Tag Archives: 1986

Apple II, Origin Systems

Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness, Apple II

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This first game in Richard Garriott‘s Ultima series was initially released for the Apple II in 1981 by California Pacific Computer and was originally called just “Ultima“. It was later re-named as “Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness” when it was re-made and re-released by Origin Systems in 1986. This 1986 re-code features improved graphics and gameplay, with a number of significant changes made to bring the game up-to-date with market conditions in the mid 1980s, and that is the version I’m featuring here. If you want to see the original 1981 version (and an explanation of how to play the game), click here.

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Atari ST, Sublogic

Flight Simulator II, Atari ST

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Flight Simulator II, by Sublogic, is an early, pioneering flight simulation game designed and written by Bruce Artwick and first released for the Apple II in 1983. This enhanced Atari ST conversion was first released in 1986.

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BBC Micro, Superior Software

Repton 3, BBC Micro

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Repton 3 – first released by Superior Software in 1986 – was designed and written by Matthew Atkinson; not Repton‘s original designer, Tim Tyler. Thankfully Repton 3 reverts back to the formula that made the first Repton game so successful, with a series of password-accessible, time-limited levels, split into three data files (prelude, toccata, and finale).

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Arcade, Taito, Technōs Japan

Renegade, Arcade

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Renegade is an arcade beat ’em up that was developed by Technos Japan and distributed into arcades by Taito in 1986. Although Renegade might appear basic by today’s standards it was in fact an important game in the fighting genre and one that defined many of the gameplay standards we still see today.

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Gargoyle Games, ZX Spectrum

Sweevo’s World, ZX Spectrum

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Sweevo’s World is an isometric adventure/puzzle game developed and published by Gargoyle Games in 1986. The initial release was for 48K Spectrums although an enhanced version for the Spectrum 128K, called Sweevo’s Whirled, was also released later.

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Mikro-Gen, ZX Spectrum

Stainless Steel, ZX Spectrum

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In Stainless Steel you are Ricky Steel – a teenage superhero with a flying car called ‘Nightwind‘ – on a mission to defeat the android troops built and controlled by the evil Dr. Vardos. What that basically means is that you have to drive/fly and shoot your way through a variety of overhead scrolling levels, collecting fuel to constantly top-up your ever-diminishing life bar and avoiding bullets like the plague.

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Bad Video Games, Beam Software, Commodore 64, Melbourne House

Judge Dredd, Commodore 64

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This 1986 adaptation of Judge Dredd – the infamous cop of the future who debuted in 2000AD comic – was developed by Beam Software and published by Melbourne House, and it’s a bit of a travesty to be honest.

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Design Design, Piranha, ZX Spectrum

Rogue Trooper, ZX Spectrum

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Rogue Trooper on the ZX Spectrum was developed by Design Design and published by Piranha in 1986. It was the first showing in a video game of the blue-skinned soldier of the future, from 2000AD comic, and it is not a bad game at all. In fact: Rogue Trooper on the Speccy was probably the first decent video game to feature a character from 2000AD, as all the previous ones had been terrible.

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