Beyond The Limits: Ultimate Climb
Reviewed by Ty Brewer
Published by Microsoft

Age Group: Age 8 and Up Type: More Fun Price: $ 40 US

PC version requires:
486-66 8 MB RAM, 10 M 2x CD-ROM, Windows 95, also on Windows NT 4.0, 640x480x256

Mac version requires:
Version not available.

Description:

I really can't understand this title. With the heading "Think Fast! Act Smart! You're In Control!" clearly labelled on the box I have to consider this false advertising. Mountain climibing on a computer is like singing about architecture - it just doesn't cross over.

I suppose I should go ahead and describe the game, but writing this review is almost as much a waste of time as your reading it - or buying the game. The premis is this: assemble a guide and a climber and attempt to climb two peaks. The game begins by exploring a room with southwestern artifacts. Under the guise of education they added tidbits of information about native American cultures of the southwest. Not a lot of information is conveyed about the native American Indians, but I suppose they had to put some educational content in the game.

You quickly move to outfit your group for a rock climbing expedition. First, pick your own "character" and the character of your guide. With only four climbers to choose from (well, three plus an adolescent Bill Gates), the combinations are limited. One of the potential climbers states that "everything I know about mountain climbing I read in a book." With his glasses and awkward walk, he's a dead ringer for Bill Gates. Next you pick your equipment from an assortment of mountain climbing gear. Space in your pack is limited so you must make careful decisions. Again, this is more tedium than fun. Finally, you set out to climb the mountains.

Bill Gates the Cheerleader

First, do not pick the "Bill Gates" character. He lacks the strength to climb the rocks. Next, do not pick him as a guide. He keeps saying corny things like "you have to respect gravity" or worse - after a fall he says "at least we know your anchors are working." Ask him about the cactus and he'll say "I read about these in one of my mountain climbing books. They survive with very little water." If this was the real desert southwest, I'd leave him behind to the coyotes. I don't really know why they included the "characters" element in the game. Most of the time the guide wasn't helpful at all, and you will probably settle on one or two of the climbers for their ability.

And they call this gameplay?

The game consists of hiking trails and climbing rocks. The trails are uninteresting and largely unimportant. The "fun" (and I use that word the same way I would say licking razor blades is "fun") part comes when you attempt to scale a large rock. Just click and watch the climber move. At first I thought that the location of my click was important - you know, click on a small outcropping for a better grip? No. Only the direction matters. When the climber takes a false step he or she falls. If you are anchored in you won't fall very far. One might think that if you stick to areas with clear foot or hand holds that you might have an easier climb. No, not really. I found that my chance of making a successful move was largely determined by a random number generator that operated independent of the on-screen rock.

The best method for a successful climb is to stick to short rocks and anchor every 2 moves. Of course you can't complete the game if you can't climb tall rocks, but you can't climb them anyway (well, not reliably) so just stick to the easy ones. I found the most fun came from hiking to a rock and rapelling down. No climbing involved. Hmmmm. I thought that was the point of the game.

Here are a few more details that I guarantee you will find uninteresting. The climbers stumble upon an old abandoned mine shaft and ride the mine train. You must steer the mining car correctly to get to your destination. Along the way the guides say things like "take a left" or "uh, I don't know." The guides are no help and you usually end up at the same place regardless of the directional choices you make while coasting on the rail. Oh, the animals. Bring a whistle and scare them off. Big honkin' deal.

Bury This Under a Mountain

If it sounds like the game lacks substance, it does. As the police officers say "move along...nothing to see here..."

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