Q-Bird (Compute's Gazette)
This delightful and colorful arcade-style game for the Commodore 64 challenges your character, a defenseless (but nimble) baby bluebird, to survive among a crew of nasty, hungry enemies.
Other birds say you're paranoid, but you're not--everyone really is out to get you. You often ask yourself how long a defenseless baby bluebird can hope to survive when a host of voracious predators are looking for a meal. If only you could leave this place to find a new home. But alas--you're too young to fly. The best you can manage is a flapping long jump. But you'd better be careful not to jump too far: You could fall a long way down.
Why TAS This Game?
The continuation of TASing games from my all-time favorite magazine, Compute's Gazette. This makes my 32nd TAS from this series.
I remember getting this magazine in the store and was anxious to get home and type it in. I wasn't disappointed, as it provided many hours of game play and fun. The only thing was...this game was difficult.
Previous Compute's Gazette submissions include (In order of submission):
Game Difficulty and Ending
As described in the magazine article, the highest difficulty is Level 15. I choose to play the game on this level, which basically means you have to hop on all squares 15 different times to complete the goal. Playing it on Level 1 will show the same enemies, to be followed up by the next level upon completion.
Because the difficulty is "selectable", I choose to play one round...since it is a looping game.
I invoke the judgement made also on the following games, which follows similar goal choice:
- Chopper 1: a looping game where the hardest level of difficulty shows the same response as with levels 1 through 8...only playing at its fastest drop rate.
- Circuits: a looping game where the hardest level of difficulty is played across 5 unique screens, where the most electrical pulses are displayed.
- Space Dock: a looping game where the hardest level of difficulty shows the same response as with Levels 1 and 2...yet the enemy movement is at its fastest.
Effort In TASing
This was actually an easy TAS, since I have a ton of experience manipulating C64 games. In this version, RNG is not exactly controllable. Some enemies respond to a simple AI algorithm, but the random movement of some enemies was never adjustable by any means that I had.
Human Comparison
Couldn't fine one. :(
Special Thanks.
- DrD2k9 for talking with me about a concern with submitting.
feos: Claiming for judging.
