Zaxxon’s Motherbase 2000 was an attempt by Sega to update one of its most famous IPs onto the Sega 32X (a hardware add-on for the Megadrive/Genesis). In the process I think Sega forgot one of the main reasons Zaxxon was rated so highly…
Tag Archives: isometric
Spindizzy, ZX Spectrum
Originating on the Amstrad CPC, Spindizzy is a genius piece of coding and game design. It is an isometric exploration game, where you play as a spinning gyroscope (called GERALD) trying to collect gems across a large map of screens. It was designed by Paul Shirley, and the Spectrum port was handled by Phil Churchyard. Spindizzy on the Spectrum was published by Electric Dreams in 1986.
Melkhior’s Mansion, PC
Another superb tribute to Ultimate‘s isometric adventures, this one called Melkhior’s Mansion. It was created by BitGlint Games and could be described as an “isometric Atic Atac“, although there is definitely more to it than that.
Viva Mortis, PC
Released in 2015 by author Adam Strange, Viva Mortis is a brilliant tribute to the classic isometric Ultimate games.
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.
Azure Dreams, PlayStation
Developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo (KCET) and published by Konami in 1997, in Japan, and in 1998 in North America and Europe, Azure Dreams is a ‘Roguelike’ Role-Playing Game about a young boy who wants to become a Monster Hunter.
Conqueror, Atari ST
Converted to the Atari ST by the author of the original Archimedes version, Jonathan Griffiths, Conqueror is a 3D tank combat game that uses a similar view to David Braben‘s Zarch. In fact, it uses the same graphics routines as Zarch, because Braben gave them to Griffiths.
Conqueror was published by Superior Software Ltd. (in the UK) and Rainbow Arts Software GmbH (in Europe), in 1989.
Diablo II: Lord of Destruction, PC
This is the expanded version of Diablo II, called Lord of Destruction, released by Blizzard in 2001.
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, PlayStation 3
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is a fighting-based action game developed by Raven Software and published by Activision in 2006. In it you control a team of four Marvel superheroes, chosen from a pool of 23 playable characters (not all of which are available from the start – you must unlock some of them), and going up against the forces of Doctor Doom.
Super Hero, Amstrad CPC
Codemasters‘ 1988 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.
