Flat, two-dimensional graphics, usually constructed of pixels. Not three-dimensional.
Asylum is one of those games that looks a bit rubbish, but – when you get into playing it – you gradually realise that it’s actually really rather good.
It’s a scrolling, run-and-gun-style platform game with cartoony graphics and bouncy jumping, and you pick up better weapons and collect bonus items for extra points.
This 1982 arcade racer from Namco is a hugely influential video game. Possibly the most influential driving game ever made.
Released into arcades by Sun Electronics (aka Sunsoft) in 1983, Arabian is a platform game in which you play a prince on a mission to rescue a princess from a castle in which she is being held prisoner.
The sequel to the classic Booty was published by Bubble Bus Software in 1986. It was again designed and programmed by John F. Cain.
This 1992 release from Virgin Games is one of a number of video game adaptations of James Cameron‘s famous 1984 sci-fi film, The Terminator.
This particular adaptation was developed by British company Probe Software and is a fairly standard – though fun and playable – run and gun game, flicking through all the major settings of the movie with cut scenes in-between.
A conversion of an MSX2 remake of the classic arcade game, Xevious, published on the PC Engine by Namcot in 1990. And – like a lot of PC Engine shooters – it is a good experience.
Xevious: Fardraut Saga is an enhanced remake of the arcade classic Xevious, developed by Compile and initially published for the MSX2 by Namcot in 1988.
Heavy On The Magick is a side-scrolling adventure game published by Gargoyle Games in 1986. In some respects it is a relative of Tir Na Nog, Dun Darach and Marsport, although it plays somewhat differently.
Marsport is a futuristic adventure game in the style of Tir Na Nog and Dun Darach. It was published by Gargoyle Games in 1985.
Although it’s not related to the aforementioned two games in terms of characters or story, it is considered to be part of a trilogy with them, because they all share the same engine and gameplay features.
Dun Darach is the 1985 sequel (actually prequel) to Tir Na Nog, written by Greg Follis and Roy Carter and again featuring the expressive Cuchulainn – the long-haired man who is not afraid to walk around with his shirt off…
The King of Grabs 