Klax

Klax

Game No.	369
Voting	7.20 points, 20 votes
Developer	Programming: David Vout & JJS Graphics: Dave Colledge Design: Mark Pierce & Dave Akers
Publisher	Tengen / Domark
Musician	Matt Furniss
HVSC-File	/MUSICIANS/F/Furniss_Matt/Klax.sid
Release	1990
Platform	C64, Amstrad CPC, Amiga, Arcade, Atari 2600/7800/Lynx/ST, BBC Micro, MSX, NEC PC-Engine, Nintendo NES / Gameboy / Gamecube , PC-DOS, Sony PS1/PS2/PSP, Spectrum, Sega Mega Drive / Master System, X-Box
Genre	Arcade, Logic
Gamemode	Single player
Operation
Media
Language
Information	There are three more games on the 512kB cartridge that was enclosed to the C64 Games System.

Description[edit | edit source]

The game principle of Klax is very simple. Tiles of different colours need to be led into one of the five bins. The aim is to build a Klax. This consists of at least three tiles of the same colour, that need to be aligned horizontally, vertically or diagonally. As soon as a Klax is built, the corresponding tiles disappear and the tiles above fall down according to gravity. By this a chain reaction can happen which in turn gets you extra points.

With the help of the throwing option, tiles can be thrown up from the stacker again. However, you need to be careful as the tiles of course fall down again. At the beginning of each level, at task is given that needs to be solved (e.g.: 10 Klaxes, 10.000 points, 8 diagonal Klaxes or 50 tiles) A multi-coloured flashing tile is a joker tile that represents every colour.

The stacker can - same as the bins - take a maximum of five tiles. The Drop Meter in the middle of the screen shows the tiles that were not caught. The game is over when more tiles than allowed have dropped down (3 to 5) or all bins are full at the same time.

Design[edit | edit source]

Simple 3D graphics, where the background graphics change after each five levels. In the upper area of the screen the current score and the target with the status that is left are shown. A short tune is played while the task is given. In the game itself there are only sparse sound effects.

The start menue: from the beginning or do you take the bonus?

The first level is a piece of cake.

Hints[edit | edit source]

With the key Q the game can be paused and continued again with the key W .

Joystick controls

move stacker to the left/right
speed up game
throw tile upwards
throw uppermost tile from the stacker into the bin

The big X gets you 80.000 points

Keyboard controls

Z - to the left
X - to the right
L - speed up game
P - throw tile upwards
Space - throw lowest tile into the bin

Points

Points	Standard Klax
50	3-fold vertical
1.000	3-fold horizontal
5.000	4-fold horizontal
10.000	5-fold horizontal
5.000	3-fold diagonal
10.000	4-fold diagonal
20.000	5-fold diagonal

For a combination of two standard Klaxes the score is doubled. A big X gets you 2*(20.000+20.000) = 80.000 points.

Tips

The more complicated the Klax, the more points you get.
In the first level it is possible to make the big X without much difficulties.

Solution[edit | edit source]

Try to make Klaxes with a high score in the first level. A warp jump seems tempting due to the bonus points, but is not effective enough.

Cheats[edit | edit source]

Unlimited credits: POKE 27687,29: SYS 2079

Voting[edit | edit source]

Voting of the C64-Wiki users (10=the best vote):
7.20 points at 20 votes (rank 375). You need to be logged in to cast a vote.
C64Games	8	23rd June 2011 - "super" - 2714 downs
Lemon64	7,2	23rd June 2011 - 40 votes
Powerplay	87%	Issue 10/90 (especially recommendable)
Zzap64	92%	Issue 8/90

Reviews[edit | edit source]

Werner: "For a game from 1990 the graphics and sound leave a lot to be desired. This could have been done better. The game itself is well playable, but also not a smash as written in some magazines. 7 points from me."

Robotron2084: "The C64 version of this puzzle hit cannot really enthuse me. The controls for the scoop that catches the tiles are too sluggishly done, so that precies steering in the higher levels is practically impossible. Furthermore, the designers have put in two types of red stones for unexplained reasons - a normal one and a dark-shaded stone, that you mix up too often in all the chaos. If you want to play Klax, I recommend the version for the Amiga or take the original for the MAME emulator. By no stretch of imagination can I find any convincing reason why you should play this failed version on the C64. 3 out of 10 points."

Ragnarok: "A weary copycat of the Tetris success. Klax sux! "