Abandonware games developed by Micro Projects Limited

Dork's Dilemma?

Commodore 16, Plus/4 1985

You are Dork and you have crashed your spaceship and become unconscious on an unknown planet. Upon awakening, you realize that the planet's occupants, the Zobwats, have scrapped your spaceship and hidden the pieces in a subway realm. Each piece is placed in the middle of several individual screens with exits on the walls and you must kill a certain amount of Zobwats to get each piece. To kill the Zobwats you must throw a Time Bomb and it will explode after a couple of seconds, so make sure you are not in its blast range. After the bomb explodes, it will take a few seconds before you can use another one. If you are hit by the explosion range or hit a Zobwat then you will lose one of the three lives. Once all the Zobwats are destroyed, the piece appears on the right of the screen in a puzzle grid and you head to an exit to find another piece of your ship using a map on the right side of the screen. At any time you can go to the puzzle grid to rearrange the pieces in their correct place.

Petals of Doom

Commodore 16, Plus/4 1985

You find yourself in a strange alien world trapped in a network of caverns that are connected by energy curtains and can only be opened by making sure all the plants in the cavern are fully grown. Viewed from the side, as the screen scrolls left and right as you move, Petals of Doom has you having to explode the creatures inhabiting the caverns, making sure they don't step on the plants. Before you play, you decide how many lives you need, from one to six. As you protect each plant, they will grow over time, and when they have all grown you can move on to the next cavern, but they will shrink when touched by an alien. The growth of the plants is indicated by a bar and when it is empty, the plants are fully grown. Another bar to keep an eye on is the energy bar, which decreases if you touch an alien, fire your laser or fly with your jet-pack, and when it empties you lose a life, but it will increase if you are not touched or do not use your laser or jet-pack. When it is high enough, plants can be placed behind and aliens can't touch you. A radar at the top of the screen shows the location of any aliens and the keyboard or joystick is used to control your hero.

Reach for the Sky

Commodore 16, Plus/4 1986

Reach for the Sky is a shooting game inspired by the Capcom classic 1942. The player flies over the Pacific Ocean during World War II and shoots down waves of enemy aircraft while avoiding their counterfire. Weapon upgrades are obtained by shooting down specific formations of enemy waves (different in each level) without the planes escaping. At the end of each level you have to fight a giant bomber.

Sword of Destiny

Commodore 16, Plus/4 1985

You are Kalok and you have fought long and bravely, but in the end the evil sorcerer Xorphas has defeated and killed you. The problem is that instead of your soul going to warrior heaven, Xorphas has sought revenge by stealing your heart, which means your soul is destined to wander forever in Limbo. You still have the Sword of Destiny, so you decide that you will descend into the depths of the Warlock's lair, the Abyss of Death, to retrieve your heart. You will have to fight the evildoers and find the objects that open the abyss. There are small volcano-shaped mounds scattered all over the place and when you jump on them they allow you to jump higher. If you touch any unpleasant objects or fall from a height, your astral energy bar will decrease slightly. When it is empty, it will be game over. Sword of Destiny is a single player platformer. You use a joystick or the keyboard to control your hero.

Thing on a Spring

Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC 1985

Released in 1985, Thing on a Spring is a delightful platform game that made waves on the Commodore 64, showcasing the unique blend of quirky design and engaging gameplay that defined many titles of its era. Developed by the innovative team at Gremlin Graphics, this game captivated players with its whimsical graphics and amusing concept, transporting users into a vivid world filled with eccentric challenges. Players step into the shoes of a peculiar creature, navigating through intricate landscapes while evading deft obstacles and hunting for treasures. The central premise of Thing on a Spring places players in control of a spring-bound thingamajig, equipped with the peculiar ability to bounce across various terrains. This mechanized protagonist, often described as a comical hybrid of a pogo stick and a cartoon character, ventures through diverse levels that become progressively intricate. Each stage is laden with tricky enemies, collectible items, and strategic layout decisions, demanding quick reflexes and strategic thinking. Players must engage in time jumps, dodge menacing foes, and figure out the best paths to collect points and advance throughout the game. Graphically, Thing on a Spring stands out for its vibrant colors and cartoonish design, a hallmark of the Gremlin Graphics aesthetic. The characters and environments are imbued with a playful charm that resonates with the lighthearted nature of the gameplay. The lively animations and whimsical sound effects contribute to an immersive experience, transforming simple bouncing mechanics into a captivating adventure. Each level unfolds like a colorful tapestry, inviting players to explore every nook and cranny for hidden secrets and bonuses. A unique aspect of Thing on a Spring lies in its multiplayer capabilities, allowing friends to join forces in a bid to conquer the whimsical world together. This social dimension fosters camaraderie, with players teaming up to tackle challenges, strategize their moves, and engage in friendly competition. This co-op mode showcases the spirit of shared enjoyment that retro gaming often embodied, making it a memorable part of gaming history. Despite its charming simplicity, Thing on a Spring is not without difficulty. The levels require players to master the control of their bouncing protagonist, introducing layers of complexity that challenge even seasoned gamers. As players progress, they must adapt their strategies, balancing their eagerness to collect points with the inherent dangers of each uniquely designed stage. This marriage of creativity and challenge is one of the factors that solidified its place in the pantheon of classic Commodore 64 games.

Tycoon Tex

Commodore 16, Plus/4 1985

Players take on the role of Tycoon Tex, an oil tycoon, and their task is to protect the pipeline by patrolling the pipeline and fixing the holes and shooting the bombs dropped by jet fighters in the various levels. The game is a side view horizontal scroller and the player must run along the pipeline at a controlled speed going faster or slower. To complete the level, the player must fill a full % gauge before the oil pressure gauge reaches zero by jumping over gaps in the pipeline to fix them. The faster the player runs, the faster the gauge will drop. Bombs dropped from the reactors make holes, however they can be fired; if the player misses, he can jump over the hole to fix it. If the player hits a hole or a bomb, he will lose a life. Before starting the game, the player can select how many lives they want to have (1-6). There are also three difficulty levels to choose from: easy, hard and impossible.

Xargon's Revenge

Commodore 16, Plus/4 1985

Your people have won the war against Xargon and now, in a final attack, you have been tasked with destroying their planet and its four satellite planets in your spaceship. The problem is that the Xargon have been warned of your arrival and have sent all their warriors to defend the planets against your attack. Xargon's Revenge is a one-sided, single-screen shooter for each planet. You sit on the left side of the screen and shoot Warriors that move from right to left in unpredictable patterns and if you touch one you lose one of your five lives. You have to destroy all the warriors on each screen to move on to the next, but you have to do it before the fuel gauge runs out. However, fuel capsules occasionally bounce towards you and if you pick them up they increase your fuel, as if you run out of fuel you lose a life.

Games developed by Micro Projects Limited

Dork's Dilemma?

Petals of Doom

Reach for the Sky

Sword of Destiny

Thing on a Spring

Tycoon Tex

Xargon's Revenge