Tag Archives: 1988

Pool of Radiance, Commodore 64

Developed by Strategic Simulations, Inc., Pool of Radiance is a ground-breaking AD&D RPG for 8-bit computers. It was first released in June 1988, in America, and later published in Europe by US Gold, and in Japan by Pony Canyon.

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Barbarian II: The Dungeon of Drax, ZX Spectrum

The ZX Spectrum version of Barbarian II: The Dungeon of Drax was developed by M.C. Lothlorian and first published by Palace Software in 1988.

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Keith Courage in Alpha Zones, PC Engine

Keith Courage in Alpha Zones is a single-player platform game with action elements, developed by Advance Communication Company and published by Hudson Soft in Japan (in 1988) and NEC in North America (in 1989).

When the PC Engine was launched in North America in 1988 – as the TurboGrafx-16 – THIS was the pack-in game that greeted new owners. Not R-Type, not Turrican, not Ghouls ‘N Ghosts – nor any of the other great games on the system – but Keith bloody Courage in bloody Alpha Zones… History has noted that NEC (the manufacturer of the PC Engine) missed a MAJOR trick there, possibly even contributing to the console’s under-performance in sales, and eventual demise.

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Super Hero, Amstrad CPC

Codemasters1988 release for the Amstrad, Super Hero, sounds innocuous, but it marked the return of pixel artist Bernie Drummond, after Head Over Heels and Batman, but before Monster Max. Which was always a cause for celebration, in my humble opinion. RIP Bernie.

Super Hero is similar to Ultimate Play the Game‘s Nightshade, or Gunfright, in that the isometric backgrounds scroll around on occasion. Not all the time. Some rooms are static, Knight Lore-style.

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Vindicators, Commodore 64

Developed by Consult Ltd., for Domark, who published the game in 1988, Vindicators is a decent one or two-player simultaneous tank game, converted from the Atari arcade machine of the same name.

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Usagi Yojimbo, Commodore 64

Also known by its more long-winded name: Samurai Warrior: The Battles of Usagi Yojimbo, this elegant fighting game was developed by Beam Software and first published by Firebird in 1988. Programming was by Doug Palmer; script was by Paul Kidd; graphics by Russel Comte, and music by Neil Brennan.

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Total Eclipse, Commodore 64

Major DevelopmentsTotal Eclipse was released for the Commodore 64 by Incentive Software in 1988.

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Salamander, ZX Spectrum

The ZX Spectrum port of Konami‘s classic arcade shooter, Salamander, was programmed by Andrew Glaister, with graphics by Stuart Ruecroft, and was first published by Imagine Software in 1988. While aspects of the game are very good, it is unfortunately a good example of an unfinished and cut-down game being rushed to market…

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Bionic Commando, ZX Spectrum

Developed by Software Creations and published by GO! in 1988, this is the ZX Spectrum version of Capcom‘s classic arcade game, Bionic Commando. And it’s not bad, all considered.

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