The Atari 8-bit home computer version is definitely the blandest-looking version of Head Over Heels, with the least amount of colour.
Category Archives: Systems
Video gaming systems.
Head Over Heels, MSX
The MSX got a pretty much perfect conversion of Head Over Heels, although I’m not sure who the person was who converted it.
Head Over Heels, Amstrad CPC
The best-looking of all the 8-bit versions of Head Over Heels, in my humble opinion.
Head Over Heels, Commodore 64
Although the Commodore 64 was not thought to be particularly well-suited to these types of isometric platform games, Head Over Heels bucks the trend by being arguably just as good – if not better – than the Spectrum original.
Thanks to the sterling efforts of programmer Colin Porch.
Head Over Heels, ZX Spectrum
Jon Ritman did the programming and Bernie Drummond did the graphics. And the result was: Head Over Heels – an isometric platform game, published by Ocean Software, and featuring two different characters who can combine to become more agile.
Popeye, ZX Spectrum
DK’Tronics‘ 1985 release Popeye is notable for its use of large, colourful animated character graphics, the likes of which had not been seen before. At least not at the time of release on the humble ZX Spectrum.
Ranarama, Atari ST
Ranarama, by Steve Turner of Graftgold, originated on the ZX Spectrum in 1987, and was later converted to the Atari ST, Amiga and Amstrad CPC.
Populous, PC
And here is the PC MS-DOS version of Bullfrog‘s classic Populous (1989), for comparison’s sake.
Populous, Amiga
Bullfrog‘s classic ‘God game’, Populous, was first released on the Amiga in 1989. It broke new ground with its ingenious mix of real-time strategy and sandbox-style landscape-building.
Pitstop II, Commodore 64
It might be considered primitive by today’s standards, but back in 1984 when Pitstop II was first released, it really raised the bar for arcade-style racing games. That is: racing games that are fun to play, rather than being as realistic as possible.
