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REVIEW
by AtariGrub
This
game is a nightmare! No, really. You control Arthur in his nightmare as he is
pursued by an array of enemies including Robots, Skeletons, Ghosts, Aliens and
Cannibals. Using his trusty shovel, you as Arthur must dig holes and then with
a sharp blow to the head, dispatch each enemy to their deaths in the platforms
below. On the early levels, the main pursuers are Robots, which can be killed
by being knocked down just to the next level. However, the later enemies are
not only faster, but need an increasing number of levels to fall though in order
to be vanquished from Arthur's nightmare. Skeletons (2 levels), Ghost (3 levels),
Alien (4 levels) and finally the Cannibals (5 level drop).
The difficulty level,
including a Random option can be selected from the Main title screen, with Cannibal
being the hardest. Robot and Skeleton levels begin with two pursuers on the
screen, but this is increased by an extra pursuer after the completion of a
level. Bonus points are awarded for the amount of time left on the 2 minute
counter at the bottom of the screen. If the level isn't completed in time or
an enemy touches Arthur, then one of your three lives is lost.
The
main problem with this game for me was boredom and frustration. Boredom from
having nothing more to do in the game than dig holes and then frantically pressing
the fire button to hit the enemies on the head. And frustration from having
to wait for each pursuer to wander up and down the levels, before finally falling
into my trap. I can only think the title for this game was derived from the
feeling of wanting to gnaw my own arms off from the sheer nightmare that is
this game!
Cannibals is
basically a copy of the arcade game Space Panic (1980), which is possibly the
first ever platform game, although Donkey Kong would later take that accolade
with the first platform jumping character Mario. Broderbund had already released
a Space Panic clone in 1982, called Apple Panic and this would be followed by
the extremely popular Lode Runner, an offspring of Space Panic, featuring a
larger play area and the additional gameplay feature of gold bar collecting.
Unfortunately for Cannibals, which was released in the same year, it already
feels past its shelf life. The only thing left to increase Cannibals longevity,
if only by a few minutes, is the two player turn-based game. However, I found
the game so difficult on the hardest level that I never did see more than one
cannibal!
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"A
Nightmare!"
(1/10) |
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End
of Game Music
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GAME
TIPS
Always allow yourself access to ladders, whilst digging holes. Also, remember
you can fall the full length of the screen without getting injured - use this
to your advantage if you have to make a hasty escape!
GAME
CHARACTERS
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ARTHUR
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ROBOT
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SKELETON
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GHOST
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ALIEN
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CANNIBAL
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CLICK HERE to Download an Unlimited Lives file for use in the Atari 800Win Emulator.
Other Versions:
 SPACE PANIC (Arcade - 1980) |
 APPLE PANIC (Atari 8-bit - 1982) |
Space Panic, the Original 1980 arcade game from Universal was set in outer space with an oxygen depleting time limit and pursuing aliens to bury. Possibly the first ever platform orientated arcade game, although it was the 1981 release of Donkey Kong that would became the inspiration for the platform game revolution.
Apple Panic
(1982) by Broderbund was a clone of Space Panic and although released on the
Atari 8-bit format, it is probably more fondly remembered on the Apple II.
The Arcade Flyer
Archive - Space Panic
(Large scans of two original flyers for the 1980 Universal arcade game)
www.arcadeflyers.com/?page=flyerdb&subpage=thumbs&id=2404
Cannibal holocaust
(1980 horror movie)
(This was the original Blair Witch Project, although still only a movie!)
www.cannibalholocaust.net
(Warning:18 years and over)
Hannibal (2001)
(Official Site of the Ridley Scott film, starring Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal
Lecter)
www.mgm.com/hannibal/