** PD game review/1 page/750 words/5 grabs/Shiuming Lai **

Billy Boy

Ever-youthful, Shiuming (Boy) Lai tries a new kids game...


STOSSER Software is currently churning out new games at an impressive rate 
- two issues ago it was Diamond Ice, and now we have Billy Boy, another 
platformer, but this time aimed at the younger player. That's not to say 
it's any less well produced, because to be fair, it's arguably one of 
STOSSER's finest to date!
     So what of the game? Well it's extremely simple, even I could 
understand it without any trouble. The aim is to get out of the various 
fantasy worlds by finding the guardian, who will let Billy Boy out and onto 
the next. Along the way, Billy's travels are peppered with lots of baddies, 
which sap his energy upon contact - some of them can be temporarily driven 
into the ground by stomping on their heads. Collecting the food scattered 
around the imaginatively-designed levels bumps up the score.
     Yellow stars are also to be collected, and to add an extra challenge, 
there is a flying balloon with a mind of its own on each level. This 
displays a letter at most times, and once these are all collected to form 
the word "BONUS" full health is awarded on the next level.
     Initially, the game is so simple anyone can get into it, to play a 
bit and get the feel. After the first three levels though, it becomes 
apparent a modicum of the squidgy grey blob between the ears is required to 
get any further! In an unobtrusive manner, to avoid scaring the novice with 
complications, special objects reveal secret pink stars which need to be 
collected to pass the checkpoints set at intervals of a few levels. Another 
subtle touch is the navigation arrows hinting in the background.
     Control is a doddle and needs no explanation, while the response of 
the main sprite is quick and doesn't detract from the gameplay.
     That's all there is to it - simple and fun! The graphics are bright, 
bold and drawn to a high standard. Animation is good too, brimming with 
detail, and even the backgrounds always have something happening to keep it 
looking lively. A breezy tune bops along to the proceedings, accompanied by 
nice sampled sound effects on STe computers. All this adds up to a package 
which really puts some recent commercial offerings to shame.
     Like Diamond Ice and the last few STOSSER releases, Billy Boy is 
commentware. This means the authors don't want money, but just an honest 
opinion of what users think. Due to a very poor feedback in the past though 
a new registration key system has been implemented to enforce feedback, 
otherwise certain features are disabled. To register, send comments, along 
with your name to STOSSER, and in return a key will be sent to unlock those 
features. I hope people will give some feedback on this one, it's a very 
small price to pay. STOSSER will pack it in if people don't respond, 
because in the words of the team, it's very depressing to think nobody 
cares about the effort they put into making quality games for free. The 
next planned release, HERO 2 (a sequel to the previously commercial game), 
is a 4Mb STe mimimum(!) title - it sounds quite promising so get those 
comments rolling in!
** End of body text **



** Sound advice box **
The game does not check the STe DMA sound replay speed, so if something 
else which uses it is run beforehand, the in-game sound effects might come 
out wrong. For example, if using Atari's SAM (System Audio Manager) assign 
a 25kHz sample to some rarely-used key, then press this prior to running 
Billy Boy and it will set the sound to the right speed.
** End of boxout **



** Product box **
Product name: Billy Boy
Publisher: STOSSER Software
Contact: PD libraries, on-line services and the STOSSER web site: 
http://www.airtime.co.uk/users/stosser/
Requires: ST(e) only, 320x200 resolution (ST low), 1Mb memory
Pros: Doesn't cost a sausage, hard-disk friendly, top-notch graphics and 
gameplay
Cons: Some fatal hazards but only one life to get past them
Scores:
Graphics: 90%
Sound: 90%
Gameplay: 90%
Overall: 90%
** End of boxout **



** Images and captions **

** INTRO.GIF **
** No caption **

** MENU.GIF **
The music even fades in as the curtains open to reveal the playfield.

** LEVEL1.GIF **
Grab all the stars, and touch that balloon on the far right.

** MINE.GIF **
Watch out for the creepy eyes blinking in the background, get out of there 
fast!

** MACHINE.GIF **
Walk past that strange contraption on the left and it makes a funny 
noise...