Amtix

Spannerman Amsoft/Gem Software

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Gem Software was behind many of the better early Amsoft releases, and while this platformer is hardly a complicate­d game, it’s at least playable and a vaguely satisfying experience. Spannerman — presumably named because he’s the man called upon whenever a spanner is needed — is stuck inside a nuclear powerplant, and leaks are beginning to sprout. Spannerman must use his trusty tool to plug each leak while dodging mutant rats and falling debris, seemingly unconcerne­d about imminent destructio­n or radiation poisoning. The cover is a comical impression of this serious event — Spannerman wrestling with a pipe as an angry-looking rat hovers nearby. Behind them, a floor crumbles away and there are more pipes needing attention in what represents a neat summation of the game’s core elements. The desperate and wide-eyed look on Spannerman’s face is particular­ly amusing, reminding me of John Smyth’s excellent work for Mastertron­ic.

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