Rapscallion review
If you have played this game before you will not be surprised about the contents of this Rapscallion review. The game where you choose to be a bird or a fly to get through all to tricky obstacles an challenges.
The game itself is quite amusing but way to easy to get through the tricky levels – the idea of loosing a life when changing from one character to another is very original, but nutty.
It is obvious that in some levels it is easier by chaning form and in some you are just forced to do so. Which of you birds did not get stuck in the tennis net? Anyway, fun and diverse rooms in the labyrinth and funny characters. As stated som of the obstacles need quite a lot of thinking.
But the game author has really figured it out, and on could wish many more games should have followed in these footsteps. What is so splendid is that when you die you are free to move around and check all the different rooms when dying – the only set back is that you better remember in which room you died as it is only there you can surrect and continue your game.
But, like all Bug-Byte titles, they have this little thing that makes them interesting and makes you want to play more.
Worth trying out – even though my lower rating below – but read why under the rating section.
In the Magazines
You are in low spirits – no, really you are, because your archenemy the dreaded and ugly Rapscallion the Rogue has seized your crown and castle and thrown you in the dungeon to rot. Aren’t you feeling low? So starts Bug-Byte’s new arcade adventure. Fortunately, there are a lot of friends around to help including the fairy princess who comes to you in the dungeon and turns you into a bird so that you can escape and begin your counter-attack.
From here on in you are into a large maze type game which requires nimble fingers, quick thinking and has overtones of an adventure. Rapscallion isn’t just a maze game. It certainly contains small mazes, many of them, but each of the many screens is inter-linked to form a larger maze. In each screen something different happens There’s the dining room with two gigantic faces, their mouths opening and closing, ready to catch the unwary entrant from the door of another room, there’s the fiery furnace, the snake pit, the danger maze, arsenal and so on. Basically the labyrinth is split into three ‘domains’, the Wilderness, the Magic Labyrinth and finally the Castle.
n the wilderness your quest is to find the key to the magic labyrinth. To do this you will need the power to seed and the magic Shield to protect you from the sleepy guard In the labyrinth you must find the pixie with magic eye which will enable you to see the three wizards who guard the castle entrance. You get into the castle when the drawbridge is lowered, but that will alert Rapscallion who knows you have escaped and is on the rampage.
Throughout the quest you make take the form of a bird or a fly. Each has its own advantages and drawbacks. Flies have little trouble with cats but are in danger of spiders and frogs, whereas birds are in trouble with cats and falling spikes but aren’t too worried about frogs and spiders Changing from one to another costs you a life. On your route you will encounter pixies who may be helpful if they’re in a good mood and give you valuable inforrnation.
Here and there you will see gems, which when touched may also offer up information on an extra life. Rapscallion is hard to explain adequately, because it contains, many inter-linked complications, which is what adds the adventure element. But the tape contains an insert with quite comprehensive instructions as to what to expect and how to play Rapscallion
From CRASH Magazine Issue 07 August 1984
From the Cover
Everything was peaceful in your Kingdom until the arrival of RAPSCALLION THE ROGUE. By taking you unawares he has captured your Crown, Kingdom and Castle, and banished you to the darkest of dungeons. Do not give up hope – you have many magical friends throughout the land, and they are all eager for you to regain your rightful place on the throne. The Fairy Princess has given you the power of trans-formation and granted you six lives to assist you in your hazardous mission.
You will be able to transform at will into a bird or a fly to help you overcome the obstacles ahead. Before you lies The Wilderness, The Magic Labyrinth, your own formidable Castle . . . and at the end of it all RAPSCALLION himself. Will you ever regain your Kingdom? Can you overcome the dangers that await you? . . . Now’s the time to find out . . . your quest begins…
From the Inlay
The cover belongs to those yellow/lime green setups – In my opinion it is the ones that bring out the cartoon work out of the cover. This caught me the attention to write this Rapscallion Review.
For more related content
The Rapscallion Review Rating
For this occasion I asked my 10-year old son to play the game and give his objective grade on it. Maybe I would have given it three Bugs out of five. as I told you, the game is playable.
His verdict was that it went to slow and that there was no real challenge in playing it. Given that he ended up with two bugs out of five – todays youth.
