[JPX] I think I purchased this game in the "cheap bin" at Kay Bee Toys back in the early 80s. The cheap bin was that magical place where stuff that wasn't selling well was discounted and dumped (Of course Kay Bee was always expensive no matter what). Surprisingly, this game delivered, expecially for 1983. I don't think I ever truly understood what the goal of the game was, but when these monsters start coming at you, it was genuinely scary. Here's a review I found at videogamecritic,"Although technically impressive, Tunnel Runner's simplistic gameplay won't win over many gamers. Older games that rely on fancy 3D effects don't tend to age well. Like a first-person Pac-man, Tunnel Runner's challenge is to escape from a maze while avoiding wandering heads with huge fangs. The illusion of movement is smooth and convincing, and navigating hallways is surprisingly quick and easy. The "heads" are impressively large and scale nicely. Sound cues indicate when they are approaching, which adds a bit of suspense. Unfortunately, having to constantly check your position on the map screen (by holding the button) is a real chore. The first few four stages are easy, but once you reach the "blind" mazes, the difficulty goes through the roof. Tunnel Runner may have gotten by on sheer novelty value in 1983, but in retrospect, its shallow gameplay is not very fun."
[JPX] Ignore him, it was totally fun.
2 comments:
I remember that game being great too and very intense. But judging by the picture it doesn't look like it would hold up well today.
In fact, I'd go as far as to say that any game available on the Atari 2600 OR Intellivision would not hold your attention for more than 4 minutes.
This game was great! Describing it as a "first person Pac-man" doesn't do it justice. You're down there in the maze yourself! The sound effect when the enemy heads approached was very like the disappointing twang noise that the Atari 2600 Pac-man made when he ate a dot, but it was very effective. Nothing sucked like being backed into a corner and seeing that head come around it.
The other great thing was that the game got much faster as you went. When you were really cooking it felt just like that "take him into the maze!" part of the light cycle fight in Tron. Of course, control was an issue, and at that speed you were more likely to plow right into a head.
Probably the best weird, obscure video game find of my youth. Nice one, JPX.
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