Saturday, March 30, 2013

Games that remind me of my childhood Number 20 : Trailblazer (Commodore Plus 4)


Whoa, this was a hard game.  In fact, I would like to shake the hand of any person who has actually finished this game from beginning to end, in one go, and WITHOUT cheating!

Trailblazer was written by Shaun Southern, and released originally for the Commodore 16/Plus 4 by Gremlin Graphics in 1986, and then for most 8-bit computers not long after.  Although I had the game for the Commodore 64, it was the Commodore Plus 4 version which I remember the most.  To be honest, both games were almost identical, however the Commodore 64 version had a split screen two player mode, whereas the Commodore 16/Plus 4 version limited you to one player (albeit full screen).


You control what looks like a football across a gridded road in space which hurtles towards you at breakneck speed.  The road is made up from different colour squares, and some of these colours have various effects on your ball if you touch them.  You also have holes in the road which you must avoid.

Red Squares - Slow you down.
Green Squares - Speed you up
Blue Squares - Makes you jump
Cyan Squares - Reverses your control (Press left to go right, and right to go left)


Difficult jump - plan your approach and speed to get across.

There are 16 levels in total to negotiate.  The first few are relatively easy, but they get increasingly more difficult as you progress through the game.


Don't fall down the holes!

To help you complete the courses, you have a limited number of jumps which you can use to cross gaps in the road, but use them sparingly.  There is also a time limit on each course, and once your timer reaches zero, then it's game over.


The graphics are simple, but very effective.  The track moves at an incredible speed which does mean that the player needs to strategically plan their jumps.  Also, it's not always necessary to try and complete the track in the fastest time - sometimes slow negotiation of the holes can reward you with completing the course with the highest score.


The "Cyan Zone" reverses your joystick controls

And what do you get when you finally finish the game?  A boring message, and a chance to start the game all over again from level 1...  Oh joy! 


After all that hard work, you are greeted with this - The finishing screen!

It is a good game, and although I don't play it as much these days, I do have fond memories from playing it when I was young.  Well worth a go if you have never played it before


The cover


Full cover


Inside cover (complete with cheats and codes written by my Dad - no doubt copied from the cheats section of Commodore User)


Instructions


The tape

Fortunately you can jump straight to a level by typing a secret code on the main screen. 

Level 1 N/A
Level 2 DARES
Level 3 WAXED
Level 4 RAZED
Level 5 CARDS
Level 6 CRAZE
Level 7 WEARS
Level 8 CARES
Level 9 WEEDS
Level 10 DAZED
Level 11 ERASE
Level 12 CRESS
Level 13 WARES
Level 14 CEASE
Level 15 REARS
Level 16 DREAD

Friday, February 15, 2013

Games that remind me of my childhood Number 19 : Astro Wars (Grandstand)


My Mum and Dad bought me my first computer game in 1983.  It was a mini table top electronic arcade console called Astro Wars, released by Grandstand.  The game was a simple shoot 'em up and I remember spending hours playing it as a young child, (and getting through quite a few C size batteries in the process!)

These style of games were quite popular in the early 1980s, although out of all the ones I've played, Astro Wars was (and still is) by far the best.  The console looks like a mini arcade machine, with a small joystick, fire button, select and start buttons, and a large LFD (Vacuum fluorescent display) screen.


As mentioned earlier, the game is a typical shoot em' up, in the style of Galaxians and is made up of three sections :-

Section 1 : - You control a space ship at the bottom of the screen and can move left, right and fire.  Squadrons of enemy fighter ships attack you from the top of the screen, and occasionally one will fly towards you.  You must shoot all the enemy ships, while at the same time avoiding their fire.  Apologies for the poor pictures, but it is extremely hard to play this game, and hold a camera at the same time!


Section 1 - Check out those awesome LED graphics!

Section 2 : Three enemy ships remain at the top of the screen and fire a stream of lasers at you.  Avoiding the lasers is one thing, shooting the ships is another (and is quite difficult) because they keep moving from left to right.


Section 2 - It gets a bit crazy now!
 
Section 3 : Bonus stage - Your space ship separates, and the top half of your ship launches to the top of the screen.  Using the fire button and the joystick, you must guide the top of your ship so that it docks perfectly with the bottom half.  Holding the fire button gives your ship thrust, and left and right moves your ship.  There is a timer so you must perform the docking manoeuvre before it runs out.  If it does, your ship falls, causing it to crash.  If you manage to successfully complete this section, the game then returns back to the beginning again.


Section 3 - Not as easy as it seems.  Using your thrust to dock your space ship

One good feature is that the game features several difficulty settings (press the select button at the start of the game to choose your skill level).  This extends the lastability of the game since it is very easy to complete on the easiest setting. 

The game ends once the player has lost all of their 5 lives, or when their score reaches 9999, at which point the game is won and the player is treated to a very basic electronic fan-fare as a reward!

Astro Wars was a marvellous game, and is still fun to play 30 years after it was released!  They go for good money on eBay too, which is good to know since I have two of them - although I don't think I'd ever sell.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Stuart's Panoramic World 7 - Leigh-on-Sea

Another 360° panorama, another game of "Spot Kieran".  A path along the seafront between Leigh-on-Sea and Chalkwell.  When I was younger we would walk along here all the way to Southend.  A really pleasant stroll.
 

Use your mouse (or cursor keys) to look.  Your mouse wheel allows you to zoom in and out.


Location : Leigh-on-Sea

Date : 19th April 2011


Camera : Fujifilm S6000FD

Notes :
Sea side path between Leigh-On-Sea and Chalkwell

Download/Enlarge : Click here to enlarge 

 
 

Sunday, February 03, 2013

Stuart's Panoramic World 6 - Fenchurch Street Railway Station

Another 360° panorama - The last railway station (for the moment anyway) is Fenchurch Street, located on the London end of the c2c line (formerly the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway)
 

Use your mouse (or cursor keys) to look.  Your mouse wheel allows you to zoom in and out.

Location : Fenchurch Street, London

Date : 19th February 2011


Camera : Fujifilm S6000FD

Notes :
Station used by c2c and the London Terminus of the London, Tilbury and Southend line.

Download/Enlarge : Click here to enlarge 

 
 

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Stuart's Panoramic World 5 - Malvern Link Railway Station

Another 360° panorama - Malvern Link railway station.  Located on the Cotswold Line, and which is served by both First Great Western, and London Midland trains.

I use this station whenever I go to visit the Malvern Hills.

Can you spot Kieran?


Use your mouse (or cursor keys) to look.  Your mouse wheel allows you to zoom in and out.

Location : Malvern Link Railway Station

Date : 16th March 2011


Camera : Fujifilm S6000FD

Notes :
Railway station located on the Cotswold Line, in Worcestershire.

Download/Enlarge : Click here to enlarge 

 
 

Stuart's Panoramic World 4 - Upminster Railway Station

Another 360 panoramic photo - Upminster Railway Station, a National Rail interchange, linking c2c with the London Underground (District Line), and Greater Anglia services to Romford.

The station was originally opened in 1885 as part of the London, Tilbury and Southend line.


Use your mouse (or cursor keys) to look.  Your mouse wheel allows you to zoom in and out.

Location : Upminster Railway Station - Essex, UK

Date : 19th February l 2011


Camera : Fujifilm S6000FD

Notes :
Station used by c2c and tne London Underground

Download/Enlarge : Click here to enlarge