3D Monster Chase
Encyclopedia
3-D Monster Chase was a 3D first-person perspective
maze-based video game released by Romik in 1985
for both the Amstrad CPC
and the ZX Spectrum
.
There are 5 skill levels, level 5 being the hardest.
There are seven keys to be found. Key one has to be found first, then returned to your starting place. Immediately that is done the bomb starts ticking. If you do not find the bomb in time then you will lose a life, if you find the bomb in time, you will then have to return to your starting place. Now you have to find key one and then key two before returning to your starting place. Then again you have to find the bomb. Now you have to find key one, then two, then three. etc., etc., etc.
At the top of the screen you will see a radar screen which shows your position (solid white dot) and the monsters position (flashing white dot), use this to help avoid the monsters.
You start the game with a limited number of grenades, which if used at the correct range will destroy a monster (the number of grenades you have are shown on the top left of the screen).
There are three floors to the maze, you always start of Zeta floor. The keys and the bomb can be on any floor. When you are wandering around the maze you may occasionally see a key with a higher number on than the one you are looking for. You can only pick up the keys in numerical order. The floors to the maze each have names:- Zeta, Alpha & Delta. To change floors you will have to find the lifts. A Red coloured lift will take you down. A Blue coloured lift will take you up. When you find a lift, you will see the blue or red colour at the bottom of the picture. If you do not wish to use the lift, just turn away. If you wish to use the lift, move forward. The lift is then automatic. (Taken from the inlay text)
rated 3D Monster Chase only 3 out of 10, with the comment "a maze game can be exciting, skilful, and even original. 3D Monster Chase is none of those things."
In the 3rd issue of Crash
magazine, the reviewer called 3D Monster Chase, "good value for money" (it was £6.99).
ZX Computing awarded 3D Monster Chase 70% for value, describing it as a "good game, but not particularly original".
First person (video games)
In video games, first person refers to a graphical perspective rendered from the viewpoint of the player character. In many cases, this may be the viewpoint from the cockpit of a vehicle. Many different genres have made use of first-person perspectives, ranging from adventure games to flight...
maze-based video game released by Romik in 1985
1985 in video gaming
-Notable releases:* Brøderbund releases Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?, the first game of the prolific Carmen Sandiego series* Nintendo releases Super Mario Bros. on September 13, 1985, which eventually sells 40 million copies making it the best-selling video game of all time until 2008.*...
for both the Amstrad CPC
Amstrad CPC
The Amstrad CPC is a series of 8-bit home computers produced by Amstrad between 1984 and 1990. It was designed to compete in the mid-1980s home computer market dominated by the Commodore 64 and the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, where it successfully established itself primarily in the United Kingdom,...
and the ZX Spectrum
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
.
Gameplay
You are trapped within the three floors of a subterranean maze. Your task is to search for the missing keys whilst avoiding the monsters guarding them. Each time that you find a key and return to your starting point, a bomb is activate, you have a limited time in which to defuse it.There are 5 skill levels, level 5 being the hardest.
There are seven keys to be found. Key one has to be found first, then returned to your starting place. Immediately that is done the bomb starts ticking. If you do not find the bomb in time then you will lose a life, if you find the bomb in time, you will then have to return to your starting place. Now you have to find key one and then key two before returning to your starting place. Then again you have to find the bomb. Now you have to find key one, then two, then three. etc., etc., etc.
At the top of the screen you will see a radar screen which shows your position (solid white dot) and the monsters position (flashing white dot), use this to help avoid the monsters.
You start the game with a limited number of grenades, which if used at the correct range will destroy a monster (the number of grenades you have are shown on the top left of the screen).
There are three floors to the maze, you always start of Zeta floor. The keys and the bomb can be on any floor. When you are wandering around the maze you may occasionally see a key with a higher number on than the one you are looking for. You can only pick up the keys in numerical order. The floors to the maze each have names:- Zeta, Alpha & Delta. To change floors you will have to find the lifts. A Red coloured lift will take you down. A Blue coloured lift will take you up. When you find a lift, you will see the blue or red colour at the bottom of the picture. If you do not wish to use the lift, just turn away. If you wish to use the lift, move forward. The lift is then automatic. (Taken from the inlay text)
Reception
Sinclair UserSinclair User
Sinclair User, often abbreviated SU, was a magazine dedicated to the Sinclair Research range of home computers, most specifically the ZX Spectrum...
rated 3D Monster Chase only 3 out of 10, with the comment "a maze game can be exciting, skilful, and even original. 3D Monster Chase is none of those things."
In the 3rd issue of Crash
CRASH (magazine)
Crash was a magazine dedicated to the ZX Spectrum home computer. It was published from 1984 to 1991 by Newsfield Publications Ltd until their liquidation, and then until 1992 by Europress.-Development:...
magazine, the reviewer called 3D Monster Chase, "good value for money" (it was £6.99).
ZX Computing awarded 3D Monster Chase 70% for value, describing it as a "good game, but not particularly original".