ALMOST A PONG by Joesg's ZX Spectrum Team

 



ALMOST A PONG by Joesg's ZX Spectrum Team for ZX Spectrum



We all know Pong.

Pong is the reason we are here.

Pong is like a mythical creature.

Hail to the Pong!


But... Almost a Pong ?

   I checked the readme file provided by the authors and it says: "This game was made in 2 years of hard work" - This has got to be something really special (or they are as slow as I am at coding).


   So I fired up the emulator with the tap file and...

   Ha?

   Haha?

   What?

   Hahaha!

   Hahahahahahahahahaha!

   Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

   (and so on)


   ATTENTION !!!

   IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A GOOD LAUGH, STOP READING NOW, PLAY THE GAME AND THEN CONTINUE WITH THE REVIEW.

   Now some spoiler-safe blank lines.

























   Looking like the cover of some space ambient electro music compilation, the cover art prepares you for something special:




   And the title says it's "almost", so I don't expect any paddles. I load the game.




   This looks very well done, redefined character set, double sized characters, UDGs... Centered text !!!

   I dutifully hit the SPACE key.



   Noted.

   SPACE again.




   Hmmm... This looks like the familiar Pong playing field...

   But there is no opponent and no second paddle. Could this be a Pong for the One Armed Boxer ?






   SPACE again.




   Smooth ball movement.

   But... There is no one to stop it!




   There you go, I scored effortlessly.

   I then innocently try again from another part of playfield. Same result. I try again, same thing. I then reach the required 5 points.




   Need I say more?



   Gathering: I must sincerely thank the development team of this game for making me laugh, something so necessary in life. I still have a big smile on my face. Apart from the fun, there is a lot of good technical work behind it. I don't know what language it's programmed in, but the movements are pixel-perfect and extremely smooth. Could a good game have been made with such technical skill? And my laughter? I refuse. Ah, the sound. Just a very arcadey little noise when you score or start the game. Almost...



Scrambled Smile: 10/10

Broccoli and Squid Yoghourt: 8/10

Deep Fried Ice Cream: 8/10

Strawberry Monosodium Glutamate: 1/10

Affable Hot Chocolate Sauce: 6/10







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