Forcing the old grey matter to actually do some work seems to be on the cards again, as we wave goodbye to Think! and greet our next title in the Your Sinclair Top 100. Deactivators which sits at No. #28 however this isn’t a flat 2D board game – here we’re in the pseudo-3D realm of bomb disposal robots.
Tigress Marketing – the bodies behind Think! – are the same team behind this rather devilish, fast-paced, puzzle game which was released back in 1986. Here you find yourself as the controller of three robots each awaiting their commands within one of five buildings. Your primary goal is to collect the bombs that are ticking down within the building you have been placed in, and then delicately lob them out of the exit. However your task isn’t going to be easy as there are enemy droids on the prowl, you’re also going to need to unlock hidden doors and windows via a computer terminal, and you’ll have to pass bombs between said windows to get them to the exit – all before the time runs out.
Deactivators on the initial load up was a frustrating game, though I did appreciate the 3D effect that was being delivered, and the Spy vs Spy (Beyond Software) feeling the game had going on I also liked too, but I wasn’t personally getting the gist of the game. It took a good few plays before the bells began to ring in my skull and it all became clear what I was supposed to be doing within this game. Then I really enjoyed it.
Deactivators is a very smart puzzle game that requires you to be firing on all cylinders to work out what steps you need to take to succeed. You cannot get through this game on luck alone and you need to really focus, though even then you’ll possibly be playing a level a good few times before you complete it, when you do the satisfaction you shall get from the achievement will be worth it.
Originally published July 31, 2016. Updated June 30, 2023.
