bottom of the screen warns you that time
is running out.  When the Thing gets really mad, it yells at Berk
that time's up.  If Berk hasn't finished, the task in hand is
cancelled and a new one is set.

Containers.
Berk can shove some objects and a shoved object can shove other
objects.  Berk can put things into containers, carry them around
and tip out the contents.  Some are vital to particular tasks!

Score.
Your score reduces as time ticks by and increases with bonuses
for the successes you achieve.

Super Berk.
Your real objective is to become a Super Berk!  If Berk completes
all the tasks he'll be awarded his wages.  Thing sends them down
in a tough-looking safe.  To get his loot and become a true Super
Berk, the safe has to be opened.  There's an exact procedure that
guarantees success.  Finding it is the final challenge.

Stategy.
Once you've figured out how to carry out the tasks you can start
using stategy to maximise your score.  For example, if you
complete a task early, you can make preparations for any of the
other tasks.  Objects already in the best locations can save time
later and win you extra points.

URL


NOTES
Large sprites, with not much colour clash make this a very nice
game to look at.  Gameplay is there to support this visual
delight also.























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