Clash at Demonhead

Somebody always seems bent on taking over the world. Before long, these would-be conquerors will have to start taking numbers. In Clash at Demonhead, a gang called the Lawbreakers has kidnapped Professor Plum, a famous nuclear scientist. To carry out their mad plot, the Lawbreakers have forced the professor to develop a powerful atomic bomb. As Bang, a member of the Tigers, it's your job to rescue the professor, disarm the bomb, and save the world.

You must also find one of your cohorts who's already missing in action. With so many places to search and so many opponents to defeat, it seems hopeless. But don't despair. Many other characters in the game are willing to help you, and there are secret shortcuts that save time. You can pick up items that provide extra energy, and money and gold to buy armament and extra powers.

Last - but certainly not least - a wise old hermit will grant you his special powers. These include the abilities to shrink yourself or to teleport to other locations. You'll need all five special powers to beat the seven bosses in the game.

You'll probably use the password feature quite often in Clash at Demonhead. There are plenty of hazards, and it's almost impossible to get through them all without lots of experimenting. For example, it takes perfect timing to negotiate the floating, constantly moving platforms. One misstep, and you'll fall into the abyss. And some bosses are invulnerable to standard weapons. Max, for instance, not only grows when he's hit by your blasts, but also divides into more creatures, until finally you're overwhelmed.

Clash at Demonhead is fun, with a slightly odd sense of humor. It can be a frustrating game, too, when it demands perfect timing and creative problem solving.

Professor Plum and his designs for the dreaded, death-dealing doomsday device, Dead End, are in the clutches of the diabolical Lawbreakers - a sinister society dedicated to the destruction of mankind. It's only a matter of time before the Dead End Device is assembled and the final countdown to global Armageddon begins.

As Sgt. Billy "Big Bang" Blitz - the youngest and gutsiest commando of the Special Assault Brigade for Real Emergencies (S.A.B.R.E) - your mission is to foil the Lawbreakers' insidious plot. To accomplish your mission, you must find the shortest route to the summit of Demonhead Mountain, where the poor professor is being held prisoner. Rescue the professor, and you save the world from total destruction. But if you should fail...

I guess that the life of a debonair swashbuckler is never easy. One minute you're lounging on the beach, a cool, salty breeze in your hair, the next you're on your way to save the planet. Welcome to the world of Sgt. Billy "Big Bang" Blitz, the hero of Vic Tokai's new game Clash at Demonhead.

The action gets off to an eerie start with a call from your superiors. It seems that world famous Professor Plum is missing, along with the plans for his top-secret doomsday device. If it falls into the wrong hands, the vary future of the free world will be in jeopardy. You must suit up and take on the nefarious lawbreakers, penetrate their stronghold and rush to the summit of Demonhead Mountain to free the poor professor. Yes, it's an awfully busy agenda for anyone, superhero or not.

Clash is a combination adventure/strategy/shoot-'em-up game that takes you on a wild ride. As Sgt. Blitz, you must make your way past a myriad of enemies and bosses to get to the objective at Demonhead and free the aforementioned Prof. Armed with only a machine gun at first, you're given the opportunity to upgrade your weaponry by buying additional items. Funds are increased after you blast certain enemies, who turn into dollar signs for you to collect.

Moving throughout the screens of Clash, you must best a variety of terrains, including gorges, flatlands, peaks and the deep jungle. As you might expect in a search game of this type, Clash provides you with plenty of opportunities to rack up points by blasting the minions of the lawbreakers, such as robot drones, leaping, tooth like creatures and, my personal favorite, little cruise missiles that follow you around until they pop you (or vice versa).

At various junctures throughout your quest, you will be presented with opportunities to take various routes to the top of Demonhead. A map will appear periodically to help you find the best route to the final battle. If you don't accumulate a large amount of cash, you'll have a hard time surviving - money is paramount for replenishing lives and upgrading gear.

Now a word about our hero. Sgt. Blitz. As the head of the Special Assault Brigade For Real Emergencies (S.A.B.R.E.), you'd expect him to be a big, burly looking guy packing a flak jacket, sporting a crewcut, scowling all the way up the mountain. But Sgt. Bang doesn't quite live up to his name, I'm afraid. With his quick, bouncy steps and mop-top hair, Sgt. Blitz looks like a refugee from a Partridge family reunion. Granted, the tone of this game is lightheaded, but I guess I expect more out of guys named Blitz.

All things considered. Clash at Demonhead is an enjoyable game, full of colorful characters and fast-paced action. Game play requires a great deal of precision, and the graphics and sound support the storyline very well. Be prepared to spend some time behind the controller pad, however. Clash is more than willing to throw large numbers of adversaries and pitfalls your way. Keep a cool head about you and blast away. This is a game of varied adventures to keep you coming back for more, provided Sgt. Blitz doesn't have another more pressing mission.

Professor Plum and his designs for the dreaded, death-dealing doomsday device, Dead End, are in the clutches of the diabolical Lawbreakers-a sinister society dedicated to the destruction of mankind. It's only a matter of time before the Dead End Device is assembled and the final countdown to global Armageddon begins.

As Sgt. Billy "Big Bang" Blitz - the youngest and gutsiest commando of the Special Assault Brigade for Real Emergencies (S.A.B.R.E) - your mission is to foil the Lawbreakers' insidious plot. To accomplish your mission, you must find the shortest route to the summit of Demonhead Mountain, where the poor professor is being held prisoner. Rescue the professor, and you save the world from total destruction. But if you should fail...

Professor Plum and his designs for the dreaded, death-dealing doomsday device. Dead End, are in the clutches of the diabolical Lawbreakers-a sinister society dedicated to the destruction of mankind. It's only a matter of time before the Dead End Device is assembled and the final countdown to global Armageddon begins.

As Sgt. Billy "Big Bang" Blitz-the youngest and gutsiest commando of the Special Assault Brigade for Real Emergencies (S.A.B.R.E)-your mission is to foil the Lawbreakers' insidious plot. To accomplish your mission, you must find the shortest route to the summit of Demonhead Mountain, where the poor professor is being held prisoner. Rescue the professor, and you save the world from total destruction. But if you should fail...