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Short Circuit

From: Ocean

Year: 1987

Format: Amstrad CPC

Only pictures of the first level I'm afraid.

Comments:

A two part game. The first is a real-time adventure. Number five ventures around the NOVA building searching for the parts (jump circuit, laser etc) that will make him whole. In order to do this he must load software programs into his memory. The programs are Search, Jump and Laser but only two can be stored at any one time. Also beware of the guards who will cut his adventure short. The second is a side scrolling action game. Number five has escaped NOVA and is heading across country to his freedom. Avoid accidentally killing animals while stopping NOVA guards by shooting their trousers down. I used to love this as a kid even though the first level is virtually impossible to finish. Well presented and good graphics and music.

Other versions of Short Circuit:

Format: Spectrum 48k

From: Ocean

Year: 1987

Comments: Same version as the Amstrad one but far worse. For starters you can choose to skip the first level and go straight to level 2 from the title screen. The layout to stage one is totally different. All the unlocked doors are open. There are no NOVA guards to catch you. You can load all the programs into Number 5 at once, and they are different programs. All this makes the first stage far easier and almost pointless. In stage two the NOVA guards are replaced with evil S.A.I.N.T. robots and Johnny Five is extremely fragile- Hit one rock and you're dead! Add to this terrible, two colour graphics and all new, all crap music and you've got a nasty conversion of a great game.

Format: Commodore 64

From: Ocean

Year: 1987

Comments: An even more different take on the main game workings. The game differs so much from the other two that it could almost be a different game. The game opens with a decent rendition of "Who Is Johnny?", number 5's theme, and an animated sequence. The first part of the game has the same aim as the other two versions; Johnny Five must load all the necessary programs into himself without being caught and deactivated, but it is done in a totally different manner. The level is side scrolling and Number 5 is already equipped with search. You simply wander to the left searching everything in sight. You have to finish the stage before the time runs out and the alarm is sounded something which is very difficult as your way is often blocked by other S.A.I.N.T. robots.  The playable game is accompanied by the Short Circuit theme. A great game but I prefer the Amstrad one.