Tag Archives: 16-bit

Aisystem Tokyo, Megadrive/Genesis, Taito, Ving

Rainbow Islands Extra Version, Megadrive/Genesis

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The “Extra Version” of Taito‘s classic Rainbow Islands is a modified version of the original arcade game, where the levels have been rearranged and the enemies changed to make the game more challenging. There are some new power-ups to discover, and the bosses have also been changed too. Rainbow Islands Extra was released into arcades in limited quantities in 1988, and was also released on the Sega Megadrive in 1990 and the FM Towns in 1992.

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Megadrive/Genesis, Tec Toy, Tengen

Paperboy II, Megadrive/Genesis

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The Megadrive/Genesis version of Paperboy 2 (or Paperboy II, as the title screen shows) is a real surprise, because it seems to be an attempt by developer Tengen to actually create a real sequel to the Paperboy arcade game. This game doesn’t strictly follow the rather lacklustre template of the Mindscape version of Paperboy 2, but instead does its own thing, which IMHO makes it special.

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Amiga, Mindscape, Tengen

Paperboy 2, Amiga

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The Amiga version of Paperboy 2 is pretty much identical to the MS-DOS version, except that the scoring and newspaper count are displayed outside the play area (in the PC version they’re overlaid over the play area), and the water in the game is bluer. The game was first published by Mindscape in 1992.

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Amiga, Starbyte

Clown-O-Mania, Amiga

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This obscure isometric action/maze game was published by German company Starbyte in 1989 and is basically a clone of the 1983 Atari 8-bit game Flip and Flop. And it’s not a bad game, even though the title of it doesn’t make sense (it really should be “Clown-O-Rama” or “Clown-Mania” – the use of the “O” in this context doesn’t work in English).

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Amiga, Random Access, Sales Curve Interactive

Rod Land, Amiga

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The Amiga conversion of Rod Land is an enhanced port of the Jaleco arcade game from 1990. It features extra levels, extra animation, hidden features and bonuses, and glitch fixes. The conversion was done by Random Access and was published by Storm (a sub-label of The Sales Curve) in 1991.

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Amiga, Capcom, Elite Systems

Ghosts ‘N Goblins, Amiga

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It has to be said that the Amiga port of Capcom‘s classic Ghosts ‘N Goblins is a damn sight better than the Atari ST version, or any of the other conversions from the 16-bit era. It was developed and published by Elite Systems in 1990 and is as close to the arcade parent as is possible on the Amiga.

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Atari ST, Capcom, Elite Systems, Zippo Games

Ghosts ‘N Goblins, Atari ST

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The Atari ST version of Ghosts ‘N Goblins was programmed by Michael Delves, with graphics by Zippo Games, and was published by Elite Systems in 1990. It is a somewhat ‘funky’ port, with cartoony graphics and gameplay that is easier than the arcade parent.

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Antstream, Megadrive/Genesis, PanelComp, Sensible Software, Virgin Interactive

Cannon Fodder, Megadrive/Genesis

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The Megadrive/Genesis version of Sensible Software‘s classic Cannon Fodder is not the one I think of when I think “Cannon Fodder“, but it’s actually a really good port. The game was converted by PanelComp, who also made the excellent SNES version, and it too supports mouse play. Which is important, because without using a mouse it’s impossible to attain the right kind of intensity needed to play Cannon Fodder properly. IMHO.

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Amiga, Gremlin Graphics

Switchblade II, Amiga

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The sequel to Switchblade, Switchblade II originally came out on the Amiga and was developed and published by Gremlin Graphics in 1991. The designer/programmer of the original Switchblade, Simon Phipps of Core Design, had no involvement in the creation of this follow-up.

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Antstream, Atari ST, Core Design, gog.com, Gremlin Graphics, Steam

Switchblade, Atari ST

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Created by Simon Phipps (co-founder of Core Design), and published by Gremlin Graphics in 1989, Switchblade is a platform action game that could be described as a ‘spiritual successor’ to the Rick Dangerous games (also created by Simon Phipps). Switchblade features similar gameplay and graphics to Rick Dangerous, although it is more refined, less cartoony, and is far less frustrating to play. Switchblade came out on the Atari ST first and ports for the Amiga, C64, Amstrad CPC and ZX Spectrum followed.

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