No-one likes to live in a town strewn with litter, but just try rounding people up to do something about it. This is the situation in Gremlin's Skidz.
Your local townsfolk are an extremely messy lot, dropping cans, bottles and pieces of paper all over the place. Despite concerted efforts nobody will get down and clear it up, so you must take to the streets and clear them up for yourself.
You can ride either your skateboard or BMX bike through the town to carry out the task you have set yourself, which is to pick up at least 75% of the litter in each of the town's messiest sections. Ten pieces of rubbish can be picked up before your arms are full, at which point you must deposit the bits in a trashcan before any more can be collected.
Throughout the town, evidence of neglect can be seen, such as potholes, broken walls and discarded boxes. All these obstacles must be avoided, since falling off your mount depletes your energy supply. Extra energy can be gained by picking up useful items around the town or by spending money in the Ride 'n' Skate shop (which doesn't seem to sell any trendy clothes, unfortunately for you hip skaters).
Money is gained by performing stunts off the ramps or by picking up dosh dropped by particularly negligent townsfolk. Don't hang about though, as there is a clock counting down, which heralds the appearance of the scrap spirit, who whizzes around you draining all your energy in an attempt to keep the mess he likes gathered around him.
Bonus points are awarded for completing tasks on each level. For example, finding and delivering a parcel, feeding the fish in the park or delivering the paper to the workmen on the building site. This is the only time that the town's inhabitants are co-operative, as for the rest of the time they just hang around getting in the way. Awkward bast... er... awkward people!
LASTING INTEREST
The first level is easy enough to complete, getting you nicely into the feel of the game, but from the park onwards things tend to get a lot tougher. You can choose to pick up the game from the start of the last level if you wish, which is a handy little facility and is bound to be well used. The superb graphics of each level will keep you playing "just to see what the next level is like!". The choice of control methods is another nice touch, allowing you to find out which manner of play suits you best so you can choose to play in that mode.
GRAPHICS AND SOUND
Skidz's graphics perfectly capture the mood of riding and skating around the streets, even down to the skate-boarder's way-out clothes. The sprites have a marvelous cartoon-
JUDGEMENT
It's been a while since such a straight