Bounder (video game)
{{Infobox video game
|title = Bounder
|image = Bounder c64 cover.jpg
|caption = C64 Cover art
|developer = Gremlin Graphics
|publisher = Gremlin Graphics
|designer = Robert Toone
Christian P. Shrigley
Andrew Green
|released = 1985
1986(ZX Spectrum){{cite web|url=http://www.gremlin.co.uk/retroindex.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19970119095543/http://www.gremlin.co.uk/retroindex.html|title=Retro Gaming|website=gremlin.co.uk|archivedate=January 19, 1997|accessdate=April 16, 2024}}
|modes = Single-player
|genre = Action
|platforms = Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, ZX Spectrum, MSX, Commodore 64, Commodore 16 / Plus/4
}}
Bounder is a 1985 action game published by Gremlin Graphics in which the player navigates a variety of courses as a bouncing tennis ball.
Gameplay
Courses are composed of numerous tiles, which are suspended high above ground. The ball must be bounced past walls and over enemies; coming into contact with either, or plummeting over the edge of the course, results in the loss of one of the player's seven lives.{{cite magazine | last = Edgeley | first = Clare | title = Arcade Review - Bounder | magazine = Sinclair User | issue = 52 | pages = 40 | publisher = EMAP | date = July 1986 | url = https://archive.org/stream/sinclair-user-magazine-052/SinclairUser_052_Jul_1986#page/n39/mode/2up | accessdate = May 21, 2016}} Courses feature power squares, which push the tennis ball forward and allow longer jumps. These must be utilized to complete the course. Power squares are also used to enable the tennis ball to reach mystery spaces, tiles with question marks, which contain extra lives and bonus jumps which are used on bonus screens. Mystery spaces can also destroy the tennis ball, resulting in the loss of a life, through instant destruction or by freezing the ball in place while a missile flies across the play area and explodes.{{cite magazine | last = Hetherington | first = Tony | title = Reviews - Bounder | magazine = Computer Gamer | issue = 15 | pages = 60 | publisher = Argus Specialist Publications | date = June 1986 | url =https://archive.org/stream/Computer_Gamer_Issue15#page/n59/mode/2up | accessdate = May 21, 2016}}
The bonus screen is accessed every time a course is completed, it consists of mystery spaces which increase the player's score when bounced on for the player to receive. 40 bounces are allowed on each bonus screen, though this figure can be increased by the player uncovering more from mystery squares during the preceding course. Once all bounces are used or all of the mystery spaces are bounced on, play moves to the next course. Bouncing on all mystery spaces awards the player 10,000 points as well as an extra life.{{cite magazine | last1 = Penn | first1 = Gary | author-link1 = Gary Penn | last2 = Rignall | first2 = Julian | author-link2 = Julian Rignall | last3 = Liddon | first3 = Gary | author-link3 = Gary Liddon | title = Bounder/Metabolis | magazine = Zzap!64 | issue = 10 | pages = 20, 21 | publisher = Newsfield Publications | date = February 1986 | url =https://archive.org/stream/zzap64-magazine-010/ZZap_64_Issue_010_1986_Feb#page/n19/mode/2up | accessdate = May 21, 2016}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| YSinclair = 9/10{{cite magazine | last = Maughan | first = Teresa | title = Bounder | magazine = Your Sinclair | issue = 7 | pages = 29 | publisher = Dennis Publishing | date = February 1986 | url = https://archive.org/stream/your-sinclair-07/YourSinclair_07_July_1986#page/n29/mode/2up | accessdate = May 21, 2016}}
| rev1 = Zzap!64
| award1Pub = Crash
| award1 = Crash Smash
| award2Pub = Your Sinclair
| award2 = Megagame
| award3Pub = Amstrad Action
| award3 = MastergameGame review, Amstrad June magazine, Future Publishing, issue 9, June 1986
}}
Bounder received a Gold Medal Award from Commodore 64 magazine Zzap!64 as well as a Your Sinclair Mega Game award.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{WoS game|id=0000657|name=Bounder}}
- {{lemon64 game|id=356|name=Bounder}}
- [https://www.gremlinarchive.com/index.php/2017/01/31/bounder-and-planet-search-commodore-c16plus-4/ Bounder and Planet Search (Commodore C16/Plus 4)] at Gremlin Archive
- [https://plus4world.powweb.com/software/Bounder_And_Planet_Search Bounder and Planet Search] at Commodore Plus/4 World
- [https://www.gremlinarchive.com/index.php/2016/06/02/patrick-strassen-c16-review-collection/ C16 Reviews] at Gremlin Archive
Category:Commodore 16 and Plus/4 games
Category:Gremlin Interactive games