| Cohen's Towers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Fanda |
| Publisher(s) | Datamost Databyte |
| Designer(s) | Frank Cohen |
| Platform(s) | Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64 |
| Release | 1983 |
| Genre(s) | Platform |
Cohen's Towers is a platform game written by Frank Cohen [1] and released by Datamost in 1983 for Atari 8-bit computers [2] and Commodore 64. It was re-released in 1986 by Databyte in the United Kingdom. [3]
In Cohen's Towers the player plays the part of Allen, starting his new job as a mail boy. He has to collect mail parcels one at the time from different floors and deliver them to any of the three available 'mail drops'. To move up and down between the floors the player can use different elevators, but if he stays on one for too long a falling plant pot will knock him off. The player's work is also hindered by a dog pursuing him on most of the floors, or a sleepwalker.
Once the player collected and deposited all the parcels in the building, the Boss shows up and takes him to the next one. There are three different buildings in the game – Fanda, Datamost, and Cohen's Tower – each one harder to complete.
The game's music is one of the first examples of adaptive music. Different tunes accompany unusual occurrences: a dog chasing the player, a sleepwalker appearance, the Boss checking on the player's work. The main theme is an arrangement of Scott Joplin's "Elite Syncopations".
Steve Panak wrote in his column in the 1984 ANALOG Computing holiday issue, "don't even consider buying it. Cohen's Towers gives big business a bad name, and all copies should be piled up and turned into a towering inferno." [4] In a 1985 review for Page 6 Jim Short wrote: "it is an original and highly addictive game with great graphics and even better sound. [...] Cohen's Towers is an excellent little game that I can highly recommend." [5] Lloyd Davies, writing in Ahoy! , praised the "colorful scrolling screens and clever visual effects" and the game's learning curve, calling it "an arcade-quality piece of software." [6]
Writing for InfoWorld in March 1984, Scott Mace called it "one of the most humorous video games ever," joking that: "Now, for every mail clerk, everywhere [...], there's a video game that sums up what a fun job it can be." [7] In the journal Education, Research and Perspectives, Michael Scriven called it a "novelty" game whose "whimsy is central though not oppressive." [8]
Other games written by Frank Cohen:
Realm of Impossibility is an action game created by Mike Edwards for Atari 8-bit computers and published by Electronic Arts in 1984. It was originally released in 1983 as Zombies and published by BRAM, a company formed by Edwards and a friend. BRAM previously developed and published Attack at EP-CYG-4.
Wizard's Crown is a 1986 top-down role-playing video game published by Strategic Simulations. It was released for the Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, IBM PC compatibles, Apple II, and Commodore 64. A sequel, The Eternal Dagger, was released in 1987.
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Oil's Well is a video game published by Sierra On-Line in 1983. The game was written for the Atari 8-bit family by Thomas J. Mitchell. Oil's Well is similar to the 1982 arcade game Anteater, re-themed to be about drilling for oil instead of a hungry insectivore. Ports were released in 1983 for the Apple II and Commodore 64, in 1984 for ColecoVision and the IBM PC, then in 1985 for MSX and the Sharp X1. A version with improved visuals and without Mitchell's involvement was released for MS-DOS in 1990.
Gateway to Apshai is an action-adventure game for the Commodore 64, ColecoVision and Atari 8-bit computers. It was developed by The Connelley Group and published by Epyx in 1983 as a prequel to Temple of Apshai. It is a more action-oriented version of Temple of Apshai, with smoother and faster graphics, streamlined controls, fewer role-playing video game elements, and fewer room descriptions.
Puzzle Panic, also known as Ken Uston's Puzzle Panic, is a puzzle video game created by blackjack strategist Ken Uston, Bob Polin, and Ron Karr. It was published by Epyx in 1984 for the Atari 8-bit computers and Commodore 64.
Beach Head II: The Dictator Strikes Back is a 1985 video game for the Commodore 64, a sequel to Beach Head, developed and published by Access Software. It was designed by Bruce Carver and his brother, Roger, and was released for the Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari 8-bit family, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum.
Transylvania is an adventure video game published by Penguin Software. It was released for the Apple II in 1982 followed by ports to the Atari 8-bit family and Commodore 64. A Macintosh conversion was published in 1984, then versions for the Amiga, Atari ST, and MS-DOS in 1985.
Getaway! is a crime-themed, multidirectional-scrolling maze game for Atari 8-bit computers. It was designed by Mark Reid and published by the Atari Program Exchange (APX) in 1982. In Getaway!, the player drives around a large city stealing cash, valuable items, and the contents of armored trucks, then must return the loot to their hideout. Three different police vehicles pursue, getting more aggressive as more crimes are committed.
Questron is a 1984 game from Strategic Simulations, the first fantasy title from a company known for computer wargames. It was written by Charles Dougherty and Gerald Wieczorek and released for the Apple II, Atari 8-bit family, and Commodore 64. A sequel, Questron II, was released in 1988.
Desert Falcon is a scrolling shooter developed by General Computer Corporation for the Atari 7800 and Atari 2600 and published by Atari Corporation in 1987. It was initially announced in 1984, prior to being named Desert Falcon, as one of the planned launch titles for the 7800. A cartridge version for Atari 8-bit computers, with XEGS-styled packaging, followed in 1988.
Cosmic Tunnels is a space-themed action game written by Tim Ferris and published by Datamost in 1983 for Atari 8-bit computers and in 1984 for the Commodore 64. Datamost also sold the game with Cohen's Towers as a "twin pack". It was re-released in 1986 by Databyte in the United Kingdom.
Monster Smash is an action game written by Dave Eisler and published by Datamost in 1983 for the Apple II and Atari 8-bit family. A Commodore 64 port followed in 1984. The Atari version features music written by Gary Gilbertson that was praised by reviewers. An earlier version of the game was published by The Software Farm in 1982 as Monster Mash.
Ghost Chaser is a platform game designed by Frank Cohen and published in 1984 by Artworx for Atari 8-bit computers and Commodore 64. U.S. Gold published the game in Europe.
The Scrolls of Abadon is a maze game designed by Frank Cohen and published in 1984 by Access Software for Atari 8-bit computers and Commodore 64.
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