Cholo (video game)

Cholo is a video game released in 1986 for the BBC Micro. It was ported to the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, and Commodore 64. Cholo uses wireframe 3D visuals and has nonlinear gameplay.

Cholo
Developer(s)Solid Image
Publisher(s)Firebird
Designer(s)Glyn Williams
Joey Headen
Platform(s)BBC Micro, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum
Release1986
Genre(s)First-person shooter, vehicle simulation
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay

The story is set out in a novella which was included in the game's packaging. Following a nuclear war, humanity is trapped underground by a robot defence system that rules the irradiated surface. Your character assumes control of a robot drone, transmitting to a terminal below ground, and is given the task of freeing the trapped humans.

The robot—"Rizzo the rat", a diagnostic model—is equipped with a single laser, computer/robot link capabilities and very limited armour. The player's first task is to explore the city and take over stronger robots in order to complete the mission. Gameplay consists of movement around a virtual 3D world, taking over other robots by shooting them until 'paralysed', running into them and entering a password to gain access.

Each robot has different properties. "Aviata" is an aircraft who can fly and transport other robots; "Igor" is a hacker who can access computer systems. The player can only control one robot at a time. All robots have four slots for 'rampacks' which are essentially files, either text files or programs which add extra functionality to your robot. The gameplay often involves swapping between robots in order to complete a certain task.

A deliberately incomplete map showing the pre-war city shipped with the game in the form of an A3 size poster. The map also contains a partial robot identification chart.

Robot types

There are a number of different robot types in Cholo, nearly all of which can be controlled at some point in the game.

Hacker and Flying eye robots
  • Vidbot - Fixed position camera robot
  • Leadcoat - Heavy duty radiation proof robot
  • Ratdroid - Diagnostic robot
  • Hacker - Hacker robot (unarmed)
  • Flying Eye - Mobile camera robot
  • Autodoc - Maintenance robot
  • Guard - Police robot
  • Grundon - Police tank robot
  • Flyboy - Aircraft robot
  • Ship - Ship robot

Legacy

Ovine by Design published a remake of the game using Tron-like graphics as freeware for Windows, with the approval of the original creators.[1]

References
  1. "The Cholo retro remake". cholo.ovine.net. Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
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