Ant Attack

Year of release: 1983
Publisher: Quicksilva Ltd (UK)
Producer/Author(s): Sandy White, Angela Sutherland

Listed on: WorldOfSpectrum , Wikipedia

Controls:
0, P, ENTER, SPACE - 4 view angles
SYMBOL SHIFT - Rotate clockwise
M - Rotate anticlockwise
V - Forewards
C - Jump
S D F G - Throw grenade short-long distances
1 - Last resort, returns you to the city gate

The Walled City of Antescher has rested for a thousand, thousand years in the midst of the Great Desert inhabited by only the deadly Ants who have made it their home. The sands have piled up at the walls but for some reason have never encroached upon the city proper. The City rests dreaming of past glories, solid and unmoving; the signature of a long dead race. The City washed clean by the sun's rays. The city lost from the world of men for days without number.

Then one day, one year, one hour, He arrived and She arrived, some say that they are descended from a race of wizards, some say that they are descended from a race hidden in a green valley at the North Pole. Who can really tell these days, how much do we really know about the world as it was, or as it is, after so long in the cold Dark Ages. Only Antescher seems to stand inviolate after all this time, teeming with secrets, yet silent.

He and She arrived to play their games through the wind-swept streets, ousting the ants from their exclusive occupation. He and She are now wreaking havoc through the ants who for their part kill and kill again without thought or consideration, just carrying out a biological imperative. He and She run to and fro, climbing in and out the buildings, the sound of their feet stretching from block to block. They laugh and cry out in fear walking with each other just ahead of the Ants and Death.

And above all the drama within it's walls the City of Antescher watches and watches waiting for the next renaissance and the next Golden Age. The City seems to have a presence, a huge brooding entity which hangs over the buildings and which in some mysterious way controls the destiny of those below...

Posted by Matt_B on Wed, 05/28/2008 - 20:44

This is a real favourite of mine. There was nothing like it graphically at the time - even Knight Lore only came out a year or so later - and it's as much a work of art as a computer game.

People say that the gameplay is lacking, and they might be right, but I think it's good fun anyway. It certainly worked out a lot more playable than Sandy White's other games, but that's not really saying much. Getting the last few people out alive can be a bit tricky as you've got to do things like run across gaps and jump on the back of ants. Exploring the city and figuring out what all the buildings are supposed to be is rather enjoyable too.

Another criticism this game gets that I think is a little unfair is that there are too many keys. You only really need to use four of them most of the time and only make an occasional prod at the others. The different view angles sometimes help when you're looking for people to rescue. The grenades are pretty ineffectual for the most part but you might occasional take out an ant rather than blow yourself up with them.