Bombuzal

Bombuzal
Game No.	335
Voting	7.89 points, 19 votes
Developer	Antony Crowther, David Bishop
Company	Image Works
Publisher	Image Works
Musician	Antony Crowther
HVSC-File	MUSICIANS/C/Crowther_Antony/Bomb_Uzal.sid
Release	1988
Platform	Amiga, Atari ST, C64, MS-DOS, Super NES
Genre	Arcade, Logic
Gamemode	Single player
Operation
Media	,
Language

Description

The aim of this logic game is to targetedly detonate all bombs and mines within a time limit. After the last detonation, Bomb Uzal needs to be on a secure field. There are altogether 130 levels. Per successful level you get an extra life. For every eight successfully solved levels you get a password at the end, so you do not have to start again anew each time.

Game elements

Ground fields

	Normal field	is destroyed by an explosion.
	Armour plate field	this rivetted field stays even after an explosion.
	Ice field	the pawn slides further until it meets the next ice-free field.
	Dissolving field	after leaving this field it disappears.
	Slotted field	a bomb that lies on this field can be pushed along the slot.

Bombs and mines

	Mine	If the pawn steps on a mine, the field and the pawn will explode!
	small bomb	First activate the bomb. Then leave the field and the bomb detonates and destroys the field. If there is another bomb at an adjacent field, there will be a chain reaction.
	middle bomb	It has a radius of one field more than the small bomb. Therefore it must not be ignited directly, but only in combination.
	big bomb	This one has again a bigger radius than the middle bomb. Therefore also this bomb must not be ignited directly.
	variable bomb	The variable bomb constantly changes its size (small/middle/big). For the explosion the bomb size is valid that was visible at the first press on the fire button.
	A bomb	All A bombs are connected to each other. If an A bomb explodes, then also all other A bombs detonate.

Functional fields

	Switch	An additional field is switched on or off by activating this field.
	Power field	When an explosion reaches this field, it is stopped.
	Spinner	This field pushes the pawn into a random direction.
	Teleport	The pawn is teleported. During teleportation it is immune against explosions.

Droids

	Droid Bubble	If it is activated it can be controlled. It only dies after a bomb/mine was ignited.
	Droid Squeak	If it is activated it can be controlled. It dies after touching a bomb/mine.

Enemies

	Dexter	An enemy that moves clockwise along the fields (if possible).
	Sinister	An enemy that moves anti-clockwise along the fields (if possible).

Design

Level 1 - the game area from the bird's eye view.

Level 1 - the game area in alternative 3D display.

In the status display you see the following: * the current score * the lives left * the time bonus * the current level * the number of bombs/mines left

The game has a scrolling background, a title tune, numerous sound effects and speech output ("get ready" and "happy birthday").

Hints

Controls in the title screen

With a press on the fire button you get to the menu for the game mode.

• 2D Game: game in bird's eye view
• 3D Game: game in 3D display
• Restart: restart the game
• Continue: continue the game (last level from the last game)
• start the game

• C=  enter secret code to continue the game in a higher level

Controls in the game

• move pawn into one of the four directions
• keep pressed until the countdown has run out: activate bomb (bomb only detonates when you have left the field!)
• press short: pick up or put down bomb (only possible on slotted field)

• Space  show overview map (countdown continues)

• C=  leave game

Tips

• If you keep the pawn constantly on the move, the time will count down more slowly.
• For complex levels the overview map might be helpful.

Solution

Level codes

Level	Password		Level	Password		Level	Password
001	BOMB		008	RACE		016	RATT
024	LISA		032	DAVE		040	IRON
048	LEAD		056	WEED		064	RING
072	GIRL		080	GOLD		088	OPAL
096	SONG		104	FIRE		112	LAMP
120	TREE		128	SINK

Level maps

Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Level 4	Level 5
Level 6	Level 7	Level 8	Level 9	Level 10
Level 11	Level 12	Level 13	Level 14	Level 15
Level 16	Level 17	Level 18	Level 19	Level 20
Level 21	Level 22	Level 23	Level 24
Level 25

Voting

Voting of the C64-Wiki users (10=the best vote):
7.89 points at 19 votes (rank 125). You need to be logged in to cast a vote.
C64Games	8	03rd July 2010 - "Super" - 2646 downs
Lemon64	7,9	03rd July 2010 - 63 votes
Kultboy.com	6,57	15th October 2010 - 7 votes
ASM	8/12	Issue 89/01
Zzap64	97%	Issue 88/12

Reviews

Werner: "Surely one of the best logical games for the C64. By the big amount of diversity in the game elements, boredom is not to be coming up quickly. The password system also needs to be mentioned positively. I find the small, difficult levels especially successful. Big levels are a bit too complex despite the overview map. Unfortunately, when using the teleport fields you are not shown the target field, so you need to try out first. Despite the small deficiencies it is an excellent and fascinating logic game. 8.5 points!".

FXXS: "The optional overview map is too small to be really useful and the colour changes in the status line are at the beginning irritating but otherwise it is technically solid. 8 points."

Miscellaneous

Cover

Highscore

1. FXXS - 81.350 - 33 (11.10.2013)
2. Werner - 40.070 - 23 (24.07.2010)
3. Sledgie - 25.130 - 17 (24.07.2010)

	#2 Werner		#3 Sledgie

Links

• C64Games.de - Game No. 530
• Lemon64 - Game No. 337
• Gamebase64.com - Game No. 951
• Test Report No. 2490 on Kultboy.com
• ZZap64 test report

Videos

• Video at YouTube