| Molecule Man | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Robin Thompson |
| Publisher(s) | Mastertronic |
| Platform(s) | ZX Spectrum, Commodore Plus/4, Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit, Amstrad CPC, MSX |
| Release | 1986 |
| Genre(s) | Action-adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Molecule Man is an isometric 3D action-adventure video game released by Mastertronic in 1986 for 8-bit home computers. A level editor is included which enables the player to create their own mazes.
Molecule Man is trapped in a radioactive maze and must reach the escape teleport before the radiation kills him.
The player controls the Molecule Man in his quest to escape within a time limit. He must find the teleport and repair it using 16 circuit board pieces that are scattered around the maze. Bombs must be purchased to blow open inaccessible areas. Meanwhile, the radiation is killing him and health pills must be purchased to prolong his life.
Coins can be found lying around. These must be collected and taken to dispensers to purchase bombs and pills.
ZX Computing wrote, "No not another 3-D maze game! 'Fraid so". [1] A 1986 review for Sinclair User was more positive:
It's a little bit of Cylu, it's a bit Ultimate, it's a bit like quite a few other games, but Molecule Man is still wonderful... Around six months ago quite a few programmers seemed to discover surrealism as a way of life, programs started to be filled with objects normally not associated with one another - Sweevo with its little girls, odd fowl and tropical fruit is one memorable example. Molecule Man belongs to the same surrealist school of graphics design... a very entertaining, fairly original and addictive game [2]
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.
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.
Hungry Horace is a video game developed by Psion Software Ltd. and published by Sinclair Research in 1982 for Commodore 64, Dragon 32/64, Timex Sinclair 2068, ZX Spectrum, and later for Microsoft Windows and Android. It is the first game in the Horace series. The gameplay is noted to be very similar to Pac-Man, involving the collection of food pellets in a maze while avoiding enemies. Despite this, critical reception of the game was generally positive upon release.
Pentagram is a ZX Spectrum and MSX video game released by Ultimate Play the Game in 1986. It is the fourth in the Sabreman series, following on from his adventures in Sabre Wulf, Underwurlde and Knight Lore. Similarly to Knight Lore it uses the isometric Filmation engine. The game was written by either Tim and Chris Stamper or a U.S. Gold programming team.
Aliens: The Computer Game is a 1986 video game developed by Software Studios and published by Electric Dreams Software initially for Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum. It is based on the film of the same title. Ports for the Commodore 16 and MSX were developed by Mr. Micro and published in 1987.
180 is a darts video game released for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, and Atari 8-bit computers in 1986 and MSX in 1987.
Cobra is a 1986 platform game based on the film of the same name. It was developed and published by Ocean Software, and was released in Europe for Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64 (C64), and ZX Spectrum. By 1990, it received a budget re-release.
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.
Escape is maze video game for the ZX Spectrum developed by New Generation Software and published in 1982.
Agent X, also known as Agent X in the Brain Drain Caper, is a computer game released in 1986 for the ZX Spectrum. The player takes control of the eponymous Agent X in a multi-load game made up of a number of sub-games. It was followed by a sequel, Agent X II: The Mad Prof's Back.
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes is a computer game released in 1986 for the Sinclair Spectrum, Amstrad CPC and MSX. It is based on the 1978 comedy film of the same name.
Glider Rider is an isometric action-adventure game published by Quicksilva in 1986 for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, and Amstrad CPC. The music was composed by David Whittaker.
BMX Simulator is a racing video game designed by Richard Darling and released by Codemasters in 1986 for the Commodore 64. It is part of a series of games that includes ATV Simulator, Grand Prix Simulator, Professional Ski Simulator, and a sequel: Professional BMX Simulator. BMX Simulator was ported to the Amiga, Atari 8-bit computers, Atari ST, Amstrad CPC, MSX, ZX Spectrum, Commodore Plus/4 and Commodore 16.
Survivors is a puzzle video game published by Atlantis Software in 1986 for the ZX Spectrum. It was ported to the MSX, Atari 8-bit computers, Commodore 64, Commodore 16, Acorn Electron, and BBC Micro and the Amstrad CPC (1988). It is based on the "rocks and diamonds" mechanics of Boulder Dash.
Silicon Dreams is a trilogy of interactive fiction games developed by Level 9 Computing during the 1980s. The first game was Snowball, released during 1983, followed a year later by Return to Eden, and then by The Worm in Paradise during 1985. The next year they were vended together as the first, second and last of the Silicon Dreams.
3-D Monster Chase is a first-person maze game written by Dave Noonan and released by Romik in 1984 for the Amstrad CPC and ZX Spectrum. A version for Camputers Lynx titled 3-D Monster Craze was developed by Camsoft.
Moonlight Madness is a platform game for the ZX Spectrum home computer, published in 1986 by Bubble Bus Software. The player controls a boy scout attempting to unlock a safe within a mansion to obtain pills for the mansion's owner, a mad scientist, who has collapsed. This requires the player to traverse the mansion's rooms while avoiding hazards such as dangerous house servants and fatal falls.
Shaken but Not Stirred is a 1982 text adventure developed and published by Richard Shepherd Software, and released in the United Kingdom for the ZX Spectrum. The game is based on the fictional spy character of James Bond.
Yes, Prime Minister is a 1987 adventure game based on the television series of the same name. It was developed by Oxford Digital Enterprises and published by Mosaic Publishing. It was released in Europe for Amstrad CPC, BBC Micro, Commodore 64, DOS, and ZX Spectrum. Critics found it a faithful adaptation of the television series, but remarked on its high price, short length, and lack of long-term appeal.