Blagger (video game)

Blagger
Developer(s)	Antony Crowther
Publisher(s)	Alligata Amsoft
Platform(s)	Commodore 64, Acorn Electron, Amstrad CPC, BBC Micro, Commodore 16, Plus/4, MSX
Release	1983
Genre(s)	Platform game
Mode(s)	Single-player

Blagger is a platform game created by Antony Crowther for the Commodore 64 and released by Alligata in 1983. A BBC Micro port was released the same year, Acorn Electron, Amstrad CPC (through Amsoft) and MSX in 1984, and the Commodore 16 and Plus/4 in 1985. In some countries this game was released under the name Gangster. The gameplay is similar to that of Manic Miner, also released in 1983. A sequel, Son of Blagger, was released in 1984 with a third and final title Blagger Goes to Hollywood released in 1985.

Gameplay

Blagger features platforms, ladders, conveyor belts, keys and baddies. In this screen a baddie shaped as initials 'RG' (seen in the upper section) relates to author of the BBC micro version, R.S. Goodley.

The game is divided into a series of single-screen levels. The goal of the player on each screen is manipulate Blagger, a burglar, to collect the scattered keys and then reach the safe. The keys must be collected and the safe opened in a set amount of time. Blagger can walk either left or right, or jump left or right. The jumping action is in a fixed pattern and cannot be altered once initiated. Gameplay reduces to learning the best order in which to collect the keys, and correct timing of movements and jumping.

Not all platforms are solid, some decay once Blagger has walked on them. Other platforms serve to move Blagger in a particular direction. Blagger will die if he touches cacti, one of the moving enemy obstacles of the level or if he falls a certain distance. The moving enemies vary from level to level, and include cars, aliens, mad hatters, and giant mouths. The movement of the enemies is of a fixed pattern, repeatedly travelling from one point to another and back again.

The BBC and Electron versions feature floating "RG"s as hazards (R.G. being the initials of the programmer of those versions, R.S. Goodley).

External links

• Blagger at Lemon 64
• Blagger at Plus/4 World
• Complete video from the C64 version at Internet Archive