Ant Attack is the most 'important' for the speccy and it's evolution. Horace Goes Skiing is the most iconic. But I spent most hours on Pyramid. The vote asks for 'Fave Game': so The Pyramid gets the vote.
I see some 'barely resembles a game' comments. Fair enough. With a big enough set it is easy and right to argue that some percentage of speccy titles were not really fun enough to be called games, even back in the day. The Pyramid is not one of them. It is a real game, easy to pick up and fun to play.
Never owned this particular compilation back in the day.The cover does not exactly say 'buy me'.
I voted Wilf, but I have a soft spot for Starbike which I still think is a great game to play even now. Pyramid is a fave too.. No votes for the combat zone clone..wasn't that bad.
I did wonder at one point why the games were different between the C64 and the Speccy releases, then realised some are not available for each platform, well I think they are not.
Perhaps more interestingly (or not, depending on your point of view) there was no Amstrad CPC version which seems quite odd, first thought was the release dates but there's at least a good year 'gap' so its not that...
I have played (in order from most to least) Kokotoni Wilf, Jack and the Beanstalk, Bagman (Gilligan's Gold) and Ant Attack extensively on the C64, but not on the Spectrum! So I am not sure if my vote can really be fair until I try them on the Speccy as well... Wilf was by far my favourite of the bunch back then, but nowadays I think Ant Attack was technically and historically the best.
Perhaps more interestingly (or not, depending on your point of view) there was no Amstrad CPC version which seems quite odd, first thought was the release dates but there's at least a good year 'gap' so its not that...
I thought the compilation was to help the less fortunate i.e. Amstrad owners :))
Just seems odd now that there was no Amstrad version, its not as though the games were unavailable for said machine although I've not looked at every title to be sure but I'd expect out of them all they would be, failing that 90% of them and something else could of been dropped in if needed.
I have played (in order from most to least) Kokotoni Wilf, Jack and the Beanstalk, Bagman (Gilligan's Gold) and Ant Attack extensively on the C64, but not on the Spectrum! So I am not sure if my vote can really be fair until I try them on the Speccy as well... Wilf was by far my favourite of the bunch back then, but nowadays I think Ant Attack was technically and historically the best.
From memory Kokotoni is quite dreadful on both the C64 and CPC machines compared to the Spectrum version. The CPC version is the worst IIRC. Jack/Beanstalk I think is more playable on the C64 than the Spectrum as its quite difficult to safely climb on our version...
Talking again of the Amstrad non-existent version (sorry, I promise I'll be quiet about it after this) and a few other things, if we look at the current content of each tape version:
Spellbound (Spectrum)
GumShoe (C64)
Starbike (Spectrum)
Beamrider (C64)
Kokotoni Wilf (both platforms)
The Pyramid (Spectrum)
Star Trader (C64)
Horace Goes Skiiing (Spectrum)
China Miner (C64)
Gillian's Gold (both platforms)
Ant Attack (Spectrum)
Fred (C64)
3D Tank Duel (Spectrum)
Gyropod (C64)
Jack/Beanstalk (Spectrum)
Falcon Patrol (C64)
Sorcery (Spectrum)
Flak (C64)
Thoughts (C64)
1. Spellbound is available for both C6, well kind of, Yes its not the Magic Knight one, its Beyond on the Spectrum and Ocean on the C64, although the C64 version appears to be some kind of platform game so unsure if that counts, the loading screen however does not look that far off the Speccy version.
2. Ant Attack is available on the C64
3. The Pyramid is available for the C64
4. Horace/Skiing is available for the C64
5. Jack/Beanstalk is available for C64
6. Sorcery is available for the C64
---
Thoughts (Spectrum)
1. Beamrider is available for the Spectrum (denied though but it exists lol)
2. Star Trader is available on the Spectrum a few variants however
3. Fred is listed for the Spectrum
4. Falcon Patrol is kind of available, but its FP2 not FP
5. Flak is available on the Spectrum
---
Thoughts (Amstrad)
1. Kokotoni Wilf is available
2. Gillian's Gold is available
3. Ant Attack is available
4. Jack/Beanstalk is available
5. Sorcery is available
---
I've not checked "everywhere" for these so its possible there might be more available for the C64/CPC machines but it just does go to show what is there I guess...
I think I accidentally killed this thread (sorry) although it did give me reason to take more of an interest in comparing compilation contents between our platform and other ones (usually Amstrad/Commodore) to see what differences there are. :)
May just have been a bit early for the CPC. Whilst it would eventually become the third place machine, in early 1985 there were still various other machines floating around and the CPC had only been around for a half year or so.
Interesting that at least half these games are rip-offs:
*
Horace Goes Skiing -- first half is a Frogger clone
*Spellbound -- Q*Bert
*3D Tank Duel -- Battle Zone
*Gilligan's Gold -- Bagman
*and as for Kokotoni Willy... ;)
I never make misteaksmistrakesmisyaleserrurs — oh, sod it.
I think (although off topic) Horace / Skiing was the first or one of the first games to actually use a headerless loader, even though its not really immediate it is doing that simply due to (I expect) the location of the code being low down in memory...
Great poll! Thats a difficult choice.. I'd already played Ant Attack to death before buying Softaid, so although its the standout game on there, I can't really vote for it. Same goes for Pyramid - a nice little arcade game, but I had previous with it. From Softaid I spent most time playing Kokotoni Wilf, 3d Tank Duel & Gilligans Gold. The latter was a good little game, but buggy as hell - it kept freezing, & I just kept reloading it. Jack & the Beanstalk was the most infuriating heap of c***p honestly! Don't even remember Sorcery being on there, perhaps it was at the end of the tape? So anyway.. Kototoni Wilf it is!
I think apart from Horace/Skiing (as it came in the six pack with my Speccy 'back then') and The Pyramid the rest were 'all new to me' :)
I do agree completely with you @CatWeazle regarding Jack/Beanstalk. I cannot really recall if I have ever managed to get past the first screen, I always fall off during the climb. I may of managed it once and then died v. quickly on the next screen. Having said that I don't think I've missed out on anything having seen the .rzx :D
Sorcery was at the end of the tape yes. Compiled Basic IIRC. I'd have to check that though.
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I see some 'barely resembles a game' comments. Fair enough. With a big enough set it is easy and right to argue that some percentage of speccy titles were not really fun enough to be called games, even back in the day. The Pyramid is not one of them. It is a real game, easy to pick up and fun to play.
Never owned this particular compilation back in the day.The cover does not exactly say 'buy me'.
Perhaps more interestingly (or not, depending on your point of view) there was no Amstrad CPC version which seems quite odd, first thought was the release dates but there's at least a good year 'gap' so its not that...
I thought the compilation was to help the less fortunate i.e. Amstrad owners :))
Just seems odd now that there was no Amstrad version, its not as though the games were unavailable for said machine although I've not looked at every title to be sure but I'd expect out of them all they would be, failing that 90% of them and something else could of been dropped in if needed.
Oh well. :) Twas just a random thought.
From memory Kokotoni is quite dreadful on both the C64 and CPC machines compared to the Spectrum version. The CPC version is the worst IIRC. Jack/Beanstalk I think is more playable on the C64 than the Spectrum as its quite difficult to safely climb on our version...
Spellbound (Spectrum)
GumShoe (C64)
Starbike (Spectrum)
Beamrider (C64)
Kokotoni Wilf (both platforms)
The Pyramid (Spectrum)
Star Trader (C64)
Horace Goes Skiiing (Spectrum)
China Miner (C64)
Gillian's Gold (both platforms)
Ant Attack (Spectrum)
Fred (C64)
3D Tank Duel (Spectrum)
Gyropod (C64)
Jack/Beanstalk (Spectrum)
Falcon Patrol (C64)
Sorcery (Spectrum)
Flak (C64)
Thoughts (C64)
1. Spellbound is available for both C6, well kind of, Yes its not the Magic Knight one, its Beyond on the Spectrum and Ocean on the C64, although the C64 version appears to be some kind of platform game so unsure if that counts, the loading screen however does not look that far off the Speccy version.
2. Ant Attack is available on the C64
3. The Pyramid is available for the C64
4. Horace/Skiing is available for the C64
5. Jack/Beanstalk is available for C64
6. Sorcery is available for the C64
---
Thoughts (Spectrum)
1. Beamrider is available for the Spectrum (denied though but it exists lol)
2. Star Trader is available on the Spectrum a few variants however
3. Fred is listed for the Spectrum
4. Falcon Patrol is kind of available, but its FP2 not FP
5. Flak is available on the Spectrum
---
Thoughts (Amstrad)
1. Kokotoni Wilf is available
2. Gillian's Gold is available
3. Ant Attack is available
4. Jack/Beanstalk is available
5. Sorcery is available
---
I've not checked "everywhere" for these so its possible there might be more available for the C64/CPC machines but it just does go to show what is there I guess...
Curiosity more than anything else really...
*
Horace Goes Skiing -- first half is a Frogger clone*Spellbound -- Q*Bert
*3D Tank Duel -- Battle Zone
*Gilligan's Gold -- Bagman
*and as for Kokotoni Willy... ;)
misteaksmistrakesmisyaleserrurs— oh, sod it.I do agree completely with you @CatWeazle regarding Jack/Beanstalk. I cannot really recall if I have ever managed to get past the first screen, I always fall off during the climb. I may of managed it once and then died v. quickly on the next screen. Having said that I don't think I've missed out on anything having seen the .rzx :D
Sorcery was at the end of the tape yes. Compiled Basic IIRC. I'd have to check that though.