Summary
- Release Year: 1983
- Genres: Strategy
- Platforms: Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Commodore C64/128/MAX
- Developers: Synapse Software Corporation
- Publishers: Synapse Software Corporation
Drelbs (1983): A Synapse Software Classic
Released in 1983 by Synapse Software, Drelbs is a maze game for the Atari 8-bit family that combines elements of Pac-Man, Lady Bug, and Tron. The player controls a walking eyeball called a drelb, with the goal of flipping gates to create closed boxes and trapping square trollaboars.
The game is played on a maze of gates, similar to the Lady Bug arcade game. The drelb can push into the gates to rotate them 90 degrees, creating paths and trapping trollaboars. However, the trollaboars can also use the gates, so the player must be careful not to trap themselves.
In addition to the trollaboars, the player must also contend with screwhead tanks that patrol the empty border outside the maze. These tanks shoot at the drelb, so the player must be careful to avoid them.
Occasionally, one of the boxes in the maze will become a “drelbish window to the dark corridor.” When this happens, the player can enter the dark corridor, where the goal is to free as many drelbs as possible while avoiding gorgolytes. Completing the dark corridor, or kissing a randomly appearing “mystery lady,” awards a bonus based on the number of completed boxes.
Drelbs is a challenging and addictive game that requires quick thinking and strategy. The maze is constantly changing, so the player must be able to adapt on the fly. The game is also very unforgiving, as a single mistake can lead to death.
Despite its difficulty, Drelbs is a fair and rewarding game. The player is always in control of their drelb, and there is no randomness involved in the gameplay. This makes it a great game for players who enjoy a challenge.
Gameplay
The goal of Drelbs is to create closed boxes by flipping gates and trapping trollaboars. The player controls a drelb, which can push into gates to rotate them 90 degrees. The trollaboars can also use the gates, but they cannot seal them into boxes.
The player must be careful not to trap themselves in a box, as this will result in death. The player must also be careful to avoid the screwhead tanks that patrol the empty border outside the maze. These tanks shoot at the drelb, so the player must be careful to avoid them.
Occasionally, one of the boxes in the maze will become a “drelbish window to the dark corridor.” When this happens, the player can enter the dark corridor, where the goal is to free as many drelbs as possible while avoiding gorgolytes. Completing the dark corridor, or kissing a randomly appearing “mystery lady,” awards a bonus based on the number of completed boxes.
Development
Drelbs was written by Kelly Jones and published by Synapse Software in 1983. Jones was inspired to create Drelbs after playing Lady Bug, a maze game released by Atari in 1981. Jones wanted to create a game that was similar to Lady Bug, but with more challenging gameplay.
Jones spent several months developing Drelbs, and the game was finally released in 1983. Drelbs was a critical and commercial success, and it is still considered one of the best maze games ever made.
Reception
Drelbs was praised for its challenging gameplay, innovative graphics, and catchy music. The game was also a commercial success, selling over 100,000 copies.
Drelbs has been ported to several other platforms, including the Commodore 64, Apple II, and IBM PC. The game has also been released on several compilation albums, including the Atari Anniversary Collection and the Synapse Software Anthology.
Drelbs is still enjoyed by gamers today, and it is considered one of the classic games of the Atari 8-bit era.
Legacy
Drelbs has had a lasting impact on the video game industry. The game’s innovative gameplay and graphics have influenced many other games, including Pac-Man, Tron, and Qix.
Drelbs is also considered one of the first games to feature a female protagonist. The game’s protagonist, the drelb, is a female eyeball, and she is one of the few female protagonists in video games from the early 1980s.
Drelbs is a classic game that is still enjoyed by gamers today. The game’s challenging gameplay, innovative graphics, and catchy music make it a must-play for any fan of maze games.
Review Score
8/10
