Probe Software Ltd.

1943: The Battle of Midway

1943: The Battle of Midway

Commodore Amiga - Released - 1988

The most crucial and decisive battle of World War II is about to be fought... by you! Enemy forces are descending upon Midway Island. Enemy bombers, dive bombers, and zeroes are roaring over the island like a typhoon. The surrounding Pacific waters are teeming with enemy aircraft carriers. As the top gun of the Navy's most elite crew of fighter pilots, you must pilot your specially-outfitted P-38 into the very midst of the enemy squadron. Equipped with an array of secret weapons, only you can turn the tide against the formidable enemy fleet. The outcome of history's most fateful air/sea battle rests in your hands! Can you avenge Pearl Harbor?

1943: The Battle of Midway

1943: The Battle of Midway

Atari ST - Released - 1988

The sequel to 1942, which is still a vertically scrolling shooter, has the player once again fighting over the clouds during the second world war, this time in an intense battle just off the coast of Midway islands. Updates to the gameplay include an energy bar, which can be run down by either being hit from incoming fire or using a special weapon. The energy bar can be replenished by picking up power-ups, while special weapons (lightning, cyclones and waves) can knock down all fighters on the screen at the time.

Adidas Championship Tie Break

Adidas Championship Tie Break

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1990

This tennis simulation uses a top-down scrolling perspective. You are not in control of the player's motion, but once he gets close to the ball, shot selection is down to you. Standard shots plus topspin, lobs and stop volleys are available, by pushing the joystick in the right direction as you aim the shot. The game supports up to 16 players in singles matches on a variety of court surfaces. It includes all of the major world tournaments - the four Grand Slam events at Melbourne, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and New York, plus the Davis Cup and Masters events. An early attempt at TV-style coverage is offered.

Alien 3

Alien 3

Commodore 64 - Released - 1992

Alien³ is a video game based on the movie of the same name. The plot of the movie picks up directly after the end of Aliens. Ellen Ripley, the main character of the Alien series, is in cryo-sleep aboard the space ship Sulaco. Unfortunately, an alien or two has stowed away on the Sulaco, and wreaked havoc within the ship. Thus, it crash lands on the prison colony planet Fiorina 161. Ripley and the unarmed prisoners have to figure out a way to survive the aliens terrorizing the colony until help arrives. The gameplay of the various Alien³ conversions varies from platform to platform. This version is a side-scrolling action game with large maze-like levels. In each level, you have to rescue all the trapped prisoners and then make your way to the exit, all while surviving multiple alien attacks.

Alien 3

Alien 3

Commodore Amiga - Released - September 22, 1992

Alien³ is a video game based on the movie of the same name. The plot of the movie picks up directly after the end of Aliens. Ellen Ripley, the main character of the Alien series, is in cryo-sleep aboard the space ship Sulaco. Unfortunately, an alien or two has stowed away on the Sulaco, and wreaked havoc within the ship. Thus, it crash lands on the prison colony planet Fiorina 161. Ripley and the unarmed prisoners have to figure out a way to survive the aliens terrorizing the colony until help arrives. The gameplay of the various Alien³ conversions varies from platform to platform. This version is a side-scrolling action game with large maze-like levels. In each level, you have to rescue all the trapped prisoners and then make your way to the exit, all while surviving multiple alien attacks.

Back to the Future Part III

Back to the Future Part III

Atari ST - 1991

Back to the Future III is a collection of four arcade games. Marty McFly and Doc Brown have traveled back through time to the year 1885 - and they're soon deep in trouble when they face "Mad Dog" Tannen's gang and have to find a way to return to the present. This game takes four scenes from the Hollywood movie Back to the Future III and turns them into arcade sequences.

Back to the Future Part III

Back to the Future Part III

Commodore Amiga - Released - 1991

Back to the Future III is a collection of four arcade games. Marty McFly and Doc Brown have traveled back through time to the year 1885 - and they're soon deep in trouble when they face "Mad Dog" Tannen's gang and have to find a way to return to the present. This game takes four scenes from the Hollywood movie Back to the Future III and turns them into arcade sequences.

Back to the Future Part III

Back to the Future Part III

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1991

Marty's in big trouble. Having returned to 1955 to try and stop the evil Biff from changing the future for his own benefit with the aid of a stolen sports almanac, he and Doc Brown have managed to do just that. But when the flying DeLorean with Doc inside is hit by lightning and disappears, Marty is left stranded in 1955. His troubles are far from over. Seconds after the Doc's disappearance, Marty receives a letter from him - dated 1885. After being catapulted back to the old West by the lightning bolt, Doc has decided to settle down there as a blacksmith, explaining that he's quite happy there and wants no help from Marty. Also included in the letter are specific instructions on how to find the DeLorean (which Doc has hidden in a disused mineshaft) and use it to get Marty back to 1985. But when Marty and Doc return to the mineshaft to recover the DeLorean, they discover, in the nearby graveyard, a headstone with Doc's name on it - dated just a few days after his letter to Marty! Realising he has to save the Doc before he is killed, Marty uses the DeLorean to travel back to 1885... Now it's up to you, in the roles of both Marty and Doc Brown to save the day and return everyone safely to their own time. It's not going to be easy, thanks to the appearanee of Buford "Mad Dog" Tannen, the first in the long line of the evil Tannens of Hill Valley! He's been gunning for Doc since he arrived - and now he's gunning for you too. BACK TO THE FUTURE PART III is split into four sections, which you play one after the other. Each section represents a famous scene from the movie - so if you've seen the film, so much the better. The sections get progressively harder, with the final section, in which you must get back to 1985 once and for all, the toughest of the lot. But don't worry - we'll give you some help along the way. You may pause the game during any of the sections by pressing the 'H' key, and pressing it again to continue.

Back to the Future Part III

Back to the Future Part III

Commodore 64 - Released - July 15, 1991

Back to the Future III is a collection of four arcade games. Marty McFly and Doc Brown have traveled back through time to the year 1885 - and they're soon deep in trouble when they face "Mad Dog" Tannen's gang and have to find a way to return to the present. This game takes four scenes from the Hollywood movie Back to the Future III and turns them into arcade sequences: •Buckboard Chase: Doc Brown goes horseback in an attempt to save Hill Valley's lovely school teacher Clara. This game of quick ducking, jumping and shooting alternates between a side-scrolling and a top-down perspective. •Shooting Gallery: The name says it all. A classic game of aim-and-shoot, spiced up by hidden extras and bonus targets. •Pie Throwing: Meet the Mad Dog gang. They have guns, and you have... cream pies. It's an isometric version of the shooting gallery, only with ammo. And the targets shoot back. •The Train: Basically a side-scrolling beat-em-up on train wagons with some ducking and jumping. Get rid of the mechanics and collect speed logs to push the engine to a magic 88 mph.

Back to the Future Part III

Back to the Future Part III

MS-DOS - Released - 1991

Back to the Future III is a collection of four arcade games. Marty McFly and Doc Brown have traveled back through time to the year 1885 - and they're soon deep in trouble when they face "Mad Dog" Tannen's gang and have to find a way to return to the present. This game takes four scenes from the Hollywood movie Back to the Future III and turns them into arcade sequences: Buckboard Chase: Doc Brown goes horseback in an attempt to save Hill Valley's lovely school teacher Clara. This game of quick ducking, jumping and shooting alternates between a side-scrolling and a top-down perspective. Shooting Gallery: The name says it all. A classic game of aim-and-shoot, spiced up by hidden extras and bonus targets. Pie Throwing: Meet the Mad Dog gang. They have guns, and you have... cream pies. It's an isometric version of the shooting gallery, only with ammo. And the targets shoot back. The Train: Basically a side-scrolling beat-em-up on train wagons with some ducking and jumping. Get rid of the mechanics and collect speed logs to push the engine to a magic 88 mph.

Back to the Future Part III

Back to the Future Part III

Amstrad CPC - Released - December 16, 1991

Back to the Future III is a collection of four arcade games. Marty McFly and Doc Brown have traveled back through time to the year 1885 - and they're soon deep in trouble when they face "Mad Dog" Tannen's gang and have to find a way to return to the present. This game takes four scenes from the Hollywood movie Back to the Future III and turns them into arcade sequences: Buckboard Chase: Doc Brown goes horseback in an attempt to save Hill Valley's lovely school teacher Clara. This game of quick ducking, jumping and shooting alternates between a side-scrolling and a top-down perspective. Shooting Gallery: The name says it all. A classic game of aim-and-shoot, spiced up by hidden extras and bonus targets. Pie Throwing: Meet the Mad Dog gang. They have guns, and you have... cream pies. It's an isometric version of the shooting gallery, only with ammo. And the targets shoot back. The Train: Basically a side-scrolling beat-em-up on train wagons with some ducking and jumping. Get rid of the mechanics and collect speed logs to push the engine to a magic 88 mph.

BraveStarr

BraveStarr

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1987

The planet of New Texas is similar to the Wild West-era Texas - mystic Indians, bar-room brawlers and sharp-shooting mercenaries. The only man tough enough to keep order in such a place is Marshall Bravestarr. Stampede is the villain of the piece; he aims to bring the dead back to life as zombies for his own use. BraveStarr is a side-scrolling action title based on the popular 80's space western cartoon series. Starting with a limited amount of time, you must find and rescue Shamen who was captured by the evil Tex Hex, to aid Stampede's plans. You get nine minutes to complete your task. The game begins in Fort Kerium in front of the bar. You can enter buildings to talk to people and examine rooms. Outside, you must jump around, shoot enemies and collect various power-ups they drop. Marshall BraveStarr has only one life - when he takes damage, he loses time instead of life energy.

BraveStarr

BraveStarr

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1987

New Texas, great arid planet, is where Kerium Secum is located. This substance, the most important of the universe, is what makes the Earth work. Since its discovery in New Texas have gone there many treasure hunters waiting to be made rich But there have also been characters with worse intentions ... Soon one such Tex Hex and his cohort of evildoers took possession of the territory, sowing terror. Tex is under the influence of Stampede, spirit dating back to the time when New Texas was inhabited only by dinosaurs. What Stampede intends to do is give life to the bone remains scattered throughout and send it back to the arid surface. For this you have to squeeze the magic of the Indian elder Shamen. Stampede has captured Shamen and has him arrested. The good-natured Sheriff, Bravestarr, educated precisely by Shamen as a child, has decided to pursue Tex Hex, destroy Stampede and rescue Shamen. Since you embody the Sheriff, your mission is simple: rescue Shamen and free all of Texas from the clutches of Stampede. If you enter the bars and other buildings of Fort Kerium you can get information and solve puzzles that will eventually lead to you decisive encounter with Stampede. The information is not easy to get, so you must change objects collected by money with which you can bribe people. Go to the indicated places on the map that is on your rocket and explore the entire planet. Look especially for amulets, left by your enemies that will increase your shooting power, or freeze time for seconds. During the nine days that your search will last, the Sun will rise and become many times. Be careful with the bombs that will send you for a ride.

Dan Dare III: The Escape

Dan Dare III: The Escape

Commodore Amiga - Released - 1990

In Dan Dare III, Virgin's latest addition to the saga, Dan faces his toughest challenge yet. The Mekon has made things pretty rough for him. Dare has been taken prisoner and moved to a satellite from where the Mekon intends to sublimate the entire race of the Earth thanks to his armies of Treens – products of his unsuccessful Treenisation experiments. But Dan quickly escapes and finds a spaceship which should get him back to Earth. But before he can make it work, he must locate 50lbs of fuel in a catacomb of corridors, chambers and shafts. Dan is initially armed with a plasma rifle, a single power shield and handy jet pack. If he can fight his way to the stores computer on the first level he can order from a plethora of weapons stock as long as his credit holds out including extra lives, nuke bombs, homing missiles. But all cost. Once Dan is armed, he selects each weapon by pulling down on the joystick, the current selection being shown by its particular icon. The icons are clear and obvious, contrasting sharply with the small graphics of the characters and selection of each icon takes place during play so an element of real time swapping is inherent. While the music is pleasant yet unmemorable and sound effects are too limited, the scrolling most certainly is poor. It jerky and slow. Probe Software, who are responsible for the game, have a better reputation for graphics then this especially after having made such a good job on the Spectrum, Dan Dare on the Amiga is therefore an enigma – jerky scrolling coupled with reasonable graphics and underused sound make for a game which will be forgotten easily, unless you buy it in which case it will be remembered for its mediocrity.

Dan Dare III: The Escape

Dan Dare III: The Escape

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - December 12, 1990

In the third game in the Dan Dare series, Dan has been kidnapped by an evil alien race known as the Treens and taken to their scientific satellite orbiting Venus, but it doesn't take long for Dan to break free and goes down into their ship. While searching it, he eventually finds an escape shuttle sitting in the launch bay, only to discover that it is out of fuel. He returns to the satellite in an attempt to find some. The fuel cans are scattered around the five levels of the ship, which Dan can get to by using the Mekon's teleporters. To get to them though, Dan needs to destroy any Treen that gets in his way using a variety of weapons, brought by using a computer terminal. Along the way, the Mekon leader can be seen sitting around, and destroying him will more often than not reward Dan with a pod that he needs to access the teleporter. Dan can use his jet-pack to navigate the satellite, but this will eventually run out of fuel.

Dan Dare III: The Escape

Dan Dare III: The Escape

Commodore 64 - Released - 1990

In the third game in the Dan Dare series, Dan has been kidnapped by an evil alien race known as the Treens and taken to their scientific satellite orbiting Venus, but it doesn't take long for Dan to break free and goes down into their ship. While searching it, he eventually finds an escape shuttle sitting in the launch bay, only to discover that it is out of fuel. He returns to the satellite in an attempt to find some. The fuel cans are scattered around the five levels of the ship, which Dan can get to by using the Mekon's teleporters. To get to them though, Dan needs to destroy any Treen that gets in his way using a variety of weapons, brought by using a computer terminal. Along the way, the Mekon leader can be seen sitting around, and destroying him will more often than not reward Dan with a pod that he needs to access the teleporter. Dan can use his jet-pack to navigate the satellite, but this will eventually run out of fuel.

Dirty Den

Dirty Den

Commodore Plus 4 - Released - 1986

A nasty old wizard has kidnapped your girl and is holding her in the grounds of his castle and in this single screen platform game, you Dirty Den must go and rescue her over various screens. To clear each screen you must reach a love heart while collecting all the chocolate to move to the next screen. On each screen are various creatures with some firing bullets at you and you must kill them all with your bullets to progress. Touching any creature loses you one of five lives and clearing a screen gives you an extra one. As well as the normal platforms, there are moving platforms as well as poles that take you upwards.

Dynamic Duo

Dynamic Duo

Commodore 64 - Released - 1988

In Dynamic Duo the player takes the role of a bird and a dwarf who explore a haunted castle. The goal is to open the door the the calculation room, but to do so ten hidden keys have to be found first. The screen is divided into three parts: the action screen, a map and the status screen. The player can switch between the two protagonists at will and if they explore different parts of the castle (or if a second player takes part) the map gets replaced with a second action screen. This is necessary because the two have different abilities: the bird can fly and is generally faster while only the dwarf can open chests. On their way they meet various enemies that can be shot with a gun with a limited amount of ammo.

Fernandez Must Die

Fernandez Must Die

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1988

The dictator Fernandez has set up eight bases to secure the area that he has captured. It is your mission to seek out and destroy all of these bases in order to topple the dictatorship and free the land. Throughout this occupied territory there are many caches of stolen gold and prisons housing miserable POW's. You receive medals, and bonus points, for destroying buildings, recovering gold and freeing prisoners. Needless to say, there are many hostile soldiers patrolling the land who will object strongly to your intrusion, and do their utmost to exterminate you.

Fernandez Must Die

Fernandez Must Die

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1988

Fernandez is a despot who has invaded the Republic of El Diablo, bringing terror to the local people. The rightful leaders of the country have called you in to destroy Fernandez's hideouts and bring his country back to the people. Fundamentally this is a Commando clone, scrolling vertically and with hordes of enemies to be taken on, with finding good shielding spots and launching surprise attacks an especially useful strategy.You have unlimited bullets and limited but collectible grenades to use. There are landmines to avoid, and medical packs to pick up. On each of the 8 levels you must destroy Fernandez's buildings, which are accessed through an underground network of tunnels. You're not limited to being on foot - you start off in a jeep and can also use motorbikes, tanks and similar, although losing a life destroys this. In 2-player mode you can split driving and gunning duties. When starting a new game, you always start from the point at which you died in the last game.

Galaxy Force

Galaxy Force

Commodore 64 - Released - 1989

This version of Galaxy Force (a.k.a Galaxy Force II), is an expanded version. It adds two additional levels, the old levels are revised (expanded and re-balanced) and the four missiles can be fired with a single button press. You are strapped into a spaceship to take on six dangerous settings, ranging from a pleasant garden to hostile fire and tough ice. You will have to fly freely before cutting through tunnels and canyons, and finally destroying an alien base. Your energy read out starts at 1200 and decreases as shots hit you, or you make contact with a wall or blockage. You have infinite cannons and guided missiles to help you along. You can get regular energy recharges and power upgrades, by shooting and then collecting their carrier pods.

Golden Axe

Golden Axe

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1990

A terrible scourge has settled on the land of Yuria. The Evil reptilian creature Death Adder invaded the peaceful villages and by ways of this ancient land, putting the population to the sword (and worse!). His armies of thugs and other murderous creatures now run amok in Yuria, terrifying the innocent citizens and exacting crippling taxes from the people. Food is running low, and there is little hope of freedom. The very existence of Yuria is now threatened - Death Adder has kidnapped the King and his daughter, the beautiful Princess, and he is holding them captive in their own castle. Death Adder has also found the Golden Axe, the magical emblem of the land of Yuria, and plans to destroy it and kill the royal family unless all the people of Yuria bow to his will, swearing an oath of llegiance to his evil regime accepting him as ruler. There seems to be little chance of defeating Death Adder and ridding Yuria of his evil hordes - the King's armies were crushed long ago in fierce and bloody battles. But an alliance of three warriors from the farthest corners of the land may just manage the impossible...

Golden Axe

Golden Axe

Commodore Amiga - Released - 1990

Progress is made through the game by fighting through Death Adder's henchmen, including men armed with clubs and maces, skeleton warriors, and knights. Players are able to attack using their weapon, jump and cast spells that hurt all enemies on the screen. The force of this magic depends on the number of "bars" of magic power currently available. The bars are filled by collecting blue "magic potions" attained by kicking little sprites who then drop the potions. These sprites appear during regular levels and during bonus stages in between levels. The male warrior Ax is able to cast earth spells. The dwarf Gilius casts lightning spells and the female warrior Tyris casts fire magic. Each character has a different number of maximum magic bars and varying ranges of attack. Various steeds known as bizarrians are found in the game. These can be ridden when the enemy rider is knocked off, or if one is found dormant. The least powerful steed is known as the Cockatrice (which also appeared in Altered Beast),[3] which can be used to knock down enemies with a swipe of its tail. The more powerful dragon, which can either shoot fireballs or breathe fire depending on its color scheme, is found later in the game. In addition to the main quest, some home versions of the game included "duel mode", a survival mode type game that pitted players against increasingly powerful foes in consecutive rounds of play. This mode also featured a two-player one-on-one option.

International Speedway

International Speedway

Commodore 64 - Released - 1988

It's time to put on leathers, helmet and goggles. It's time to become the world champion in the fast paced, 'go in an oval' sport of motorcycle speedway. After entering name, country and continent, the player starts in the local championship league. Win the league and it's on to the next higher league against harder riders. The ultimate goal is to work one's way up the leagues to become world champion. The game is viewed behind one's rider as he navigates the oval track. Also on the screen is a bird's eye view of the track displaying the positions of all the riders. Also visible: lap time, number of laps, speedometer and a picture of the rider's hand and helmet. Controls are simple: the fire button accelerates, left and right steers. There is no brake, but once per race a special boost can be activated by pushing the joystick forward.

Lazer Tag

Lazer Tag

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1987

Lazer Tag is a game based on the sports brand of the same name. The real activity involves walking around with guns and trying to "shoot" the other players - the only significant difference to paintball is that it uses infrared guns to register hits instead of physical projectiles. This game transplants this non-violent principle into a science-fiction scenario. The player takes the role of a cadet at the Lazer Tag Academy who tries work his way up by solving laser tag challenges. Every level is played against a time limit and has the goal to score as many points as possible. However, there are two different modes: rabbitoid and target. Rabbitoid is a classical deathmatch competition (well, except that there is no death) in which the competitors move around the playing field and try to find a balance between covering from enemy shots and scoring hits. In target mode, the AI takes over the moving part and the player's role is restricted to aiming.

Lazer Tag

Lazer Tag

Commodore 64 - Released - 1987

Lazer Tag is a game based on the sports brand of the same name. The real activity involves walking around with guns and trying to "shoot" the other players - the only significant difference to paintball is that it uses infrared guns to register hits instead of physical projectiles. This game transplants this non-violent principle into a science-fiction scenario. The player takes the role of a cadet at the Lazer Tag Academy who tries work his way up by solving laser tag challenges. Every level is played against a time limit and has the goal to score as many points as possible. However, there are two different modes: rabbitoid and target. Rabbitoid is a classical deathmatch competition (well, except that there is no death) in which the competitors move around the playing field and try to find a balance between covering from enemy shots and scoring hits. In target mode, the AI takes over the moving part and the player's role is restricted to aiming.

Mr Wino

Mr Wino

Commodore 64 - Released - 1988

Mr Wino is trapped in his own nightmare after a night out getting drunk and falling asleep in his home. To escape from this nightmare and wake up, you must control Mr Wino in this flick-screen platform game and collect all the bottles on each level made up over various screens to open barrier to the exit. Some bottles collected will open doors blocking exits and each screen needs to be completed before his air gauge that is slowly decreasing runs out. Moving around the various screens are creatures and if these are touched then you lose one of three lives. Certain objects also need avoiding like spikes and moving pillars with moving platforms to encounter.

Mr. Heli

Mr. Heli

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1989

Mr. Heli takes place in the year 2999 and Mr. Muddy is threatening the planet. Fortunately, the player has a fully armed large helicopter with which to attack his sadistic minions. The helicopter will fly through four side-view levels, primarily scrolling left to right but with some variant, each of which ends with a boss. As well as enemies, there are many blocks on the levels. The weapon upgrade system is build into these, which function in two different ways. Most will drop crystals, which if collected, are added to a cash total. The others reveal a picture of a weapon with a price - make contact with it while carrying enough credits and the weapon will be bought. When the energy bar runs out, the player loses a life. When this happens, the player loses all money.

Mr. Heli

Mr. Heli

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1989

Mr. Heli takes place in the year 2999 and Mr. Muddy is threatening the planet. Fortunately, the player has a fully armed large helicopter with which to attack his sadistic minions. The helicopter will fly through four side-view levels, primarily scrolling left to right but with some variant, each of which ends with a boss. As well as enemies, there are many blocks on the levels. The weapon upgrade system is build into these, which function in two different ways. Most will drop crystals, which if collected, are added to a cash total. The others reveal a picture of a weapon with a price - make contact with it while carrying enough credits and the weapon will be bought. When the energy bar runs out, the player loses a life. When this happens, the player loses all money.

Oblido

Oblido

Commodore Plus 4 - Released - 1986

Oblido is an arcade puzzle game where you have to move four sets of nine counters made up of different colours and patterns into the same coloured reception area over various levels. The game is viewed from above with the whole level shown on the screen as a maze and each level has to be completed within a time limit using a cursor. The maze is made up of two areas which are coloured blue and grey and you can move anywhere through blue areas but are unable to enter grey areas so you must use the pathways to move to different parts of the level. The counters are scattered all over each level and can only be pushed through blue areas but you are able to push as many counters as you like in a line. As you are pushing counters, sinners move about the pathways from a sin bin and if you touch one then you lose time and it is game over when the time runs out. You have the ability to fire at the sinners to kill them but they can also fire back if you are anywhere on the level which loses more time when shot.

Out Run

Out Run

Atari ST - Released - December 13, 1988

OutRun is a racing game that allows the player to race across varied terrain in a readily available Ferrari, complete with a female passenger, over a series of short tracks. Gameplay is viewed from just above and behind the car. The roads are full of sharp bends and hazards, contact with which can cause the car to roll and lose the player's time. On each section of track there is a fork in the road, allowing the player to choose which direction he or she wishes to go in. The player has to to complete five track sections in total, out of the fifteen in the game.

Overlord

Overlord

MS-DOS - Released - 1990

Overlord is a real-time strategic warfare game where the player must manage large standing armies, economic capital, and political stability throughout a number of extra-dimensional star systems. As the dictatorial ruler of the Epsilon Galaxy, the player has obtained complete, indisputable authority. However, during a scientific experiment in hyperdrive technology, Epsilon scientists discovered four "buffer" dimensions, each containing a number of barren planets that exist between the Epsilon Galaxy and another alien dimension. Unfortunately, the most powerful empires from these alternate dimensions have also just discovered these zones through their own experiments. The player must battle these alien species for control of these buffer worlds, to ensure that their rule in the Epsilon Galaxy remains intact. To make the new planets useful in the player's campaign, they can purchase terraforming equipment which can transform them into tropical Gaian-esque worlds which are ideal for agriculture, mineral-rich and heavily volcanic worlds, desert planets capable of producing vast amounts of energy, or ecologically balanced planets that can support large cities which are readily able to generate significant income through taxation. In addition, the player can mine for resources and tax their citizens to raise money, construct spaceship-buildings to feed the populace, enlist soldiers and equip them, buy battle cruisers or other craft to move from planet to planet, and so on. The player can fight battles, colonize planets, and even spy on alien races. The end goal is to ensure that the other alien races do not gain the upper hand by conquering these four new dimensions before the player can. The player cannot retreat from battle, as the only way to shut down the hyperspace link from their universe to Epsilon would be by vaporizing the player's homeworld, which is where the hyperspace generator is located. Politically (at the very least), this is not an option. Blood will have to be shed for supremacy of the hyperspace planets, and for the player to become Overlord of these four new dimensions plus their own.

Pogostick Olympics

Pogostick Olympics

Commodore 64 - Released - 1988

Pogostick Olympics is a multi-event game where you have to attempt five events on a pogo stick, with each event viewed from the side with the screen scrolling constantly from right to left. Each event has a score that decreases and completing various tasks increases the score and to move to the next event you have to get a certain score. The five events are: Balloon Popping: You have to keep pooping balloons above you at certain heights. 110m Hurdles: You have to reach the end of the course jumping over hurdles. Triple Jump: You have to first pop a balloon, jump over a hurdle before jumping as far as you can into a sandpit. Target Practice: You must keep shooting as many circles that move up and down as you can with darts. Obstacle Course: Get to the end of the course avoiding or using obstacles as you bounce.

Pogostick Olympics

Pogostick Olympics

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1988

Pogostick Olympics is a multi-event game where you have to attempt five events on a pogo stick, with each event viewed from the side with the screen scrolling constantly from right to left. Each event has a score that decreases and completing various tasks increases the score and to move to the next event you have to get a certain score. The five events are: Balloon Popping: You have to keep pooping balloons above you at certain heights. 110m Hurdles: You have to reach the end of the course jumping over hurdles. Triple Jump: You have to first pop a balloon, jump over a hurdle before jumping as far as you can into a sandpit. Target Practice: You must keep shooting as many circles that move up and down as you can with darts. Obstacle Course: Get to the end of the course avoiding or using obstacles as you bounce.

Quartet

Quartet

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1987

Your job is to basically find the end-of-level boss, and then defeat it to obtain the key that will open the level exit, but your task is made difficult by the planet's inhabitants. Get the jet-pack to make it easier to navigate the level and shoot any inhabitants that get in the way. These inhabitants will leave behind something that you can get to increase your score, and the inhabitants will eventually regenerate. If any one of them touches you while you have the jet-pack, you land on the ground or the nearest platform, and have to get it again; and the same rule applies to the key.

RoboCop 3

RoboCop 3

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1992

SPLATTERPUNKS and ROBOTIC NINJAS are just two of the many deadly adversaries whose aim is to defeat Robocop. Select the right weapon at the right time and you can become more than a match for the enemy. Repair your battered armour, strap on the JET PACK, and confront the lethal ED209.

Savage

Savage

Commodore 64 - Released - 1988

Savage contains three different parts, each with its own style. You can play all three, but to get more than one life on levels 2 or 3, you must first input the code earned on completing the previous level. You play Savage, a muscular warrior who was imprisoned in a castle. When he broke free, he found out that his imprisonment had been a trick with the sole purpose of imprisoning his love, the maiden. You have to progress through the 3 parts of the game to rescue her. The first is a simple horizontal-scrolling shooter, in which you use the trajectory of your shots to kill enemies and collect the treasures and improved weapons they drop when killed. The second is a 1st person perspective 3D shooter resembling Space Harrier, with skulls to shoot and monoliths to avoid. In the third you play Savage's Eagle form, flying through platform-style levels avoiding timing-based hazards and shooting anyone who gets in your way. In this section bubbles can be shot to release power-ups.

Savage

Savage

MS-DOS - Released - 1989

Savage contains three different parts, each with its own style. You can play all three, but to get more than one life on levels 2 or 3, you must first input the code earned on completing the previous level. You play Savage, a muscular warrior who was imprisoned in a castle. When he broke free, he found out that his imprisonment had been a trick with the sole purpose of imprisoning his love, the maiden. You have to progress through the 3 parts of the game to rescue her. The first is a simple horizontal-scrolling shooter, in which you use the trajectory of your shots to kill enemies and collect the treasures and improved weapons they drop when killed. The second is a 1st person perspective 3D shooter resembling Space Harrier, with skulls to shoot and monoliths to avoid. In the third you play Savage's Eagle form, flying through platform-style levels avoiding timing-based hazards and shooting anyone who gets in your way. In this section bubbles can be shot to release power-ups.

Side Arms

Side Arms

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1989

Originating in the arcades, Side Arms is a horizontally scrolling shoot ‘em up in which you control Lieutenant Henry (a second player can control Sergeant Sanders in some versions), armed with crude weaponry and protective jump-suits. They must save the earth from the mercenary invaders of Bozon. You must first reach Bozon’s territories, then wipe out its forces hidden in caverns and lurking in underground seas, before destroying the main invasion ship. Lots of extra weapons can be picked up, often with similar tokens to those in 1943 and some other Capcom titles. Most weapons can be shot either to the left or the right, giving you more range to launch attacks.

Sim City

Sim City

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1990

SimCity is an open-ended city-building computer and console video game series originally designed by developer Will Wright. It is published by Maxis (now a division of Electronic Arts). The game was first published in 1989 as SimCity, and it has spawned several different editions sold worldwide. The ongoing success of SimCity has also sparked the release of many other spin-off "Sim" titles, including 2000's The Sims, one of the best-selling computer games In SimCity, the player is given the task of founding and developing a city, while maintaining the happiness of the citizens and keeping a stable budget. In SimCity 2000, SimCity 3000 and SimCity 4, the player is allowed to alter the terrain of the city before building on it. The player must define development zones, each having limits on the kind of development that can occur there. Development of the zones is not performed directly by the player, but happens when certain conditions are met, such as power supply, adequate transport links or acceptable tax level. The residential zones, in green, provide housing for Sims; the commercial zones, in blue, provide shops and offices; and the industrial zones, in yellow, provide factories, laboratories and farms. There are three different densities in the game: low density for small buildings, medium density for low to mid-sized buildings, and high density for anything up to large tower blocks. Developed in Orinda, California, SimCity's game mechanics are heavily based on 20th-century California development. For example, players start from an undeveloped greenfield, cars are the default form of transportation, earthquakes happen, zoning separates residential, commercial, and industrial land uses, and one can enact policies such as declaring one's city a nuclear free zone.

Slap Fight

Slap Fight

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1987

Slap Fight is a forward-scrolling spaceship shooting game taking place over the planet Orac. Alien enemies have occupied the planet in the year 2059. The Alien League Of Cosmic Nations has determined that you are the pilot to take the Slap Fighter (Europe) / SW475 Starfighter (US) and defeat the aliens. The main feature of the game is its pickup system. You pick up stars and then you choose which powerup you want, pick up one star and you can choose speed, two stars to choose shot (which is the default type of weapon), three stars to choose side shot, four for wing upgrade (which triggers the fancy ship enlargement animation, also gives you a couple seconds of invulnerability), five for bomb shot, six for laser shot, seven for homing missiles and eight for a shield upgrade. The shot is the default quick-but-limited weapon, having a rather short range, bombs are very powerful but short ranged and with a big gap between shots, making them hard to use. Laser is fast and full screen ranged, probably the most balanced weapon in the game, and homing missiles speak for themselves, as they chase the enemies after moving and curving for a while. The game doesn't have "stages": you play through a long, continuous level with bosses in between, like Xevious or Terra Cresta; once you complete it, you start again a new loop with added difficulty. Also, the game has no continues.

Smash T.V.

Smash T.V.

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1991

The year is 1999. The world's most popular television show is Smash T.V., an ultra-violent contest between two armed-to-the-teeth combatants, set loose in a series of deadly arenas that are filled to bursting with hordes of mindless beasts and killer robots. The aim of the game is to blast everything in sight and try to grab more cash and prizes than the other guy. Toaster ovens, VCRs, fancy cars and luxury holidays are there for the taking... for anyone who can survive long enough to enjoy them. Smash T.V. is an insane shoot-em-up from the brain of Eugene Jarvis, creator of Robotron: 2084. It retains that game's frantic style of play and two-joystick control method, but adds plenty of gore, violence and a hint of satire.

Stir Crazy featuring BoBo

Stir Crazy featuring BoBo

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1990

BoBo is a cartoon style arcade game. The main character is Bobo, an inmate who has been sentenced for seventeen years. He must do many chores, such as peeling potatoes, ladling soup to his fellow prisoners, helping his fellow prisoners to escape, jumping electric wires and singing lullabies to his snoring cell mates. It is possible to play through the events in a sequence or one at a time. Up to six players (alternating, not simultaneously) can play this game. Each event can be played with joystick or keyboard. The specific moves you have to make vary from event to event but it come basically down to moving the joystick or keyboard keys fast from left to right. It is also possible to pick things up and toss them.

Stunt Bike Simulator

Stunt Bike Simulator

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1988

To be the best stuntman in the business, you Chad Adams are going to have to prove yourself by taking your motorbike and attempting five different dangerous tasks. Your five tasks are: Hang-Glider Drop: Chad is swooping in on a hang-glider. You control the motorbike which you must avoid the obstacles on the road and trying to position yourself under Chad. When he is in line you press the fire button to drop him on the bike. Log Jumping: Ride the motorbike along the road and either avoid the logs or bunny-jump over them. Fire-Hoop Jumping: Avoiding the obstacles on the road, you ride your motorbike towards rings of fire. At the right time you have to jump of the bike and fly through each hoop and land land back on your bike. Lorry Catching: You have to ride the motorbike trying to catch a lorry driving on the road. Avoid the obstacles while trying to catch it before driving onto a ramp onto the back. Helicopter Hanging: A helicopter is flying overhead and you must ride underneath it and attempt to jump of the motorbike and catch a hanger. On the road are obstacles which must be avoided. Stunt Bike Simulator is viewed from the side and scrolls from right to left. You can control the speed of the bike but it always moves. On each task you start with 5000 points and decreases as the task is played. The quicker you complete it the higher the score. Hitting obstacles loses points and slows the bike down. A joystick or Keyboard can be used.

The Adventures of Bond ...Basildon Bond

The Adventures of Bond ...Basildon Bond

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1986

The player controls Basildon Bond, whose task is to collect a series of codes within five hours, under orders from 'P', who had his codename changed to 'B' to confuse the KGB. To unlock these codes, Basildon must piece together several jokes, which are found in various rooms inside a television studio. Once Basildon has collected a joke, they must be entered in the main computer. Collecting the jokes is not an easy task for Basildon. For one thing, to use certain objects, some other object must be collected first. For another, moving TV cameras roam around in some rooms, and if Basildon comes into contact with any of these, he returns to the computer room and ten minutes of his time is lost. However, to deal with the cameras, Basildon is equipped with ten Cooperblasters which can be used to summon Cooperman. Once Cooperman has been summoned, the player is free to navigate him toward the camera, and once Cooperman comes into contact with the camera, it is destroyed. If the player leaves and re-enters the room, the cameras return and the player has to summon Cooperman again, wasting precious Cooperblaster ammo. Cooperman can only be summoned ten times, and the player is unable to collect more ammo, so they need to use Cooperman wisely. One summon out of ten introduces the player to another character known as Blunderwoman, who does far more damage than Cooperman because whereas Cooperman just flies from one side of the screen to the other in a straight line unless the player interferes, Blunderwoman flies diagonally across the screen and back again without the player's involvement, killing any cameras that she does not kill the first time. The game ends when the five hours are over.

Tiger Road

Tiger Road

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1988

Tiger Road is undoubtedly one of the best martial arts games ever written. Practically includes four games in one. Your mission, like Lee Woong, is to free the children who have been kidnapped by the evil Ruy Ken Oh, who wants to brainwash them and turn them into soldiers of their diabolical army. To destroy Ruy Ken Oh you must undertake a risky journey in which you will face dangerous adversaries, such as samurai warriors, giants and dragons. These are just some of the many obstacles you will have to overcome before releasing the small prisoners. Fabulous graphics and a pulsating action make Tiger Road a legend in the history of software. When the action hardens, the game even more!

Tintin on the Moon

Tintin on the Moon

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1989

Hergé's famous cartoon character is brought to life in this multi-stage action game, specifically based around the episode of the same name. In many details the story was similar to the real moon landings, then many years off. A more accurate title for the game would be 'Tintin Gets to the Moon', as reaching it is your challenge. The game is split into two distinct types of sections; the first of these involves guiding the rocket through space. Steer it to avoid contact with asteroids, and to collect eight red spheres. Yellow spheres boost energy, and so should be collected. This is followed by a platform-based battle, as the evil Captain Jurgen has tied up several crew members, planted time bombs, and started several fires. Use your extinguisher on Jurgen and the fires, and touch the bombs and crew members to solve those problems. Turn gravity off to reach the more troublesome bombs.

Trantor: The Last Stormtrooper

Trantor: The Last Stormtrooper

MS-DOS - Released - 1989

In this game you play the role of a man who has been stranded on an alien planet after his space ship explodes and you must find pieces of it to rebuild it. The gameplay involves you jumping across platforms and shooting at droids and aliens but also ducking to avoid high flying robots. The game is played from a side scrolling perspective. The baddies come thick and fast and the only way to cope is to keep moving.

Viz: The Game

Viz: The Game

MS-DOS - Released - 1992

Viz: The Game is an action game where the players run through various scrolling environments. It is based on a British comic magazine VIZ which, like the game, features lots of crude humour and fart jokes. The player controls one of the 3 Viz characters - Johnny Fartpants, Buster Gonad, or Biffa Bacon. The race takes place in five different scrolling environments; country, town, building site, beach and a disco. During the race you have to dodge traps and other characters from the VIZ comics. There are also two mini-games for each character which include Pint Drinking, blowing up balloons with farts and Pancake Flattening.

Viz: The Game

Viz: The Game

Commodore 64 - Released - 1991

Viz: The Game is an action game where the players run through various scrolling environments. It is based on a British comic magazine VIZ which, like the game, features lots of crude humour and fart jokes. The player controls one of the 3 Viz characters - Johnny Fartpants, Buster Gonad, or Biffa Bacon. The race takes place in five different scrolling environments; country, town, building site, beach and a disco. During the race you have to dodge traps and other characters from the VIZ comics. There are also two mini-games for each character which include Pint Drinking, blowing up balloons with farts and Pancake Flattening. Viz: The Computer Game (also known in-game as "Viz: The Soft Floppy One" and "Viz: The Game" on the box cover) is a single player racing game based on the Viz adult comic which was released in 1991 by Virgin Interactive. The game's lively music was composed by Jeroen Tel.

World Cup Soccer: Italia '90

World Cup Soccer: Italia '90

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1990

This football simulation focuses on international football, allowing you to play a tournament or single friendly matches. Up to 8 human players can be involved in the tournament. Options include three skill levels, variable match lengths and a choice of sound or music (or both on some versions). The match is viewed from the side, although it switches to a 3D view when the ball is close to the goal. The ball roughly sticks to the player's foot. Set pieces are controlled by moving an aiming cross-hair.

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