Bugaboo!
Back in 1983 the choice of Spectrum games was pretty limited, but one that stood out for me was this game – Bugaboo! Written by two (probably) Spanish zoologists (Paco & Paco) and it shows, with the game premise seeming somehow European…
To complicate this, the jump meter was very twitchy, and difficult to judge accurately. There was also a time limit imposed by a dragon, who would fly in after a certain period and try to eat you. Just to add a bit more drama to the proceedings. A bit like the big chicken in Chuckie Egg.
Bugaboo Gameplay Video
![Bugaboo Cassette Inlay Bugaboo Cassette Inlay](https://www.retrogamesnow.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/bugaboo-cassette-inlay-192x300.jpg)
To help matters you could use the cursor keys to browse the playing area, which is bigger than screen, and plan your jumps several moves in advance, plotting a course through the maze of ledges.
Bugaboo featured some well defined and colourful graphics, which complimented the simple yet addictive gameplay. I can remember playing for hours at a friend’s house and getting in trouble with mum for coming home too late. I also remember copying the game using a twin cassette recorder, and for this Quiksilva I am truly sorry. If it’s any consolation the game refused to load every time, and I spent more time playing with the tone control on the cassette player than I ever did playing the (pirated) game.
A winner from Quicksilva, a novel idea very well executed the (then) fledgling Spectrum.
If you want to read more, a history of the game can be found here – useful if you an speak Spanish though