EXCLUSIVES

Doulber: Escape from the 80's
Words by Adam C. Emery

FINALLY, A GAME FOR THOSE TIRED OF THE MONOTONOUS CONVOY OF BIGGER AND BLOODIER GAMES. DOULBER: ESCAPE FROM THE 80'S IS AN EXCITING NEW VERSION OF THE CLASSIC JEWEL FINDING GAME.

The object of Doulber: Escape from the 80's is to collect as many jewels as possible in the allotted time, nothing new but the game is still fun. The game stars a cute little ant named Doulber (big surprise) that is searching high and low for all the jewels he can find. 

As Doulber your search takes you through five different worlds and fifty levels hunting tasty little jewels. At the top of the screen you'll find the number of jewels Doulber needs and the amount of time he has to find them before going through the door to the next level. While some levels seem easy, giving you time to spare, others make you strategize to collect all the gems and still find the door before time runs out.

Time isn't the only thing against you while collecting gems. Doulber must cautiously avoid his enemies or crush them using falling rocks or jewels. Falling rocks can crush him too, so be careful. His enemies take the form of other underground creatures including a distant cousin of Doulber's named Darker. Lava flows can also kill Doulber. 

The only way to avoid a lava flow is to run away, but you must first collect the jewels close to a lava flow that is about to start.

If you're lucky, you'll see hidden doors while treasure hunting that lead to three different bonus levels. Bonus levels give you a chance to rack up extra points on your overall score. With only time against you and no enemies, fan out and find all the jewels you can before going through the door to the next level. 

The only way to die on the bonus levels is to run out of time or to be crushed. The more jewels you find the higher your bonus at the end of the level.

Game Play & Controls 

One level is all it takes to get a taste of the way the game must be played. To introduce new players to the controls, the first level is simple with no enemies. You move Doulber with the keyboard arrows, and can use items he has picked up with the ctrl button. He can also meditate with the spacebar. Meditation allows him to clear a space or collect a gem in any square adjacent to him without moving into it. The first function button, F1, kills Doulber and places him back at the beginning of the current level. Basic controls allow players of any age to easily master getting Doulber to do what you want.

Graphics & Music 

The simple goal of collecting gems and the basic controls of the game are definitely stuck in the 80's, but visually the game belongs in 2003. Many of the objects in Doubler's world appear in 3D: the blocks and enemies Doulber is trying to avoid, the gems he's trying to collect, and the explosions when an enemy catches him or a block or gem falls on him. Even Doulber is rendered in 3D. The only effect that takes away from the game is the explosion that occurs every time Doulber dies.

Another brilliant improvement over its 80's counterparts is the music of Doulber. Instead of the classic monotoned music of arcades in the past, every level brings with it a musical score that is sometimes ominous and eerie, but always driving. The music turns Doulber from a greedy little ant into an adventurer willing to go to the ends of the earth to find treasure. If you're not careful you might end up humming a couple bars a few hours after you've stopped playing.

Even though Doubler is stuck in the 80's, you don't have to keep pumping quarters to play. With enough time and patience there's no reason Doulber can't win the game, even though it is a little repetitive. 

Designed for the Mac platform, the game is stable in Mac OS 8.6 and higher. If you're looking for an arcade type game the whole family can enjoy then Doulber should suit you just fine.

WWW.PHELIOS.COM System Requirements: G3 350Mhz with 32 MB Ram, Mac OS 8.6 Up To OS X > PRICE: $14.95