Desert Rally - ZX Kerl

 The email accompanying this entry promises a thrilling rally game.

"Take on the desert in DESERT RALLY, an 80s-style game with simple "O" and "P" controls.

Dodge cacti and camels in a clunky car that’s more grit than glamour, in a 12-direction driving challenge that’s as unforgiving as it is addictive."

Like the previous entry from ZX Kerl we have a range of cassette covers




And a poster which adds to the promise of a bare-knuckle ride through the perils of the desert.


The only real question is how does the game measure up to the promise of the marketing materials? For a start there is no loading screen which is a pity I would love to see a Grongy take on either of the cassette covers. Instead the game loads straight into the instructions for play with a tasteful choice of colours. For some reason there is a prompt to enter a Level, though nothing to tell me what this is for.



Left to my own devices I enter 'One' which instantly throws 2 Variable not found, 3060:5. A crap level of input checking. After re-running and entering '1' I'm greeted with a screen that definitely contains elements of the cassette covers; camels, cacti, palm trees, red splodges and blue numbers. A pink car that definitely doesn't resemble either of the cover images whizzes from left to right.


Sadly the cassette covers don't reveal the other side with gameplay instructions, armed only with the knowledge that O and P do something and the ability to work out that maybe the numbers need to be collected in order I set off and swiftly die.



Pressing Enter and other random keys does nothing at this point. Luckily Space resets the level. 

 

Second go I managed to collect 2 numbers, but died trying to get to the 3. The car responds pretty well to keypresses and moves along at a pace that makes this pretty tricky. It seems you constantly start on the same level you chose at the outset.

It appears the collision routine is a little dodgy as you can die from hitting something that is two columns away when going off-screen.


The car rotates left and right with all the panache of UDG rotation, this is where the game gets tricky for my mind as I often think the key should rotate me the other way. Even once I had gotten my head around the rotation I found that I displayed the driving skills of a daddy-long-legs trying to cross the room.

So far I managed a grand total of 2 numbers collected. Can you do better? 

Technical Ability - 35%

It's firmly in the crap game league, with No loading screen, and no music, however, there are bonus points for the rotated UDGs.

Achievement - 65%

The hype of the marketing materials makes the reality of gameplay a bigger bump down to reality. The lack of instructions on what to actually do adds to the overall feeling of crap.

Fun - 30%

Sad to say I actually played this a few times trying to get better. I also tried re-running it and trying different levels to find one less tricky. So yes it has a slight fun factor.

Crap Factor - 80%

Overall pretty crap, but there is a hint of gameplay, challenge and replay value.

Roundup

Pros -
  • Adequate UDGs
  • Some gameplay
  • Responsive keys
Cons -
  • Lack of clear instructions
  • Unable to choose a new level without re-running
  • No input checking while choosing a level
Remember I play these games so you don't have to. Should you play this game I bear no responsibility for your mental health afterwards. Should the warnings not be enough you can download and play it here.








 







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