El Misterio del Nilo

Maravilloso, estupendo y magnífico. Divertido, adictivo y apasionante. Atractivo, bonito y con estilo. Genial, sencillamente genial.

Así es como podríamos definir a El Misterio del Nilo, el último desborde programático de Made in Spain.

Y no vayáis a pensar que todo este torrente de apelativos entusiastas viene motivado por el hecho de que se trate de un programa español. Aunque El Misterio del Nilo hubiera sido realizado en Checoslovaquia -pongamos por caso-, seguiríamos pensando que se trata de uno de los juegos más atractivos de cuantos hemos visto en un Spectrum.

Que, ¿por qué? Pues es lo que tratamos de explicaros en este comentario.

Para empezar hay que decir que cuando cargas el programa y aparece ante ti la primera pantalla, recibes una especie de shock emocional, pues la belleza y encanto del escenario, en el que nos vemos súbitamente inmergidos, es como para impresionar al más frío de los espectadores.

Nos encontramos en pleno centro de la ciudad de Luxor, situada en las orillas del desierto de Mut. El aplastante sol africano se deja sentir en cada rincón del poblado y nuestras apacibles vacacioness se han convertido, sin apenas quererlo, en una aventura peligrosa y apasionante.

Paseando por las tumultuosas calles de Luxor, en compañía de nuestra amiga Christine, hemos sido testigos del rapto de Muhammad al-Hassan, un joven árabe que, tras una serie de circunstancias, se va a convertir en compañero de aventuras.

Juntos tendremos que tratar de escapar de la ciudad y llegar hasta el complejo militar de Jarga, para después cruzar la frontera y hacer público el anuncio de una terrible conspiración que se está produciendo en este país.

El camino a seguir va a ser realmente duro, pues muchos serán los enemigos a los que tendremos que enfrentarnos y variados los escenarios que deberemos atravesar.

De esta forma, los tres personajes tendrán que esquivar las balas disparadas por los miembros de la banda de Abu Sahl (el malo de la película), sortear los numerosos nidos de ametralladora, luchar contra indígenas, saltar de balcón en balcón, recoger explosivos, viajar en tren, esconderse de los nativos... y un sinfín más de acciones que les permitirán poner a salvo sus vidas y divertir las nuestras.

Sin embargo, el riesgo de esta misión es mucho mayor que la de cualquier otra de similares características, pues al ser tres los personajes que están implicados en la misma aventura, a los cuales debemos controlar, las posibilidades de fracaso son mucho mayores. El más mínimo fallo de cualquiera de ellos, puede hacer inútiles los esfuerzos de los demás.

Afortunadamente, todo esto no es nada más que un juego. Y todos los momentos de tensión y riesgo, se van a convertir en diversión y entretenimiento.

Made in Spain han vuelto a realizar un trabajo impecable y han demostrado, una vez más, que el crear juegos por ordenador es algo más que saber programar. El Misterio del Nilo, puede ser considerado como una auténtica obra maestra en el arte de la programación.


VALORACIÓN

Originalidad: 9
Gráficos: 9
Movimientos: 8
Sonido: 8
Dificultad: 8
Adicción: 9

Something bizzare's happening in the old bazaar. Baghdad? That's no way to talk about yer mum, son. But what a way to Cairo on. There's evil Arabs aplenty pitting themselves against the three heroes - or rather two heroes and one heroine - of this all-shooting arcade-adventure.
But if I say 'arcade-adventure' that could suggest naff little graphics and plenty of leaping and dodging, with lots to do with arcade, but precious little to de with adventure. Mystery Of The Nile is much more a case of characters on a quest.
So put Willy out of your mind and think instead of Wally and his ilk. Your heroic trio here are big, chunky sprites, smoothly animated as they pursue their mission in the Middle East. So select your controls and step on down Nevada Smith - who swears he's never been Indiana - Al-Hasan, your Arab ally, and Janet, the plucky dame.
Actually, it's Janet who you encounter first, alone and aloft, atop a balcony amidst the minarets (coo, dead poetic, what?). Time for a little ledge leaping as she hurtles for her ammunition. Each character has it's own weapon and in the case of Janet it's bombs.
Once she's picked up the explosives - which resemble a pile of profiteroles - she's ready to do some arcade-adventuring. Don't expect to have to discover lots of obscure objects and build your own fusion reactor to get off the screen, though. There's nothing so intellectually taxing in this game. Instead, you just have to kill enough dastardly Arabs to progress.
In fact, it won't take long to learn that the secret of finding Abu-Sahl and the Jewel of Luxor (though it don't say Lux-or what) is to keep on killing. But it's not quite so thick-eared as it sounds. You have to learn where the enemy appears from, so that you can deal with them efficiently. And be prepared to dodge gunshots and the odd stick of dynamite, because they won't all sit around and wait for you to play top-the-towelhead!
Three screens into the game and you run into the next of three daredevil adventurers. Al-Hassan - but Paul Simon calls him Al - follows and once you've picked up his weapon, an umbrella which he uses to deadly effect, you can change between characters with the number keys.
Two more screens and you're off to Nevada - Smithy that is (handsome and heroic - obviously some relation). He packs a six-shooter (Or is he just glad to see Janet? - Ed) which he picks up in the next screen. So now you've rounded up the trio and things really start to get tricky.
Heroes they may be but brainy... forget it! In times of stress they keep cool... so cool they get in each other's way! Talk about stoopid! The only way you can prevent yourself shooting, stabbing or blowing up one of your allies, depending on who you've got under control, is to work out the order in which they follow each other.
Later screens introduce nastier problems, such as assassins on roof-tops and attacks from both sides. It's at times like this that you'll need a double-ended defence and a few extra fingers as you switch between characters. Each screen has its own particular problems, and by the time you've fought your way to the end of the tenth, you'll be glad of the save facility which means that further games can start without too much dull repetition.
The mystery of Mystery's origin is easily solved - Made in Spain sort of gives it away. But like so much Spanish software, while this is great on the graphics, it's a little lacking in terms of playability. You have to be so swift with the number punching if you're to defend yourself that only professional typists need apply for the quest.
No, that's not fair. It's tough, but it can be beaten. I know because there were times when I was sure I'd never get off a screen... and then I discovered the secret and off I went. So get the sand in your sandwiches and camel-long on this Middle-Eastern massacre. And don't stop what you're dune till you reach your just deserts.

Rachael Smith


RATING

GRAPHICS: 8
PLAYABILITY: 7
VALUE FOR MONEY: 8
ADDICTIVENESS:8
TOTAL: 8

Oh, that wicked Abu-Sahl, his mother said he would come to no good ... and now he's stolen the Jewel Of Luxor, more treasured than the pyramids and a lot more nickable. This Egyptian Arthur Daley intends to flog the precious chunk of rock for a fortune, and he must be stopped.

Archaeologist Nevada Smith, his assistant Janet Dwight and Al-Hasan, a peculiar hanger-on, are the only people who can thwart the evil one's plans to swell his building-society account. Each has different abilities with which to combat Abu-Sahl's guards, who seem to spring from every nook and cranny.

Beautiful Janet is first into the action; it wily enough to escape the clutches of the early marauding miscreants she can collect Al-Hasan and then Nevada from their hiding places. These two then follow in her wake, more often a hindrance in their positioning than a help, till a character switch is made and one of them can take the lead.

Indiana - sorry. Nevada Smith and his companions can gather the weapons that they find about them, such as grenades and guns, and with them deal lethal injury to Abu-Sahl's henchmen, all of whom must be killed on each screen.

Nev, Jan and AI each have four lives that are reduced by imprudent contact with a bullet or dynamite stick fired or flung by those dirty bad guys.

Together they can defeat the awful Abu-Sahl; together they can also get themselves into a lot of trouble.


CRITICISM

'Graphically, Mystery Of The Nile is very detailed; the desert backdrops are captured well, as are the characters. It's playable, but becomes frustrating when you have your two companions bumbling around - under the control of the computer they're incredibly stupid and walk into the enemy freely, losing you a life in the process. Still, Mystery Of The Nile could be a relaxing alternative for the hardened shoot-'em-up fanatic.'
RICKY ... 72%

'Immediately I thought of US Gold's Zorro: a predominantly yellow screen, lots of little detailed and well-animated characters and a strong feeling of a hot and sweaty atmosphere. The screen arrangement is well-structured, with colour clearly-defined - ruling out clash and also keeping the display lively. Mystery Of The Nile is a very simple problem solving game, the better for the quick flick-screen technique, and it certainly has character - though its lastability is doubtful.'
PAUL ... 70%

'Mystery Of The Nile is a fantastically addictive little game with cute graphics and some really good tunes thrown in. It's a bit confusing at the start, but with a bit of help from Paul Sumner (or my Playing Tips) you'll soon be on your way to completing it. The three main characters are excellently drawn and move around well. Though it's very simple, like a kid's cartoon, you'll get some enjoyment out of Mystery Of The Nile.'
NICK ... 80%


COMMENTS

Joysticks: Cursor, Kempston
Graphics: clean and well-defined with imaginative backdrops
Sound: rambling jolly tune, but meagre spot FX
General Rating: A simple arcade adventure with humourous touches.


RATING

Presentation 82%
Graphics 77%
Playability 65%
Addictiveness 67%
Overall 74%