TVBALL
(Geco, 2016)
There are plenty of Breakout clones for the CPC, and this one is a conversion of a game that was originally released in Hungary for the Enterprise and Videoton TVC computers. First impressions aren’t positive; the graphics are very Spectrum-like and a lot of the colour schemes used in the levels are extremely garish. The speed of the bat varies depending on how far it is to the left or right of the ball, which makes it quite difficult to control. Power-ups are offered on a regular basis, but they appear in an alcove which closes after a short period of time, so be careful not to get yourself trapped! Once you complete the first level, all the remaining levels are selected randomly, but they all seem to be very difficult to complete, even with the abundance of extra lives offered. Although the game may feature some novel variations on the Breakout theme, it remains mediocre overall.
A novel game in more ways than one. Firstly, it’s set in the world of horse racing. Secondly, you get two games for the price of one (the main text adventure and a horse race betting game). Finally, the game is actually based on a novel by Dick Francis, who was a highly successful jockey before he retired and turned to writing crime novels. A nice little plot is backed up by some good graphics that perhaps could have featured a little more colour. The screen layout is helpfully done but progress can be tricky to make as you work out what inputs can and cannot be accepted. The betting game can be used in conjunction with the adventure or played separately and is a nice distraction. There are not many sports-based text adventures on CPC but this is a good one.
Twin Turbo V8
(Code Masters, 1988)
You’re behind the wheels of one of the most powerful cars that money can buy – the Ferrari F40 – and you’re racing it through five stages to beat the clock. Watch out for the other cars, though, and the scenery which lines the track! The game seems a bit easy at first – I reached the fourth stage on my first go – but it’s not. However, it is extremely fast, which isn’t surprising when you see how blocky the graphics are. The sound consists of engine acceleration noises, but there’s a nice tune on the title screen.
Twinworld
(Ubi Soft, 1990)
Ulopa Cariken’s family once owned a powerful magical amulet, but when he was just two years old, an evil druid called Maldur massacred his family and stole the amulet. It was then broken into 23 pieces which are scattered across the land of Gaspary. Ulopa is now 16 years old, and as Ulopa, you must retrieve all the pieces of the amulet. With 23 levels of platform action, and one piece to collect on each level, it won’t be easy. The graphics are fantastic and there is a fairly wide variety of monsters to kill, although it can be difficult to spot them against the very detailed backgrounds. Sound effects are sadly lacking, but this doesn’t detract from what is a really rather good platform game.
Two Days to the Race
(Davide Bucci, 2021)
It’s July 1902, and you are Emilia Vittorini. Your father Augusto has developed a prototype car that is due to participate in a race in two days’ time, but you learn from your uncle Tullio that it has been stolen! You must find out what has happened to the car and who has stolen it. This is the first in a trilogy of text adventures starring Emilia as the protagonist, although curiously, it was the last of the three games to be released for the CPC. The game begins in the family villa, where a vital clue can be obtained with some searching and a little help. From there, the trail will lead you to other locations to meet with a friend of your family and uncover further clues. This is a relatively small adventure and it’s fairly easy to complete, but while it may be lacking in challenge, it makes up for it by instilling an atmosphere of intrigue and suspense, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
See also: The Queen’s Footsteps.
Typhoon
(Imagine, 1988)
Take on the alien hordes in an F-14 fighter and a helicopter through five levels of destruction. It’s strange how the aliens also use planes and helicopters just like those on Earth, but never mind. You’re in a fighter plane for the first and fourth levels, flying into the screen and shooting a few formations of planes. These levels are fairly easy, although the collision detection is very dodgy. You’re in a helicopter for the other three levels, which are vertically scrolling affairs. These levels are a bit tougher, with more enemies to contend with and bullets to avoid, although you can use bombs as well as bullets. The graphics are OK and the sound and music are both pretty good, and overall, it’s a nice, albeit easy, shoot-’em-up.
Watch a YouTube video of this game by:
ChinnyVision.