Audiogenic Software

Amazon

Amazon

Atari ST - Released - 1985

Amazon is a graphical text adventure game by Michael Crichton. You work for the NSRT (National Satellite Resource Technology), a top secret research firm. Waiting for a transmission from a team sent to the Amazon Rainforest, you realize the expedition has gone wrong, and it is your job to travel to the Amazon Rainforest and figure out what happened. The game features three difficulty levels, timed sequences and action-based mini games. Included in the folder is a map of the Amazon rainforest and a technical briefing of your mission from the NSRT home office.

BBC Bonanza

BBC Bonanza

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1987

A compilation of seven games from Audiogenic Software: • Psycastria • Thunderstruck • Ultron • Contraption • Wizzy's Mansion • Space Ranger • Last of the Free.

Blast!

Blast!

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1989

Blast! was developed by Sam Inglis and released by Audiogenic Software (ASL) for the BBC Microcomputer in 1989. You are in control of a floating space ship, a bit like the one from Thrust, but much smaller on the screen. You have to blast your way through everything that moves on the screen. When you have blown up everything, you move on to the next level. You have to balance the ship and stop it from smashing into any aliens/walls as well as firing.

Blast!

Blast!

Acorn Electron - Released - 1990

Your mission to the far side of the galaxy leads you to a strange, apparently uninhabited world. You prepare to land, but suddenly your craft spins uncontrolably into a vast underground cavern complex. There's only one way to escape! You must destroy the alien command centres in the eight caverns that make up the underground complex. Be sure to avoid the deadly missiles fired by the alien defences - and beware the anti-matter that lines the cavern walls. You'll need nerves of steel if you're to meet the challenge - make one mistake and you'll be blown sky high!" On the far edge of the galaxy known as XL-614 is a dwarf star orbited by a single planet 60,000 kilometres across. According to the Astro-Geological Survey, this planet is composed almost entirely of antimatter, and as one of the foremost physicians of your generation you are detailed to investigate. As you come into land, the ground beneath suddenly gives away, and you find your craft spinning uncontrollably inside a vast underground cavern complex. Eventually you regain control of the ship, only to find that you are under attack. Instinctively you reach out to turn on your alarm beacon, but even before you touch the button you realise that it's pointless - the nearest Federation ship is 2000 light years away. This time you're on your own!

Blockade

Blockade

Commodore VIC-20 - Released - 1982

Blockade is a mix of a board game and a puzzle game. The goal is to get 5 in a row - either, horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.

Breakthrough

Breakthrough

Acorn Electron - Released - October 1, 1988

Trapped in a world of fire and energy, you must battle for the most valuable prize of all - your life. You can escape only by using your magical powers to destroy the rocks that block your path or to create new blocks that act as stepping stones on the road to freedom. Don't forget to pick up the key to the exit door - otherwise your efforts will be in vain. "There are 100 screens just waiting to trap, tease and test your powers of perception before you finally break through to the outside world. But beware, there are only 99 seconds to complete each screen!" Each screen contains two types of blocks, light blue blocks which are indestructable, and red ones which can be smashed if you move next to them and press RETURN. If you press RETURN when next to an empty space, you will create a block that you can jump onto if you wish. Move around the screen by pressing the Z and X keys. Press SHIFT and either Z or X to jump onto an adjacent block. To complete a level, you must collect the key for that level, then unlock the exit door. Watch out for fireballs on some screens - they are lethal! Other dangerous hazards are spiders and their webs, ghosts and vampire bats which hang from blocks just waiting to drop on you when you walk below. With a little ingenuity, you will soon dsicover ways in which each of these hazards can be combatted. Some of the blocks have strange rotating centres. These contain objects that you can collect. Collect three diamonds for an extra life (you start with three lives) or an hourglass to slow the timer to half speed. The crown and magic potion award bonus scores. Often there are two bonus objects to be found in the same place. Can you work out how?

Breakthrough

Breakthrough

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1988

Breakthrough (or Break Through) is a game for the BBC Microcomputer, developed by Ian Collinson and published by Audiogenic Software (ASL). A puzzle game similar in style to Solomon's Key, in which you have to place blocks and melt them in order to get to the keys hidden somewhere on the screen.

Bug Eyes 2: Starman to the Rescue

Bug Eyes 2: Starman to the Rescue

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1986

Bug Eyes 2: Starman to the Rescue is a video game developed by Scrooloose and Bitbrain and published in 1986 by Audiogenic. Light years from Earth lies the rusting hulk of the Xxabanean flagship, disabled when it's power generator was destroyed by Space Agent Zelda. But Zelda was captured and imprisoned in the depths of a distant and desolate asteroid. Somewhere hidden on the rusting ship are the 25 keys that are needed to free Zelda from her intergalactic prison. Your mission, as Space Agent Starman, is to penetrate the defences of the ship and find the 25 keys in order to rescue Zelda. Some of the old Xxanabean booby traps are still in operation, and strange alien creatures have moved into the empty hulk. You have only five refills of oxygen. Your limited supply is depleted more quickly by collisions with objects and creatures. You must find the key before it runs out.

Bug Eyes 2: Starman to the Rescue

Bug Eyes 2: Starman to the Rescue

Acorn Electron - Released - June 1, 1988

Light years from Earth lies the rusting hulk of the Xxabanean flagship, disabled while on its mission to vaporize our planet by the super-heroine Space Agent Zelda! She managed to destroy its power source, but was captured in the attempt and locked away in the depths of a distant and desolate asteroid. You, as Space Agent Starman, must penetrate the defences of the ship and collect the 25 keys required to free Zelda from her intergalactic prison. But beware. Some of the old Xxabanean booby traps are still in operation and strange alien creatures have moved into the empty hulk. You only have five refills of oxygen and your limited supply is depleted more quickly by collisions with objects and creatures. You must find the keys before it runs out.

Cataclysm

Cataclysm

Commodore VIC-20 - Released - 1983

Cataclysm is pure shoot-em-up action. The lunar city of Erriam is under fearsome bombardment from the saucers fo the Jovian empire. You are the commander of the lone laser outpost, and your mission is-hold out as long as you can, or there can only be one outcome - CATACLYSM!

Caveman Capers

Caveman Capers

Acorn Electron - Released - 1986

Ogg the Caveman has discovered a new form of transport - Kickstart the Turtle. All day long he tries to train Kickstart to jump and run. However, the turtle isn't too keen and Kickstart keeps falling flat on his face. Help Ogg master the art of turtle-riding and get him to the phonebox to tell his wife he'll be late for tea.

Contraption!

Contraption!

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1985

A mad professor has built a machine called the Contraption which is powered by golden apples, and you must collect the apples strewn around each level. You’ll need to work out the exact route across each screen first, though! When you have collected all the apples, you’ll then have to feed them into the Contraption to maintain it.

Despatch Rider

Despatch Rider

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1987

You ride a motorbike, and have to get through the level by dodging various objects, jumping over ramps, and collecting power-ups. The action is viewed from the side on, and you move the bike up or down, and can speed it up or slow it down.

Despatch Rider

Despatch Rider

Acorn Electron - Released - 1988

Dick Decker has yet another new job, as a Despatch Rider with the Dorkin Despatch Agency. Darren Dorkin, the owner, has lent Dick his powerful Yamasaki 750, and Dick dare not damage it for fear that he might lose his job. If he loses his job his whole life will be in ruins, since his long-suffering fiancé Debbie has given him just one more chance to get a steady job. Can you help Dick deliver the mail to the Royal Snail offices whilst avoiding the road works, burst water mains and other hazards? Despatch Rider is a challenging test of your reactions and digital dexterity that will keep you amused for hours on end."

Emlyn Hughes Arcade Quiz

Emlyn Hughes Arcade Quiz

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1990

Emlyn Hughes' Arcade Quiz is a game based on quiz machines found in bars and public houses. The idea is to move through ten mazes of blocks and reach the Win bar on the right of the screen. Be careful though, as the maze scrolls to the left and if your not quick enough you will reach the Lose bar on the left of the screen. You will encounter different types of blocks that will help or hinder you. These include Question blocks, get it right and you can move on, get it wrong and you have to answer another question meaning you slowly scroll towards the left of the screen. Money can also be collected to help stack up your total at the end of the level. Other blocks include a block that will block you for a certain time and a block that moves you in a random direction. When you reach the Win bar you enter a bonus game where on a time limit you have to answer as a number of questions based on how many coins you collected. Afterwards you have a choice to either cash in your money or move onto the next level which will cost you money to enter. Along with the main playing area, you can also see how much money you have and any bonuses collected.

Emlyn Hughes International Soccer

Emlyn Hughes International Soccer

Atari ST - Released - 1990

Emlyn Hughes International Soccer offers realistic arcade action and football management combined into one game. The wide range of facilities and control options have between designed in such a way that you can sit down and play without hours spent studying the manual, and getting to grips with the controls. One or two can play, whether against each other, or against the computer. You can even watch two computer teams playing each other! Player skill levels and fitness levels vary, so picking the right team is just as important as the way you control your players during the game. Fixture lists, results, and league tables may be displayed at any time during the season, and if you have a Commodore or compatible printer you can even print them out as a permanent record.

Emlyn Hughes International Soccer

Emlyn Hughes International Soccer

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1988

Emlyn Hughes International Soccer offers realistic arcade action and football management combined into one game. The wide range of facilities and control options have between designed in such a way that you can sit down and play without hours spent studying the manual, and getting to grips with the controls. One or two can play, whether against each other, or against the computer. You can even watch two computer teams playing each other! Player skill levels and fitness levels vary, so picking the right team is just as important as the way you control your players during the game. Fixture lists, results, and league tables may be displayed at any time during the season, and if you have a Commodore or compatible printer you can even print them out as a permanent record.

Exile

Exile

Commodore Amiga CD32 - Released - 1995

When a terraforming team on an unexplored planet sends some disturbing messages back to Earth and then stops responding altogether, a space-adventurer is sent to find out what happened. The gameplay is a side-on 8-dimensionally scrolling action-adventure set on a planet. The player must find a way to the lower depths of the planet to rescue the terraforming team and defeat the evil Triax!

Exterminator

Exterminator

MS-DOS - Released - 1990

Of all the mundane tasks which've been turned into action-packed games, bug-repelling must be up there with being a Paper Boy or a Trashman. These aren't average bugs; Chicago is under siege from mutated insects, rats and even toy tanks. You'll have to work through seven houses, each of which has the typical rooms. You control a seemingly-dismembered hand, which must deal with the hordes as they come towards it, into the screen. They can be shot, thumped, or squashed depending on their type. To clear a room you must kill a certain number of creatures in each of the vertically-divided 'lanes' of the room - this causes squares on the ground to change colour.

Exterminator (Audiogenic Software)

Exterminator (Audiogenic Software)

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Released - 1991

Of all the mundane tasks which've been turned into action-packed games, bug-repelling must be up there with being a Paper Boy or a Trashman. These aren't average bugs; Chicago is under siege from mutated insects, rats and even toy tanks. You'll have to work through seven houses, each of which has the typical rooms. You control a seemingly-dismembered hand, which must deal with the hordes as they come towards it, into the screen. They can be shot, thumped, or squashed depending on their type. To clear a room you must kill a certain number of creatures in each of the vertically-divided 'lanes' of the room - this causes squares on the ground to change colour.

Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451

Atari ST - Released - 1986

Based on Ray Bradbury's classic science fiction novel Fahrenheit 451. In a not so distant future, books have become illegal. As Fireman Guy Montag, the player's role is not to save houses, but to burn them for the books inside. However, Guy becomes passionate about books and becomes a rebel, pursued by the authorities. With the help of the Underground, he must survive and save books from complete extinction. The game acts a sequel to Bradbury's novel. Following the imposition of martial law Montag finds the young woman who inspired his resistance to the established order. With her help he can now track down 34 microcassettes which hold the contents of the New York Public Library, then pass them on to underground members who will memorise the texts.

Fruit Raid

Fruit Raid

Acorn Electron - Released - 1984

Froot Raid is an extremely authentic fruit machine simulator, with all the complex features of real arcade machines. There's Hold, Nudge and Swap, plus Sidewinder and Feature Panel. The game was originally released as Froot Raid by Audiogenic. It was re-released by Summit Software under the name Fruit Raid.

Graham Gooch's Test Cricket

Graham Gooch's Test Cricket

Acorn Electron - Released - September 1, 1987

GRAHAM GOOCH'S TEST CRICKET is an accurate simulation of the game which allows you to stage test matches in your own living room - with the aid of your home computer. There are two modes of operation. Simulation mode is like watching a game of cricket - once you've chosen the teams and the game is under way, you can just sit back and watch it if you like. However, you needn't just be a spectator - whether your team is batting or bowling, you can make tactical changes whenever you wish. In arcade mode, you must be alert at all times. A careless stroke or a loose over could cost the match.

Helter Skelter

Helter Skelter

Acorn Electron - Released - August 1, 1989

Remember when computer games were fun? When you would stay up all night playing them? Helter Skelter unashamedly recreates the addictive simplicity, the fun and the enjoyment that made games like Pacman, Breakout and Bubble Bobble all-time classics! Bounce your way through 80 challenging screens, squashing monsters, snatching tokens and collecting bonuses. Then, for a change, use the built-in designer to design 48 screens of your own, as hard, as simple, as much fun as you like. It's even more fun when two play at once! Do you co-operate, or you do compete? Do you play fair, or do you double-cross? If you thought the fun had gone out of computer games, then Helter Skelter is the game that'll change your mind!" Monsters everywhere! Running around, falling from the sky, jumping from platforms. Monsters above, monsters below, monsters heading straight for you! Catch them if you can, and bounce on them while they're vulnerable - but be quick, because when the timer runs out your bouncing ball will burst.

Helter Skelter

Helter Skelter

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1990

Remember when computer games were fun? When you would stay up all night playing them? Helter Skelter unashamedly recreates the addictive simplicity, the fun and the enjoyment that made games like Pacman, Breakout and Bubble Bobble all-time classics! Bounce your way through 80 challenging screens, squashing monsters, snatching tokens and collecting bonuses. Then, for a change, use the built-in designer to design 48 screens of your own, as hard, as simple, as much fun as you like. It's even more fun when two play at once! Do you co-operate, or you do compete? Do you play fair, or do you double-cross? If you thought the fun had gone out of computer games, then Helter Skelter is the game that'll change your mind!" Monsters everywhere! Running around, falling from the sky, jumping from platforms. Monsters above, monsters below, monsters heading straight for you! Catch them if you can, and bounce on them while they're vulnerable - but be quick, because when the timer runs out your bouncing ball will burst.

Helter Skelter

Helter Skelter

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1990

Remember when computer games were fun? When you would stay up all night playing them? Helter Skelter unashamedly recreates the addictive simplicity, the fun and the enjoyment that made games like Pacman, Breakout and Bubble Bobble all-time classics! Bounce your way through 80 challenging screens, squashing monsters, snatching tokens and collecting bonuses. Then, for a change, use the built-in designer to design 48 screens of your own, as hard, as simple, as much fun as you like. It's even more fun when two play at once! Do you co-operate, or you do compete? Do you play fair, or do you double-cross? If you thought the fun had gone out of computer games, then Helter Skelter is the game that'll change your mind!" Monsters everywhere! Running around, falling from the sky, jumping from platforms. Monsters above, monsters below, monsters heading straight for you! Catch them if you can, and bounce on them while they're vulnerable - but be quick, because when the timer runs out your bouncing ball will burst.

Impact

Impact

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1988

Impact is an old break-out style game. The user controls a paddle and needs to catch a ball with the paddle each time it comes down. When the ball hits a brick, it is destroyed (unless it's made undestroyable). Sometimes, a bonus will come out of the brick. This adds to the 'bonus score'. When the player collected one or more bonuses, he may 'release' them, and he receives a powerup. Each 'bonus score' has a different powerup: the most powerful powerups need the largest number of bonus points. Impact comes with a lot of levels and a level editor.

Impact

Impact

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1987

Impact is an old break-out style game. The user controls a paddle and needs to catch a ball with the paddle each time it comes down. When the ball hits a brick, it is destroyed (unless it's made undestroyable). Sometimes, a bonus will come out of the brick. This adds to the 'bonus score'. When the player collected one or more bonuses, he may 'release' them, and he receives a powerup. Each 'bonus score' has a different powerup: the most powerful powerups need the largest number of bonus points. Impact comes with a lot of levels and a level editor.

Impact

Impact

Acorn Electron - Released - April 1, 1988

Trapped - in a 1970s arcade game! Every escape route is blocked by a wall of brightly coloured bricks. Powerfully addictive, Impact has 80 built in screens, but if you prefer you can design your own - as hard, as simple, as much fun as you like. Hidden on each screen are special tokens - catch them if you can. Use them to buy one of nine powerful weapons, or keep them until the end of the screen to score a bonus. If you thought the fun had gone out of computer games, then Impact is the game that'll change your mind!"

Lone Wolf: The Mirror of Death

Lone Wolf: The Mirror of Death

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1991

In this out-of-canon adventure of gamebook hero Kai Master Lone Wolf, the player controls the dashing adventurer scaling the interior of warlock Gorazh's sinister magic tower Kazan-Gor -- an inverted pyramid, broadening as it gets higher -- in pursuit of a Lorestone of Nyxator located at the very top. Imprisoned in his flick-screen tower, Gorazh has filled it with monsters and traps, the most insidious of which was a magic mirror, Dhazag-Oud, whose seven shards reflect back superior counterparts of whoever gazes upon them (and which subsequently result in boss battles.) The gameplay largely skips over the choose-your-own-adventure sequences of Lone Wolf's gamebook roots and instead just initially prompts the player to select four of eight Kai skills (eg. Mindshield, Sixth Sense, Healing) to use (with restrictions) over the course of his tower travails. From there, the player controls Lone Wolf's movements, skill use and attack strategies using the keyboard controls.

Loopz

Loopz

Atari ST - Released - 1990

A puzzle game where the main goal is to make loops! Random pieces are presented over a board, including simple lines and corners as well as S bends and other warped shapes, of varying sizes. It is up to the player to link them up in a loop form, then moving on to the next level. Pieces can be placed on any empty space on the grid, and rotated into one of the four main compass directions. Any pieces which are not part of the finished loop when a level is completed are left on the screen, so there is value in playing towards 2 distinct loops, to ensure that you have options depending on which pieces are drawn - unlike Pipe Dream there are no clues as to which pieces are coming next. Three play modes are available, two of which can be played with two players. Game A is freestyle - simply make loops, gaining extra points for size and style. Game B is about unlocking bonus boards of the game by reaching a certain score and uses a bonus multiplier method depending on loop difficulty. The third mode of play begins with an already made loop and then removes random pieces of it, so the player has to put them back in when they appear again. It is essentially a memory test and logic puzzle of fitting the pieces back as one remembers - although placing a piece where it seems to fit is also often effective.

Loopz

Loopz

Acorn Electron - Released - October 1, 1991

It couldn't be simpler. You get pieces of different sizes and shapes. One by one you put them down on the playing board - soon you've made your first loop. Yeaaaah! Now it's not so easy. This time you didn't get the pieces you wanted. Never mind - just start another loop. All of a sudden the board's getting just a little too crowded. Now you're struggling to find a place to drop the pieces (who cares where they go, you can't afford to let the timer run down because you'll lose a life). Now it's getting really hectic. Did you honestly think this game was simple (and this is just the first level of Game A)? Pretty soon you'll be dreaming about Loopz. Wondering if next time you'll be able to make a longer loop than ever before - or more loops than your record. Will Loopz drive you crazy? You bet!

Loopz

Loopz

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1991

Loopz was programmed by Kevin Blake. It's a puzzle game where the main goal is to make loops. Random pieces are presented over a board, including simple lines and corners as well as S bends and other warped shapes of varying sizes. It is up to the player to link them up in a loop form, then moving on to the next level. Pieces can be placed on any empty space on the grid and rotated into one of the four main compass directions. Any pieces which are not part of the finished loop when a level is completed are left on the screen, so there is value in playing towards 2 distinct loops to ensure that you have options depending on which pieces are drawn - unlike Pipe Dream there are no clues as to which pieces are coming next. Three play modes are available, two of which can be played with two players. Game A is freestyle - simply make loops, gaining extra points for size and style. Game B is about unlocking bonus boards of the game by reaching a certain score and uses a bonus multiplier method depending on loop difficulty. The third mode of play begins with an already made loop and then removes random pieces of it, so the player has to put them back in when they appear again. It is essentially a memory test and logic puzzle of fitting the pieces back as one remembers - although placing a piece where it seems to fit is also often effective.

Nine Princes in Amber

Nine Princes in Amber

Atari ST - Released - 1986

This interactive fiction game is based on Roger Zelazny's fantasy novels Nine Princes In Amber (1970) and The Guns of Avalon (1972). The game begins with you as Prince Corwin forced to compete against your eight scheming noble brothers and sisters for the throne of Amber at the center of the one true world. Corwin must travel across the dimensions to this fascinating realm and from there rally forces against those who would oppose him. Unfortunately, things do not always proceed as planned. When you wake up, you know little of this, as you have been knocked unconscious and pummeled with drugs. All you have is the address of your scheming sister. The game is largely based around interaction with other characters, and can end in 40 different ways depending on how these work.

Omega Orb

Omega Orb

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1987

The 3rd game in the Thunderstruck series, programmed by Peter Scott and published by both Audiogenic Software and Atlantis Software Ltd for the BBC Micro in 1987. BLIP, the bouncing Omega Salesdroid, has been transported to the high-tech mining complex of Mynix. Help him find pieces of core material with which to repower his crippled cruise ship. Omega Orb comprises exploration and mapping, with Code-doors, barriers, lifts and mind-warping puzzles to solve, as well as hostile droids. It has 146 Blipvision screens of graphic detail, 32 objects, interactive communication with computer network, buying and selling of lives, And guest appearances by Head Maxroom and SPRECO, star of the Thunderstruck series.

Omega Orb

Omega Orb

Acorn Electron - Released - June 1, 1987

Omega Orb - new improved brain-straining arcade adventure - with added shoot-em-up Blast and Zap! And brought to you in glorious BLIPVISION! BLIP, the bouncing Omega Salesdroid, has been transported to the high-tech mining complex of Mynix. Help him find pieces of core material with which to repower his crippled cruise ship. The lives of a thousand space holidaymakers are in your hands! Omega Orb has everything! An orgy of exploration and mapping; Code-doors; barriers; lifts and mind-warping puzzles to solve; mindless zapping of hostile droids; 146 Blipvision screens of brilliant graphic detail; 32 objects; Interactive communication with computer network; Buying and selling of lives; And guest appearances by Head Maxroom - and SPRECO, star of the Thunderstruck series."

Pegasis

Pegasis

Commodore 64 - Released - 1983

Included as part of COMPUTE!'s Gazette magazine in 1994, issue #3, in this fairly simple Joust clone you play the hero riding a winged horse who must defeat other flying opponents by hitting them from above. In order to get airborne you must continually flap your wings. Timing your flaps allows you to ascend or descend and position yourself above your enemies. Once you have knocked your opponents off their mounts they will land on the bottom of the screen. Hitting the dismounted men increases your score and causes new flying opponents to appear. In addition to single player mode, two players can compete at the same time.

Power Pack

Power Pack

Acorn Electron - Released - 1986

Comprises: Bug Eyes (Icon), Bug Eyes 2 (Audiogenic), Caveman Capers (Icon), Space Ranger (Audiogenic), Ultron (Icon), Wizzy's Mansion (Audiogenic) and Wongo (Icon)

Psycastria

Psycastria

Acorn Electron - Released - October 1, 1986

The Psycastria have constructed four different types of installation, one on land, one at sea on a giant carrier ship, one on the surface of the moon and the final one in deep space. It is in these installations that they store their energy supplies in circular pods. You, now endowed with the skill and cunning of the famous Boggles, are in charge of a highly manouvreable craft capable of stunning mid-air changes of direction. Using just your basic astro cannons, you must attack each installation in turn, avoiding the high buildings that stand up from the surface. However, the Psycastria will put up a strong defence with their bizarre shaped fighters. You can cause as much damage as you like to the installations, but your main aim to destroy the ten cicrcular energy pods then land on the main landing strip, signified by the leading arrows on the left hand end of the strip. Once you have landed, there is a sub-game in which you can try for a bonus by destroying aliens that fly across the screen. When that is over, you can take off for the next screen. You start with three lives and get an extra one for every 30,000 points, and your points score determines your eventual rank (10 levels from Novice upwards).

Psycastria

Psycastria

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1986

The Psycastrians have attacked. Using their mind control abilities, they have taken over many world leaders, causing untold war and devastation. Now it is up to you to strike back. Take your fighter across 16 bases, on land, on sea, on the moon, and in space. Psycastria is a top-down horizontal scrolling shooter. Go across each base, destroy the 10 energy pods that power the Psycastrian war machine while avoiding buildings and engaging alien spacecraft, then go to the next base. Unusually for a shooter, you can turn around at any time to go after any missed targets. Between bases, there is a bonus level that tests your timing at destroying aliens.

Ransack

Ransack

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1987

Ransack is a side-view horizontally-scrolling shooter where the screens scroll constantly left to right as you control AL, a globular droid on a revenge mission. The eight planets of the Ryvian System haven't been paying its share towards the Democratic Council of Planets and so 'Ransack' clause has been invoked. After a council representative was eaten after being sent to negotiate with the planets, a battle fleet has been planned to be sent. Due to budget cuts, though, a robot with a faulty stabilizer system has been sent to bounce along all eight planets to destroy the residents. As you bounce you must shoot or avoid the enemy ships while avoiding various obstacles like spikes, and if you are hit then you lose part of your energy which totals fifteen when full. If your energy reaches zero, then you lose one of four lives. Power-ups can be collected to help you, and these include double fire and bombs. After a planet has been completed, a bonus level can be played where you have to keep bouncing on a moving platform blasting alien ships. If you touch the ground, then it is off to the next planet.

Ransack

Ransack

Acorn Electron - Released - January 1, 1988

Ransack is a side-view horizontally-scrolling shooter where the screens scrolls constantly left to right as you control AL, a globular droid on a revenge mission. The eight planets of the Ryvian System haven't been paying its share towards the Democratic Council of Planets and so 'Ransack' clause has been invoked. After a council representative was eaten after being sent to negotiate with the planets, a battle fleet has been planned to be sent. Due to budget cuts though, a robot with a faulty stabiliser system has been sent to bounce along all eight planets to destroy the residents. As you bounce you must shoot or avoid the enemy ships while avoiding various obstacles like spikes, and if you are hit then you lose part of your energy which totals fifteen when full. If your energy reaches zero, then you lose one of four lives. Power-ups can be collected to help you, and these include double fire and bombs. After a planet has been completed, a bonus level can be played where you have to keep bouncing on a moving platform blasting alien ships. If you touch the ground, then it is off to the next planet.

Rat Trap

Commodore Amiga - Released - 1991

Your House has been overrun by rats. You must herd the rats into trap machines to clear them out. In order to do so, you must manipulate the environment to set up pathways so that the rats are headed in the right direction. Objects that you move around include blocks, fans, and pipe pieces. Rat-Trap on the Commodore Amiga, it was developed by Fox Williams for the British software house Audiogenic, who licensed it to Acclaim Entertainment, the U.S.-based publishers of a range of games based on The Simpsons.

Richard Petty's Talladega

Richard Petty's Talladega

Commodore 64 - Released - January 1, 1985

"Richard Petty's Talladega is a racing game where you get to take the super speedway as you race against king Richard Petty and 18 top pro drivers. After trying to qualify for a pole position, you use strategy to plan your pit stops, draft leading cars to pick up time and save fuel and be prepared for yellow caution flags." --mobygames.com

Rugby League Coach

Rugby League Coach

Commodore Amiga - Released - 1994

Rugby League Coach is a Sports game, developed by Unknown and published by Audiogenic Ltd., which was released in Europe in 1994.

Saracoid

Acorn Electron - Released - 1984

The Saracoids are blob-like alien life-forms that float through Outer Space, taking energy from any planet that they come across. For self defence, they group together in long strings that snake down through the atmosphere in various strange formations. The warning is out that the Saracoids may soon be passing by Earth. They will undoubtedly want to stop and replenish their energy supplies. You have been given the job of manning the missile launcher with orders to prevent the Saracoids landing - for if they once touch ground, they mutate, taking on a different form, and immediately home in on the nearest living thing - which, in this case, is you! Good pilots may be able to survive by utilising the full manouvreability of the launcher. As well as moving from side to side on the ground it can hover up to a certain altitude in the air. Radar has spotted 24 different waves coming in. You'd better get familiar with the controls quick!

Shark

Shark

Acorn Electron - Released - October 1, 1988

The Purple Priority Warning came from all three stations simultaneously. The Intruders' three-pronged attack had caught the Earth Defence Installations unawares, allowing them to steamroller straight through the token defences and leave them on the brink of complete control. The emergency session of the United World Parliament was in uproar. Who could save the day? Only one man had the courage, the skill, and the determination, Colonel Charles St John Sharkey, known to his friends as 'Shark'. 'Will you save us?' begged the World President. Shark didn't have to think twice. 'I'll give it my best shot, Sir.'" You play the role of Shark, attempting to halt the advance of the Intruders. Your mission is to penetrate deep into their ranks and strike at the heart of the invasion by destroying their Command Centres. Your first task is to defeat their jungle offensive. Your subsequent missions may not be so straightforward...

Shifty

Shifty

Commodore VIC-20 - Released - March 1, 1984

Watch the maze change as you pass through the revolving doors. This is a really cute one.

Simple Simon

Simple Simon

Commodore VIC-20 - Released - 1981

Simple Simon is a interpretation of Ralph Baer's classic "touch" game of the '80, where the player needs to memorize a sequence of colors and tones and then press one of four function keys that are associated with that color and tone. As the player gets sequences correct, these sequences will become longer. The game ends if the player gets it wrong.

Space Ranger

Acorn Electron - Released - 1986

A team of astronauts taking part in lunar exploration are stranded on the moon. Your job is to pilot the lunar module to make a successful landing on the moon, pick up the astronauts and ferry them to safety. You will have to make a number of journeys because you can only fit in one person at a time. But there are problems - the surface of the moon is riddled with craters so you can only land on certain spots; also a freak asteroid storm is making landing and taking off extremely hazardous!

Sphere of Destiny

Sphere of Destiny

Acorn Electron - Released - 1987

Sphere of Destiny is a Trailblazer variant. The game takes place on a series of freeways located in outer space which the player has to race a sphere across. On each level a finish point has to be reached before time runs out. The player can move the sphere left and right, increase and decrease the speed and bounce it. The routes are made up of tiles of different colors that affect the sphere in various ways. Blue and yellow tiles can be moved across without problems while black ones have to be avoided since touching them leads to time being lost. Red tiles lead to a slow down, green to a speed boost while magenta bounces the sphere. There are also white tiles that give bonuses and cyan tiles that reverse both the speed and the steering controls.

Sphere of Destiny 2

Acorn Electron - Released - January 1, 1984

The inter-stellar highway is constructed from brightly coloured tiles. Unfortunately, Bruce the jet-ball is very sensitive, and reacts to different colours in various ways. Blue and Yellow are no problem, but Red slows you right down. Green speeds you up and Magenta makes you bounce, whilst Cyan reverses the controls (Aaagh!). White give a bonus, but avoid the Black holes at all costs!

Super League Manager

Super League Manager

Commodore Amiga CD32 - Released - 1995

This football management game is unique for two main reasons. Firstly, it's set in a completely fictitious game-world, with fantasy teams and players. You start off managing Folkford United, the worst team in the country, with players including Brian Evans, Nicky Moody and Bruce Roberts, and rival teams include Oldcastle, Marwick and Stoke Berry. The second difference is the lack of statistics for player details. Instead, sentences such as 'best in defence, can also play in midfield. Has been playing reasonably well. Signed for £100,000 from Oldcastle 2 years ago. Current value around £150,000' are used, and its through playing matches and noting player ratings that you interpret how good a defender he is. Another break with convention is an attempt at a human side, with players and fans communicating with you, offering advice, praise or semi-literate criticism. The training feature is more complex than usual, requiring you to select 3 activities (from a selection such as passing, gym work and lap running) for each player each week - players will complain if they feel your selections are boring or unhelpful. If you own either Emlyn Hughes' International Soccer (for the standard versions) or Wembley International Soccer (for the Amiga 1200 version) you can play around 1 match in 6, and watch all the others - otherwise you simply see a progressive score update, and can intervene with substitutions or tactical changes.

Super Loopz

Commodore Amiga - Released - 1994

Super Loopz is a revamped version of Loopz. Feature enhanced graphics and new musics, but the same gameplay: sort of Tetris encounter Pipe Dream. Tubes of random shapes drop on to a board, and by rotating and placing them you have to make shapes that join up in loops. Once you have placed a piece you can't remove it, except by using a special items which destroy every part of an incomplete loop it touches; every tenth loop takes you to a new level.

The Chip Factory

The Chip Factory

Commodore Plus 4 - Released - 1986

The Chip Factory is a single screen platform game based on the arcade game BurgerTime. You play the role of Charlie who is a trainee accountant in a Silicon Chip factory who dreams of working in the manufacturing section making the chips themselves. One night, when everyone has gone home, Charlie fires up the machines to try his hand at making the chips. To make the chips, Charlie has to move around the screen climbing up and down the ladders and walk over the chips to push them down a level and any chips below. The chips need to sit on a conveyor belt at the bottom of the screen in the right coloured order with a switch at the top of the screen moving the conveyor belt to the left. Problems have arisen though as various creatures move about the screen looking to disrupt the process buy either moving the conveyor belt using the switch or touching Charlie to lose him one of three lives. To prevent being touched, Charlie can either avoid the creatures or use anti-static spray which is limited to up to 19 squirts. Letters also appear which make up the word CHIP and when each letter is collected, it gives Charlie extra spray and when the word is made then it refills his spray. Two players can play and each one takes it in turns to play when the other player is killed.

The Last of the Free

The Last of the Free

Acorn Electron - Released - November 1, 1986

Arcade adventure, starring Clement, the Ordanoid droid! Clement is droid no. 490 of the ordanoid class BA2 - a type of droid commonly used by humans to take care of the running fo distant planets. When the Ordanoid design was superceded by the more efficient Proleoid design, batches of Proleoids were sent off to help the Ordanoids run the planets. But due to an unforeseen design fault, the Proleoids started to improse their will on the Ordanoids until all the Ordamoids were destroyed - all, that is, except Clement - the Last of the Free!

The Last of the Free

The Last of the Free

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1986

The Last of the Free was written by Peter Scott, developed by Audiogenic and published by them in 1986 for the BBC Microcomputer. It was re-released on the Atlantis label in 1989.

Thunderstruck

Thunderstruck

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1986

The first in the Thunderstruck trilogy of arcade adventure games by Peter Scott. The game puts you in control of a spaceman, and you have to guide him around a castle, collecting items and dodging the baddies, the eventual aim being to escape.

Thunderstruck

Thunderstruck

Acorn Electron - Released - December 1, 1986

You are SPRECO (the SPace REfuse COllector) who has been transported by a space/time thunderstorm to an eerie castle. All you want to do is get back to Myrtle and the kids, but here you are trapped in these strange mediaeval surroundings with your Assisdroids. They dislike it as much as you do and, because they think it's your fault, are decidedly hostile. There are various objects littered around the castle that you can carry and use, but because of your bulky space suit you can only manage one at a time. The castle is inhabited by eight characters that you will meet in your search for the way out. If you help them by giving them something they need, they will give you something in return.

Thunderstruck 2: The MindMaster

Thunderstruck 2: The MindMaster

Acorn Electron - Released - 1987

Our hero, SPRECO, the SPace REfuse COllector, has finally made it back to Home Base 5 after escaping from the strange medieval castle in which he was marooned in Thunderstruck 1. But things have changed - Home Base 5 is totally devoid of all human life! While searching the Droidcorp factory complex, a friendly Droid informs him that the humans have been enslaved and the complex taken over by an intergalactic villain who calls himself the MindMaster. However, Deacti-Unit [that the MindMaster thought he had destroyed] is actually scattered around the complex. If SPRECO can find the four pieces, take them to the correct location and assemble and activate the unit, there might a chance of destroying the MindMaster and setting the people free! Thunderstruck 2 is the ultimate arcade adventure with high-tech theme, comprising over 130 locations full of large-scale graphic detail and brilliant animated backgrounds. There are loads of objects to find, Droids to interact with, Computer Consoles to use, lift tubes, different gravity areas, obstacles and puzzles that will have you tearing your hair out!"

Thunderstruck 2: The Mindmaster

Thunderstruck 2: The Mindmaster

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1986

The second in the Thunderstruck trilogy of arcade adventure games by Peter Scott. SPRECO, the SPace REfuse COllector, has finally made it back to Home Base 5 after escaping from the strange medieval castle in which he was marooned in Thunderstruck 1. But things have changed - Home Base 5 is totally devoid of all human life. While searching the Droidcorp factory complex, a friendly Droid informs him that the humans have been enslaved and the complex taken over by an intergalactic villain who calls himself the MindMaster. However, Deacti-Unit, that the MindMaster thought he had destroyed, is actually scattered around the complex. If SPRECO can find the four pieces, take them to the correct location and assemble and activate the unit, there might be a chance of destroying the MindMaster and setting the people free. Thunderstruck 2 is an arcade adventure comprising over 130 locations full of large-scale graphic detail and animated backgrounds. There are objects to find, Droids to interact with, Computer Consoles to use, lift tubes, different gravity areas, obstacles and puzzles.

Wembley International Soccer

Wembley International Soccer

Commodore Amiga - 1994

Officially licensed by the old Wembley stadium, this football game is essentially an advanced version of Ocean's European Champions. Gameplay emphasizes one-touch passing, with a picture-in-picture window displayed when you prepare to play a long pass, which increases you chances of finding the target player. The AGA version was the first floppy-based game to supports a CD32 controller, making it easier to execute moves. 64 international teams are included, with the chance to play a full league competition or a World Cup. Full control over formation and tactics is offered before the match.

Wembley International Soccer

Wembley International Soccer

Commodore Amiga CD32 - Released - 1994

Officially licensed by the old Wembley stadium, this football game is essentially an advanced version of Ocean's European Champions. Gameplay emphasizes one-touch passing, with a picture-in-picture window displayed when you prepare to play a long pass, which increases you chances of finding the target player. The AGA version was the first floppy-based game to supports a CD32 controller, making it easier to execute moves. 64 international teams are included, with the chance to play a full league competition or a World Cup. Full control over formation and tactics is offered before the match.

Wizzy's Mansion

Wizzy's Mansion

Acorn Electron - Released - 1984

Wizzy, the incompetent wizard, has a problem - a nasty monster has taken over the room at the top of his mansion. In order to get rid of the monster, Wizzy must cast a spell, but he can't remember the right one. The pages of his book of spells are scattered throughout the different rooms so he must search the rooms picking up all the pages he finds. Unfortunately, his blundering spells have made all sorts of objects come to life and turn nasty! You must guide him through the mansion, picking up the pages and avoiding the nasty objects. Falling too far is also deadly. You start with 8 lives and get a bonus Wizzy for every ten pages found.

World Class Rugby

World Class Rugby

Atari ST - Released - 1992

Like Domark's Rugby: The World Cup, World Class Rugby was released alongside the 1991 Rugby World Cup, which was won by New Zealand in a final against England. Recreating this full 16-team event is an option, as are individual friendly matches and an 8-team league. Options are highly customisable - there are 10 skill levels, variable match lengths, the option to play without offsides, and variable pitch conditions. Replays can be enabled for each try, and then saved to disk. The accurate rules of rugby are recreated, including scrums, line-outs, penalties and drop goals.

World Class Rugby

World Class Rugby

Commodore Amiga - Released - 1991

Like Domark's Rugby: The World Cup, World Class Rugby was released alongside the 1991 Rugby World Cup, which was won by New Zealand in a final against England. Recreating this full 16-team event is an option, as are individual friendly matches and an 8-team league. Options are highly customisable - there are 10 skill levels, variable match lengths, the option to play without offsides, and variable pitch conditions. Replays can be enabled for each try, and then saved to disk. The accurate rules of rugby are recreated, including scrums, line-outs, penalties and drop goals.

World Class Rugby

World Class Rugby

Amstrad CPC - Released - 1991

Like Domark's Rugby: The World Cup, World Class Rugby was released alongside the 1991 Rugby World Cup, which was won by New Zealand in a final against England. Recreating this full 16-team event is an option, as are individual friendly matches and an 8-team league. Options are highly customisable - there are 10 skill levels, variable match lengths, the option to play without offsides, and variable pitch conditions. Replays can be enabled for each try, and then saved to disk. The accurate rules of rugby are recreated, including scrums, line-outs, penalties and drop goals.

Wreckers

Wreckers

Atari ST - Released - 1991

Wreckers is an isometric sci-fi action game with strategy elements. Robotic droids roll quietly through the corridors of space station Beacon 04523N, automated computers calculate routes for interstellar traffic. Three human officers sleep in cryogenic tanks, awakened only for routine system checks – or in case of an emergency. With a hum, the cryogenic control springs on-line as Beacon’s long-range sensors detect incoming lifeforms. Controlling one of the on-board officers, the player has to defend the station against swarms of plasmodian spores (the “Wreckers”) showering down on Beacon and seeping into its four sections. While the spores approach, they can be sucked out of space with a gigantic hoover-like space hose. Once they settle onto the stations hull, jump into the space suit and spray infected areas with a cleansing agent. Undetected spores will seep into the station’s corridors, where the protagonist must hunt them down with a plasma shots and avoid being shot in return. In addition, up to ten droids are under the player's indirect control. Ranging from cleaners to fighters to engineers, these automatons will act independently, but can be sent to key locations within the station -- i.e. infected areas. As the officer gains experience through battles, he will be promoted to higher ranks, enabling him to construct more efficient fighter robots in the station’s droid factory. Since plasmodians running rampant in the station will cause system malfunctions. The main goal in such cases is to clear infections quickly and make sure that Beacon continues to function properly. To make things worse, a self-destruct mechanism will detonate the station in sixty minutes unless all signs of spore activity cease.

Ziggy

Ziggy

Acorn Electron - Released - October 1, 1987

Ziggy was a normal happy young boy - until the day he strayed too close to an experimental matter transporter. Suddenly he became half boy, half spring - like a human pogo stick - and found himself trapped in a multi-dimensional board game played on platforms that float in space and time. To survive he must collect all the pyramids that he can find, avoiding the deadly Sliding Cubes, Bouncing Balls, Poison Squares and Glue Puddles. Can you help Ziggy reach the final platform, where the girl of his dreams awaits?

Ziggy

Ziggy

BBC Microcomputer System - Released - 1987

Ziggy was a normal happy young boy - until the day he strayed too close to an experimental matter transporter. Suddenly he became half boy, half spring - like a human pogo stick - and found himself trapped in a multi-dimensional board game played on platforms that float in space and time. To survive he must collect all the pyramids that he can find, avoiding the deadly Sliding Cubes, Bouncing Balls, Poison Squares and Glue Puddles. Can you help Ziggy reach the final platform, where the girl of his dreams awaits?

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