Nonterraqueous, ZX Spectrum, Mastertronic – IC 0078
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Score - 5/105/10
Summary
There are plenty of screens in Nonterraqueous to keep players entertained for some time. With some logical puzzles along the way, solving these allows you to venture further into the game.
The major downside is that a slight error or bad luck (of which there is a lot!) can instantly kill you outright (without it really being any fault of the player most of the time). Although that is very frustrating, it does ironically add to the longevity of the game (if you are somewhat forgiving and have quite a bit of patience). There is just too much instant death to really get into it and enjoy. This is a real pity as it’s a good idea a game but ruined somewhat.
For the money, it’s an average, but annoyingly frustrating game.
User Review
( votes)Playability
You have one life in Nonterraqueous but what you have is an energy in the form of Psyche. Landing on objects or ledges loses you 5 units and collision with aliens depletes it too. Psyche can also be collected from screens too.
The pace that your chosen Seeker(s) move at is just right and feel comfortable to control. However, you can’t get carried away by trying to whizz through the screens at a fast rate of knots, as you simply won’t get anywhere fast. An example is the third screen that you enter. White photon thrusters move up and down vertically as you enter the screen and you have to instantly stop moving. Any collision with these results with three lines of text explaining why you died. Yes, its simply game over just like that. Just imagine if you got to a screen much further into the game. Many players, I feel would probably yell a bit (being polite) and possibly throw a tantrum in pure frustration!
Some screens have single standing objects where you can gain Psyche. From my experience, picking up a bad one seemed more likely than getting a good one. A bad one instantly kills you outright. Once again, a few lines of text explaining that you picked up decayed Psyche is the only warning you’ll get and obviously that’s too late! There is just no way of telling whether its if its going to be good or decayed Psyche. Repetitive play, a good memory and possibly a map noting what is or isn’t dangerous would help. What would have been better in my opinion is to perhaps reduce your Psyche by say, 50 units rather than an just an infuriating instant game over.
One plus side though, if there is a bomb to pick up on the screen, you don’t have to travel all the way over to collect it. You can just press the pick-up button (wherever you are on the screen.)
Keep Your Distance
When you drop a bomb, it obviously makes sense to stay as far away from it as far as possible before it explodes. Dropping it and not moving away far enough results in instant death. You can stay on the same screen, just not to close to the explosion.
Graphics
All the graphics in Nonterraqueous seem very well drawn with some neat animation in places too. An example being the cyan coloured electric fence just a few screens into the game. Most of the screens have colourful areas at the top, bottom or sides of them. The loading screen isn’t bad either, looking more than presentable.
The laser shooting from the Sphere Seeker in long coloured lines, with dotted effects looks very good.
The only issue I really have with the graphics is when you move your Sphere Seeker, it can look slightly jerky (especially left and right). When controlling the Defenceless Seeker though, it seemed smoother.
Music and Sound Effects
A tune plays on the main menu screen and Hall of Fame hi-score screens. There is also a choice to switch the tune on and off too.
Throughout the game, there are sound effects. You’ll hear when your seeker fires its laser (note only one out of the two can shoot) or when you drop a bomb causing a repeated beeping cycle.
I’m pleased the tune is there (always beats silence), but the sound effects in all honesty, are better. Ironically, you start the game on Level 42, but no link whatsoever to the band here and the tune, I can promise you!
Screens and Levels
The inlay card says that there are over 1,000 screens to search and progress through. With so many screens, it’s a game that players who like drawing out maps would probably enjoy. Progressing up a screen reduces the level number and the further you descend the screens; the level number increases.
There are three sections in the game. These are the cave section at the top, the all-machinery and semi-machinery sections at the bottom.
So, What’s With The Label Code IC 0078?
The code on the spine of the inlay label shows IC 0078. IC generally indicates a Commodore game and IS for ZX Spectrum. I just want to point out it isn’t a typo on my behalf!
Please Sir, Can I Have Some More?
Well, it turns out that you could. Nonterraqueous has a sequel called Soul of a Robot and on the Amstrad, there was also another game called Into Oblivion.
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You know what we think but why not share your thoughts on this game! Let us know what you think of it in the comments below, or add your own score using the slider in the summary box at the top of the review!
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