19 Part One: Boot Camp
Encyclopedia
19 Part One: Boot Camp is a multi-load
computer game created by Cascade Games in . It appeared on the Commodore 64
and ZX Spectrum
. The inspiration for the game came in two parts - the arcade game Combat School
and the Paul Hardcastle
song 19
, which was itself about the Vietnam War
.
The player controls a soldier through several training events, including an obstacle course, shooting practice and jeep driving.
The game is split into four stages:
Stage One is an assault course
- the player must gain speed by pressing the right directional key (or holding the joystick to the right), then hold down the fire key/button to build up power then release it at the correct spot in front of the obstacle.
Stage Two is a shooting range
. Targets appear which the player must shoot targets depicting enemy soldiers, while avoiding those that depict women and children. For every soldier hit the player earns up to 50 points, but for hitting a woman the player loses 1000 points.
Stage Three is a driving game, with the player's point of view behind and just above a jeep which must be driven along a course. Obstacles must be avoided, but a variety of other objects, such as ammo boxes, jerry cans and, boots can be collected for bonus points.
Stage Four is a beat 'em up
which involves the player attempting to defeat the Master Sergeant
(spelled "Sargeant" in the game) within a set time limit.
awarded the game a CRASH Smash at 91%, Sinclair User
gave it 8/10 and Your Sinclair
awarded 7/10.
Sinclair User's Chris Jenkins said of the game "If you don't mind the inevitable wait for the multi-load, it's a corker.", CRASHs Nick Roberts declared that "Each training event could be released separately as an individual game and it would still be worth the money!", while Your Sinclair
's Marcus Berkmann decided that "it's only the Shooting Range that's really special".
Multi-load
Multi-load is a term used to describe multi-part games that were developed for 8-bit computers, such as the ZX Spectrum, Atari and Commodore 64....
computer game created by Cascade Games in . It appeared on the Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
and ZX Spectrum
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
. The inspiration for the game came in two parts - the arcade game Combat School
Combat School
Combat School, distributed in North America as Boot Camp, is a 1987 arcade game produced by Konami where the player takes control of a military recruit who is undergoing basic training at a United States Marine Corps Recruit Training also known as a boot camp.- Gameplay:The control panel consists...
and the Paul Hardcastle
Paul Hardcastle
Paul Hardcastle is an English composer and musician, specialising in the synthesizer.-Discography:In the early 1980s, Hardcastle played the keyboards on several singles on the Oval record label by the dance music groups Direct Drive and First Light, before going solo.He achieved some acclaim for...
song 19
19 (song)
"19" is a song by British musician Paul Hardcastle released as the first single from his self-titled third studio album Paul Hardcastle ....
, which was itself about the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
The player controls a soldier through several training events, including an obstacle course, shooting practice and jeep driving.
Gameplay
Stage One is an assault course
Assault course
An assault course is a special sort of trail that combines running and exercising. It was more popular in the 1970s than it is now. It is heavily used in military training...
- the player must gain speed by pressing the right directional key (or holding the joystick to the right), then hold down the fire key/button to build up power then release it at the correct spot in front of the obstacle.
Stage Two is a shooting range
Shooting range
A shooting range or firing range is a specialized facility designed for firearms practice. Each facility is typically overseen by one or more supervisory personnel, called variously a range master or "RSO – Range Safety Officer" in the United States or a range conducting officer or "RCO" in the UK...
. Targets appear which the player must shoot targets depicting enemy soldiers, while avoiding those that depict women and children. For every soldier hit the player earns up to 50 points, but for hitting a woman the player loses 1000 points.
Stage Three is a driving game, with the player's point of view behind and just above a jeep which must be driven along a course. Obstacles must be avoided, but a variety of other objects, such as ammo boxes, jerry cans and, boots can be collected for bonus points.
Stage Four is a beat 'em up
Beat 'em up
Beat 'em up is a video game genre featuring melee combat between the protagonist and a large number of underpowered antagonists. These games typically take place in urban settings and feature crime-fighting and revenge-based plots, though some games may employ historical or fantasy themes...
which involves the player attempting to defeat the Master Sergeant
Master Sergeant
A master sergeant is the military rank for a senior non-commissioned officer in some armed forces.-Israel Defense Forces:Rav samal rishoninsignia IDF...
(spelled "Sargeant" in the game) within a set time limit.
Reception
Reviews were generally positive. CRASHCRASH (magazine)
Crash was a magazine dedicated to the ZX Spectrum home computer. It was published from 1984 to 1991 by Newsfield Publications Ltd until their liquidation, and then until 1992 by Europress.-Development:...
awarded the game a CRASH Smash at 91%, Sinclair User
Sinclair User
Sinclair User, often abbreviated SU, was a magazine dedicated to the Sinclair Research range of home computers, most specifically the ZX Spectrum...
gave it 8/10 and Your Sinclair
Your Sinclair
Your Sinclair or YS as it was commonly abbreviated, was a British computer magazine for the Sinclair range of computers, mainly the ZX Spectrum.-History:...
awarded 7/10.
Sinclair User
Your Sinclair
Your Sinclair or YS as it was commonly abbreviated, was a British computer magazine for the Sinclair range of computers, mainly the ZX Spectrum.-History:...
's Marcus Berkmann decided that "it's only the Shooting Range that's really special".
Sequel
There was a sequel planned, 19 Part 2: Combat Zone, that would have taken the action to the warzone itself. Players would train in Part One and then save their character/score to be loaded into the second part. However, Cascade disappeared from the scene and eventually folded.External links
- 19 Part One: Boot Camp at Lemon64