traz Commodore 64 game

Cascade introduces TRAZ (the Transformable Arcade Zone), a Breakout-style game priced at £9.95 for the cassette version and £14.95 for the disk version, including a joystick with keys. The game offers one and two-player modes, as well as entry into a construction set from the title page.

In TRAZ, players must break through each of the penitentiary's 64 cells to escape from an electronic prison. The cells, displayed full-screen, contain neutron bricks that are destroyed on contact with the ball, revealing possible exits. Some cells feature more than one bat, controlled via the joystick at two speeds. The two-player mode involves random control swaps between opposing bats.

The game incorporates innovative elements, such as refractive glass and mystery power pills released upon destroying bricks. These pills, shaped like question marks, introduce various effects, including invisible balls, spiraling movement, and high-speed trajectories. TRAZ's screen editor is highlighted as one of the most comprehensive, providing an extra layer of engagement.

ZZAP! 64's review praises TRAZ for its addictive nature, requiring intense mental agility, and lauds the refractive glass and mystery pills. The game's graphics are described as large, bright, and colorful, with well-animated sprites. The sound is noted for its inventiveness, featuring a strong title tune and decent in-game effects. The construction set is considered definitive for Breakout games.

The review also emphasizes TRAZ's uniqueness, stating that it surpasses being a mere clone with its superb gameplay. A map of TRAZ displays the cells visited, and upon breaching all 64 levels, a gap appears for freedom. The construction set allows players to alter game parameters or create entirely new prisons.

Cascade acknowledges that TRAZ's basic concept isn't entirely original but highlights the game's frills as noteworthy. The Breakout Construction Kit is mentioned as a major feature, allowing players to create custom screens. The review encourages trying the Construction Kit even for those not typically interested in creating their own games.

TRAZ's gameplay involves battling through a multi-screen complex with complex block arrangements. Players control multiple bats, facing challenges like traps and multi-plane bat controls. The review praises the game's tooth-grinding compulsiveness, varied screens, multi-plane bats, and the inclusion of a construction kit.

In terms of ratings, the review gives TRAZ a presentation score of 93%, graphics at 81%, sound at 60%, hookability at 91%, lastability at 86%, and an overall score of 87%. The game is described as a revivifying enhancement of the Breakout theme, offering compelling gameplay.