Gremlin Graphics Software

3D Galax

3D Galax

Atari ST - Released - 1987

As the name implies, 3D Galax takes the Space Invaders/Galaxian concept into the third dimension. Seen from a first-person cockpit perspective and utilizing flat-shaded polygonal graphics, waves of aliens advance towards the player and must be destroyed with a laser cannon. Unlike in the originals, the aliens never shoot back: the only danger they pose is that of crashing into the player. If any aliens from a wave survive an attack run by not being destroyed before they pass the player, they will try again and again, until either the entire wave or the player is destroyed. The alien formations change every four waves, but not before a bonus stage involving navigating an asteroid field is passed.

3D Galax

Commodore Amiga - Released - 1989

As the name implies, 3D Galax takes the Space Invaders/Galaxian concept into the third dimension. Seen from a first-person cockpit perspective and utilizing flat-shaded polygonal graphics, waves of aliens advance towards the player and must be destroyed with a laser cannon. Unlike in the originals, the aliens never shoot back: the only danger they pose is that of crashing into the player. If any aliens from a wave survive an attack run by not being destroyed before they pass the player, they will try again and again, until either the entire wave or the player is destroyed. The alien formations change every four waves, but not before a bonus stage involving navigating an asteroid field is passed.

Alternative World Games

Alternative World Games

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1987

Alternative World Games is a multiple-sports game developed in 1987 by Gremlin Interactive for several popular European home computers, including the Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, and Sinclair ZX Spectrum. Just as its name suggests, it is an alternative take on competitive sports in the vein of Summer Games, Winter Games, and Track & Field. The game features eight different events; sack racing, plate balancing, river jumping, boot throwing, pole climbing, running up a wall, pillow fighting, and pogo jumping. All of the events feature background containing famous Roman and Greek ruins.

Auf Wiedersehen Monty

Auf Wiedersehen Monty

Commodore 64 - Released - July 15, 1987

The player controls Monty as he travels around Europe collecting money in order to buy a Greek island - Montos, where he can safely retire. Gameplay is in the style of a flick-screen platform game, similar to many such games of the 1980s such as Technician Ted and Jet Set Willy. Some screens (such as those representing the Eiffel Tower and the Pyrenees) bear some relation to their real-life counterparts.

Auf Wiedersehen Monty

Auf Wiedersehen Monty

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1987

This is Monty's fourth game, and the structure is similar to the previous three. It's platform and ladders based, with 80 screens each representing some area of Europe - the Eiffel Tower and the Leaning Tower of Pisa are among the identifiable landmarks. There are different ways of travelling through the levels - some bouncy platforms coupled with a new super-leap move allow for big progress to be made, while Monty can also suspend from the ceilings and dodge his way across. Monty can now fall without being hurt, although landing on water can cause multiple lives to be lost in quick succession. Collecting wine bottles makes Monty drunk and he will stumble around randomly until he recovers by becoming sober again. There are many items to collect - the most important are Eurocheques for money and airplane tickets. Once on a plane you must fight off the encroaching Intermole planes for extra points.

Auf Wiedersehen Monty

Auf Wiedersehen Monty

Commodore Plus 4 - Released - 1987

This is Monty's fourth game, and the structure is similar to the previous three. It's platform and ladders based, with 80 screens each representing some area of Europe - the Eiffel Tower and the Leaning Tower of Pisa are among the identifiable landmarks. There are different ways of travelling through the levels - some bouncy platforms coupled with a new super-leap move allow for big progress to be made, while Monty can also suspend from the ceilings and dodge his way across. Monty can now fall without being hurt, although landing on water can cause multiple lives to be lost in quick succession. There are many items to collect - the most important are Eurocheques for money and airplane tickets. Once on a plane you must fight off the encroaching Intermole planes for extra points.

Avenger: The Way of the Tiger

Avenger: The Way of the Tiger

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1986

In the sequel to The Way of the Tiger, Yaemon the Grand Master of Flame is the villain of the piece. He has killed your foster-father Naijish and stolen the Scrolls of Kettsuin. Your quest to recover the scroll and avenge your father's death is viewed from above and superficially resembles Gauntlet. You start outside the Quench Heart Keep, and must initially find enough keys in the grounds and connected buildings to penetrate it, and then kill each of the 3 guards. There are other prey including spiders to fend off - these know how to home in on you. You are armed with a limited number of Shuikch to shoot from distance; after these are gone you are reliant on your bare hand, although more can be collected. Pressing the 1 key summons an energy recharge from the God Kwon, but only a limited number of times

Avenger: The Way of the Tiger

Avenger: The Way of the Tiger

Microsoft MSX - Released - 1986

In the sequel to The Way of the Tiger, Yaemon the Grand Master of Flame is the villain of the piece. He has killed your foster-father Naijish and stolen the Scrolls of Kettsuin. Your quest to recover the scroll and avenge your father's death is viewed from above and superficially resembles Gauntlet. You start outside the Quench Heart Keep, and must initially find enough keys in the grounds and connected buildings to penetrate it, and then kill each of the 3 guards. There are other prey including spiders to fend off - these know how to home in on you. You are armed with a limited number of Shuikch to shoot from distance; after these are gone you are reliant on your bare hand, although more can be collected. Pressing the 1 key summons an energy recharge from the God Kwon, but only a limited number of times.

Avenger: The Way of the Tiger

Avenger: The Way of the Tiger

Amstrad CPC - Released - January 1, 1986

In the sequel to The Way of the Tiger, Yaemon the Grand Master of Flame is the villain of the piece. He has killed your foster-father Naijish and stolen the Scrolls of Kettsuin. Your quest to recover the scroll and avenge your father's death is viewed from above and superficially resembles Gauntlet. You start outside the Quench Heart Keep, and must initially find enough keys in the grounds and connected buildings to penetrate it, and then kill each of the 3 guards. There are other prey including spiders to fend off - these know how to home in on you. You are armed with a limited number of Shuikch to shoot from distance; after these are gone you are reliant on your bare hand, although more can be collected. Pressing the 1 key summons an energy recharge from the God Kwon, but only a limited number of times.

Basil the Great Mouse Detective

Basil the Great Mouse Detective

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1987

"BASIL THE GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE", who lives in the basement of 221B Baker Street (Sherlock Holmes' famous London address) is the greatest detective in all Mousedom. Basil is attempting to solve a case which has led to the kidnapping of his chubby friend, Dr Dawson, by the evil Professor Ratigan, criminal mastermind of London's rodent underworld. The mysterious case leads Basil from London's seedy waterfront district through the backwaters of London's sewers and finally to the sinister clutches of the notorious Professor Ratigan.

Basil the Great Mouse Detective

Basil the Great Mouse Detective

Commodore 64 - Released - March 1, 1987

Based on the 1986 Walt Disney animated movie, the story revolves around a mouse named Basil who lives in the basement of the famous Sherlock Holmes residence 221B Baker Street. Basil's friend Dr. Dawson has been kidnapped by the villainous Professor Ratigan and he must search through London for clues that will lead him to the fiend's lair. The game is a colorful platform adventure through 3 locales: London's shops and docks, the sewers and finally the den of Ratigan. In each area, 5 clues must be found by exploring objects such bags and sacks, cans, jars and chests found in each screen with Basil's magnifying glass. He must pick up clues to fill 5 pockets in his coat and then he will be able to determine if some are fake (as Ratigan has scattered 8 fake clues among each locale). Fake ones must be dropped until all 5 real clues are found then you get a clue to the level exit to go to the next locale. If you can't find the exit, each clue can give a hint as to what direction you should go in. Your energy runs down as you go through the multi-level platform screens and encounter Rattigan's goons but some objects will contain cheese which restores energy or mousetraps which when laid in path of the goons will make them harmless (though they take up a pocket until used).

Blood Brothers

Blood Brothers

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1988

After their parents were killed and their village burnt to the ground on the planet Sylonia, Hark and Kren have sworn revenge on the people responsible, space convicts The Scorpions. Over time the friends have designed and made Skywalk Jet Bikes and various weapons, and are now ready to travel to The Scorpion's planet Scorpia and destroy the convicts. After becoming Blood Brothers they must explore the surface of the planet with their Jet-Bikes to find mine shafts which must be negotiated to find the convicts and kill them. One brother explores the mines, while the other finds the entrances. Blood Brothers is a combination of two games, a platform and flying game. The platform section is flick screen where you must avoid obstacles and shoot the baddies. The flying section sees you behind the Jet Bike flying into the screen. You must fly into the gaps in the walls looking for mine sections. You can't control the speed of the bike. You and a friend can control one of the brothers or you can control both by switching between the two. One brother is controlled by a joystick and the other by the keyboard.

Bounder

Bounder

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1985

In Bounder, the player controls a tennis ball that constantly bounces on the screen. The player has to move the ball around between two bounces so it lands on friendly areas like grass or the main hexagonal-patterned floor. If it lands on hazardous areas like spikes and sand, or hits the enemies which move around, one of the seven lives the player starts with is lost. There are beneficial squares though - arrows which keep the ball in the air longer or teleports which clear part of the game. The 174 screens are divided into 10 levels - at the end of each of these there's a bonus screen.

Bounder

Bounder

Microsoft MSX - Released - 1985

Bounder is an action game developed and published by Gremlin Graphics in 1985. The player controls a tennis ball which is used to navigate courses, composed of numerous tiles, which are suspended high above ground. The ball must be bounced past walls and over enemies; coming into contact with either, or plummeting over the edge of the course, results in the loss of one of the player's seven lives. Courses feature power squares, which push the tennis ball forward and allow longer jumps, these must be utilized to complete the course. Power squares are also used to enable the tennis ball to reach mystery spaces, tiles with question marks, which contain extra lives and bonus jumps which are used on bonus screens. Mystery spaces can also destroy the tennis ball, resulting in the loss of a life, through instant destruction or by freezing the ball in place while a missile flies across the play area and explodes. The bonus screen is accessed every time a course is completed, it consists of mystery spaces which increase the player's score when bounced on for the player to receive. 40 bounces are allowed on each bonus screen, though this figure can be increased by the player uncovering more from mystery squares during the preceding course. Once all bounces are used or all of the mystery spaces are bounced on, play moves to the next course. Bouncing on all mystery spaces awards the player 10,000 points as well as an extra life.

Bounder

Bounder

Commodore 64 - Released - 1985

Bounder is a 1985 action game developed and published by Gremlin Graphics in which the player navigates a variety of courses as a bouncing tennis ball. Courses are composed of numerous tiles, which are suspended high above ground. The ball must be bounced past walls and over enemies; coming into contact with either, or plummeting over the edge of the course, results in the loss of one of the player's seven lives. Courses feature power squares, which push the tennis ball forward and allow longer jumps. These must be utilized to complete the course. Power squares are also used to enable the tennis ball to reach mystery spaces, tiles with question marks, which contain extra lives and bonus jumps which are used on bonus screens. Mystery spaces can also destroy the tennis ball, resulting in the loss of a life, through instant destruction or by freezing the ball in place while a missile flies across the play area and explodes.

BrainBender

BrainBender

Nintendo Game Boy - Released - November 1, 1991

Test your prowess as a master of mirrors in one of the world's most exciting new puzzle games, Brain Bender! Use mirrors to manipulate your laser beams to destroy gas spheres, shut down Electrobrains and finally destroy the enemy satellite. There are 120 challenging puzzles in this game - each a new challenge for you to solve. Get your mind in motion over one of the hottest puzzle games ever, Brain Bender! Test your prowess as a master of mirrors in one of the world's most exciting new puzzle games, Brain Bender! Use mirrors to manipulate your laser beams to destroy gas spheres, shut down Electrobrains and finally destroy the enemy satellite. There are 120 challenging puzzles in this game - each a new challenge for you to solve. Get your mind in motion over one of the hottest puzzle games ever, Brain Bender!

Bulldog

Bulldog

Commodore 64 - Released - 1987

Bulldog is a vertically scrolling shooter. Piloting a small ship, your goal is to blast your way through enemy defenses to destroy the mother ship. Your enemy, the POLON's, have heavily reinforced the path you must take: on each level you may encounter up to seven types of firing installations as well as various walls which will block your progress. Crash into a wall or get hit by enemy fire and you lose a ship; the game ends when all of your reserve ships have been lost. At the end of each level you will face a mothership; to destroy this you will need to take out all of the guns and other installations located on the ship after which you continue on to the next, more difficult level. Your ship is equipped with lasers to destroy obstacles, and additional powerups can be located along the way. Extra speed, extra firepower, repeat fire, bombs, and other bonuses can be picked up to help you out.

Coil Cop

Coil Cop

Commodore 64 - Released - 1987

The star of Thing on a Spring returns in this sequel. The evil Toy Goblin is up to his old tricks, with his giant toy factory producing thousands of evil toys. In order to shut down the factory, Thing must travel through the factory's 11 different levels and collect the tape, floppy disk, listing paper and ROM chip scattered throughout. The levels are filled with slopes, conveyor belts, interconnected pipework (years before Sonic the Hedgehog), and lots of foes to avoid. Question mark times have variable effects: stepping onto them reveals bonus points, objects, or a large weight that squashes Thing flat. As Thing takes damage from enemies or weights, his oil level is reduced. When Thing runs out of oil, he becomes rusted and the game ends. To move between levels, Thing must enter the pipework through a vent and bounce around the pipes to find an exit.

Compendium

Compendium

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1987

Compendiums have been around for a long time. Few Christmas'went by without one turning up amongst the presents They usually looked cheap and were played with a few times and then put m a cupboard and forgotten about. Now you can play some of those old games in a slightly modified form on your computer. Up to four people can take part in the game with each player being represented by a member of the Wink family There are four games in the box: Ludo, Snakes and Hazards, Shove-a-Sledge and Tiddly Drinks. Ludo and Snakes and Hazards are the standard games with only minor differences. In both games the pieces used are Ralph. Victoria, Tiny Tim and Sniffer. The differences being that if you bump into one of other any other character on the board your turn will end and the next players begins. In Snakes and Hazards there are also some objects that stop your movement because your piece likes it, Sniffer the dog likes lampposts and bones for example. In Shove-a-Sledge you push Tiny Tim on a sledge and try to make him stop in each of ten different zones in the snow. The first player to stop him in all ten zones wins the game. In Tiddly Drinks the family is in the local pub. Dad is out on a drinking spree and you have to catch the glasses that he throws into the air - after draining them of the contents. The winner is the one that caught most glasses by closing time.

Convoy Raider

Convoy Raider

Commodore 64 - Released - 1987

Your country is at war and as a Captain of a Battleship you must patrol an inner sea to find and destroy aircraft, missiles, ships and submarines. The main playing screen gives you various options and these include three radars, a map screen, status screen and three types of mini-game icons. The three radars are to track either aircraft, ships or submarines and these are represented by a white dot when they are within range. The map screen has two maps, one a map of the whole area and the other one showing a closer look at your location. On this screen you can control the speed of your ship and steer it with black dots showing the enemy forces. The status screen shows a profile of your ship and any damage is shown as red and if the whole ship is red then it is damaged and the game is over. When an attack is imminent then a gauge besides one of the mini-game icons turns yellow before turning red and that game can be played. If an aircraft is attacking then the game has you controlling a gun to shoot down the planes viewed from a 1st person perspective. You can move the gun left or right and move it up or down to hit the planes before they drop bombs on your ship. This screen is also used for any missile attack. If any convoy's of ships are attacking then you must fire a missile at the convoy by first lining up a sight that keeps moving while a timer counts down. When the time reaches zero and the sight is red then it will hit a ship but if it doesn't turn red then you have missed. The final game is when a submarine is attacking and the game switches to a 3D side view showing above and below the water. You control a helicopter above the water while the submarine is below. You can move the helicopter left or right, and in and out of the screen. A cursor of the left of the screen moves up and down and when fire is pressed this drops a depth charge which also stops the cursor and this shows the depth your depth charge will explode.

Convoy Raider

Convoy Raider

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1987

Your country is at war and as a Captain of a Battleship you must patrol an inner sea to find and destroy aircraft, missiles, ships and submarines. The main playing screen gives you various options and these include three radars, a map screen, status screen and three types of mini-game icons. The three radars are to track either aircraft, ships or submarines and these are represented by a white dot when they are within range. The map screen has two maps, one a map of the whole area and the other one showing a closer look at your location. On this screen you can control the speed of your ship and steer it with black dots showing the enemy forces. The status screen shows a profile of your ship and any damage is shown as red and if the whole ship is red then it is damaged and the game is over. When an attack is imminent then a gauge besides one of the mini-game icons turns yellow before turning red and that game can be played. If an aircraft is attacking then the game has you controlling a gun to shoot down the planes viewed from a 1st person perspective. You can move the gun left or right and move it up or down to hit the planes before they drop bombs on your ship. This screen is also used for any missile attack. If any convoy's of ships are attacking then you must fire a missile at the convoy by first lining up a sight that keeps moving while a timer counts down. When the time reaches zero and the sight is red then it will hit a ship but if it doesn't turn red then you have missed. The final game is when a submarine is attacking and the game switches to a 3D side view showing above and below the water. You control a helicopter above the water while the submarine is below. You can move the helicopter left or right, and in and out of the screen. A cursor of the left of the screen moves up and down and when fire is pressed this drops a depth charge which also stops the cursor and this shows the depth your depth charge will explode.

Dark Fusion

Dark Fusion

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1989

Dark Fusion is a single player side scrolling space based shoot-em-up. The 'Dark Fusion' of the title refers to a game element where, after completing part of the game the player, who is a member of the elite Corps of Guardian Warriors, must choose whether to fuse themselves with there vanquished foe or continue with only their mortal powers. There are four levels in the game and each level is divided into three zones - Combat zone, Alien zone, and the Flight zone. In the Combat zone the player starts out as a warrior in a space suit. Scrolling to the right there are numerous aliens that have to be shot / bypassed in order to reach the end of the level. Some aliens as they perish leave behind power ups which are essential to progressing through the game. The player must enter and kill all the aliens in two Alien Zones in order to complete the Combat zone, then they must fight their way to the Flight Zone fusion pod to become a space ship and fly through to the next level.

Dark Fusion

Dark Fusion

Commodore 64 - Released - 1989

Dark Fusion is a single player side scrolling space based shoot-em-up. The 'Dark Fusion' of the title refers to a game element where, after completing part of the game the player, who is a member of the elite Corps of Guardian Warriors, must choose whether to fuse themselves with there vanquished foe or continue with only their mortal powers. There are four levels in the game and each level is divided into three zones - Combat zone, Alien zone, and the Flight zone. In the Combat zone the player starts out as a warrior in a space suit. Scrolling to the right there are numerous aliens that have to be shot / bypassed in order to reach the end of the level. Some aliens as they perish leave behind power ups which are essential to progressing through the game. The player must enter and kill all the aliens in two Alien Zones in order to complete the Combat zone, then they must fight their way to the Flight Zone fusion pod to become a space ship and fly through to the next level.

Dark Fusion

Dark Fusion

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1988

Dark Fusion is a single player side scrolling space based shoot-em-up. The 'Dark Fusion' of the title refers to a game element where, after completing part of the game the player, who is a member of the elite Corps of Guardian Warriors, must choose whether to fuse themselves with there vanquished foe or continue with only their mortal powers. There are four levels in the game and each level is divided into three zones - Combat zone, Alien zone, and the Flight zone. In the Combat zone the player starts out as a warrior in a space suit. Scrolling to the right there are numerous aliens that have to be shot / bypassed in order to reach the end of the level. Some aliens as they perish leave behind power ups which are essential to progressing through the game. The player must enter and kill all the aliens in two Alien Zones in order to complete the Combat zone, then they must fight their way to the Flight Zone fusion pod to become a space ship and fly through to the next level.

Death Wish 3

Death Wish 3

Commodore 64 - Released - 1987

The actor Charles Bronson played the iconic role of vigilante Paul Kersey in 5 movies where he takes the law into his own hands when he doesn't get justice and criminals get off. This game is based on Death Wish 3 which came out in 1985. A friend of Kersey in New York has been killed and he takes to the streets to help the police lay waste to gangs that are brutalizing and rioting in the city. He has a bulletproof vest that will protect him from several shots and can wield 4 guns: the 475 Wildey Magnum, shotgun, machine gun, and rocket launcher. Avoid shooting grannies on the streets, mean street-walkers and the police who occasionally will help you take out the baddies. If you start shooting policemen, they will turn on you too. The upper half of the screen shows you the side-view of the street or building you are in. The lower half shows your score, high score, injury meter, a scrolling police report so you can know where crime is taking place, a compass direction, a map which will also show you where weapons and bosses are located, and which weapon you are holding and the ammo left. When you enter a building, you can fire out the window for higher points but beware of enemies that may come up behind you.

Death Wish 3

Death Wish 3

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1987

The actor Charles Bronson played the iconic role of vigilante Paul Kersey in 5 movies where he takes the law into his own hands when he doesn't get justice and criminals get off. This game is based on Death Wish 3 which came out in 1985. A friend of Kersey in New York has been killed and he takes to the streets to help the police lay waste to gangs that are brutalizing and rioting in the city. He has a bulletproof vest that will protect him from several shots and can wield 4 guns: the 475 Wildey Magnum, shotgun, machine gun, and rocket launcher. Avoid shooting grannies on the streets, mean street-walkers and the police who occasionally will help you take out the baddies. If you start shooting policemen, they will turn on you too. The upper half of the screen shows you the side-view of the street or building you are in. The lower half shows your score, high score, injury meter, a scrolling police report so you can know where crime is taking place, a compass direction, a map which will also show you where weapons and bosses are located, and which weapon you are holding and the ammo left. When you enter a building, you can fire out the window for higher points but beware of enemies that may come up behind you.

Death Wish 3

Death Wish 3

Microsoft MSX - Released - 1987

The actor Charles Bronson played the iconic role of vigilante Paul Kersey in 5 movies where he takes the law into his own hands when he doesn't get justice and criminals get off. This game is based on Death Wish 3 which came out in 1985. A friend of Kersey in New York has been killed and he takes to the streets to help the police lay waste to gangs that are brutalizing and rioting in the city. He has a bulletproof vest that will protect him from several shots and can wield 4 guns: the 475 Wildey Magnum, shotgun, machine gun, and rocket launcher. Avoid shooting grannies on the streets, mean street-walkers and the police who occasionally will help you take out the baddies. If you start shooting policemen, they will turn on you too. The upper half of the screen shows you the side-view of the street or building you are in. The lower half shows your score, high score, injury meter, a scrolling police report so you can know where crime is taking place, a compass direction, a map which will also show you where weapons and bosses are located, and which weapon you are holding and the ammo left. When you enter a building, you can fire out the window for higher points but beware of enemies that may come up behind you.

Desolator

Desolator

Microsoft MSX - Released - 1986

Desolator is best described as Defender without the little men. What is still there is the fast horizontally scrolling landscape, the green aliens (also known as the Gargoans), the radar and, to a certain extent, the rescue objectives. For lack of humans to rescue, you must instead capture the "Energiser"; an object which certain enemies will try to steal. The game has, just like other Defender-like games, several types of enemies, from the rather dumb basic aliens, to stationary objects with high firepower, and quick hunters which might crash into you. Each level has a specific objective, though it is usually finished by killing everything that moves. As a last-ditch effort, you can activate the "desolator", which is a fancy name for a smart bomb device, killing everything on-screen.

Dive Bomber

Dive Bomber

Atari ST - Released - 1988

In World War 2, the Bismarck battleship has been dominant thus far. Armed with torpedoes and a machine gun, can you destroy the Bismarck with a well-aimed torpedo and turn the tide of WW2 in the Allies' favour? Find out is this flight simulation and strategy game. How you complete the task is largely up to you. You will need to deal with the plane's instruments, to take off, and plan which areas of the sky you patrol in the search for the Bismarck. There are four distinct instrument panels to control engineer, navigator and gunner functions as well as the main flight controls. Statistics on how much of each enemy's fleet you destroy are kept.

FOFT: Federation of Free Traders

FOFT: Federation of Free Traders

Atari ST - Released - 1989

Federation of Free Traders is a space simulation/exploration game that is quite similar to an earlier title, Elite. The player is able to zoom around in space while trading goods, undertake missions, or simply explore the galaxy (which consists of over 8 million planets). There is a significant amount of playable options in FOFT and a considerable attention is paid to detail. For instance, if the player becomes tired of roaming through outer space they skim a planet or two (which plays in a similar fashion to David Braben's other game, Virus). During the docking sequence players can create their own programs for automated functions, using a built-in BASIC like language called SIMPLE.

FOFT: Federation of Free Traders

FOFT: Federation of Free Traders

Commodore Amiga - Released - 1989

Federation of Free Traders is a space simulation/exploration game that is quite similar to an earlier title, Elite. The player is able to zoom around in space while trading goods, undertake missions, or simply explore the galaxy (which consists of over 8 million planets). There is a significant amount of playable options in FOFT and a considerable attention is paid to detail. For instance, if the player becomes tired of roaming through outer space they skim a planet or two (which plays in a similar fashion to David Braben's other game, Virus). During the docking sequence players can create their own programs for automated functions, using a built-in BASIC like language called SIMPLE.

Footballer of the Year

Footballer of the Year

Commodore Plus 4 - Released - 1986

Footballer of the Year sees you taking total control of the career of an aspiring striker with a Division 4 team, with the Footballer of the Year award the ultimate goal. You start with a small amount of money, which is used to buy goal cards; each of these sets you up a chance in a match. Up to three can be played in each game, making Hat-Tricks a possibility. The action sequence is viewed from a 1st person perspective with the ball at the bottom of the screen and you either get a shot at goal or a penalty kick. If you have the chance to shoot at goal, you have the ball at your feet and you can move left or right before shooting. Defenders will come at you so you must move and shoot as quick as possible hoping the shot isn't blocked or saved by the keeper. The penalty attempt sees you trying to place the ball past the keeper. Fail to score enough goals and you may lose your place in the team; do especially well and you may gain a transfer up the league. There is no arcade sequence for the C16 or the BBC Micro version, you just get text asking if you want to shoot to the left or right with text describing the outcome.

Footballer of the Year

Footballer of the Year

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1986

In Footballer of the Year you take control of the career of an aspiring striker with a Division 4 team, with the Footballer of the Year award the ultimate goal. You start with a small amount of money, which is used to buy goal cards; each of these sets you up a chance in a match. Up to three can be played in each game, making Hat-Tricks a possibility.

Footballer of the Year

Footballer of the Year

Microsoft MSX - Released - 1986

Footballer of the Year sees you taking total control of the career of an aspiring striker with a Division 4 team, with the Footballer of the Year award the ultimate goal. You start with a small amount of money, which is used to buy goal cards; each of these sets you up a chance in a match. Up to three can be played in each game, making Hat-Tricks a possibility. The action sequence is viewed from a 1st person perspective with the ball at the bottom of the screen and you either get a shot at goal or a penalty kick. If you have the chance to shoot at goal, you have the ball at your feet and you can move left or right before shooting. Defenders will come at you so you must move and shoot as quick as possible hoping the shot isn't blocked or saved by the keeper. The penalty attempt sees you trying to place the ball past the keeper. Fail to score enough goals and you may lose your place in the team; do especially well and you may gain a transfer up the league.

Footballer of the Year

Footballer of the Year

Commodore 64 - Released - 1986

Footballer of the Year sees you taking total control of the career of an aspiring striker with a Division 4 team, with the Footballer of the Year award the ultimate goal. You start with a small amount of money, which is used to buy goal cards; each of these sets you up a chance in a match. Up to three can be played in each game, making Hat-Tricks a possibility. The action sequence is viewed from a 1st person perspective with the ball at the bottom of the screen and you either get a shot at goal or a penalty kick. If you have the chance to shoot at goal, you have the ball at your feet and you can move left or right before shooting. Defenders will come at you so you must move and shoot as quick as possible hoping the shot isn't blocked or saved by the keeper. The penalty attempt sees you trying to place the ball past the keeper. Fail to score enough goals and you may lose your place in the team; do especially well and you may gain a transfer up the league.

Footballer of the Year

Footballer of the Year

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1986

Footballer of the Year sees you taking total control of the career of an aspiring striker with a Division 4 team, with the Footballer of the Year award the ultimate goal. You start with a small amount of money, which is used to buy goal cards; each of these sets you up a chance in a match. Up to three can be played in each game, making Hat-Tricks a possibility. The action sequence is viewed from a 1st person perspective with the ball at the bottom of the screen and you either get a shot at goal or a penalty kick. If you have the chance to shoot at goal, you have the ball at your feet and you can move left or right before shooting. Defenders will come at you so you must move and shoot as quick as possible hoping the shot isn't blocked or saved by the keeper. The penalty attempt sees you trying to place the ball past the keeper. Fail to score enough goals and you may lose your place in the team; do especially well and you may gain a transfer up the league. There is no arcade sequence for the C16 or the BBC Micro version, you just get text asking if you want to shoot to the left or right with text describing the outcome.

Footballer of the Year 2

Footballer of the Year 2

Commodore 64 - Released - 1989

Fed up with football (soccer) management games, with all the match strategies, financial turmoil and prima donna players? This game offers a unique twist, leaving you 'managing' the career of a single player, involving matches and transfers. You start with 10 'goal cards' - up to 3 can be played in each match, each of them giving you a shooting chance, at which point arcade action skill comes in. The action sequences involve studying a move plan on the chalkboard, then getting into the right position to execute the final shot. Fail to score enough goals and you may lose your place in the team; do especially well and you may gain a transfer up the league. The better you perform, the higher your wages are, the more chance you have of a big-money transfer and international call-up, and the less chance you have of being dropped from the team. There's also a trivia section, which asks increasingly difficult questions allowing you to go double or nothing on knowing the answers - up to £8000 a time can be won on this.

Footballer of the Year 2

Footballer of the Year 2

Atari ST - 1989

Fed up with football (soccer) management games, with all the match strategies, financial turmoil and prima donna players? This game offers a unique twist, leaving you ‘managing’ the career of a single player, involving matches and transfers. You start with 10 ‘goal cards’ - up to 3 can be played in each match, each of them giving you a shooting chance, at which point arcade action skill comes in. The action sequences involve studying a move plan on the chalkboard, then getting into the right position to execute the final shot. Fail to score enough goals and you may lose your place in the team; do especially well and you may gain a transfer up the league. The better you perform, the higher your wages are, the more chance you have of a big-money transfer and international call-up, and the less chance you have of being dropped from the team. There’s also a trivia section, which asks increasingly difficult questions allowing you to go double or nothing on knowing the answers - up to £8000 a time can be won on this.

Footballer of the Year 2

Footballer of the Year 2

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1989

Fed up with football (soccer) management games, with all the match strategies, financial turmoil and prima donna players? This game offers a unique twist, leaving you 'managing' the career of a single player, involving matches and transfers. You start with 10 'goal cards' - up to 3 can be played in each match, each of them giving you a shooting chance, at which point arcade action skill comes in. The action sequences involve studying a move plan on the chalkboard, then getting into the right position to execute the final shot. Fail to score enough goals and you may lose your place in the team; do especially well and you may gain a transfer up the league. The better you perform, the higher your wages are, the more chance you have of a big-money transfer and international call-up, and the less chance you have of being dropped from the team. There's also a trivia section, which asks increasingly difficult questions allowing you to go double or nothing on knowing the answers - up to £8000 a time can be won on this.

Footballer of the Year 2

Footballer of the Year 2

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1989

Fed up with football (soccer) management games, with all the match strategies, financial turmoil and prima donna players? This game offers a unique twist, leaving you 'managing' the career of a single player, involving matches and transfers. You start with 10 'goal cards' - up to 3 can be played in each match, each of them giving you a shooting chance, at which point arcade action skill comes in. The action sequences involve studying a move plan on the chalkboard, then getting into the right position to execute the final shot. Fail to score enough goals and you may lose your place in the team; do especially well and you may gain a transfer up the league. The better you perform, the higher your wages are, the more chance you have of a big-money transfer and international call-up, and the less chance you have of being dropped from the team. There's also a trivia section, which asks increasingly difficult questions allowing you to go double or nothing on knowing the answers - up to £8000 a time can be won on this.

Footballer of the Year 2

Footballer of the Year 2

Commodore Amiga - Released - 1989

Fed up with football (soccer) management games, with all the match strategies, financial turmoil and prima donna players? This game offers a unique twist, leaving you ‘managing’ the career of a single player, involving matches and transfers. You start with 10 ‘goal cards’ - up to 3 can be played in each match, each of them giving you a shooting chance, at which point arcade action skill comes in. The action sequences involve studying a move plan on the chalkboard, then getting into the right position to execute the final shot. Fail to score enough goals and you may lose your place in the team; do especially well and you may gain a transfer up the league. The better you perform, the higher your wages are, the more chance you have of a big-money transfer and international call-up, and the less chance you have of being dropped from the team. There’s also a trivia section, which asks increasingly difficult questions allowing you to go double or nothing on knowing the answers - up to £8000 a time can be won on this.

Full Throttle: All-American Racing

Full Throttle: All-American Racing

Super Nintendo Entertainment System - Released - December 16, 1994

Full Throttle racing roars across the U.S.A. bringing an arcade style water bike and motorcycle racing game to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Compete against your rivals as the four moves from city to city. Oven ten different locations are represented ranging from the Appalachian Mountain in North Carolina and the hilly streets of San Francisco, to the barren heat of Arizona. Mode seven graphics and other spectacular effects put you right in the action. Get ready to rev your engine high and kick away your opponents as you strive for the Race America Cup of the tour's completion.

Future Knight

Future Knight

Commodore 64 - Released - 1986

You control Future Knight and your space craft has crashed on a remote and hostile planet and the aliens took your love interest hostage. First you have to find a way out of your huge and maze-like space craft. The aliens have already invaded your space craft and are now wandering through your craft looking for new technology. Use your laser gun to blow them to Kingdom Come. Eventually if you find your way out of the ship you set foot on the planet's surface. Fight and defeat the huge robot aliens and rescue your love interest. Commodore Format 1994/02 (Issue #41) / part of the "Mega Pack".

Future Knight

Future Knight

Commodore Plus 4 - Released - 1986

You control Future Knight and your space craft has crashed on a remote and hostile planet and the aliens took your love interest hostage. First you have to find a way out of your huge and maze-like space craft. The aliens have already invaded your space craft and are now wandering through your craft looking for new technology. Use your laser gun to blow them to Kingdom Come. Eventually if you find your way out of the ship you set foot on the planet's surface. Fight and defeat the huge robot aliens and rescue your love interest.

Future Knight

Future Knight

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1986

You control Future Knight and your space craft has crashed on a remote and hostile planet and the aliens took your love interest hostage. First you have to find a way out of your huge and maze-like space craft. The aliens have already invaded your space craft and are now wandering through your craft looking for new technology. Use your laser gun to blow them to Kingdom Come. Eventually if you find your way out of the ship you set foot on the planet's surface. Fight and defeat the huge robot aliens and rescue your love interest.

Future Knight

Future Knight

Microsoft MSX - Released - 1986

You control Future Knight and your space craft has crashed on a remote and hostile planet and the aliens took your love interest hostage. First you have to find a way out of your huge and maze-like space craft. The aliens have already invaded your space craft and are now wandering through your craft looking for new technology. Use your laser gun to blow them to Kingdom Come. Eventually if you find your way out of the ship you set foot on the planet's surface. Fight and defeat the huge robot aliens and rescue your love interest.

Gauntlet

Gauntlet

Microsoft MSX - Released - 1986

Gauntlet is an action game where players choose characters and fight their way through hordes of enemies that assault them on the way to the end of the level. One or two players must make their way through 100 levels of mayhem and magic. The game features a choice of four characters to play with, each with different weapons. Thor the Warrior has a bludgeoning battle axe, Thyra the Valkyrie has a close range sword, Questor the Elf has his long range bow, and Merlin the Wizard has magical bolts. Ghosts, goblins and even the life-draining Death are among the enemies. Enemies stream out of generators, so destroy these before tackling the rest. Keys are needed to open the many doors within the levels, and in some situations a door will contain only bonus items, not a progressive route. Scattered magic potions act like smart bombs and clear the screen of all enemies. Beware of poison though, this reduces the character's energy level. Treasure is abundant throughout the levels and adds to the player's score.

Gauntlet

Gauntlet

Commodore 64 - Released - 1986

Gauntlet is an action game where players choose characters and fight their way through hordes of enemies that assault them on the way to the end of the level. One or two players must make their way through 100 levels of mayhem and magic. The game features a choice of four characters to play with, each with different weapons. Thor the Warrior has a bludgeoning battle axe, Thyra the Valkyrie has a close range sword, Questor the Elf has his long range bow, and Merlin the Wizard has magical bolts. Ghosts, goblins and even the life-draining Death are among the enemies. Enemies stream out of generators, so destroy these before tackling the rest. Keys are needed to open the many doors within the levels, and in some situations a door will contain only bonus items, not a progressive route. Scattered magic potions act like smart bombs and clear the screen of all enemies. Beware of poison though, this reduces the character's energy level. Treasure is abundant throughout the levels and adds to the player's score.

Gauntlet

Gauntlet

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1987

Gauntlet is a fantasy-themed hack and slash 1985 arcade game by Atari Games. Released in October 1985, Atari ultimately sold a total of 7,848 Gauntlet video game arcade cabinets. It is noted as being one of the first multi-player dungeon crawl arcade games.

Gauntlet II

Gauntlet II

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1988

Gauntlet II is a 1986 arcade game released by Atari Games and the first sequel to the game Gauntlet. Gauntlet II, like its predecessor, is a fantasy-themed hack and slash.

Gauntlet II

Gauntlet II

Atari ST - Released - 1989

Gauntlet II is very similar to its predecessor. Up to four players (a wizard, a warrior, an elf, and a valkyrie) make their way through various mazes, collect treasures and magic potions, and fend off assorted creatures and ghosts.

Gauntlet II

Gauntlet II

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1988

Gauntlet II is very similar to its predecessor. Up to four players (a wizard, a warrior, an elf, and a valkyrie) make their way through various mazes, collect treasures and magic potions, and fend off assorted creatures and ghosts.

Gauntlet II

Gauntlet II

Commodore 64 - Released - January 1, 1987

Gauntlet II is very similar to its predecessor. Up to four players (a wizard, a warrior, an elf, and a valkyrie) make their way through various mazes, collect treasures and magic potions, and fend off assorted creatures and ghosts.

Gauntlet II

Gauntlet II

Commodore Amiga - Released - 1989

Gauntlet II is very similar to its predecessor. Up to four players (a wizard, a warrior, an elf, and a valkyrie) make their way through various mazes, collect treasures and magic potions, and fend off assorted creatures and ghosts.

Gauntlet: The Deeper Dungeons

Gauntlet: The Deeper Dungeons

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1987

This is an expansion pack for the original Gauntlet. It has 512 new action packed dungeons. There is no other new content besides the dungeons.

Gauntlet: The Deeper Dungeons

Gauntlet: The Deeper Dungeons

Commodore 64 - Released - 1987

This is an expansion pack for the original Gauntlet. It has 512 new action packed dungeons. There is no other new content besides the dungeons.

Greg Norman's Shark Attack! The Ultimate Golf Simulator

Greg Norman's Shark Attack! The Ultimate Golf Simulator

Commodore Amiga - Released - 1990

The Great White Shark (Norman’s obligatory silly golfing nickname) has only recently been knocked off his number one spot by Nick Faldo – maybe he should practise a bit more on his own golfing sim! Up to four human or computer players can participate, in Strokepay or Matchplay, with the option of playing Singles, Fourball, Foursome, or Greensome. The skill level of each computer player is determined by setting five factors: Experience, Stance, Grip, Swing, and Fitness. Up to fifty created players can be stored in a database. After leaving three of your 17 clubs behind (you are only allowed 14), it is out onto either of two in-built courses (or others from planned course disks). From the first tee you are greeted by a 3-D view, a grid of squares raised and sunk at different angles to form hills and bunkers. Additional hazards are posed by trees and water pools. As the flag is often hidden, a map allows you to view the whole hole – you can even walk to any spot and get a 3-D view from that position. When you are ready to play the shot, a power meter appears. A power bar rises, stopped by pressing fire. Then, before another falling bar reaches the bottom, you must press fire to stop a swaying direction needle in the middle for a straight shot, or on the marker indicating the amount of sidespin selected on the swing screen. Putting is achieved by aiming an on-screen cursor and selecting power. Despite the number of options available this is not an excessively fancy game. It is accurate, intelligent and challenging and will prove to be one of the most popular sports sims of the year.

Greg Norman's Shark Attack!: The Ultimate Golf Simulator

Greg Norman's Shark Attack!: The Ultimate Golf Simulator

MS-DOS - Released - 1989

Eight man-years of development resulted in this detailed recreation of golf, endorsed by one of the great players of the 1980s. Two courses are included, with 3D modeling of the effects of ball lie and swing style. You can disable ball effects to make it more straightforward, and weather and wind effects are optional. Match play and stroke play are included, as are Fourball, Foursome and Greensome modes for 4 players in 2 teams of two, as well as a practice mode. The game is played from a 3D perspective, with an overhead view before each shot.

Grumpy Gumphrey Supersleuth

Grumpy Gumphrey Supersleuth

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1985

Gilbert Gumphrey is a veteran store detective, whose tasks range from the complex to the mundane. They include putting out fires, rescuing children, killing ducks, and getting the boss his afternoon cup of tea. Failure to do any of these successfully can lead to the sack. Grumpy Gumphrey Supersleuth is made up of 39 screens of puzzles. Each room is viewed in forced-perspective 3D, and the perspective of a room is not always the same as the perspective you entered it – however the initial movement into the main space of the room is automated. A task is dictated to you at the base of the screen, with instruction on where to find the objects you need. Watch out for an umbrella, keys and a skateboard among other things. You can hold multiple objects, cycling through them with the 'S' key.

H.A.T.E.: Hostile All Terrain Encounter

H.A.T.E.: Hostile All Terrain Encounter

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1989

Hostile All-Terrain Encounters await in this shoot 'em up notable for it's unusual diagonal scroll, which is similar to Costa Panayi's previous Highway Encounter series. As nobody is qualified to take the enemy on, your task is to complete the 30 levels of training (the actual war could've been the basis for a sequel, although this never happened). The levels alternate between controlling a Star Fighter plane and a Ground Assault Vehicle; the latter is faster but is confined to ground motion. The plane can move up and down to make dodging the simulated enemy fire easier. This generally comes at you in waves, although there are also ground installations. Central to the game is to shoot at the cases of plasma crystals, and then fly over these so as to carry them to the end of the level. Dying loses you one of these crystals if you have at least one, or a life if you do not. Completing a level with at least 2 crystals is effectively a restart point as well, as when you die you are sent back to a level in which you collected at least 2.

HeroQuest

Nintendo Entertainment System - Unreleased - 1991

HeroQuest, the best-selling role playing game has now been developed into an absorbing fantasy adventure game for your Nintendo Entertainment System. Take up the challenge to become a Hero and enter the underground realm of the evil wizard Morcar. But beware, the unlit tunnels hold many dangers - terrible monsters, deadly traps and mysterious rooms. Prototype leaked in 2009.

HeroQuest II: Legacy of Sorasil

HeroQuest II: Legacy of Sorasil

Commodore Amiga - Released - May 1, 1994

The isometric role-playing game engine of the original Hero Quest license is reused in this sequel, set in the evil-infested land of Rhia. There are now 9 large missions to take on, with a largely linear progression in the order these are played. You can choose a team of 4 from 8 character classes, adding rangers, mystics, elves and clerics to the original game's 4. The exact abilities of these can be customized before you start. The game is controlled using action icons at the bottom of a screen to set the basic instructions to move, fight, open doors, search for keys and so on. Characters can move individually, allowing for diverse strategies based on the specific strengths and weaknesses of these characters.

HeroQuest II: Legacy of Sorasil

HeroQuest II: Legacy of Sorasil

Commodore Amiga CD32 - December 1, 1994

HeroQuest II: Legacy of Sorasil is an isometric role-playing game that was released on Amiga 1200 and CD32 in 1994 by Gremlin Graphics. The game is the sequel to HeroQuest.

HeroQuest: Return of the Witch Lord

HeroQuest: Return of the Witch Lord

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - DLC - 1991

HeroQuest: Return of the Witch Lord is a HeroQuest expansion pack with a set of new quests and adapted from a similar expansion to the original board game. This time the quests follow an ongoing storyline. The Witch Lord is back, and the heroes enter the ruined city Kalos to find and defeat him. This expansion plays similarly to the original game, but as the manual warns, it is more difficult.

Jack the Nipper

Jack the Nipper

Microsoft MSX - Released - 1986

Jack the Nipper is a platform game that contains 50 screens packed with action. Jack is an evil and wicked toddler. You play Jack and you have to cause as much trouble without being penalized for it. To see how naughty you've been there is a naughtyometer at the bottom of the screen. To cause some mayhem Jack must jump on things, pick up objects and drop those at places where they cause the most trouble to grown-ups. The various objects can be found all over town and at Jack's home. The game starts at Jack's home but Jack can walk out the door and go into town to, for example, blow up the police station, kill all flowers or free prisoners. Try to get a credit card and do some serious shopping! The first thing you should look for is you peashooter and fire peas at various objects or persons. Toot your horn to frustrate grown-ups or animals. The naughtier your the higher your naughtyometer goes up! The game comes to an end as the naughtyometer reaches 100%. Cause as much trouble as you can... but don't get spanked for it by grown-ups!

Jack the Nipper

Jack the Nipper

Commodore 64 - Released - January 1, 1986

"Jack the Nipper is a platform game that contains 50 screens packed with action. Jack is an evil and wicked toddler. You play Jack and you have to cause as much trouble without being penalized for it. To see how naughty you've been there is a naughtyometer at the bottom of the screen. To cause some mayhem Jack must jump on things, pick up objects and drop those at places where they cause the most trouble to grown-ups. The various objects can be found all over town and at Jack's home. The game starts at Jack's home but Jack can walk out the door and go into town to, for example, blow up the police station, kill all flowers or free prisoners. Try to get a credit card and do some serious shopping! The first thing you should look for is you peashooter and fire peas at various objects or persons. Toot your horn to frustrate grown-ups or animals. The naughtier your the higher your naughtyometer goes up! The game comes to an end as the naughtyometer reaches 100%. Cause as much trouble as you can... but don't get spanked for it by grown-ups!" --mobygames.com

Jack The Nipper

Jack The Nipper

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1986

Jack the Nipper is a side-view flip screen game with puzzle solving and platform elements. The graphics are rendered in 2D, but an illusion of depth is achieved by allowing characters to move forward and back within the playing area. The player controls Jack, a naughty child who wants to break the record for naughtiness (recorded on the "naughtyometer"). He needs to carry out various wicked pranks on the unsuspecting inhabitants of his town, but if he comes into contact by angry adults he will be spanked. With each spanking his "nappy rash" meter increases, and if it grows too high Jack loses a life. Contact with the monsters and ghosts which inhabit the town will also increase the nappy rash.

Jack the Nipper... II in Coconut Capers

Jack the Nipper... II in Coconut Capers

Commodore 64 - Released - July 1, 1987

Naughty toddler Jack finds himself in Australia, with the aim of progressing through 192 screens of platform action. He starts with nine lives but no weapons, although a supply of coconuts to lob is close at hand. The jungle is full of snakes, monkeys, birds and all manner of other creatures, all of which must be avoided or killed - remember that their attack paths are pre-programmed, and the trajectory of your coconuts is quite limited. Travelling through the levels involves, amongst other things, ladders, mine carts, trees, ropes and logs. As well as simply completing the game and amassing as many points as possible, you can aim to be as naughty as possible, which is gauged by a 'Naughty-O-Meter' next to the score, with numerous objects available for that purpose (one can be carried at a time, alongside one weapon).

Jack the Nipper... II in Coconut Capers

Jack the Nipper... II in Coconut Capers

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1987

Naughty toddler Jack finds himself in Australia, with the aim of progressing through 192 screens of platform action. He starts with nine lives but no weapons, although a supply of coconuts to lob is close at hand. The jungle is full of snakes, monkeys, birds and all manner of other creatures, all of which must be avoided or killed - remember that their attack paths are pre-programmed, and the trajectory of your coconuts is quite limited. Travelling through the levels involves, amongst other things, ladders, mine carts, trees, ropes and logs. As well as simply completing the game and amassing as many points as possible, you can aim to be as naughty as possible, which is gauged by a 'Naughty-O-Meter' next to the score, with numerous objects available for that purpose (one can be carried at a time, alongside one weapon).

Jack the Nipper... II in Coconut Capers

Jack the Nipper... II in Coconut Capers

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1987

Naughty toddler Jack finds himself in Australia, with the aim of progressing through 192 screens of platform action. He starts with nine lives but no weapons, although a supply of coconuts to lob is close at hand. The jungle is full of snakes, monkeys, birds and all manner of other creatures, all of which must be avoided or killed - remember that their attack paths are pre-programmed, and the trajectory of your coconuts is quite limited. Travelling through the levels involves, amongst other things, ladders, mine carts, trees, ropes and logs. As well as simply completing the game and amassing as many points as possible, you can aim to be as naughty as possible, which is gauged by a 'Naughty-O-Meter' next to the score, with numerous objects available for that purpose (one can be carried at a time, alongside one weapon).

Jack the Nipper... II in Coconut Capers

Jack the Nipper... II in Coconut Capers

Microsoft MSX - Released - 1987

Naughty toddler Jack finds himself in Africa, with the aim of progressing through 192 screens of platform action. He starts with nine lives but no weapons, although a supply of coconuts to lob is close at hand. The jungle is full of snakes, rhinos, birds and all manner of other creatures, all of which must be avoided or killed - remember that their attack paths are pre-programmed, and the trajectory of your coconuts is quite limited. Travelling through the levels involves, amongst other things, ladders, mine carts, trees, ropes and logs. As well as simply completing the game and amassing as many points as possible, you can aim to be as naughty as possible, which is gauged by a 'Naughty-O-Meter' next to the score, with numerous objects available for that purpose (one can be carried at a time, alongside one weapon).

Krakout

Krakout

Microsoft MSX - Released - 1987

Arkanoid-style Breakout clone, which unlike most other similar games has the bat on the side of the screen (there is a left/right option) instead of at the bottom. There are 100 screens to be conquered. There are a number of types of special bricks, but unlike e.g. Arkanoid, they do not fall towards the bat. Instead, when you hit a special brick, it flips to show a letter. E.g. E (Extend bat), C (Catch ball), M (Missile), B (Bomb, explodes when hit by ball, clearing a number of bricks) and X (Extra life). Extra lives are also awarded when the player scores 10,000 points. The enemies/obstacles are more varied than in Arkanoid. Some make the bat freeze, some actually chew and eat your ball and spit out the core back at you!

Krakout

Krakout

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1987

Arkanoid-style Breakout clone, which unlike most other similar games has the bat on the side of the screen (there is a left/right option) instead of at the bottom. There are 100 screens to be conquered. There are a number of types of special bricks, but unlike e.g. Arkanoid, they do not fall towards the bat. Instead, when you hit a special brick, it flips to show a letter. E.g. E (Extend bat), C (Catch ball), M (Missile), B (Bomb, explodes when hit by ball, clearing a number of bricks) and X (Extra life). Extra lives are also awarded when the player scores 10,000 points. The enemies and obstacles are more varied than in Arkanoid. Some make the bat freeze, some actually chew and eat your ball and spit out the core back at you. The BBC Micro conversion was programmed by John Mackay. Krakout was originally published by Gremlin and later re-released by Kixx.

Krakout

Krakout

Commodore 64 - Released - 1987

Arkanoid-style Breakout clone, which unlike most other similar games has the bat on the side of the screen (there is a left/right option) instead of at the bottom. There are 100 screens to be conquered. There are a number of types of special bricks, but unlike e.g. Arkanoid, they do not fall towards the bat. Instead, when you hit a special brick, it flips to show a letter. E.g. E (Extend bat), C (Catch ball), M (Missile), B (Bomb, explodes when hit by ball, clearing a number of bricks) and X (Extra life). Extra lives are also awarded when the player scores 10,000 points. The enemies/obstacles are more varied than in Arkanoid. Some make the bat freeze, some actually chew and eat your ball and spit out the core back at you!

Litil Divil

Litil Divil

MS-DOS - Released - 1993

A little devil named Mutt is a rather lazy character who prefers to do nothing in his own cozy part of the underworld. However, his luck changes when he is chosen as the hero who must venture into a mysterious Labyrinth in the overworld and retrieve the Pizza of Plenty from there, so that his demonic friends will have enough capers and anchovies to eat. Litil Divil has puzzle-solving and action elements, including platforming and combat. Mutt is being transported to various puzzle rooms, where he has to avoid obstacles, fight enemies, and manipulate the environment in order to succeed. It is also possible to buy items such as weapons and shields at specific locations.

Litil Divil

Litil Divil

Commodore Amiga CD32 - Released - 1994

A little devil named Mutt is a rather lazy character who prefers to do nothing in his own cozy part of the underworld. However, his luck changes when he is chosen as the hero who must venture into a mysterious Labyrinth in the overworld and retrieve the Pizza of Plenty from there, so that his demonic friends will have enough capers and anchovies to eat. Litil Divil has puzzle-solving and action elements, including platforming and combat. Mutt is being transported to various puzzle rooms, where he has to avoid obstacles, fight enemies, and manipulate the environment in order to succeed. It is also possible to buy items such as weapons and shields at specific locations.

Lotus II

Lotus II

Sega Genesis - Released - December 14, 1993

Burn some rubber in the home stretch of your own track! With Lotus II in the palm of your hand, you can create new and twisted race courses every time you buckle up. Shift the amount and type of scenery, adjust the number of turns and steepness of the hills, create weather from snowstorms to fog to sun, and race head-to-head or against the machine while under the stars or the sun! Choose from three of the fastest machines on the autobahns, including the hot new M 200 concept car!

Lotus Turbo Challenge

Lotus Turbo Challenge

Sega Genesis - Released - December 14, 1992

While technically a conversion of Lotus Turbo Challenge 2, the first game was never sold on the Mega Drive/Genesis, so it's not a sequel on this platform, hence why the name is different. This is a behind-the-car viewed racing game. The racing takes place in eight distinct circuits, with new surface and weather effects such as desert and snow. Later in the game, you must race through two-way motorways with oncoming traffic (incorporating civilian cars and trucks), and face tougher levels aided by speed and time boost pick-ups. You are no longer racing directly against other cars or over laps; instead, racing is time-based as you have limited time to reach each checkpoint. Reaching each of these extends your time, and any remaining time is turned into bonus points if you successfully complete the track. You have two cars at your disposal, which the game chooses automatically for each level. The Lotus Esprit from the original is joined by a Lotus Elan convertible, which is slower but has better grip, hence the loss of the word 'Esprit' from the title. You can play through the set of tracks either in full-screen or (with another player) split-screen mode. On Amiga and ST the game allows you to link two machines, each of which can have two human players. If one player successfully completes one of the 8 courses, all players can continue onto the next one.

MASK

MASK

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1987

MASK is game based on a popular animated TV series of the mid 1980's. In addition to the TV series, entitled M.A.S.K., an acronymn for Mobile Armored Strike Kommand, there was also a series of books, authored by Kenneth Harper and illustrated by Bruce Hogarth, and comics. A new line of toys was produced to accompany each TV series. The stories all centre around the M.A.S.K. organisation led by the fearless Matt Tracker. M.A.S.K. agents wear helmets or masks to protect their identities and to give them super powers which help in their fight against the criminal V.E.N.O.M. organisation. They drive super powered vehicles which can transform. V.E.N.O.M., aka the Vicious Evil Network of Mayhem, are the bad guys. They are by Miles Mayhem one time friend of Matt and co-founder of MASK who betrayed Matt long ago. There are four areas to the game and in all Matt must drive his Thunderhawk vehicle around the game area, avoiding V.E.N.O.M.'s armoured vehicles and tanks while accomplishing tasks in a specific order. In area 1 : Boulder Hill, his first task is to recover his own mask and later an abducted agent. However it's not just a case of driving around until the agent is found. Matt must first and collect a scanner which will direct him the missing agent (who will be hidden). However the agent cannot be picked up until his mask has been collected and the scanner will not function until the four pieces of the security key have been collected and assembled. Items, including bombs, are collected by driving over them. Bombs are Matt's only weapon against V.E.N.O.M.'s tanks and, as bombs do, they will damage Matt and his vehicle if he's too close to the explosion. The remainder of the game consists of three more areas, Prehistoric, Far Future, and VENOM Base each of which have two abducted agents to rescue.

MASK

MASK

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1987

THE BATTLE CONTINUES!!! Join with the forces of MASK, skillfully commanded by the brilliant strategist Matt Trakker, and combat the evil of the villainous VENOM in their quest for domination of the world. No longer need you stand by and passively observer the evil deeds of Mayhem and his co-conspirators. Here is your chance to dig deep into your cunning and put your skills to the test against possibly the greatest master criminal the world has ever seen, fact or fiction. This classic conflict of good versus evil is portrayed with a realism and excitement that can only take its lead from the world's most famous collection of superheroes and supervillains. There are creations of adventure, there are creations of combat, but there is not a creation quite like MASK!!!

MASK

MASK

Commodore 64 - Released - July 1, 1987

The stories all centre around the M.A.S.K. organisation led by the fearless Matt Tracker. M.A.S.K. agents wear helmets or masks to protect their identities and to give them super powers which help in their fight against the criminal V.E.N.O.M. organisation. They drive super powered vehicles which can transform. V.E.N.O.M., aka the Vicious Evil Network of Mayhem, are the bad guys. They are by Miles Mayhem one time friend of Matt and co-founder of MASK who betrayed Matt long ago.

MASK Two Two

MASK Two Two

Commodore 64 - Released - 1987

MASK II is a single player side scrolling shoot-em-up and is the second game in the M.A.S.K (Mobile Armored Strike Kommand) series that was based on a TV series / comic / toy license of the mid 1980's. The M.A.S.K organisation is once again battling the bad guys in the form of the criminal V.E.N.O.M. (Vicious Evil Network of Mayhem) organisation in their transformer like vehicles. In each mission the player starts by selecting three M.A.S.K. agents. These should be chosen with care as the agents drive different vehicles and completing each mission will require having the right agent and their vehicle at your disposal. Once into the game the player has five lives with which they must complete their mission by driving, flying and hydro-planing across the varied terrain, battling V.E.N.O.M. vehicles, overcoming obstacles, and picking up power-ups along the way.

MASK Two Two

MASK Two Two

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1987

MASK II is a single player side scrolling shoot-em-up and is the second game in the M.A.S.K (Mobile Armored Strike Kommand) series that was based on a TV series / comic / toy license of the mid 1980's. The M.A.S.K organisation is once again battling the bad guys in the form of the criminal V.E.N.O.M. (Vicious Evil Network of Mayhem) organisation in their transformer like vehicles. This game consists of three missions: Mission one is about destroying an oil refinery that V.E.N.O.M. have set up in the middle east as part of their bid to control oil prices. Mission two starts with a tribe in the jungle who worship a fabulous ruby. V.E.N.O.M. have stolen the ruby and are using it in a laser ray gun. It is M.A.S.K.'s job to destroy the laser and to return the ruby to the tribe in the jungle. Mission three sees V.E.N.O.M. holding the president of the P.N.A. hostage and the mission is to rescue him and get him to the summit talks in time to sign a peace treaty. In each mission the player starts by selecting three M.A.S.K. agents. These should be chosen with care as the agents drive different vehicles and completing each mission will require having the right agent and their vehicle at your disposal. Once into the game the player has five lives with which they must complete their mission by driving, flying and hydro-planing across the varied terrain, battling V.E.N.O.M. vehicles, overcoming obstacles, and picking up power-ups along the way.

MASK Two Two

MASK Two Two

Microsoft MSX - Released - 1987

MASK II is a single player side scrolling shoot-em-up and is the second game in the M.A.S.K (Mobile Armored Strike Kommand) series that was based on a TV series / comic / toy license of the mid 1980's. The M.A.S.K organisation is once again battling the bad guys in the form of the criminal V.E.N.O.M. (Vicious Evil Network of Mayhem) organisation in their transformer like vehicles. In each mission the player starts by selecting three M.A.S.K. agents. These should be chosen with care as the agents drive different vehicles and completing each mission will require having the right agent and their vehicle at your disposal. Once into the game the player has five lives with which they must complete their mission by driving, flying and hydro-planing across the varied terrain, battling V.E.N.O.M. vehicles, overcoming obstacles, and picking up power-ups along the way.

Masters of the Universe: The Movie

Masters of the Universe: The Movie

Microsoft MSX - Released - 1987

The Cosmic Key has fallen through time and space and landed on Earth. Find it before Skeletor does or Eternia and the universe will suffer. This is an adaption of the motion picture Masters of the Universe. You, as He-Man, must find the eight chords to the Cosmic Key. Along the way, you must fight Skeletor's minions. First, you fight in the streets and try to find a chord hidden in the streets. After you enter the scrapyard, you will meet and fight Blade and Karg to the death in a hand to hand beat 'em up to get another key. In Charlie's Electronics Store, you aim your cross-hair to shoot oncoming enemies who guard a chord. Later, make your way to the rooftops and fight a laser battle on a flying disk. After all eight chords are retrieved, go mano-a-mano with Skeletor in the final battle.

Masters of the Universe: The Movie

Masters of the Universe: The Movie

Atari ST - Released - 1988

The Cosmic Key has fallen through time and space and landed on Earth. Find it before Skeletor does or Eternia and the universe will suffer. This is an adaption of the motion picture Masters of the Universe. You, as He-Man, must find the eight chords to the Cosmic Key. Along the way, you must fight Skeletor's minions. First, you fight in the streets and try to find a chord hidden in the streets. After you enter the scrapyard, you will meet and fight Blade and Karg to the death in a hand to hand beat 'em up to get another key. In Charlie's Electronics Store, you aim your cross-hair to shoot oncoming enemies who guard a chord. Later, make your way to the rooftops and fight a laser battle on a flying disk. After all eight chords are retrieved, go mano-a-mano with Skeletor in the final battle.

Masters of the Universe: The Movie

Masters of the Universe: The Movie

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1987

Masters of the Universe - The Movie brings to life the deadly, eternal conflict between good and evil, the prize being the Cosmic key to time travel and with it the title MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE. Slipping through a Vortex in time the key has fallen into the hands of an unsuspecting American College student. Little does he realise the awesome power he holds. Thinking it to be a musical instrument he fails to realise that every note he plays attracts the ruthless SKELETOR and his devilish army led by the frighteningly powerful EVIL-LYN. With the key in their possession who can stop them escaping downtown America and returning to create chaos in Eternia? Only you can save Earth from this evil domination as HE-MAN meets Skeletor in he battle for Eternia, the final chapter that will seal the fate of mankind forever.

Masters of the Universe: The Movie

Masters of the Universe: The Movie

Commodore 64 - Released - 1987

The Cosmic Key has fallen through time and space and landed on Earth. Find it before Skeletor does or Eternia and the universe will suffer. This is an adaption of the motion picture Masters of the Universe. You, as He-Man, must find the eight chords to the Cosmic Key. Along the way, you must fight Skeletor's minions. First, you fight in the streets and try to find a chord hidden in the streets. After you enter the scrapyard, you will meet and fight Blade and Karg to the death in a hand to hand beat 'em up to get another key. In Charlie's Electronics Store, you aim your cross-hair to shoot oncoming enemies who guard a chord. Later, make your way to the rooftops and fight a laser battle on a flying disk. After all eight chords are retrieved, go mano-a-mano with Skeletor in the final battle.

Mickey Mouse: The Computer Game

Mickey Mouse: The Computer Game

Atari ST - Released - 1988

The Ogre King and his minions have taken over Disney Castle, and it's Mickey's task to win it back. The game starts on a sequence of stairways, up which Mickey must move, shooting any creatures that get in his way. Eventually you will come to a door and go through it, at which point the second section of the game begins. These are viewed from above, and see Mickey negotiate his way through a multi-screen maze, with multiple exits on each screen. Ghosts and ogres block his path, but he's armed with a water pistol for the former and an axe for the latter, both of which need replenishing regularly. Some doors require keys to move through. There are several sub-games, including Pac-Man and Donkey Kong-derived games. To win the game you must finally beat the Ogre King.

Mickey Mouse: The Computer Game

Mickey Mouse: The Computer Game

Commodore 64 - Released - 1988

The Ogre King and his minions have taken over Disney Castle, and it's Mickey's task to win it back. The game starts on a sequence of stairways, up which Mickey must move, shooting any creatures that get in his way. Eventually you will come to a door and go through it, at which point the second section of the game begins. These are viewed from above, and see Mickey negotiate his way through a multi-screen maze, with multiple exits on each screen. Ghosts and ogres block his path, but he's armed with a water pistol for the former and an axe for the latter, both of which need replenishing regularly. Some doors require keys to move through. There are several sub-games, including Pac-Man and Donkey Kong-derived games. To win the game you must finally beat the Ogre King.

Mickey Mouse: The Computer Game

Mickey Mouse: The Computer Game

Commodore Amiga - Released - 1988

You know that castle thingy that you see on the titles of The Wonderful World of Disney, the one that looks all peaceful an' everythin'? Well, all is not as it seems. Inside the tower Mickey is fighting for peace, justice and the American way. Merlin the magician has had his magic wand stolen by the evil Ogre King. The wand has been split into four pieces and given to witches at the top of the towers in the castle. The ogre has put ghosties and ghoulies and things in the towers to try and stop you from getting the wand back together, but you are armed with a squirt gun and a hammer to deal with them. Eventually you just seal up the doors and stop them from emerging. This is done by entering a series of sub-games: The Puddle Maze, The bubble Machine, The Pump Room and The Dripping Taps. At the top of each tower is a guardian thingie that must be shot in the head to retrieve a piece of the wand. In my experience, cartoon character licences very rarely make good computer games, but I'm glad to say that the most famous of them all has managed to keep his reputation by spawning a cracker of a game. The graphics are nicely detailed and coloured, the ghostly music is more funny than spooky, creating exactly the right atmosphere to suit the already amusing gameplay - smacking teddy bears over the head is great fun.

Mickey Mouse: The Computer Game

Mickey Mouse: The Computer Game

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1988

The Ogre King and his minions have taken over Disney Castle, and it's Mickey's task to win it back. The game starts on a sequence of stairways, up which Mickey must move, shooting any creatures that get in his way. Eventually you will come to a door and go through it, at which point the second section of the game begins. These are viewed from above, and see Mickey negotiate his way through a multi-screen maze, with multiple exits on each screen. Ghosts and ogres block his path, but he's armed with a water pistol for the former and an axe for the latter, both of which need replenishing regularly. Some doors require keys to move through. There are several sub-games, including Pac-Man and Donkey Kong-derived games. To win the game you must finally beat the Ogre King.

Moley Christmas

Moley Christmas

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1987

Moley Christmas is a video game released in 1987 for the Sinclair Spectrum. It is a sequel to the 1987 video game Auf Wiedersehen Monty and was available exclusively on the cover of Your Sinclair magazine. Monty Mole has been given the task of getting the code for the latest game in which he features from the programmers to the cover of Your Sinclair magazine.

Newman Haas IndyCar featuring Nigel Mansell

Newman Haas IndyCar featuring Nigel Mansell

Sega Genesis - Released - December 1, 1994

For high-performance thrills, speed toward the checkered flag in a turbo-charged methanol-burning IndyCar YOU design! Push the limits of your screaming 750-horsepower Newman Hass race car on the world's fastest tracks. It's 16 megs of pure IndyCar intensity!

Newman Haas IndyCar featuring Nigel Mansell

Newman Haas IndyCar featuring Nigel Mansell

Super Nintendo Entertainment System - Released - November 1, 1994

For high-performance thrills, speed toward the checkered flag in a turbo-charged, methanol-burning IndyCar You design! Push the limits of your screaming 750-horsepower Newman Haas race car on the world's greatest IndyCar tracks! It's 16 megs of pure IndyCar intensity!

Nigel Mansell's World Championship

Nigel Mansell's World Championship

Commodore Amiga CD32 - Released - 1993

The player can race a single race, do a season of Formula One, or practice their skills on a particular race track. Either music, sound effects, or both can be shut off on the options menu. The changing of the tires is mandatory on pit road during the middle of each race, and weather can determine whether the player should use hard tires, soft tires, or rain tires. Before the beginning of the race, it is possible to change some aspects of the car, such as spoilers, tires and gearbox. Being licensed by Nigel Mansell, the game followed the 1992 Formula One season, which he won. The player takes on Mansell's role to try to win the title against eleven other real-life drivers that were still active in their careers by the time the game was launched. Like Sega's own Super Monaco GP, each of them belongs to their own team (instead of the common F1 format of two drivers per constructor). Although all the rival cars' colors resemble the actual constructors' colors by that time, only Mansell character wears a suit in the same color of his team's — blue. Mansell is also the only character to have his own sprite, distinguished by his signature mustache and cap. All the other drivers are shown with a similar sprite, all of them in yellow racing suits. The player also has the option to change Mansell character by setting a different name and nationality. The countries available on custom mode are South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, Spain, Finland, Monaco, Canada, France, Great Britain, Germany, Hungary, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, Japan, Australia, Austria and United States. However, the playable character's appearance will remain that of Mansell. The game also features the national anthem for each of these countries, played in the podium whenever the player character wins a race. If a rival wins the race but the player finishes as runner-up or third place, the podium will still be shown, but the anthem to be played will be the one of the winning driver's home country. The rivals can't be customized.

Nigel Mansell's World Championship

Nigel Mansell's World Championship

Commodore Amiga - Released - 1992

Before each race you can customize wing downforce, gear ratio, tyre selection and fuel load choices – pitstops are a standard feature of the longer races. The 16-bit versions include a unique 'Improve With Mansell' mode, in which a digitized version of Nigel's head appears in the top corner of the screen, offering instructions and praise.

Nigel Mansell's World Championship

Nigel Mansell's World Championship

MS-DOS - Released - 1993

Timing smiled on Gremlin with this licensed Formula 1 simulation, as Nigel's long quest for a championship had finally come good. The game was pitched somewhere in between a full-blown simulation like F1 GP and action games like Continental Circus. Only 12 cars were in each race, which could last from between 3 and 20 laps. Before each race you can customize wing downforce, gear ratio, tyre selection and fuel load choices – pitstops are a standard feature of the longer races. The 16-bit versions include a unique 'Improve With Mansell' mode, in which a digitized version of Nigel's head appears in the top corner of the screen, offering instructions and praise.

Nigel Mansell's World Championship Racing

Nigel Mansell's World Championship Racing

Sega Genesis - Released - November 1, 1993

Hold on to your engines and pour on the coal as you hit the track with the greatest name in World Championship racing, Nigel Mansell. You're in control. You've got the machine. But, can you handle it? Try rough weather, a mean track and competition that won't quit. Or, go for one-on-one pointers from Mansell and have the track all to yourself while you practice the moves of a master. Then, check in for the big one. And, don't forget your crash helmet.

Nigel Mansell's World Championship Racing

Nigel Mansell's World Championship Racing

Nintendo Entertainment System - Released - October 1, 1993

Become a Grand Prix legend in a race for the title of World Champion! The most exciting race driver in the world has teamed up with the greatest racing game producers to bring you the definitive Grand Prix experience. Race the full 1992 season in the superb Canon Williams Renault F1 car. Real-time coaching from Nigel Mansell himself! Experiment with the cars set up to achieve maximum performance for each of the 16 race circuits. Fast and furious race action with actual Renault F1 engine sound FX and superbly detailed graphics. The realism of the racetrack... The power and the glory!

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