Long before Ocean software force fed the Spectrum market 128K film conversions, they joined with top programming team Denton Designs, to create some stunning and original arcade adventures. The Great Escape placed you as a POW in a converted castle with the sole task of escaping by any means possible. There were no guns or deaths, your fate would consist of losing the will to escape and becoming a living zombie. Heavy psychiatry for a computer game!
The title tune is a beeped melody of war-time ditties which doesn't quite set the mood as they sound so comical. The game itself is so depressing! As you roam around the austere castle in lovely monochrome isometric 3D you start to get bad oppression vibes big time. At first the guards leave you alone but will become more suss each passing day.
Objects can be found in a number of places (always the dangerous places!) my favourite being the German uniform you can wear and roam quite freely in. A cache for your goodies is essential to avoid them being found. The tunnel systems under the camp really do need a torch to navigate and you'll need that shovel too for cave-ins. Simply let the game run and your fat bottomed sprite will go about his business. This is useful for timing the guards set patrols. I've managed to escape several times mainly going through the wire and then filling my pants as I'm recaptured owing to bad planning. However the game never gets boring as there are obviously several different ways out. Someone please write and tell me just how! With code this good the sequel followed 2 years later, this time set in the dinosaur age.
(Dave)
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