Danger Mouse In Double Trouble (ABC) Commodore 64 game

First, let's set the scene. London has been enjoying a brief respite from the evil attentions of the power-mad Baron Silas Greenback, the arch-enemy of Dangermouse. Our hero is relaxing in his Mayfair penthouse flat situated in a pillar box in Baker Street. He is sitting quietly, reading Cheesemaker Weekly and beginning to think that Greenback has given up his quest for total world domination when, suddenly, the videophone bursts into life. It's Colonel K, head of security and Dangermouse's boss!

"News has just come in from Peruvian intelligence that the mad Baron and his gang of international villains have spent the last fortnight in the depths of the jungle, building a 32k RAM, DMOS, ROM electrically erasable mega micro-mouse hardware unit," growled Colonel K.

"Eh? What's that?" says Dangermouse, looking baffled. Colonel K answers his top agent's question. "The letters stand for Real Artificial Mouse, Dangermouse Operating System, Really 'Orrible Mouse. In other words, it's an android Dangermouse!"

"What!" says Dangermouse, leaping up from his easy chair.

"It can impersonate you and infiltrate our intelligence service to help Greenback's quest for ultimate power," Colonel K explains. "Unless you can reach Greenback's secret workshop in time and stop this evil creation from being activated!"

Which super-rodent strikes fear into the hearts of even the most hardened villain? Which mega-mouse would be able to defeat even the newest hi-tech mouse-trap? And which secret agent is starring in a brand new computer game? Danger Mouse, that's who! This furry fellow was an instant hit with TV audiences everywhere when his cartoon adventures came to the small screen. Now you can help Dangermouse save the world once again by getting hold of a copy of his first computer adventure called 'Dangermouse in Double Trouble,' or why not try to win one in our Dangermouse competition, which you'll find on page 15? Meanwhile, here's C&VG's EXCLUSIVE review of this brand new game.

Penfold, Dangermouse's trusty assistant, dashes off to start up the wonder car, and that's where YOU come in!

You must help Dangermouse fly the aerocar to the Peruvian jungle, avoiding Greenback's squadrons of flying robots that attempt to hold our hero back. There's a limited amount of time before the android mouse is activated, so you must work fast.

"Right! I'll leave right away, sir," Dangermouse says briskly. "Penfold! Get the aerocar ready immediately. We're going to Peru!"

Once you've reached the jungle, Dangermouse has to negotiate crocodile swamps and a hungry puma that blocks his path. Then Dangermouse can make his way to Greenback's secret workshop, where he must stop Greenback from activating the android mouse. If he runs out of time, the android will be released, and Greenback will control the world! Phew!

The first screen features some nice graphics. Dangermouse and Penfold are flying toward Peru in the aerocar. Toward them come a nicely drawn variety of Greenback robots. Dangermouse has to fight them off by firing musical notes from the aerocar's special juke-box.

The juke-box has to be told which type of robot it's firing at. Get the note wrong, and a robot will hold you up. At first, this is done automatically, but at certain stages of the game, you must operate the robot repellent device manually to score hits.

In the final and most graphically impressive part of the game, we find Dangermouse in Greenback's workshop. The android mouse is about to be activated. Greenback's sidekick, Stiletto, is programming the android using the On-Off Electrical Key (OO ECK!), and there are only a few minutes left before the task is complete.

DM and Penfold arrive at the base to find the program control box completely surrounded by an electrified floor. DM must stop the programming by extinguishing a row of yellow lights in the control box. To do this, he must use his highly developed index finger to manipulate buttons in the box, while hopping about over the electrified floor! Meanwhile, Penfold is being chased around by Nero, Greenback's caterpillar friend!

'Dangermouse in Double Trouble' is a fun game to play. The theme is original and well executed, and it will be quite some time before you're able to beat Greenback, playing at the Top Agent level.

The graphics on the final screen are stunning on the Spectrum version and even better on the Commodore 64. Here at C&VG, we're sure you'll enjoy playing this game and will keep coming back for more - just like Greenback!

Creative Sparks says that this could be the first in a series of Dangermouse games. We're looking forward to the next one!