Soko-Ban is a video game published in the United States by Spectrum HoloByte in 1988, based on the 1982 Japanese videogame Sokoban.
| Soko-Ban | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Publisher(s) | Spectrum HoloByte |
| Platform(s) | Commodore 64, DOS, Apple II, BBC Micro, TRS-80 Color Computer |
| Release | 1988 |
Development edit
In 1988, Sokoban was published in US by Spectrum HoloByte for the Commodore 64, DOS and Apple II as Soko-Ban. A version for the BBC Micro called Robol was published by a third party in 1993.[1]
Sokoban was a hit in Japan, and had sold over 400,000 units in that country by the time Spectrum HoloByte imported it to the United States.[2]
Gameplay edit
This version of the game includes 50 levels.
Reception edit
A 1988 review in Computer Gaming World praised the game for being "pure and simple, very playable and mentally challenging", citing its addictive qualities.[3]
The game was also reviewed in 1988 in Dragon #132 by Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser in "The Role of Computers" column. The reviewers gave the game 4+1⁄2 out of 5 stars.[4]
Brian Wierda for Compute! said that Soko-Ban may not be suited to the action-adventure gamers, but rather to gamers who love to solve puzzles.[5]
Paul Statt for InCider reviewed the game and said that "using the arrow keys instead of the joystick – Soko-Ban became, if not easy, mindless. It simulates this type of work well".[6]
Reviews edit
- Happy Computer – December 1987[7]
- The Games Machine – April 1988[8]
- ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment) – May 1988[9]
References edit
- ^ Bobrowski, Miroslaw (April 1993). "Robol: The Game". BEEBUG. Vol. 11, no. 10. pp. 5–8. The 50 levels were identical except for level 46 which had to be rotated to fit the BBC Micro screen. A level editor was published in the following issue.
- ^ Low, Lafe (November 1988). "News Line; Made in Japan". inCider (43). 14, 15.
- ^ Wagner, Roy (May 1988). "Puzzling Encounters". Computer Gaming World. pp. 42–43.
- ^ Lesser, Hartley; Lesser, Patricia; Lesser, Kirk (April 1988). "The Role of Computers". Dragon (132): 80–85.
- ^ "Compute! Magazine Issue 097". June 29, 1988 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ "inCider 1988-11" – via Internet Archive.
- ^ "Happy.Computer N51.1988.01" – via Internet Archive.
- ^ "The Games Machine Magazine Issue 05".
- ^ "ACE Magazine Issue 08". May 1988.