Black Crystal

Last updated
Black Crystal
Black Crystal cover.jpg
Publisher(s) Carnell Software
Designer(s) Roy Carnell
Stuart A. Galloway
Programmer(s) Roy Carnell
Platform(s) ZX81, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, TI-99/4A
Release 1982
Genre(s) Action-adventure game

Black Crystal is an action-adventure game released in 1982 for the ZX81, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64 and TI-99/4A computers by Carnell Software Ltd. [1] [2] It was the first in the "Third Continent Trilogy" [3] of adventure games; followed by Volcanic Dungeon and The Wrath of Magra .

Contents

The game featured an epic story spanning many locations; Kingdom of Beroth, Castle of Shadows, The Shaggoth's Lair, The Temple of the Fire Demon, The Tower of Beroth, The Sea of Sand, The Underground Swamp, Gold Mine, Bridge Over Abyss, Temple Maze, Room of Pits, Lords of Chaos and finally The Black Crystal.

To load all of these locations on such early computers, the program employed a multi-load mechanism.

Plot

The player takes the role of an adventurer who must traverse the fantasy Kingdom of Beroth to defeat Tobias. Tobias has summoned a Black Crystal and this can only be destroyed by visiting six maps and retrieving seven rings of power. Once collected, the player must defeat Tobias in a final showdown. [4]

Gameplay

The game was primarily a text-adventure with a graphical map.

Completing a map allows the player to advance, while failure means a restart of the current map. Each map is loaded in sequence from the tape and as such makes this ZX81 title feel unique.

The player would have to enter commands to complete parts of the map, with different sections having different controls. [5]

As the game-world was very big, the player could save and load progress, and could revisit locations by entering co-ordinates. The player would rely on a mix of Purity, Physical Strength and Spiritual Strength to succeed the many tasks needed to reach the Black Crystal.

Reception

Due in-part to its innovative multi-load approach, the game has been frequently cited as one of the best ZX81 adventure games.

"There are only two graphics adventures which stand out in the market at the moment. The first to be produced was Black Crystal from Carnell Software..." [6]

"Black Crystal is the most ambitious adventure game I've seen for the ZX81, with elements of Lord Of The Rings grafted on to the adventure format. ...The program is large and is divided into six segments preceded by a short load test...it takes some time to master the use of keys controlling movement and weapons, and to discover the right tactics for various monsters. Still, Black Crystal has impressed me by its sheer quantity and generally high quality of presentation. I'm afraid I've become an addict." [7]

"...Black Crystal is a great graphic adventure that sees you traversing a variety of different environments to destroy the gem of the title. Spread across six impressive-looking maps, you’re given a variety of tasks ranging from retrieving keys to fighting dragons. ...the gripping gameplay will constantly push you forward for one more go." [8]

"...There are a few of these games that have gone down is history... 3D defender, Black Crystal, QS Scramble and Galactic Trooper are all worth a play." [9]

Reviews

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ZX Spectrum</span> 1982 series of home computers

The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit home computer developed and marketed by Sinclair Research. Considered one of the most influential computers ever made, it is also one of the best-selling British computers ever, with over five million units sold. It was released in the United Kingdom on 23 April 1982, and around the world in the following years, most notably in Europe, the United States, and Eastern Bloc countries.

<i>Manic Miner</i> 1983 video game

Manic Miner is a platform game written for the ZX Spectrum by Matthew Smith. It was published by Bug-Byte in 1983, then later the same year by Software Projects. The first game in the Miner Willy series, the design was inspired by Miner 2049er (1982) for the Atari 8-bit computers. Retro Gamer called Manic Miner one of the most influential platform games of all time, and it has been ported to numerous home computers, video game consoles, and mobile phones.

<i>Sabre Wulf</i> 1984 video game

Sabre Wulf is an action-adventure game released by British video game developer Ultimate Play the Game for the ZX Spectrum home computer in 1984. The player navigates the pith-helmeted Sabreman through a 2D jungle maze while collecting amulet pieces to bypass the guardian at its exit. The player does not receive explicit guidance on how to play and is left to decipher the game's objectives through trial and error. Sabreman moves between the maze's 256 connected screens by touching the border where one screen ends and another begins. Each screen is filled with colourful flora, enemies that spawn at random, and occasional collectibles.

<i>Jetpac</i> 1983 arcade-style shooter video game

Jetpac is a shooter video game developed and published by Ultimate Play the Game and released for the ZX Spectrum and VIC-20 in 1983 and the BBC Micro in 1984. It is the first game to be released by Ultimate Play the Game, the company which later became Rare. The game follows Jetman as he must rebuild his rocket in order to explore different planets, while simultaneously defending against hostile aliens. It was written by Ultimate co-founder Chris Stamper with graphics designed by his brother, Tim Stamper. Reviewers praised Jetpac's presentation and gameplay, and it won "Game of the Year" at the Golden Joystick Awards in 1983.

<i>Valhalla</i> (video game) 1983 video game

Valhalla is a text adventure with graphics published in 1983 by the British studio Legend for the ZX Spectrum. It reached number one in the UK sales charts. The Commodore 64 version of the game was released in 1984 and reached number five.

<i>3D Monster Maze</i> 1981 video game

3D Monster Maze is a survival horror computer game developed from an idea by J.K. Greye and programmed by Malcolm Evans and released in 1981 for the Sinclair ZX81 platform with the 16 KB memory expansion. The game was initially released by J. K. Greye Software in December 1981 and re-released in 1982 by Evans' own startup, New Generation Software. Rendered using low-resolution character block "graphics", it was one of the first 3D games for a home computer, and one of the first games incorporating typical elements of the genre that would later be termed survival horror.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CRL Group</span>

CRL Group plc was a British video game development and publishing company. Originally CRL stood for "Computer Rentals Limited". It was based in King's Yard, London and run by Clem Chambers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Artic Computing</span> English computer game company, 1980–1986

Artic Computing was a software development company based in Brandesburton, England from 1980 to 1986. The company's first games were for the Sinclair ZX81 home computer, but they expanded and were also responsible for various ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, BBC Micro, Acorn Electron and Amstrad CPC computer games. The company was set up by Richard Turner and Chris Thornton. Charles Cecil, who later founded Revolution Software, joined the company shortly after it was founded, writing Adventures B through D. Developer Jon Ritman produced a number of ZX81 and Spectrum games for Artic before moving to Ocean Software.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bug-Byte</span> Video game company active from 1980 to 1985

Bug-Byte Software Ltd. was a video game company founded in 1980 in Liverpool, initially producing software for the Acorn Atom and ZX80. Bug-Byte's first hit was Don Priestley's Mazogs which was one of the most successful titles for the ZX81. In 1983, it published Manic Miner, considered to be one of the most influential platform games of all time. The company went into liquidation in 1985 but their name and logo were purchased by Argus Press PLC for use as a budget software label.

Cronosoft is a UK-based non-profit software publisher established in 2002, by Simon Ullyatt which manufactures and markets games and utility software for a range of mainly 8-bit computers that are considered "retro" or commercially obsolete.

Crystal Computing, later renamed Design Design, was a British video game developer founded in 1982 by Chris Clarke and Ian Stamp while students at the University of Manchester. Graham Stafford, Neil Mottershead, Simon Brattel and Martin Horsley, joined the company as it expanded. The company's first software release was a compilation of games for the Sinclair ZX81, though it was with the ZX Spectrum that Crystal found its greatest success. A deal with the machine's manufacturer Sinclair to distribute Crystal's Zeus Assembler gave the company sufficient funds for a major marketing campaign for their next product, Halls of the Things, an arcade adventure game that became their most successful title.

<i>Halls of the Things</i> 1983 video game

Halls of the Things is a video game developed by Design Design for the ZX Spectrum and released by Crystal Computing in 1983. It was ported to the Amstrad CPC and Commodore 64. The player travels through seven floors of a tower, searching for seven rings, with each floor being a complex maze of corridors and rooms. Once the player has the rings they must then find the magical key hidden in the dungeon, which opens the drawbridge allowing the player to escape. To hinder the player's progress they are attacked by "things," but the player is armed with a sword, arrows, fireballs and lightning to aid you in the quest.

Richard Shepherd Software was a British software house active between 1982 and 1985. The company was mainly known for releasing text adventure games. These were programmed by Richard Shepherd himself and Pete Cooke.

<i>The Warlock of Firetop Mountain</i> (video game) 1984 video game

The Warlock of Firetop Mountain is an action game published by Crystal Computing in 1984 for the ZX Spectrum home computer. It is loosely based on the adventure gamebook of the same name written by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone, and published by Puffin Books in 1982.

<i>The Rats</i> (video game) 1985 video game

The Rats is a survival horror text adventure for the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum computers. It is based on the 1974 novel The Rats by James Herbert. The game was programmed by GXT, and published by Hodder & Stoughton, who were the publishers of James Herbert's book The Rats. An Amstrad CPC version was planned, but was never released.

<i>Mined-Out</i> 1983 maze video game

Mined-Out is a maze video game created by Ian Andrew originally for the ZX Spectrum home computer in 1983. The objective is to carefully navigate a series of grid-shaped minefields by moving from the bottom to the top of the screen. The number of invisible mines in spaces adjacent to the player's current position is shown but not their precise location, requiring deduction to advance past them and avoid getting blown up. Additional challenges are introduced in later stages.

<i>Volcanic Dungeon</i> 1983 video game

Volcanic Dungeon is a role-playing video game designed by Roy Carnell and Stuart A. Galloway and released by Carnell Software for the ZX Spectrum, Dragon 32/64 and ZX81 computers in 1983. It is a follow-up to 1982's Black Crystal.

<i>The Wrath of Magra</i> 1984 video game

The Wrath of Magra is a role-playing video game published by Carnell Software for the ZX Spectrum in 1984. It is a sequel to 1983's Volcanic Dungeon.

<i>Quest Adventure</i> 1983 video game

Quest Adventure is an adventure video game written by Kim Topley for the ZX Spectrum and published by Hewson Consultants in 1983.

References

  1. ↑ "Black Crystal". Moby Games.
  2. ↑ "TI-99/4A version". Tezxas.
  3. ↑ "Third Continent Trilogy". Moby Games.
  4. ↑ "Black Crystal: Hints and Tips". The Tipshop.
  5. ↑ "Black Crystal; Cassette Inlay Instructions, Controls". Games Database.
  6. ↑ Heath, Quentin (September 1983). "Graphic action takes adventures into new areas of interest". Sinclair User. No. 18.
  7. ↑ C., C. (5 April 1983). "Black Crystal (Carnell)". Home Computing Weekly. No. 5.
  8. ↑ "Retro Gamer, feature: Top Ten ZX81 Games". Retro Gamer. 13 February 2024.
  9. ↑ "The Spectrum Show, feature: The Sinclair ZX81". The Spectrum Show.
  10. ↑ "Crash Magazine Issue 01". February 1984.
  11. ↑ "Sinclair User Magazine Issue 013". April 1983.
  12. ↑ "ZX Computing Magazine (December 1983)". December 1983.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.