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California Games is the fifth in the games series, and boasts six events. Those of you familiar with the previous releases will recognise the standard options screen. This allows up to eight players to compete in all or some events, practise an event or view the record table. When a competition starts, all players input their name and choose a sponsor (there are nine, including Casio and Kawasaki) before undertaking the following events:
THE SIX EVENTS
1. Surfing
The sport of the self-proclaimed Kings of Hawaii, surfing now takes place along the whole length of the Californian coastline. Now's your chance to shoot the curl, shed the tube or hang ten without even getting your feet wet. The screen displays the growing whitecap with your surfer lying on his board preparing to catch the wave. Pressing the fire button sees the surfer stand up and begin his ride. The aim of the contest is to ride the wave for as long as possible, while attempting to enter the curl itself. Moving the joystick controls the direction of the board, and holding the fire button down allows sharper turns to be made and also slows the board down - effectively allowing the wave to catch up, and allowing you to enter the tube itself. A 'Wipe Out' is the term used for the premature separation of board and surfer. This occurs whenever you stray to far to the bottom of the wave and also if you get caught in the tube itself. The ride lasts for one and a half minutes, and at the end of your efforts, a group of laid back beach bums hold up score cards and tell you how well you did.
2. Frisbee
Set in a beautiful lakeside park, the frisbee event involves two people - the thrower and the catcher. The aim is to hurl the frisbee to the catcher as accurately as possible. Points are awarded for the type of catch, either running, diving or overhead. The player has three attempts to throw and catch the disk.
3. Half Pipe
Become the most awesome dude on four wheels in this radical skateboard event. A press of the fire button signals the skateboarder to push off from the starting ramp at the top. Up and down joystick movements in time with the player's movements accelerate the skateboarder, and a combination of the fire button and left and right starts either an aerial turn, hand plant or kick turn, depending on the skaters position when the joystick is toggled. Careful timing is essential during a manoeuvre, otherwise the skater falls and is wiped out. You are given one minute and 15 seconds or four wipe-outs to complete as many stunts as possible. See if you can shake the pipe enough to cause an earthquake!
4. BMX Bike Racing
The Californian desert is the scene for the toughest event - BMX Stunt race. Seated on your bike at the top of the first ramp, the course extends to the right of the screen and must be completed in two minutes or under. You are judged on the number and duration of stunts completed, and bonus points are awarded for the remaining time on completion of the course. There are a variety of jumps, burns and low bumps to be negotiated safely as well as rocks, tyres and logs which can easily unseat you. Each player is allowed three 'easy' falls (ie running into objects and tumbling from your bike), or one 'serious' fall (where a stunt goes wrong and you fall on your head).
5. Foot Bag
Every Californian has a foot bag (or hackeysack). These are small, leather-covered bean bags which are carried around and used in moments of boredom. In this event, the objective is to keep juggling the foot bag for one and a quarter minutes using only your head, shoulders, knees and feet. The screen displays a front view of the player who moves left and right, jumps and turns around. As soon as fire is pressed the player kicks the bag in the air. When the bag drops fire is used to make the player kick it again. Timing and positioning is crucial - if the player kicks to early or late, he misses. Points are awarded for keeping the ball in the air, and extra points are awarded for performing stunts between kicks. These stunts include spinning, jumping and turning around.
6. Roller Skating
The beach boardwalk is a dangerous place for a skater. Getting from one end to the other while staying cool and doing stunts is the object of this event. Your female skater begins at the far left and has to traverse the length of the course, avoiding cracks in the pavement, grass, banana skins and old pairs of sneakers. There are even bouncing beach balls. Repetitive movements of the joystick cause your skater's legs to move, while pressing fire causes her to leap in the air. Spins award you extra points, and jumping spins over obstacles gain you the really high scores.
PERSONAL REVIEW
This has got to be one of the most entertaining and polished games ever to appear on the C64. Six varied events filled with fun, requiring skill and precision from you the gamer. The graphics are varied, colourful and well animated with such attention to detail. It has all the usual Epyx trimmings, like the Earthquake on the skateboarding event and the funny seagull that appears in the Foot Bag event. This was a game which had to be in every C64 owners collection - and it should be even today.
Downloads: Music, Advert
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| GRAPHICS - 10/10 |
Outstanding animation, clear and colourful backdrops and loads of neat touches and attention to detail throughout.
| | SOUND - 8/10 |
Individual tunes for each event and very atmospheric sound effects.
| | PLAYABILITY - 10/10 |
One of the most playable and enjoyable games around, and is constantly rewarding.
| | OVERALL - 10/10 |
Six brilliant events combining depth of play and variety. This is the C64 at its peak, and the game is near perfection.
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| COVER |
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