gridbox.jpg - 15.9 K

Grid Runner
by Al Giovetti
Price: $50
Genre: action arcade
Release:
Developer: Radical Entertainment
Programmer:
Music:
Art:
Producer:
Publisher: Virgin Interactive Entertainment
Phone: 800-874-4607
Website: www.vie.com
Requirements: Pentium, 60 MHz, Windows 95, 8 MB RAM, 10 MB hard disk space, 2X CD ROM gridjf1.jpg - 51.5 K

Company line: Scream through 57 rounds of blood-pumping, heart-pounding, mind-bending mazes in this sci-fi, cyber-speed chase to hunt down enemy flags. Cast a myriad of magical spells to thwart monster opponents like the menacing Minox or the Empress Vorga. If you've got the stamina and smarts, Grid Runner will keep you guessing, gaming and going for hours.

History: Grid Runner was one of the games that first came out on the original gaming platforms: Atari 800 and Commodore 64. Now the Grid Runner is back with an all new 3D presentation.

Plot: You play a human astronaut warrior from the future who is trapped in the Grid arena by an evil space queen. Your name is Axxel and you must battle the queen's minions.

Game play: Axxel can build bridges, teleport, and throw energy bolts. There are power ups around the levels of the grid that provide the juice for these powers. gridjf2.jpg - 60.0 K

Graphics: Eight and 16-bit color video is woefully inadequate when compared to console games like the Sony Playstation or the Nintendo 64.

Animation:

Voice actors:

Music score:

Sound effects:

Utilities: There is no difficulty setting, but since the learning curve is not steep, this lack can be lived with. We would have preferred a difficulty matrix but it is absent from the game. The game supports all six buttons of the standard game pad.

Documentation:

Multi-player: The split-screen two-player mode is not adequate because this is the only multi-player support Grid Runner has. There is no null modem, phone modem, network or internet multi-player support. Since Grid Runner appears to be designed or strong in the multi-player area, this lack of multi-player versatility is hard to fathom. Capture the flag type game play. gridjf5.jpg - 36.0 K Future plans:

References:
Jason D'Aprile, Computer Player, volume 3, number 6, January, 1996, pg. 60, 70%.