Tag Archives: Steve Brown

Commodore 64, Epyx, Palace Software

Barbarian II: The Dungeon of Drax, Commodore 64

1 Comment

The sequel to 1987’s cult hit Barbarian, Barbarian II: The Dungeon of Drax is a similar fighting game, but with more variety than the first game, and the possibility of exploring the actual world by moving from screen to screen (“wow! What a technological advancement!“). Barbarian II was first released in 1988 by Palace Software. The game was later licensed by Epyx for distribution in North America under the title of “Axe of Rage“.

Continue reading Barbarian II: The Dungeon of Drax, Commodore 64 →

Commodore 64, Epyx, Palace Software

Barbarian, Commodore 64

3 Comments

Palace Software‘s Barbarian: The Ultimate Warrior is a fondly-remembered and controversial one-on-one fighting game from 1987, where two gladiatorial combatants slug it out to the death in a variety of different locations. Actually, there are two different versions of this game, each with different backgrounds. The first version has a throne room and then a pit. The second version has a meadow and a clearing in a forest. I’m not sure why there are two versions of this game, but that definitely seems to be the case.

Continue reading Barbarian, Commodore 64 →

Palace Software, ZX Spectrum

Cauldron II: The Pumpkin Strikes Back, ZX Spectrum

Leave a comment

Palace Software‘s Cauldron II: The Pumpkin Strikes Back is the sequel to the cult hit, Cauldron, released in 1985. Cauldron II was first released for the Commodore 64 in 1986 and this is a conversion of that game. It features gameplay that is quite different to the original Cauldron, although it is essentially still a platform game at its core.

Continue reading Cauldron II: The Pumpkin Strikes Back, ZX Spectrum →

Palace Software, ZX Spectrum

Cauldron, ZX Spectrum

2 Comments

Palace Software‘s 1985 release, Cauldron, is a conversion of the Commodore 64 original, where you play as a witch who is on a quest to become the “Witch Queen” by defeating her opponent, “The Pumpking”.

Continue reading Cauldron, ZX Spectrum →

Atari ST, Palace Software

Barbarian, Atari ST

Leave a comment

Palace Software‘s notorious Barbarian is a ‘sword and sandal’ beat ’em up with a knockout gimmick: you can decapitate your opponent with a well-placed sword stroke!

Granted: you have to time it correctly, and get the distance between you and your opponent right, but when you pull it off the head bounces off in hilarious fashion, before being finally getting booted off the screen by a gremlin.

Continue reading Barbarian, Atari ST →

Commodore 64, Palace Software

Cauldron, Commodore 64

3 Comments

Palace Software‘s 1985 release Cauldron is one of those games that looks great, but is so difficult that it is not much fun to play overall.

Continue reading Cauldron, Commodore 64 →

Commodore 64, Palace Software

Cauldron II: The Pumpkin Strikes Back, Commodore 64

2 Comments

The sequel to Cauldron, Cauldron II: The Pumpkin Strikes Back was a brilliant ‘curveball’ from Palace Software, back in 1986, and is still a great game to play now.

Continue reading Cauldron II: The Pumpkin Strikes Back, Commodore 64 →