''Zig Zag'' is a maze

video game Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This fee ...

written by Ed Hickman and published by

DK'Tronics DK'Tronics Ltd (stylised as dk'tronics) was a British software and hardware company active during the 1980s. It primarily made peripherals for the ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC but also released video games for the ZX81, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, ...

in 1984. It was released for the

ZX Spectrum The ZX Spectrum () is an 8-bit computing, 8-bit home computer that was developed by Sinclair Research. It was released in the United Kingdom on 23 April 1982, and became Britain's best-selling microcomputer. Referred to during development as t ...

and the

Commodore 64 The Commodore 64, also known as the C64, is an 8-bit home computer introduced in January 1982 by Commodore International (first shown at the Consumer Electronics Show, January 7–10, 1982, in Las Vegas). It has been listed in the Guinness ...

Gameplay

In ''Zig Zag'', the player must explore a maze from first-person perspective searching for Scarabaqs. Scarabaqs are creatures that hold sector entry data that the player needs to continue to the next level. Scarabaqs flee from the player, who must exploit their behaviour to chase them into dead ends. Adversity comes in the form of Hoverbots; their attacks drain the player's energy. ''Zig Zag'' also supports the Currah MicroSpeech peripheral.

Development

The first-person 3D effect was achieved by using a series of vertical black lines to form the perspective of the walls, and to give the impression of the ceiling and floor. This also allowed relatively smooth movement animation, particularly when the player rotates left or right. However, some reviewers found the stripes to be an eye-strain.''Zig Zag'' review
from CRASH issue 5, June 1985; retrieved from ''CRASH'' The Online Edition

Reception

Reviewers were impressed with the 3D graphics and endearing nature of the Scarabaqs sprites and behaviour. The drawn-out chases were described as tiring, but addictive. ''

CRASH Crash or CRASH may refer to: Common meanings * Collision, an impact between two or more objects * Crash (computing), a condition where a program ceases to respond * Cardiac arrest, a medical condition in which the heart stops beating * Couch su ...

'' magazine awarded 85% in issue 5. In the ''CRASH'' issue 15 retrospective, ''Zig Zag'' was still appreciated as a good game although several reviews felt the gameplay became boring after a while. ''

Your Spectrum ''Your Sinclair'', or ''YS'' as it was commonly abbreviated, was a commercially published and printed British computer magazine for the Sinclair range of computers, mainly the ZX Spectrum. It was in circulation between 1984 and 1993. History The ...

'' awarded an average of 5 out of 10 in issue 5, also highlighting the fast and colourful 3D effect but viewed it as a "common-or-garden maze game".''Zig Zag'' review
from Your Spectrum issue 5, July 1984

References

{{DK'Tronics 1984 video games ZX Spectrum games Commodore 64 games Action-adventure games Video games developed in the United Kingdom nl:Zig Zag