I’ve at all times been a sucker for a platform sport. From reminiscence, the primary one I skilled was the Popeye arcade sport. My uncle used to hire arcade machines to native pubs, cafes, chip outlets and so on, and would typically have two or three in his workshop at any time, and I keep in mind taking part in Popeye there. Evidently, I cherished to go to his place!

Assessment by Richard Tappenden aka @Retrotap

  
As a C64 proprietor, I had an abundance of platform video games to play – a few of my favourites have been video games like C.J. Elephant Antics, Chuckie Egg, Manic Miner and New Zealand Story. There’s some nice trendy video games for the system too, with Graham Axten’s The Bear Necessities, Juan Martinez’ Rescuing Orc and Dr Wuro’s Shadow Switcher simply to call a number of. I’ve not but performed Knight of Bytes Sam’s Journey, however each overview I’ve learn and video of seen suggests it’s completely incredible.

Nonetheless, I can’t take into consideration platform video games with out remembering Micro Energy’s Ghouls. I distinctly recall shopping for the sport – it was a part of a bundle of 10 video games (throughout 5 tapes with a sport all sides), and on sale for an inexpensive worth within the model new Comet retailer that had simply opened. We’d gone in as a result of Dad needed to purchase a brand new stereo system, however I had a little bit of pocket cash burning a gap in my pocket, noticed this pack and persuaded Dad that it was too good a deal to cross up. I reckon this was someday in 1988.

I can’t keep in mind all the opposite video games, however I do know it additionally included Felix within the Manufacturing facility (additionally by Micro Energy) and an athletics sport referred to as European Video games. The one I used to be enthusiastic about although, was Ghouls. The paintings, with a Pacman-esque character operating down the hall of a spooky home in the direction of a shiny diamond, chased by a scary ghost and large spider, actually caught my creativeness and I couldn’t wait to get residence to play it. 

The inlay reads; “Many have tried to rescue the ability jewels from the creepy mansion on the highest of the hill. None have lived to inform the story. Now it’s as much as you to attempt to wrest the treasure from the mansion’s lethal inhabitants.”

The sport, which was initially launched in 1984, is a single display screen platformer. Your character (very very like Pacman having spawned legs), strikes from the underside left as much as the treasure positioned on the prime proper, gathering cash and avoiding the obstacles and meanies. There’s a ghost, who strikes in the direction of the participant, floating by means of the platforms, and if he touches you, you lose one in every of your 3 lives. Contact any of the spikes positioned across the platforms, succumb to the spider, or fall too far off a platform and also you’ll lose a life. There’s additionally a “energy jewel” that makes the pursuing ghost disappear when you acquire it – however I feel he nonetheless chases you and if he reappears he nonetheless kills you – his remaining location is revealed to you once you full the stage.

There are 4 screens in complete, every with spooky names; Spectre’s Lair, Horrid Corridor, The Spider’s Parlour and Dying Tower. After you full all 4 screens, you’re awarded an additional life and the sport loops again by means of the levels, growing the issue by including one other ghost to the display screen. For instance, after finishing the primary 4 screens, the subsequent time you play Spectre’s Lair, it has two ghosts and a spider!

I’ve solely ever made it so far as Horrid Corridor with out dishonest.
Taking part in it once more not too long ago, you may see some good options – there’s an animated intro earlier than every stage, and once you die, there’s a very nice display screen wipe impact that appears nice.

There’s not a lot in the best way of music, and the sound results are enough. The graphics received’t win any artwork awards, however are completely acceptable given how early within the system this sport was written – the participant’s character is sort of distinctive, and the ghouls are clear and simple to see. There’s a pleasant contact the place the in any other case glum wanting ghosts smile with glee once you lose a life

On the draw back, the character strikes very quick, and it requires a lot of pixel good jumps – which together make it very tough. The ghost that chases you across the display screen spawns at a random level too, which means that typically it may be positioned ready that makes the extent extremely troublesome. It’d be a lot fairer if the ghost spawned in a constant, predictable place. As soon as there are a number of ghosts on the display screen, their positioning might make it virtually inconceivable to finish the display screen with out dropping a life.

I’ve watched a number of lengthy performs, and expert gamers make the sport look very straightforward – flying by means of the degrees with ease and finishing all 4 levels inside a couple of minutes. Evidently, I’ve by no means achieved that and discover the sport fairly difficult. I performed it by means of with infinite lives, timer off, permitting lengthy falls and collisions with the ghosts turned off, and it was nonetheless powerful. I managed to loop by means of all the degrees 4 instances, however getting the jumps proper is troublesome sufficient on it’s personal. I feel when you practise sufficient, you possibly can most likely get the dangle on that, however then you need to take care of the ghosts too…

It’s honest to say that my reminiscence of the sport was higher than the fact. Nonetheless, it’s nonetheless fairly an satisfying (if just a little irritating) platform sport – I simply suppose it might have performed with a bit extra balancing to make it fairer on the participant.

Assessment by Richard Tappenden aka @Retrotap