Shootout at Dodge
Release type: Shareware
Release date: 1992
Levels: 12
Author: Sherwood Forest
Registration bonus: Free game + current catalog
Registration price: $15
Related games: none
A top-down action adventure, controlled with the arrow keys and the space bar. Shootout at Dodge has a wild west setting, and a kind of neat side-scrolling overworld or map screen. Visually the game is clean and rather charming, as is the story and character background. As usual it's the execution where one wonders what Sherwood Forest was up to.
The controls are the biggest problem here. The character moves in regimented jerks, and only finishes his firing sequence if you hold down the fire key. The sequence repeats, however, so if you hold long enough to fire one bullet you will likely fire multiple bullets. Given that enemies move rapidly and precisely, the lack of anything resembling precision in the controls is rather regrettable.
Contents
Story
Welcome to Dodge City, the wildest, wooliest cattle town this side of the Pecos. The town is crawling with the men of the Butch Cameron Gang. And your job is to clean the town up.
You are Marshall Mellow. The folks think you're soft, and would like to see you over a fire at the campsite. But if you can make it through all the business places in Dodge, and put these black hats in Boot Hill without having to stay there yourself, you just might win the respect of the the town. Good luck.
Instructions
To control the sheriff in the game you move him by pushing the appropriate arrow, or by pushing the joystick in the proper direction. The man is capable of going up, down, left, or right. Pressing the spacebar will shoot bullets in the direction of the last direction the man was going.
You enter a building by going to the doorway of that building. Once there, the only way out is through the back door, and you have to dodge or kill the bad guys to get there.
In the buildings you will find various objects. The bullets and wanted posters will add points to your score. The badges (stars) will add a new life. Everything else is just something that is in your way.
You can always leave town by heading east. If you go to the east of the old mine, the game will end. But you really should visit all the places in Dodge before you do that.
Credits
Shootout at Dodge is another fine game from the people at Sherwood Forest Shareware. We are the folks who brought you Airstrike "42", Attack of the Killer Dandelions, Mystery Manor, and many other games for your computer enjoyment.
Sherwood Forest Shareware is Rob Sherwood, chief cook and guy who bosses everybody else around. Dan Whalen, the art director, who is learning to do with a mouse what he used to do with pencils. And all the other people who can be found at S.F.S.
Links
