MCMD by ZXKerl

 

MCMD by ZXKerl for ZX Spectrum 48K

   Our most prolific contributor threatens to... promises another action-packed game ! Joking aside, the magnificent cover accompanying his creations suggests that this will not be a quiet, turn-based game. And I look forward to it.

   The name MCMD is clearly made up of acronyms. Hmmm, it could be...

   - Mostly Consumed My Donuts
   - Making Chaos, Mayhem, and Destruction (I like this one)
   - Must Conquer Mountains Daily
   - Mysteriously Clever Men Dressed

   Well, no. The game's cover clearly points in another direction. And I command myself to relax my imagination and reread the author's email:

"On a mining planetoid battered by a relentless asteroid belt, the Sentinel-7 automated ship, once the colony's shield, has gone berserk and is firing out of control. You must take manual command, weather a fierce storm of a hundred asteroids and repair its corrupted core before it destroys everything in an epic struggle for survival."

   Now that is an interesting argument. Wait a minute... All this in only 1.6 Kb ???

(I am not lying)

   Play the tape !

   We are greeted by this very ‘light’ introductory screen, which actually tells us: Get shooting now!

   I obey.

   Amidst the blackness of space, I find myself facing a swarm of asteroids hurtling towards me from beneath.

   The Sentinel-7 moves from one side of the combat zone to the other. Pressing the A key reverses the direction of movement, and pressing the SPACE bar fires. Manual control is then relative. Sentinel-7 is still a bit unruly.

   ZXKerl's greatness is evident again in the shooting. It's not just a missile that flies straight ahead until it finds its target. Firstly, it can be controlled remotely using the O and P keys. Secondly, and most amazingly: The weapon falls into the Penetrator Missiles category and the Kinetic Energy Penetrators subcategory. Kinetic Energy Penetrators (High-velocity projectiles that use their kinetic energy to punch through materials), but at the Mjolnir level.

   

(ZXKerl's R&D centre succesfully combined these two)

   The projectile destroys the asteroid it hits and continues on its destructive path. We can guide it to destroy any other space rocks it encounters.

   If we are not accurate with our aim, the high-tech missile will be of little use. There are many asteroids, and they are not afraid — and even if they were, they cannot change course.

   Well, that's a lot of game for only 1,6Kb. Unfortunately, the part where we repair the core will be left for a sequel, I think... I wish....

   Magnanimous as he is, ZXKerl has sent me two games, one with the original difficulty and one for those... who are like me. I include both the normal and the easy one in the download file.

   Gravitationally attracting all parts: A good action game. Very well thought out and executed. Surprisingly fast and therefore addictive despite being written in BASIC. Wins the award for more for less.

Scrambled Smile: 7/10

Broccoli and Squid Yoghourt: 2/10

Deep Fried Ice Cream: 8/10

Strawberry Monosodium Glutamate: 8/10

Affable Hot Chocolate Sauce: 6/10