Big Top is a 1983 computer game for the IBM PC

IBM PC

The IBM Personal Computer, commonly known as the IBM PC, is the original version and progenitor of the IBM PC compatible hardware platform. It is IBM model number 5150, and was introduced on August 12, 1981...

 family of computers, created by Michael Abrash and published by Funtastic.

Gameplay

Big Top is a standard ladder platform game

Platform game

A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...

 similar in design to Lode Runner

Lode Runner

Lode Runner is a 1983 platform game, first published by Brøderbund. It is one of the first games to include a level editor, a feature that allows players to create their own levels for the game. This feature bolstered the game's popularity, as magazines such as Computer Gaming World held contests...

. It was created specifically for the PC

Personal computer

A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...

.

Theme

Big Top features a circus or "big top" theme. The user plays the part of a circus clown and has the job of gathering up all of the hats on each level of play. To accent the circus theme, the levels are called rings, and the clowns face various types of obstacles. One of the trickiest obstacles in each ring is the presence of evil clowns. Each ring spans across at least two screens, which was an unusual feature at the time. Each ring has an upper and lower level and as the levels progress, they get bigger as well as harder. As the levels are completed by grabbing up all of the hats in each ring, the clowns become more and more evil, and the platforms themselves become more difficult to negotiate. The platforms become smaller and the gamer has to really hone his jumping skills in order to make successful leaps. The jumping portion of the game is actually very difficult from the beginning, and it only grows more so.

Levels and enemies

The AI of the enemy clowns is very good, and the gamer really will have to think and plan in order to collect all of the ringmaster's stray hats. The baddie clowns have definite patterns to their movement, and studying these patterns will certainly help the user to avoid damage.

The levels are all very well designed and they seem to give Big Top an addictive quality. The graphics simply sparkle, and it is not difficult to find oneself going for just one more level after several hours of intense play. The user will find himself holding his breath as he makes ridiculous jumps to avoid enemy clowns, grab the ring's last remaining hat, or make a break for the hidden exits. It is a fast-paced, entertaining little play that is surprisingly satisfying and well done.

Loader

The game was distributed in a single auto-boot floppy disk

Floppy disk

A floppy disk is a disk storage medium composed of a disk of thin and flexible magnetic storage medium, sealed in a rectangular plastic carrier lined with fabric that removes dust particles...

 and ran straight from the disk without requiring MS-DOS

MS-DOS

MS-DOS is an operating system for x86-based personal computers. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems, and was the main operating system for IBM PC compatible personal computers during the 1980s to the mid 1990s, until it was gradually superseded by operating...

. Modern systems can run it under DOSBox

DOSBox

DOSBox is emulator software that emulates an IBM PC compatible computer running MS-DOS. It is intended especially for use with old PC games. DOSBox is free software....

emulation.

External links

• Bunny Abandonware - Big Top