Written by UK-based coder Jon Williams and published in 1985 by CRL Group Ltd., Berks is an entertaining and challenging overhead shooter with colourful graphics. In some respects it is a tribute to Berzerk, but with more going on.
Tag Archives: overhead
Spore, Commodore 16/Plus4
Another conversion, but a damn good one, and worthy of a place in any Commodore 16 fan’s collection.
Shrunk down to fit into just 16K, Spore is a overhead maze shooter with simple graphics and excellent mechanics. A bit like a simplified version of Gauntlet in some respects, but far more frantic.
Bump ‘n’ Jump, Arcade
Data East‘s 1982 arcade release, Bump ‘n’ Jump (aka Burnin’ Rubber in its native Japan), is a jolly, vertically-scrolling driving game with a car that can jump up into the air for a few seconds to avoid gaps in the road.
Soul Blazer, Super Nintendo
Released in Japan as Soul Blader, Soul Blazer is a 1992 Super Nintendo release from Enix and it takes the form of an overhead, Zelda-style adventure.
Rampart, Arcade
Atari Games‘ 1990 arcade game Rampart is a strange but compelling single-screen castle-building action game, with artillery-based shooting sections.
Maziacs, MSX
This MSX conversion of Don Priestley‘s classic Spectrum game, Maziacs, was released by DK’Tronics in 1985. It captures the essence of the original perfectly.
Frogger, Arcade
Konami‘s Frogger was released into video game arcades in 1981 and was an instant hit with gamers.
The basic premise of Frogger is to guide a hopping frog over a road and a river, to reach a safe haven on the other side.
The Evil Dead, Commodore 64
Another great film turned into video game kitty litter! This one in 1984, by Palace Software.
Rotox, Atari ST
Rotox was published by U.S. Gold in 1990. It is an obscure-but-interesting overhead robot shooter, with flat, polygonal platforms suspended over an infinite drop. Which you must of course avoid falling into.
Raid on Bungeling Bay, Commodore 64
Raid on Bungeling Bay was Will Wright‘s first ever video game and it was released for the Commodore 64 by Brøderbund in 1984. Will Wright – in case you didn’t know – was a co-founder of Maxis and also designer of SimCity and The Sims.
The King of Grabs 