High Seas Havoc

Ahoy, mateys! There's treasure to be found, and the race is on. Evil pirate Bernard the Brutal has stolen the map that leads to the loot - which includes Emeralda, a magical gem whose owner has the power to rule the world.

Not only does Bernard have the map, but he's also captured Tide and Bridget... but that's where he made his mistake. His hostages happen to be close personal friends of the swashbuckling hero Capt'n Havoc. Which is where you come in.

As Havoc, you must make your way through 13 puzzling levels - each full of dastardly scoundrels - in order to get your paws on that map, find the treasure before Bernard, and rescue your seafaring buddies. Your journey takes you from rolling hills to undersea caverns, through burning villages and up snow-capped mountains.

Although High Seas Havoc has obviously "borrowed" quite a bit from Sega's super-speedy blue guy, it does offer several unique features that turn the tide and make the game better than the average copycat.

Following right along with all the other mascot games comes Data East's High Seas Havoc. To put it simply, if you like Sonic, you will love Captain Lang! All of the excitement is here, with a few new tricks and abilities like the flash kick.

At the present time, most of the levels aren't complete and the enemies are not programmed in. Look for more information on this hot cart later!

Ah, poor Cap'n Havoc's gotten himself into a fix. Bernard, the seafaring pirate canine, is holding a map that could lead him to wealth -- and the Emeralda gem filled with magic. It's up to you to guide Havoc's search for the treasure in this fun adventure.

Who Said the Pen is Mighter than the Sword?

High Seas Havoc is a fast- paced hop-n-bop action/adventure jaunt that will test your reflexes. As you hunt for hidden riches, you must survive all kinds of peril, from ice caves and fire pits, to danger on the open water and struggles at the top of the world. Each level has more than one path to the exit. You can take detours that will bring you more treasures or more enemy conflicts. This enables yen to make your seafaring different each time.

Putting Havoc, a cartoony character, through his paces is very easy, thanks to a simple control system. The directional pad moves him from spot to spot, and makes him squat or look up. Each of the buttons does the same thing: A single button push makes Havoc jump if he's standing, or he can roll out of danger if he's in a squat position. Havoc can bop enemies by jumping on their heads, or double-push on a button to swing his sword at evil passersby.

Not all is dangerous in Havoc's trek. Treasure chests are strewn about, and can provide swifter fobtware, food that offers healing to Havoc's damage bar, as well as extra lives and bonus points.

Wreaking Havoc

High Seas Havoc sports a hoppin' soundtrack. The sound effects, however, can be pretty disappointing. While, most are decent, many of them are raspy.

The graphics are very crisp and clean. The animation is smooth for all characters, and levels such as the Burning Hamlet feature swirling backgrounds (and you thought that was only possible with Mode 7).

The tide is rougher in the fun category. While High Seas Havoc owes a lot to such platform icons as Sonic and Mario, there are a few sections that will simply irritate rather than titillate. For the most part, though, the game is an enjoyable and well-designed romp.

Bon Voyage!

High Seas Havoc's faults are minor, but can combine to really distract you from your mission. If your preference leans more to gradually discovering how to reach the goal rather than being battered until you complete a level, High Seas Havoc might not be your gaming lifeboat. Otherwise, prepare to set sail.