Category: -Reviews-

Reviews Archive | Short reviews of retro video games from various vintage systems such as the Amstrad CPC, Atari, Commodore, and Sinclair Spectrum.

Dark Chambers: Atari 7800 June Review

Posted by  on June 1, 2021

Dark Chambers: June featured game

It’s June and it’s #AtariMonth so this month’s review is a game described as the spiritual successor to Gauntlet, Dark Chambers, a remake of the 1983 game, Dandy.

Dark Chambers Atari 7800Loading screen

There’s no mistaking this is a form of Gauntlet. The game starts and instantly you recognise the playing field. My first instinct was to brace myself for hordes of enemies… that, apparently, didn’t get an invite. Taking a quick walk around I got the feeling I’d entered this dungeon during a bank holiday, or maybe everyone was Social Distancing? I encountered approximately 10 enemies in the first area, most seemed disinterested in the fact I was roaming their dungeons.

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Hotel Mario: Philips CD-i May Review

Posted by  on May 1, 2021

Hotel Mario: May featured game

Mario’s first outing on the Philips CD-i comes in the shape of Hotel Mario.

Hotel Mario: Philips CD-iHotel Mario: Level 1

I’ve seen Hotel Mario slated on many occasions. As a Mario game I can understand the dislike but I prefer to look at Hotel Mario as an ode to the Golden Age arcade era. If you strip away the Mario-ness of it all and look at Hotel Mario for what it is then there’s a game akin to the likes of Donkey Kong or Burgertime, admittedly 10-15 years too late, but it can still be fun.

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Astro Blaster: Sinclair ZX Spectrum April Review

Posted by  on April 1, 2021

Astro Blaster: April featured game

I remember playing Astro Blaster many years ago but it became one of those titles that I overlooked in recent times.

Astro Blaster SpectrumWatch out for space potatoes

I’m a member of a Sinclair Spectrum group on Facebook, The Spectrum Group UK, and they set seasonal challenges with a different game each week. The object of the challenge is usually to get the highest score amongst the members taking part. This week the game is Quicksilva’s 1983 title, Astro Blaster. Astro Blaster is a space shooter conversion from the SEGA arcade game of the same name.

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Krakout: Commodore C64 March Review

Posted by  on March 1, 2021

Krakout: March featured game

No, not the answer to “What’s the first thing you associate with a builder’s trousers?” Krakout is a Breakout clone with a difference.

Krakout C64

We’ve seen this type of game a lot on various systems. Names such as Arkanoid and Batty will be familiar to many old skool gamers but Krakout stands out because it’s different. All those other games play vertical whereas Krakout plays horizontal. One benefit of playing horizontal is a handy little option where you can swap the side your bat resides on, presumably for left-handed players.

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Solomon’s Key: Sinclair ZX Spectrum February Review

Posted by  on February 2, 2021

Solomon’s Key: February featured game

Solomon’s Key is a single player arcade/strategy platformer conversion from the arcade game of the same name.

Solomon's Key Loading ScreenLoading Screen

The aim of the game is to escape each level by collecting a key to unlock the exit. You are equipped with a magic wand which can be used to create or destroy blocks to help you do this. To reach the key you will need to arrange blocks so you can move yourself around enemies. To stop you reaching your goal there are various enemies roaming around each level. There are fairies to save while attempting to collect your key and reach the exit. You can rescue fairies by collecting the bells. If you think that sounds a little too easy then you should know there is also a time limit for each level so, while you’re working out the best path in your head the timer is ticking down.

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