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Updated November 20, 2004
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Anaconda
(Binary Magic)
vvvvvvvvvvvvv
"The Standard Snake Game Twisted to Perfection!"
In the Nibbles phenomenon there are two styles
of play that have evolved over time. The first is the Snake style, in which
the world is covered in water. The second style is the Nibbles style, in
which the universe is unbounded.
It is in these two worlds where the anaconda
must travel to gather resources needed to help it grow. Choose your style
of play in up to twenty-one levels of play, and shoot for the highest score
possible!
Game
Review
Graphics
(n.)
The
use of animation and visual effects to stimulate the senses |
vv
(Average) |
Like Microsoft Nibbles,
the anaconda moves in tile by tile jumps, mainly for gameplay purposes.
Besides this slight takedown the graphics used for the blocks, water, and
food items are average at best. |
Sound/Music (n.)
The
smooth blend of atmospheric sounds and original harmonies |
N/A |
This anaconda seems
to lack it's slither; this arcade game lacks sound or music. |
Gameplay (n.)
The
precision of control and involvement of character within its universe |
vvv
(Good) |
Anaconda works just
like Microsoft Nibbles, a popular QB game that launched with the QuickBasic
software. In Anaconda you control a snake that collects food. The more
food you collect, the longer you become. Consequently, the goal of the
game is to eat as much food as possible without crashing into a dead end,
a row of blocks, or yourself.
What makes Anaconda
different in the gameplay category are the two play modes, Snake and Nibbles
mode. In Snake mode, the snake travels atop the water and can grow to nearly
unlimited length. Each piece of food you get will increase your score slightly
along with the length of the snake. As you get really large, weaving your
way around the waters without hitting your own body becomes increasingly
difficult. Crash into yourself or the edge of the screen and the game ends.
In the Nibbles mode,
the Anaconda travels a twenty-level course, with limited lives. To pass
each level, you have to eat eight pieces of food consecutively without
colliding into anything. A few innovations take place here as well; for
example, whenever you eat food in this mode your score gradually decreases
until you eat more food. This simulates the Anaconda's "hunger" and also
adds a skill element to the game that is enhanced by the addition of a
High Scores chart.
One difference that
is glaring about Anaconda and the original Microsoft game is the lack of
one-player support. Microsoft Nibbles allowed two players to work cooperatively
or against each other to pass through the different game levels. This mode
is absent in Anaconda. |
Story (n.)
The
creativity and presentation of the game's critical plot |
(Very
Poor) |
Anaconda goes for
the meat of the matter, and doesn't spend much time developing the storyline. |
Replay Value (n.)
The
timelessness of the gamer's delight, such that the experience can be repeated
again and again |
vvv
(Good) |
This is the game's
strength. Because there are two distinct play modes and a High Score chart,
it's pretty easy to spend a lot of time trying to get the best possible
score in Snake or Nibbles mode similar to the way gamers try to top their
best scores in a Game and Watch gallery. A good multi-player alternative
is to take turns trying to top each other's score, especially in Nibbles
mode. |
Challenge (v.)
To
strike the mental nerve in such a way as to stimulate human thought and
reflexes |
vv
(Average) |
Average. Anaconda
comes with a speed adjust that also affects the scoring system, so the
speed of the game you play will also multiply your score by the speed setting.
This, combined with the two gaming modes, allows for a definite skill curve
that can only be improved through practice. |
Fun Factor (n.)
The
overall entertainment value as maintained throughout the adventure |
vvv
(Good) |
There's a convincing
one-player mode, but Anaconda is one of those games that leaves you begging
for more. If the two-player simultaneous mode of the original Nibbles was
available in this game, then the possibilities of a two-player slugfest
with the twisted rules would make Anaconda that much better. Or perhaps
there can be a computer AI mode where you try to outmatch a wily computer
opponent in a snake raid.
But this is the path
not taken. What's relieving is that Anaconda does deliver fun for fans
of the Nibbles and Snakes game. Whether you played it on your computer,
your Palm, or your calculator, this QB update from Binary Magic is one
that's hard to let go.
Anaconda Reviewed
by Vance Velez |
Players |
1
player |
Genre:
Arcade Game |
Rating |
|
To solve: 1-3 hours Final Rating:
13/35 |
Download
To
download Anaconda (121KB), click here.
wTo
play Anaconda, unzip the file, then run "ANACONDA.EXE". |
Back to Arcade
Games Page |
Game
Summary
Coding
Group
Binary
Magic
Genre
Arcade
Homepage
URL
http://www.binarymagic.
net
E-mail
jonge@qbrpg.com
Players
1-player
Final
Rating
13
out of 35 points
The
Highs: New game mechanics add an expert
twist to this Snake clone.
The
Lows: No multiplayer mode, so fellow Nibbles
enthusiasts will have to settle their vendetta elsewhere.
V Planet! Archive
This is an archive of V Planet, circa November 2004, when the site was last active. This is read-only, and preserved here as part of the QB Zines Archive at Pete's QB Site.
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