When I originally heard about a game called Space Panic, I
was expecting another fast-paced shooter. Instead I discovered a one-dimensional
climbing/digging contest.
Maneuver your spaceman up and down ladders and across four girders while avoiding several space monsters. Dig holes in the girders to trap monsters. In order to eliminate the creatures, quickly fill in the holes. Some must fall through two or three floors before they die. A bonus timer (oxygen) continually counts down so don't waste any time! In addition, dropping one creature onto another nets you bonus points. Advance to the next screen when all of the creatures are wiped out.
A slightly creative idea for its time (it was re-created as Lode Runner for computers shortly afterward), this simple concept held my interest only for a short time. There is a good challenge here, but after a few rounds the creatures quickly speed up and the ladders consist of a great portion of the playfield. As a result, any previous strategy is abandoned, and you are reduced to isolating yourself between two holes and waiting for creatures to fall in. The game is not visually eye-pleasing, as the major portion of the screen consists of plain girders. The sound effects are equally unimpressive.
Coleco had resurrected several short-lived arcade games and transformed them into home favorites, but they should have let Space Panic rest in peace.
