Who Dares Wins II, ZX Spectrum 48k

"He who dares Rodney............"

Game - Who Dares Wins II, Alligator Software

Released - 1986

System - ZX Spectrum 48k

Commando was an arcade hit and the ZX Spectrum conversion was particualy good, but here's a game that gives it a run for its money.

Who Dares Wins II (not sure what happened to the first one) is a game I presume is based on the film starring Lewis Collins; yes, Bodie out of the Professionals. I haven't seen the film, or if I have it was so bad I don't remember the plot.

 They didn't waste any time or any of the 48k 

memory on  a loading screen

Anyway, on to the game............Bodie (can't think of a better name) is the blue fella and is controlled using the joystick or keys, tap the fire button to fire the machine gun and hold it down to throw a grenade - controls are as simple as that.

Fully customisable, ok maybe not - but you can configure 

the keys and choose a joystick type.

This plays a lot like Commando but without scrolling screens. WDWII, as it shall now be known, uses flip screens, as you clear a screen you progress up to the next. For me this gives the game an extra challenge as you want to see how many screens in you can get.

Each screen is different from the last with different obsticles and enemy types - and this is what sets it apart for me. On somes stages there are even areas of cover provided so you can take out enemies, just like an 8-bit Call of Duty. There are bunkers, derilect buildings, railways, forest and rivers to visit each one unique from the last. The graphics are colourful for a ZX Spectrum game although there is the usual colour clash to contend with.

Taking on two tanks- note the cover below the tanks get 

behind here and lob over some grenades.

The sound isn't great in WDWII, there are some very poor spot effects but none of them help the game in any way, in fact when you die it sounds a lot like uncontrollable wind!

The difficulty curve is well balanced. I played this for 30 mins or so the other day and with each new game I made a little more progress, so it kept me coming back for more, there are also some nice touches such as enemies killing their own with grendes. The collision detection seemed fair although there is some screen flicker with muliple enemies on screen which did cause me to die once or twice.

Take that you bunkers!

Summary

WDWII is a great little shooter - It is paced well with a nicely balanced difficulty level and the flip screen systen keeps you coming back for more just to see how far you can get. Each screen brings its own challenge and is graphically different from the last and so it is pleasing on the eye too.

The sound does let it down though and the screen flicker when there are multiple enemies on screen does get frustrating.

If you liked Commando then I am sure you will like this.

7/10

Don't like my review? no problem, I'm not offended! Maybe the good people at The World of Spectrum can help....http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0005673