Publisher: Cascade Games, Ltd.

ACE (1985)

by Christopher
written by Christopher 4 minutes read

Summary

ACE (1985): The Grandfather of Air Combat Games

Released in 1985 by Namco, ACE is a two-player arcade game that pits biplane pilots against each other in head-to-head air combat. With its simple controls and addictive gameplay, ACE quickly became a hit with arcade-goers and helped to popularize the air combat genre.

Gameplay

The objective of ACE is to shoot down your opponent before they shoot you down. Players control their biplanes with a joystick and two buttons, one to fire the machine gun and one to drop bombs. The game is played on a single screen, and the action is viewed from a top-down perspective.

The controls in ACE are very simple to learn, but difficult to master. The biplanes are very maneuverable, and players must use all of their skills to avoid enemy fire and line up their own shots. The game also features a variety of power-ups that can help players turn the tide of battle, such as speed boosts, invincibility, and homing missiles.

Graphics and Sound

For a game released in 1985, ACE’s graphics are surprisingly good. The biplanes are well-detailed, and the backgrounds are colorful and varied. The game also features a catchy soundtrack that helps to create a sense of excitement and urgency.

Legacy

ACE was a critical and commercial success, and it helped to popularize the air combat genre. The game has been ported to a variety of home platforms, and it is still enjoyed by gamers today. ACE has also been cited as an influence on a number of other air combat games, including the popular Ace Combat series.

Review

ACE is a classic arcade game that is still a blast to play today. With its simple controls and addictive gameplay, it’s easy to see why this game has stood the test of time. If you’re a fan of air combat games, then you owe it to yourself to check out ACE.

Score: 8.5/10

Pros:

  • Simple and addictive gameplay
  • Great graphics and sound
  • Variety of power-ups
  • Two-player mode

Cons:

  • Can be repetitive after a while
  • No single-player mode

Overall:

ACE is a classic arcade game that is still a blast to play today. With its simple controls and addictive gameplay, it’s easy to see why this game has stood the test of time. If you’re a fan of air combat games, then you owe it to yourself to check out ACE.

Review Score

8.5/10

Art

Cover Art

Screenshots

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Activator (1986)

by Christopher
written by Christopher 3 minutes read

Summary

Activator (1986)

Activator is a maze-like shooter game released for the ZX Spectrum in 1986. The player controls a small spaceship that must navigate through a series of mazes, shooting enemies and collecting power-ups. The game is known for its challenging gameplay, colorful graphics, and catchy music.

Gameplay

Activator is played from a top-down perspective. The player controls a small spaceship that can move in four directions and fire in eight directions. The goal of the game is to navigate through a series of mazes, shooting enemies and collecting power-ups.

The mazes are filled with a variety of enemies, including robots, aliens, and turrets. Each enemy has its own unique攻擊模式, and the player must learn how to defeat each type of enemy. The player can also collect power-ups that give them temporary abilities, such as increased speed or火力.

The game is divided into 100 levels, each of which is more difficult than the last. The player must complete each level within a certain time limit, or they will lose a life. The game is over when the player loses all of their lives.

Graphics and sound

Activator is known for its colorful and detailed graphics. The mazes are well-designed and充滿了a variety of objects and obstacles. The enemies are also well-animated and充滿了character.

The game’s music is also very catchy and memorable. The main theme is a fast-paced and upbeat tune that perfectly captures the excitement of the gameplay.

Reception

Activator was a critical and commercial success upon its release. It was praised for its challenging gameplay, colorful graphics, and catchy music. The game was also a finalist for the Golden Joystick Award for Best Arcade Game of the Year.

Activator remains a popular game today, and it is still enjoyed by many retro gaming enthusiasts. The game has been ported to a number of different platforms, including the PC, Amiga, and Atari ST.

Legacy

Activator is one of the most influential maze-like shooter games of all time. The game’s challenging gameplay, colorful graphics, and catchy music have inspired many other games, including the popular Geometry Wars series.

Activator is also a significant game in the history of the ZX Spectrum. It was one of the first games to use the computer’s enhanced graphics capabilities, and it helped to show the world what the Spectrum was capable of.

Conclusion

Activator is a classic maze-like shooter game that is still a lot of fun to play today. The game’s challenging gameplay, colorful graphics, and catchy music make it a must-play for any fan of retro games.

Review Score

7.5/10

Art

Cover Art

Screenshots

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Implosion (1987)

by Christopher
written by Christopher 6 minutes read

Summary

Implosion: A Retro Shooter That Still Packs a Punch

Released in 1987, Implosion is a classic shooter that still holds up today. Its fast-paced gameplay, challenging levels, and great visuals make it a must-play for fans of the genre.

The game is set on a distant planet that is on a collision course with Earth. The player takes control of a lone spaceship and must infiltrate the planet’s core to detonate it and save the Earth.

Implosion is a vertically scrolling shooter, similar to classics like Gradius and R-Type. The player’s ship is constantly moving upwards, and they must shoot down enemies and dodge obstacles as they progress.

The game’s levels are varied and challenging, each with its own unique set of enemies and obstacles. The player must use their wits and reflexes to survive and reach the end of each level.

In addition to the standard enemies, Implosion also features a number of boss battles. These bosses are large and powerful, and they require the player to use all of their skills to defeat them.

One of the things that makes Implosion so unique is its weapon system. The player’s ship can be equipped with a variety of different weapons, each with its own unique strengths and weaknesses. The player must experiment with different weapons to find the ones that work best for them.

Implosion also features a number of power-ups that can help the player survive and progress through the game. These power-ups include extra lives, shields, and weapons.

The game’s visuals are also impressive, especially for its time. The levels are colorful and detailed, and the enemies and bosses are all well-animated.

Implosion is a challenging but rewarding shooter that is sure to please fans of the genre. Its fast-paced gameplay, challenging levels, and great visuals make it a must-play for anyone who loves classic arcade shooters.

Gameplay

Implosion is a vertically scrolling shooter in which the player controls a lone spaceship. The player’s ship is constantly moving upwards, and they must shoot down enemies and dodge obstacles as they progress.

The game’s levels are varied and challenging, each with its own unique set of enemies and obstacles. The player must use their wits and reflexes to survive and reach the end of each level.

In addition to the standard enemies, Implosion also features a number of boss battles. These bosses are large and powerful, and they require the player to use all of their skills to defeat them.

One of the things that makes Implosion so unique is its weapon system. The player’s ship can be equipped with a variety of different weapons, each with its own unique strengths and weaknesses. The player must experiment with different weapons to find the ones that work best for them.

Implosion also features a number of power-ups that can help the player survive and progress through the game. These power-ups include extra lives, shields, and weapons.

Graphics and Sound

Implosion’s graphics are impressive, especially for its time. The levels are colorful and detailed, and the enemies and bosses are all well-animated.

The game’s sound is also very good. The music is catchy and upbeat, and the sound effects are realistic and immersive.

Overall

Implosion is a challenging but rewarding shooter that is sure to please fans of the genre. Its fast-paced gameplay, challenging levels, and great visuals make it a must-play for anyone who loves classic arcade shooters.

Tips for Playing Implosion

  • Use the different weapons to your advantage. Each weapon has its own unique strengths and weaknesses, so experiment with them to find the ones that work best for you.
  • Pick up the power-ups whenever you can. Power-ups can help you survive and progress through the game.
  • Be careful of the bosses. The bosses are large and powerful, so be sure to use all of your skills to defeat them.
  • Don’t give up! Implosion is a challenging game, but it is possible to beat it with patience and practice.

Review Score

8.5/10

Art

Cover Art

Screenshots

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Frightmare (1988)

by Nish
written by Nish 4 minutes read

Summary

Frightmare (1988): A Spooky and Atmospheric Multi-Screen Platform Game

Released in 1988 by Floppy Electronics Ltd., Frightmare is a multi-screen platform game that was released for the Commodore 64, PC, and ZX Spectrum. The game is set in a haunted house, and the player controls a character who must navigate through the house and defeat the ghosts and monsters that inhabit it.

Frightmare is a challenging game, but it is also a lot of fun. The game’s graphics are spooky and atmospheric, and the gameplay is addictive. If you’re a fan of platform games or horror games, then you’ll definitely want to check out Frightmare.

Gameplay

The player controls a character who must navigate through a haunted house. The house is divided into a series of screens, and the player must progress from one screen to the next in order to complete the game. Each screen is filled with ghosts and monsters, and the player must defeat these enemies in order to proceed.

The player can defeat enemies by shooting them with a gun or by jumping on them. The player can also collect power-ups that will give them special abilities, such as the ability to shoot faster or jump higher.

The game is over if the player loses all of their lives. The player has a limited number of lives, and they can lose a life if they are hit by an enemy or if they fall off a platform.

Graphics and Sound

The graphics in Frightmare are spooky and atmospheric. The game’s use of color is particularly effective, and the game’s backgrounds are filled with detail. The game’s sound is also very good, and the music and sound effects are both creepy and effective.

Overall

Frightmare is a challenging and addictive platform game. The game’s graphics and sound are both very good, and the gameplay is sure to keep you entertained for hours on end. If you’re a fan of platform games or horror games, then you’ll definitely want to check out Frightmare.

Review Score

7/10

Pros

  • Spooky and atmospheric graphics
  • Addictive gameplay
  • Great sound

Cons

  • Can be difficult at times
  • Limited number of lives

Tips for Playing Frightmare

  • Be careful not to fall off of platforms.
  • Use your gun to defeat enemies from a distance.
  • Collect power-ups to give yourself special abilities.
  • Don’t be afraid to experiment with different strategies.

Frightmare (1988) Trivia

  • The game was originally going to be called “Haunted House,” but the name was changed to Frightmare to avoid confusion with other games with the same name.
  • The game’s graphics were inspired by the horror movies of the 1980s.
  • The game’s music was composed by Rob Hubbard, who is known for his work on other classic Commodore 64 games such as Commando and The Last Ninja.

Review Score

7/10

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