Sunday, June 23, 2019

Game Covers - Kikstart 2 (Commodore 64)

Now this was a blinder of a game, and a real bargain for £2.99.  I would've been happy to pay full price for this.  24 courses of motorcross/trials fun, based on the BBC television series Kick Start, but what made this stand out from the previous Kikstart game (besides the better graphics) was the inclusion of a powerful, and very easy to use course editor.  I spent countless hours designing my own fiendish tracks and saving them to tape.

An amazing game, made by the same team that would like go on to make the Lotus series on the Commodore Amiga.

Ride your bike over the 24 all action courses in this new improved version of Kikstart.  Devise your own mindbendingly tortuous test with the course designer or make things really easy - the choice is yours!

JOYSTICK OR KEYBOARD
PROGRAM FROM MR CHIP SOFTWARE

Kikstart 2 - The Cover

Kikstart 2 - The Inlay

Kikstart 2 - The Tape


3D View (hold and move to rotate)
New Tab (Full Screen)

Game Covers - Space Hunter (Commodore 64)

A fun romp in space, featuring two styles of game play (3D space flight simulator, and 2D maze/map exploration).  Well worth the £1.99 which I paid for this back in the day.

"The world is starving and the only food available is in space.  You must search through 15 star systems to feed the world.  This complex 3-D simulation takes you from rookie pilot to the hero of the world...  If you're good enough!"

Space Hunter - The Cover

Space Hunter - The Inlay

Space Hunter - The Tape


3D View (hold and move to rotate)
New Tab (Full Screen)

Game Covers - S.O.S. (Commodore 64)

Despite getting not-so-great reviews in the computer magazines of the time, I thoroughly enjoyed this fun little isometric 3D adventure, although it is highly recommended to turn the sound off as it has one of the most annoying songs in a computer game playing throughout.

"One way to lose a good droid is to send it out to do something it isn't programmed for.  Biomech 1 (Sydney to his friends) is marooned in a very weird place all because his creator, the eccentric Foley, has a terrible memory.  If Sydney can't get back intact, Foley's boss will remove his kneecaps (Foleys not Sydneys that is).  Tell Syd how to get home in this 3D arcade adventure and save the taxpayer one billion dollars in the bargain!  3D ARCADE ADVENTURE FROM GEOFF FOLEY.

Wow, what an exciting back story!  Try it...  The game isn't bad at all, and was a bargain back in the day.

Interesting bit of useless information - The game was originally called "The Game With No Name"

S.O.S - The Cover

S.O.S. - The Inlay

S.O.S. - The Tape


3D View (hold and move to rotate)
New Tab (Full Screen)

Game Covers - Strike (Commodore 64)

"Superbly playable, addictive and challenging.  This game will have you hooked in minutes and playing for hours trying to achieve that elusive STRIKE".

More like...

"Completely unplayable, dull and impossible.  This will have you bored in minutes and throwing your controller at the screen within hours before switching off the computer because you cant be arsed to achieve the elusive and near impossible STRIKE"

What could have been a fantastic game, ended up being rather 'meh' with awful controls.  The graphics look great, but the king of Commodore 64 bowling simulators has to stay with the amazing '10th Frame'.  

Oh well, what did I expect for £2.99

Strike - The Cover

Strike - The Inlay

Strike - The Tape


3D View (hold and move to rotate)
New Tab (Full Screen)

Game Covers - Zzzz (Commodore 64)

Not one of my favourite Mastertronic cheapos.  Zzzz was released way back in 1985 and was a text based adventure game but had a unique icon system included.  

You are trapped in your dream and to escape from this graphic, text and icon driven adventure you must find and cross the border or wander lost in the land of 'Zzzz' forever.

Yes...  being lost in the land of 'Zzzz The Computer Game' is indeed a fate worse than death!

Zzzz - The cover! 

Zzzz - The Inlay 

Zzzz - The Tape

3D View (hold and move to rotate)
New Tab (Full Screen)

Saturday, June 22, 2019

Game Covers - Agent X II The Mad Prof's Back (Commodore 64)

The second encounter between super sleuth Agent X and his old adversary the Mad Professor.  There's no peace.  Even though you foiled the Mad Prof's attempts to kidnap the President, you failed to defeat him totally, and he is back with a vengeance.  No more small fry for him, this time it's total world domination, and beyond!  Only you can foil the Mad Professor!

A thrilling fight against his minions followed by a climactic confrontation for the future fate of freedom.  Long awaited sequel to the classic Agent X

A fun three stage game, featuring an amazing soundtrack, especially on level 1 by Tim Follin

 Main Cover

Inlay (Featuring handwritten codes for the levels!)

The Tape!


3D View (hold and move to rotate)
New Tab (Full Screen)