The Atari ST version of Spindizzy is arguably the best one around.
Spindizzy Worlds, which appeared on Atari ST, Amiga and Super Nintendo in 1990 – is a more compartmentalised reworking of the original Spindizzy, with branching levels and puzzles and gem-collecting in a challenging isometric world. Well, various worlds. All themed in a particular graphical style, and each with its own set of individual problems.
Which leads me up to this 2003 remake of Head Over Heels, by Retrospec.
A re-imagining of Ritman and Drummond‘s classic game, with updated visuals and sound. Does it cut the mustard? Does it live up to the greatness of the original?
The Amiga version of Head Over Heels – like the Atari ST version – is pretty much a perfect conversion of this classic isometric platform game.
The Atari ST and Amiga versions of Head Over Heels are pretty much indistinguishable, other than slight colour palette differences.
Both – I would say – are among the greatest video games of all time.
The Atari 8-bit home computer version is definitely the blandest-looking version of Head Over Heels, with the least amount of colour.
The MSX got a pretty much perfect conversion of Head Over Heels, although I’m not sure who the person was who converted it.
The best-looking of all the 8-bit versions of Head Over Heels, in my humble opinion.
Although the Commodore 64 was not thought to be particularly well-suited to these types of isometric platform games, Head Over Heels bucks the trend by being arguably just as good – if not better – than the Spectrum original.
Thanks to the sterling efforts of programmer Colin Porch.
Jon Ritman did the programming and Bernie Drummond did the graphics. And the result was: Head Over Heels – an isometric platform game, published by Ocean Software, and featuring two different characters who can combine to become more agile.
Happy April Fools Day!
A celebration of jokes and humour, and – in our world – video games.
Written by Jon Ritman, with graphics by Bernie Drummond, Head Over Heels was first released in 1987 and is still a fantastic game to play now – across a number of different formats.
So every day this week we’re going to be celebrating Head Over Heels – a classic 3D platform game like no other – starting with the ZX Spectrum original, and covering all the different versions of the game as the week progresses.
Anyway: welcome to April. You lovely gaming fools.
The King of Grabs
Head Over Heels on The King of Grabs:
ZX Spectrum version, Commodore 64 version, Amstrad CPC version, MSX version, Atari 800 version, Atari ST version, Amiga version, PC version, Head Over Heels Week
