Kikstart: Off-Road Simulator

Last updated
Kikstart: Off-Road Simulator
Kikstart Off-Road Simulator Cover Art.jpg
Developer(s) Mr. Chip Software
Publisher(s) Mastertronic
Designer(s) Shaun Southern
Platform(s) Atari 8-bit, Commodore 16 / Plus/4, Commodore 64
Release1985
Genre(s) Racing
Mode(s) Single-player, two-player

Kikstart: Off-Road Simulator is a racing game designed by Shaun Southern and published by Mastertronic in 1985 for the Commodore 64. [1] Ports for Commodore 16 / Plus/4 and Atari 8-bit computers followed in 1986, and a sequel, Kikstart 2 , in 1987.

Contents

Gameplay

Gameplay screenshot (Atari 8-bit) Kikstart Off-Road Simulator Atari 8-bit PAL screenshot.png
Gameplay screenshot (Atari 8-bit)

In the game, the player takes on the role of a stuntman controlling a stunt motorcycle. The screen is divided into two parts - the player can compete against the computer or another player. There are several different tracks available in the game, on each of them we can find a different set of obstacles, such as water tanks, buses, cars, trees, etc. The player has to choose the right form of control for each combination of hazards. Some of them need to be taken slowly, others quickly, and the player has to learn the right timing for his jumps and wheelies. Each section of a track must be completed within a given time limit, indicated by a clock at the top of the screen.

Reception

Kikstart: Off-Road Simulator received mostly positive reviews. Reviewers praised the simultaneous two-player mode and the low price. Your Commodore reviewer concluded: "The introduction of software of this quality at such realistic price can only be applauded and should go someway to discouraging piracy, surely most people can afford a couple of quid for an original game. Well done Mastertronic." [2] Zzap!64 reviewer found the game: "incredible value for only £1.99 and I would thoroughly recommend it." [3]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Great Giana Sisters</i> 1987 video game

The Great Giana Sisters is a platform game developed by the West German company Time Warp and published by Rainbow Arts in 1987 for home computers such as the Commodore 64, Amiga and Atari ST. Players control Giana to explore a magical world inside their dreams; to wake up, they must find a giant diamond. They traverse side-scrolling stages while avoiding hazards such as monsters and other enemies. These can be defeated by using power-ups, which grant the player abilities such as firing projectiles and making enemies fall asleep.

<i>Underwurlde</i> 1984 video game

Underwurlde is a 1984 action-adventure platform video game in the Sabreman series by Ultimate Play the Game for the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64. The player controls the adventurer Sabreman as he jumps between platforms in a castle and its caverns to find an escape past the exit guardians. Underwurlde features about 600 flip screen areas. Unlike other games of its time, Sabreman is not injured when touched by enemies and is instead knocked backwards. Underwurlde is the second game in the series, between Sabre Wulf and Knight Lore, and released shortly before the latter for the ZX Spectrum in late 1984. Another developer, Firebird, ported the game to the Commodore 64 the next year.

<i>Ace of Aces</i> (video game) 1986 video game

Ace of Aces is a combat flight simulation game developed by Artech Digital Entertainment and published in 1986 by Accolade in North America and U.S. Gold in Europe. It was released for the Amstrad CPC, Atari 8-bit computers, Atari 7800, Commodore 64, MSX, MS-DOS, Master System, and ZX Spectrum. Set in World War II, the player flies a RAF Mosquito long range fighter-bomber equipped with rockets, bombs and a cannon. Missions include destroying German fighter planes, bombers, V-1 flying bombs, U-boats, and trains. In 1988, Atari Corporation released a version on cartridge for Atari 8-bit computers styled for the then-new Atari XEGS.

<i>One Man and His Droid</i> 1985 video game

One Man and His Droid is a game published by Mastertronic in 1985 for use on the Amstrad CPC, Atari 8-bit computers, Commodore 16, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum. The name of the game is a play on the title of the BBC television show One Man and His Dog. The object of the game is to use a doglike droid to collect Ramboids, the male form of alien sheep. The player must move these Ramboids into teleporters to win the game.

<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>Action Biker</i> 1985 video game

Action Biker is a 1985 game for Atari 8-bit computers, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum released by Mastertronic. The game was a tie-in with snack food KP Skips, whose mascot was "Clumsy Colin" who featured in television adverts for Skips at around the time the game was published. The music was composed by Rob Hubbard.

<i>Kikstart 2</i> 1987 video game

Kikstart 2 is a motorcycle trials racing videogame released for the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum. It enjoyed more success than its predecessor, Kikstart. The game allowed 2-player simultaneous or 1-player, vs-computer play.

<i>Dropzone</i> 1984 video game

Dropzone is a horizontally scrolling shooter developed by Archer Maclean for Atari 8-bit computers and published in 1984 by U.S. Gold. It was ported to the Commodore 64, and later released for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy, Game Gear, and Game Boy Color. Ports for Master System and Sega Genesis were also announced, but never released.

<i>Enduro Racer</i> 1986 video game

Enduro Racer (エンデューロレーサー) is an arcade racing game from Sega. It was released in 1986 with two arcade cabinet versions, a stand-up cabinet with handlebars and a full-sized dirt bike cabinet. It is often seen as a dirt racing version of Hang-On, as it uses a similar engine and PCB. The game was later released for the Master System in 1987, the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64 in 1988, and the Amstrad CPC and Atari ST in 1989.

<i>Zub</i> 1986 video game

Zub is a 1986 platform video game designed by Ste and John Pickford, developed by Binary Design, and published by Mastertronic for the Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum. The game has the player control Zub, who has to travel to different planets to retrieve the Green Eyeball of Zub. A parody of the game Light Force, called Lightfarce, was added in as an easter egg. The music on all computers was composed by David Whittaker.

<i>Black Lamp</i> (video game) 1988 video game

Black Lamp is a platform game, originally published by Firebird Software for the Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum computers in 1988, and later published by Atari Corporation for the Atari 8-bit computers in 1989.

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

Panther is a Commodore 64 game designed and implemented by Peter Adams and published by Mastertronic in 1986. A version for Atari 8-bit computers followed in 1987, then a ZX Spectrum port in 1989. The player pilots a strange-looking aircraft, fighting off hordes of invading flying saucers and rescuing people by landing the craft and waiting for them to board. The game uses a diagonally scrolling isometric view, much like Zaxxon and Blue Max, using shadows to show the height of flying objects. Adams previously worked on ports of both of those games.

<i>World Cup Soccer: Italia 90</i> 1990 video game

World Cup Soccer: Italia '90 is a football video game released for various home computers in 1990 by Virgin Mastertronic. It is the officially licensed game of the tournament. It was known simply as Italia '90 for the Tronix budget reissues.

<i>Ace</i> (video game) 1985 video game

Ace is a combat flight simulator video game published for the Commodore 64, VIC-20, and Plus/4 in 1985 by Cascade Games. It was ported to the Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Amiga, and ZX Spectrum.

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

Ninja is a beat 'em up game developed by Sculptured Software and released by Mastertronic in 1986 for the Atari 8-bit computers, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum, then in 1987 for the Amstrad CPC, Amiga, Atari ST, and MS-DOS. An arcade version of the game was released in 1987 for Mastertronic's Arcadia Systems which is based on Amiga hardware. The Amiga, Atari ST, and Arcade versions were released as Ninja Mission. As a Ninja, the player attacks a fortress made of individual fixed screens which can be explored non-linearly.

<i>Hero of the Golden Talisman</i> 1985 action-adventure video game

Hero of the Golden Talisman is an action-adventure video game developed by British studio Mr Chip Software and published by Mastertronic in 1985 for the Commodore 64. A port to the Amstrad CPC followed. It is an early example of the Metroidvania style, despite preceding both of the genre's namesakes.

<i>Top Gun</i> (1986 video game) 1986 video game

Top Gun is a 1986 combat flight simulation game based on the film of the same name. It was developed and published by British company Ocean Software, and was released for several computer platforms. In the United Kingdom, it was released for Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum in December 1986. The following year, it was released for Atari ST. In the United States, it was published by Thunder Mountain. In 1989, it was published by The Hit Squad as a budget re-release for ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64.

<i>Judge Dredd</i> (1991 video game) 1991 video game

Judge Dredd is a 1991 platform shoot 'em up video game based on the character of the same name. It was developed by Random Access and published by Virgin Mastertronic. It was released in Europe in 1991, for the Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum. Critics found the gameplay repetitive.

<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>Ninja Master</i> 1986 video game

Ninja Master is an action game depicting ninja training which was published in 1986 for various 8-bit home computers by the Firebird Software silver label. The game was developed by Tron Software and was poorly received by reviewers. A sequel, Oriental Hero, was developed by the same company and released in 1987.

References

  1. Hague, James. "The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers".
  2. "Software Spotlight". Your Commodore: 23. August 1985.
  3. "Zzap! test". Zzap!64: 43. July 1985.