Venom Strikes Back

Copyright : Gremlin Graphics | Reviewed by : Patrick Furlong

In this third game based on the MASK licence, Miles Mayhem of VENOM has kidnapped Matt Trakker?s son Scott (who always wants to join MASK on their missions) and is holding him prisoner on the moon. If Matt wants him returned, when MASK must surrender. (why MASK would want him back is anyone?s guess and why VENOM would put up with him is even stranger). MASK refuse to surrender, so Matt Trakker sets off to rescue him (why? Those who have read the comic will know Scott manages to escape their clutches every time). You start the game on Earth and during the course of the game, you will pick up various masks as used by the MASK team including Blaster, Lifter, Jackrabbit and Penetrator. This is a platform game with the MASK weapons the only reconisable element.

Graphics

MODE 1 graphics are used in this game. Apart from the loading screen, nothing in the game bears a resemblence to the properties of MASK. The graphics are nice though. There is lots of detail and the speed is very resonable. Each level has it?s own colour scheme which is well done. Some indoor levels have you running in front and behind Roman style coloums.

Sound

One of the best title tracks in CPC history. I found myself loading this game a lot just to listen to the track. In-game sound is limited to bangs and firing, which I didn?t like. The sound of the Penetrator mask in use is just as annoying although I liked the sound effect it played when you materalised in solid matter and exploded. Whenever you died, a nice small track played as it told you the mission was terminated and took you back to the title screen.

Gameplay

This is easy to get into and gives you many ways of getting through the levels. Venom Strikes Back features a password system so you can get to various parts of the game. Your mask power is limited and cannot be topped up. A nice touch during the scenes on the moons surface is that your jumps are affected by the lack of gravity. This game is an improvement on the weaker MASK II game, although I would have liked it if it was more like the MASK property - this game could have been released as a stand-alone game without anything to do with the MASK licence. But Gremlin gave us this as the final MASK game and they did well here.