Game Review: Aqua (Commodore 64, Mastertronic)

In late 1984, Mastertronic were already becoming a major player in the computer games market. At that time, a new Commodore magazine was being launched, called Commodore Answers. This mainly dealt with hardware and programming, as well as BASIC listings for some games too. As a result, Mastertronic made a cassette to be mounted on the front cover of the magazine, which was unusual for the time. The cassette had a slideshow on side one which showcased static screen shots from a number of other Mastertronic games including Magic Carpet, BMX Racers (version 2), Space Walk (version 2), and Orbitron – all by the Darling brothers.

Side two contains the game we are interested in here, Aqua. Programmed by Tony Kelly of Mr Chip Software, whom had already been popular with their other games on the Commodore 64 such as Squirm and the conversion of Spectipede, this is a single screen platform collect-em-up game. Your job as a diver is to collect as many pearls from the reef as possible, avoiding contact with the inhabitants. These includes all sots of fish and crustaceans. But, it continues, watch out – the rival companies have ways of dealing with trespassers.

Under the Sea of Confusion

Initially, you are not sure on the title screen whether you need to press J or K for joystick or keyboard controls, as either of which starts the game. You can press P on the title screen to change the number of players, either 1 or 2. It is worth noting that if you pick a one player game, you are in control of player two, the blue player on the right of screen with a joystick in port one (or use the keys as mentioned on screen). If you play as two players, the blue player to the left of screen is player one and is in port two, and the two players play at the same time.

Once that hurdle has been negotiated, the game itself is simple. The pearls are little circles which are on top of moving platforms at various levels of depth on the sea bed. Moving left or right leaves the submarine, and you can move between the levels by either falling down the gap in the platforms, of pressing up to move up if there is a platform directly above you. You can also move back up to the submarine if you need to and this also replenishes your air supply, which constantly decreases. If you collide with any of the sea creatures or run out of air, you lose one of your three lives.

Beyond the Sea

The moving platforms can vary in length, and you can move the joystick along with the moving platforms to try and stay on that level of the sea bed as long as possible. However, various sea creatures including crabs, fish and serpents, move across the levels and mean that you need to avoid them. This requires either careful dropping down to the next level without a creature underneath to collide with, or moving up to the level above if the platform is there. You may also find that getting the pearls on the other side from where you start from is more difficult, as you need to make your way over there and avoid the creatures, and get back to the submarine before your time runs out.

Thankfully, the gameplay is sensible enough in that if you lose a life, you do not have to recollect any pearls before you made it back to the submarine for some air. This helps considerably and means you can concentrate on the task in hand. If you do manage to get all the pearls, the screen resets and places the pearls back for more collection, and you start off where you left off, including with the same amount of air left. You may therefore find you need to rush quickly back to the surface to replenish the air if it happens, or get your final pearl with an almost full supply of air if you can so that you are ready.

She Sells Sea Shells on the Sea Shore

The controls are responsive as they need to be, and although you may find it frustrating that you cannot press up to jump unless there is a platform above you, the dynamics work well. You may find yourself guilty of double jumping on occasion if you are too overzealous with the up on the joystick or corresponding key, but you will learn that patience reaps its own rewards. There is a good high score challenge to be had, especially if you can manage to collect all the pearls at least once or twice over.

In two player mode, with it being simultaneous, it is also very good fun, and as not every game allowed both players to play at the same time, it was a good feature to put in. You can choose whether to co-operate fully and be able to build up the score, or both go for broke and try and get the same pearls (and indeed run the risk of both of you being hunted down by the sea creatures.) It certainly adds to the already nice features that this game has.

Graphics and Sound

The graphics on Aqua are reasonable, with some single colour sprites for each of the sea creatures, as well as one for each player. The platforms are simply drawn as are the pearls, with the submarines also single colour. The display to the right-hand side of the screen shows the score and air supply for both players as well as the high score and is laid out well. There is no tune that plays, just some sound effects as you move around under the sea, and a small noise when you lose a life by whatever means. It is functional enough, but nothing special.

Final Thoughts

Although Aqua may not look or sound the prettiest game, the key here is that the game is simple to pick up and play, but hard to put down. The fact you have a simultaneous two player mode is a huge bonus, and the game itself has good responsive controls and becomes quite addictive as you attempt to get all the pearls before the air supply runs out, or you make a dash to get it replenished. The risk and reward is well judged, with some sensible game design choices and the emphasis being very much on playability, as all Mr Chip games seemed to excel at. It shows what a Mastertronic game could be for the price, and if this had been released at the usual £1.99 price point, it would have been reviewed a lot more favourably than some of the other earlier releases. The only difficulty you may have is locating the cassette, as I am not sure how many copies of the magazine sold – and it may have been the only issue.

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