Game Over
(Dinamic/Imagine, 1986)
Reviewed by Javier Sáez

Five planet federations have fallen under Gremla's dominion and the only hope of freeing them is Arkos, a 'megaterminator'. Game Over is divided in two parts. On the first one you just have to rush through the screens, while the second part has some adventure elements. The graphics are quite good, with some really big sprites. The sound is only average because while the sound effects are pretty good, there's no music. Now, one thing I could never understand is why Arkos wants to defeat Gremla. On the loading screen they seem to be quite good friends.

See also: Game Over II.

More information on CPCSOFTS

8

This was released in Spain as Phantis, where it also had a completely different loading screen featuring a very sexy woman. As for the game... well, I was amazed! It's a Dinamic game that's actually a bit too easy! The first part (in which you enter the planet of Phantis in your spacecraft) is a standard space shoot-'em-up, while the second part (in which you must free your companion Gremla) involves some good old platform action and a lot of blasting. The reason why it's too easy is that extra lives are available in abundance, although you're really going to need them later on in the second part! The graphics and music are absolutely brilliant, and while there's nothing original about the game, it's still great fun.

See also: Game Over.

More information on CPCSOFTS

9

Based on the 1988 Olympics in Seoul (although it's not an official Olympics game), you can compete in eight events – diving, cycling, uneven parallel bars, rings, the hammer throw, hurdles, the pole vault, and archery. Some events, such as cycling and the hammer throw, require the usual joystick waggling that is associated with most athletics games. Other events, such as diving, require a combination of the correct joystick movements, as well as accurate timing. In fact, the available movements for the two gymnastics events are so complex that a flow chart was provided with the game to explain them, which takes all the fun away from them. However, most of the other events are fairly playable, although the standard of the graphics and animation varies widely between events, making the game feel slightly incoherent overall.

More information on CPCSOFTS

7

Garfield: Big, Fat, Hairy Deal
(The Edge, 1988)

Arlene has been taken to the city pound, so Garfield has a plan to rescue her. After collecting some objects in Jon's house, it's time to set off to search the town. You'll also have to enter the sewers at some stage in the game. However, you must be careful that Garfield doesn't become hungry, or he'll have a 'snack attack' and eat an object that he's carrying! Like most cats, Garfield is sleepy, and if he falls asleep, the game is over. Odie can also be a great nuisance, but you can kick him out of the way. The graphics are quite good, but some of the locations use dull colours, and you're often left wandering about, trying hard to avoid a snack attack.

See also: Garfield: Winter's Tail.

More information on CPCSOFTS

5

Garfield is asleep and is dreaming about a chicken somewhere in Switzerland which lays chocolate eggs. The game is divided into three parts; the first sees Garfield skiing, the second sees him in the chocolate factory attempting to connect pipes together so that the chocolate reaches the egg-laying chickens, and in the third, he's on a frozen lake and has to find the other side. The game is slow, monotonous and boring, with monochrome graphics. There is also only one sound effect used throughout the game – now, is that awful or what?

See also: Garfield: Big, Fat, Hairy Deal.

More information on CPCSOFTS

4

Gary Lineker was one of the best known names in English football in the 1980s and early 1990s, although he doesn't actually feature within this game – Gremlin merely used his name to make it sell. What you get is an average football game which is rather fast, but unfortunately sacrifices playability and smoothness. The scrolling is very jerky and it's difficult to understand what's going on. Dribbling in particular is annoyingly frustrating to achieve. The graphics aren't that bad once you're on the pitch, and the music on the menu is good. However, it's not the best football game out there, and it didn't interest me for long.

More information on CPCSOFTS

6

A novel idea where your goal is to fill nine holes at the bottom of the screen with barrels. This involves dropping the barrels down a maze of tunnels with gates that redirect its descent. Once a gate has been used, it reverses direction, creating a new pathway. The maze itself can also be scrolled up or down to reach those awkward, hard to reach holes. The man pushing the barrels is well animated, but all other graphics carry a basic feel, mixed with simple sound effects. Overall, Gatecrasher is an entertaining and unique puzzle game that everyone will enjoy.

More information on CPCSOFTS

7

In this platform game, you must help our hero open the Gates of Hell; however, this will prove to be rather difficult, since there are a lot of obstacles and closed doors that stand in your way! The graphics are nicely drawn in a cartoon style with bright colours used, although they are not too detailed. A happy tune plays in the options screen, but during the game there are only some effects. The gameplay is pleasant and fast paced and the stages are well designed with a correctly set level of difficulty that increases reasonably as we progress. A drawback is that our hero may die only once! The grab factor is above average. Most probably, players will try repeatedly to open the Gates of Hell! Overall, a pleasant and well designed game, but it should have a continue option.

More information on CPCSOFTS

6

An early Defender clone for the CPC. In this version, you defend canisters littered along the landscape from a hostile alien race called the Reeg forces. When a Reeg ship lifts a canister and reaches the top of the screen, the cargo changes into a mutant hellbent on destroying you! Fail to kill all the baddies quickly enough and another group of ships appears, moving much more quickly, their cannons firing at you. The game is a fast side-scroller, frantic and colourful even though the original only had primitive graphics. It's quite a hard game where you will run out of ships very quickly. There's no music and only a few sound effects – listen to the explosion sound effects when you die. Overall, a good conversion of the original that is only let down by how difficult it is.

More information on CPCSOFTS

5

One of the most famous 8-bit games of all time, this is a faithful conversion of the classic multi-player arcade hit. You and a friend can choose between the wizard, valkyrie, barbarian or the elf. Lying before you is a dungeon comprised of countless levels filled with all kinds of treasures and horrors imaginable. Battle your way past ghosts, ghouls and a wide variety of evil monsters using magic and potions, as you desperately try to escape before your health runs out. Both graphics and sound here are delightful and once you get into this game, many, many hours can be lost! There is also another version of the game called Gauntlet: The Deeper Dungeons, which contains lots of levels designed by Gauntlet fans.

See also: Gauntlet II, Gauntlet III.

More information on CPCSOFTS

9