Game Covers - Manic Miner (Commodore 64)

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Game Covers - Microvalue Gold (Commodore 16 and Plus 4)

Jet Set Willy

This is one of the all-time classics.  Miner Willy, having thrown a huge part in his mansion has to clear up the bottles, glasses etc. which are left all over his sixty room house.

This is the ultimate platform game with ultra smooth, highly animated graphics.

A. & B's comments say it all - "Buy this game NOW!!"

Ian Botham's Test Match

Experience a thrilling and challenging game of cricket from the comfort of your armchair.

• 3 Different Matchs available:
• Limited Overs
• One Day Match
• Test Match
• Full pitch visible at all times.
• Placement of Fielders and type of ball bowled controlled by the player.

C.C.I. says - "A good game, fun, even for myself who normally detests cricket".

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Games that remind me of my childhood Number 17 : Manic Miner (Commodore 64)

Working in a school has its benefits - namely an increased chance of having a "snow day" after a small shower of the white stuff.  This has meant that I have had a day off work, which has given me plenty of time to play some retro games whilst the children are out in the back garden, throwing snowballs at Mum...

 

Anyway, one game I have been playing today is a classic that I am sure you all know.

 

Ask anyone my age to name the first level of this game, and I'm sure the majority will immediately answer "Central Cavern"!

 

 

I suspect that anyone who had an 8-bit computer in the 1980's probably had (or heard of) Manic Miner.  Released in 1983 and originally programmed by the very talented Matthew Smith, it was the first game to feature Miner Willy.  Willy of course would re-appear in several sequels, namely the Jet Set Willy series of games.

 

The game is your simple platform affair.  You control Miner Willy, and must negotiate each of the twenty caverns, collecting all of the flashing objects before Willy's oxygen runs out.  Once all objects have been collected, a flashing portal appears which then allows Willy to move on to the next level.

 

Numerous enemies stand in your way, namely Poisonous Pansies, Spiders, Slime and Manic Mining Robots!  Willy can also die if he falls too far, meaning that many jumps need to be done with perfect precision.

 

Many afternoons after school were spent playing this gem of a game, and it's still great to play today, although I still find some of the later levels near impossible!

The cover

Instructions

 

The tape

 

The map (Click to enlarge)