Joe Blade

Last updated
Joe Blade
Joe Blade cover.jpg
Developer(s) Players
Publisher(s) Players (Interceptor Micros)
Designer(s) Colin Swinbourne
Platform(s) ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Acorn Electron, BBC Micro, Atari 8-bit, MSX, Amiga, Atari ST
Release1987
Genre(s) Platform
Mode(s) Single-player

Joe Blade is a video game published by Interceptor Micros on their Players budget label for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64 and Amstrad CPC in 1987. [1] It reached the top of the UK game charts, replacing Renegade . [2] In Germany, the game peaked at number 7. [3] It was ported to the Acorn Electron, BBC Micro, Atari 8-bit computers, MSX, Amiga, and Atari ST. A sequel, Joe Blade 2 , was published in 1988. Another sequel, Joe Blade 3 , was released in 1989. [4]

Contents

Gameplay

Joe comes across a kidnapped World Leader and a guard (ZX Spectrum) ZX joe blade.png
Joe comes across a kidnapped World Leader and a guard (ZX Spectrum)

The first Joe Blade title portrayed Blade as a lone commando sent into an evil mastermind's complex to release a number of diplomats.

Reception

Ron Stewart for Page 6 said "It is not a great game, but for under a tenner what do you expect. There is enough game play here to keep you going for a while." [5]

Arnie Katz & Joyce Worley for Ahoy!'s AmigaUser said "Joe Blade is an exceptionally well programmed product. Its animated illustrations and jaunty soundtrack give it an edge over numerous other "storm-the-fortress" epics." [6]

Computer and Video Games said "Nice and cheap with ace graphics, Joe Blade certainly cuts it. A good buy." [7]

Crash said "extremely playable and addictive." [8]

Reviews

Related Research Articles

<i>Skate or Die!</i> 1987 video game

Skate or Die! is a skateboarding video game released by Electronic Arts (EA) in 1987 for the Commodore 64. It is EA's first internally developed game. Versions for the Apple IIGS, MS-DOS, Amstrad CPC, and ZX Spectrum followed. It was ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System by Konami, published under the company's Ultra Games branding.

<i>Krakout</i> 1987 video game

Krakout is a Breakout clone that was released for the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, BBC Micro, Commodore 64, Thomson computers and MSX platforms in 1987. One of the wave of enhanced Breakout variants to emerge in the wake of Arkanoid, its key distinctions are that gameplay is horizontal in layout, and that it allows the player to select the acceleration characteristics of the bat before playing. It was written by Andy Green and Rob Toone and published by Gremlin Graphics. The music was composed by Ben Daglish.

Artworx was a Naples, Florida software company that produced and supported a line of computer games from 1981 to 2015. It is named after the founder's given name. At first the company published a variety of games, including titles in adventure and arcade-action genres, but were later best known for a strip poker series.

<i>Trailblazer</i> (video game) 1986 video game

Trailblazer is a racing video game developed by Mr. Chip Software and published by Gremlin Graphics for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit computers, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 16 and Plus/4 in 1986. It was ported to the Amiga and Atari ST.

<i>War in Middle Earth</i> 1988 video game

War in Middle Earth is a real-time strategy game released for the ZX Spectrum, MSX, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, MS-DOS, Amiga, Apple IIGS, and Atari ST in 1988 by Virgin Mastertronic on the Melbourne House label.

<i>Barbarian</i> (1987 video game) 1987 video game

Barbarian is a 1987 platform game by Psygnosis. It was first developed for the Atari ST, and was ported to the Amiga, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, MSX, Amstrad CPC, and ZX Spectrum. The Amiga port was released in 1987; the others were released in 1988. The cover artwork is by fantasy artist Roger Dean.

<i>Basil the Great Mouse Detective</i> 1987 video game

Basil the Great Mouse Detective is a platform, action-adventure game designed by Bob Armour and published by Gremlin Graphics in 1987 for the Amstrad CPC, Atari 8-bit computers, and Commodore 64. The game is based on the 1986 Disney animated film The Great Mouse Detective.

<i>Iron Lord</i> 1989 video game

Iron Lord is an adventure video game developed by Orou Mama and Ivan Jacot for the Atari ST and published by Ubi Soft in 1989. It was ported to the Amiga, Acorn Archimedes, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, and MS-DOS.

<i>Tiger Road</i> 1987 video game

Tiger Road is a hack and slash platform game originally released in 1987 as a coin-operated arcade video game.

<i>Football Manager</i> (1982 video game) 1982 video game

Football Manager is the first game in the Football Manager series.

<i>Brian Cloughs Football Fortunes</i> 1987 video game

Brian Clough's Football Fortunes is a sports video game featuring English football player Brian Clough. It was released in 1987 for the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Atari 8-bit computers, Atari ST, BBC Micro, Commodore 16, Plus/4, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, Acorn Electron, MSX, and ZX Spectrum.

<i>Into the Eagles Nest</i> 1987 video game

Into the Eagle's Nest is a video game developed by Pandora and published for Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari 8-bit computers, Atari ST, Commodore 64, IBM PC compatibles, and ZX Spectrum starting in 1987.

<i>Indoor Sports</i> 1987 video game

Indoor Sports is a sports video game developed by DesignStar's SportTime and first published in the U.S. by Mindscape in 1987 for the Commodore 64. Indoor Sports includes simulations of bowling, darts, ping-pong, and air hockey. It was converted to the Acorn Electron, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari ST, BBC Micro, MS-DOS, and ZX Spectrum. Verisons for the Commodore 16 and Commodore Plus/4 omit Air Hockey. In Europe it was published by Databyte, Advance Software, and Tynesoft, depending on the platform.

<i>Global Commander</i> 1987 video game

Global Commander is a computer game developed by Martech in 1987 for the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum.

<i>Boulder Dash Construction Kit</i> 1986 video game

Boulder Dash Construction Kit is the fourth game in the Boulder Dash series. It was published for the Commodore 64 and Atari 8-bit computers in 1986 by Epyx. Ports were released for the Apple II, Atari ST, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, and MS-DOS. The Spectrum version was rereleased as Boulder Dash IV: The Game. Boulder Dash Construction Kit includes new levels and a level editor.

<i>Spy vs. Spy III: Arctic Antics</i> 1986 video game

Spy vs. Spy III: Arctic Antics is the third game in the Spy vs. Spy series. The game was developed by First Star Software.

<i>P-47: The Phantom Fighter</i> 1988 video game

P-47: The Phantom Fighter is a 1988 horizontally scrolling shooter arcade video game originally developed by NMK and published by Jaleco. Set during World War II, players control a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter aircraft to face against the Nazis, who are occupying multiple countries around the world. Its gameplay involves destroying waves of enemies, picking up power-ups and new weapons, and destroying bosses. It ran on the Mega System 1 hardware.

<i>Pink Panther</i> (video game) 1988 video game

Pink Panther is a 1988 video game based on the character of the same name. It was developed by German company Magic Bytes and published by Gremlin Graphics. It was released in Europe for Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum. Pink Panther was criticized for its control and difficulty, although the Amiga and Atari ST versions received praise for their graphics.

<i>Super Cycle</i> 1986 video game

Super Cycle is a 1986 racing video game developed and published by Epyx. Originally released for the Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum and Atari ST, it is a clone of Sega's 1985 arcade racing game Hang-On.

<i>Spherical</i> (video game) 1989 video game

Spherical is a 1989 video game published by Rainbow Arts. It was released for the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, and ZX Spectrum.

References

  1. 1 2 "Joe Blade". The Game Machine. No. 4. Newsfield. March 1988. p. 64.
  2. "Charts". Popular Computing Weekly. No. 44. Sunshine Publications. 6 November 1987. p. 35. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  3. "Hotline Top 30 Im Januar". Aktueller Software Markt. Tronic-Verlag. January 1988. p. 34. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  4. "Pre-Views - Joe Blade 3". Sinclair User . No. 90. EMAP. September 1989. p. 87.
  5. "Page6 33 May88" via Internet Archive.
  6. "Ahoy!'s AmigaUser - Issue 3 (1988-11)(Ion International)(US)". November 24, 1988 via Internet Archive.
  7. "Computer and Video Games Issue 0073a" via Internet Archive.
  8. "Crash - No. 44 (1987-09)(Newsfield)(GB)". September 24, 1987 via Internet Archive.
  9. "MegaJoystick Magazine (Spanish) Issue 02" via Internet Archive.
  10. "Amstrad Accion Issue 04" via Internet Archive.