Cholo (video game)
| CHOLO | |
|---|---|
| Cover art for Firebird releases of Elite | |
| Developer(s) | Solid Image Ltd |
| Publisher(s) | Firebird |
| Platform(s) | Amstrad CPC, BBC Micro, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum |
| Release | 1986 |
| Genre(s) | Wireframe 3D, Simulation |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
CHOLO is a classic wireframe 3D computer game, originally released in 1986 for the BBC Micro computer but quickly ported to a number of other 8-Bit systems (Namely the Sinclair Spectrum, Amstrad CPC and Commodore 64).
Description
The concept behind CHOLO was revolutionary at the time due to its use of 3D wireframe graphics and complex gameplay, it was also one of only a small number of games to come with a novella setting the scene for the player (see external links)
Your eventual aim (spelled out only in the BBC version) is to free the bunker dwellers by destroying the cap preventing them from leaving the nuclear shelter where what remains of the human race is living.
Your only link to the outside world is via a diagnostic (Rat) robot. This robot (the only one still controlled by the humans) is equipped with a single laser, computer/robot link capabilities and very limited armour, your first task is to explore the city and take over stronger robots in order to complete your mission.
You start the game in a building in the old city with no programs or information on what to do next.
Gameplay consists of movement around a virtual 3D world taking over other robots (by shooting them until 'paralysed', running into them and entering a password to gain access)
Each robot has different properties but all have four slots for 'rampacks' which are essentially files, either text files (passl.txt) or programs which add extra functionality to your robot (radar.prg)
To make this a little harder, the robots in the city above who once served man are now running amok killing anyone they don't recognise...
Robot types
There were a large number of different classes of robot in CHOLO, all of which you could control at some point in the game, Here is a partial list:
- Vidbot - Fixed position camera robot
- Leadcoat - Heavy duty radiation proof robot
- Ratdroid - Diagnostic robot
- Hacker - Hacker bot
- Flying Eye - Mobile camera robot
- Autodoc - Maintenance robot
- Guard - Police robot
- Grundon - Tank robot
- Flyboy - Aircraft robot
- Ship - Ship robot
Map
This deliberately incomplete map showing the pre-war city shipped with the game in the form of a wall chart.
PC Remake
Recently (2005) a PC Remake of this game has been created by Ovine by design however this version while it shares the same concepts is very different to the original (the map and the robot passwords to name just a couple of things), some might think these changes bring the game more up to date whereas others who want to play an exact port of the original are likely to be disappointed.