1984, year 37 Flight Simulator was released on MSX as well as on BBC Micro. Made by Salamander Software and published by Mirrorsoft Ltd., this simulation game is available for free on this page.
47 is a flight simulator that allows you to fly a Boeing 47 Jumbo Jet at various airports such as Newcastle, Gatwick and Amsterdam. When the game starts, you fly towards the words DR SOFT. This allows you to get used to the steering and other controls. From this screen you can select the airport and the scenery you want to fly into. Options include takeoff and landing. You can also fly through hoops while trying to land.
The game plays with the screen split into two halves. The top half is the view from the front of the aircraft, while the bottom half shows the instrument panel. Control is by joystick and keyboard.
Released in 1985 by Actionsoft, 747 Flight Simulator quickly became a must-have for Commodore 64 enthusiasts. This flight simulation game allowed players to take to the skies as a pilot of a Boeing 747 and experience the thrills and challenges of flying a commercial airliner.
One of the standout features of 747 Flight Simulator was its highly detailed graphics. At the time of its release, this game boasted some of the most realistic visuals seen on the Commodore 64. The cockpit and instrument panels were meticulously designed to replicate the real thing, giving players a true feeling of being in control of a massive aircraft. The scenery outside the windows was also impressively detailed, giving players a sense of the environments they were flying over.
But it wasn't just about the graphics. 747 Flight Simulator also offered a variety of gameplay modes to keep players engaged. From simple training exercises to challenging flights across different regions of the world, this game offered a range of options to cater to different skill levels and interests. There was even a multiplayer option that allowed players to fly with or against their friends, adding a social element to the game.
What set 747 Flight Simulator apart from other flight simulation games of its time was its dedication to realism. The developers went to great lengths to ensure that every aspect of flying a 747 was accurately portrayed in the game. From takeoffs and landings to managing engine and fuel systems, players had to pay close attention to details to successfully complete their flights. This added level of complexity and realism added a new layer of challenge and made the game all the more engaging.
747 Flight Simulator was a groundbreaking game that pushed the boundaries of what was possible on the Commodore 64. Its stunning graphics, diverse gameplay options, and commitment to realism made it a beloved title among fans of flight simulation games. Today, it remains a nostalgic favorite for many gamers and serves as a reminder of the impressive capabilities of the Commodore 64 during its heyday in the mid-1980s.
This is the game of the BBC quiz show of the same name. Two teams of three people are pitted against each other answering sports questions. Two points are awarded for answering the question correctly. If you answer incorrectly, the opposing team gets a chance to answer it but for only 1 point. There are 6 rounds, including the picture board, what happened next and a quick buzzer round.
Contestants appear as digitized faces and each contestant specializes in a particular sport. Team captains can choose which sport they want to specialize in out of ten possible ones.
There are 5 blocks of questions, so if the questions start repeating you can load the next one to extend the life of the game. After the last round, the scores are added up and the winner is the team with the most points.
1984, the year Abyss was released on BBC Micro. Published by Cases Computer Simulations Ltd., this adventure and educational game is available for free on this page.
Acheton is a home computer conversion of the mainframe adventure of the same name. Similar to Zork (which was released on the VAX mainframe not long before the original release of Acheton), it is a fantasy treasure hunt set in a claustrophobic dungeon. It has over 400 rooms and 200 objects, making it much larger than Zork.
As with many games of this type, most of the time is spent exploring the environment and solving object-based puzzles. Everything is described solely in plain text and the player interacts with the game by typing in sentences describing their desired action, for example, 'get the bottle'. It also has a help function with graded hints.
Acid Drops is a fixed screen shoot 'em up in which the player can move left and right across the background and shoot at creatures flying across the screen. The acid that drips the title comes from a large acid bath located in the center of the screen and if the player is hit by a drop or enemy projectiles they will lose a life. The player will also die if all the Acid Drops run out. There are three different enemies: moths, pods and spinners. At first there are only moths, but if they are hit by acid they will mutate into pods, which in turn will become spinners when hit. The spinners require two hits to kill them.
The goal of a level is to escape through a door on the right side of the screen. The door opens over time, which speeds up when an enemy is hit. When the door is fully opened, the game proceeds to a second phase in which the player has to move through a side-scrolling tunnel without crashing. If a collision occurs, the player moves to the next level, but with no point bonus. There are nine levels in total.
Classic Adventure is a reworking of Will Crowther and Don Woods' 1978 text adventure game, Colossal Cave Adventure, which has spawned many copies and variants over the years.
The game was originally released as Adventure 1 by Abersoft in 1982 for the ZX Spectrum. It was later renamed Classic Adventure and published by Melbourne House on multiple platforms.
This game is very faithful to the original, it starts with the classic opening:
'You are standing at the end of a road before a small brick building. All around you is a forest. A small stream flows out of the building and down a ravine'.
From this point, the player can enter the building and begin exploring the cave system, supposedly inspired by the Mammoth Caves complex in Kentucky. In the caves there are some unsavory characters, magical items and treasures to collect and transport back to the well house. True to the original game, this version supports magic words like 'Xyzy' and 'Plurgh' that teleport the player between certain rooms.
The game maintains a score that increases as treasures are carried back to the well house, the maximum score that can be reached is 210, and can be saved on a blank cassette tape.
The sequel to Colossal Adventure is an interactive fiction game with a VERB NOUN interface.
The fantasy setting has a clear Lord of the Rings influence. After centuries of harmony, Middle-earth is in trouble due to a cataclysmic sequence of events: a crop failure that causes the animals to become violent, and then an attack by a mysterious enemy to the north. The culprit is discovered to be the evil Demon Lord Alagiarept, so the wizards have one week to defeat him, before Middle-earth must surrender.
You play as a novice wizard with meditation, mysticism and money-making skills. While the main war is going on, you attempt a much more daring quest: locate the four Element Stones and the Medallion of Life to enter Alagiarept's Dark Tower and kill him.
Your quest will take you across beaches, wastelands and rocky outcrops, as well as to more specific locations such as the Desert Pillar, the Sun Sphere Cave and the Mills of God. There will be wolves, skeleton hands, sharks and octopuses to contend with.
Airline, a captivating game released for the ZX Spectrum in 1983, immerses players in the dynamic world of aviation management. Developed by the ingenious minds at the award-winning company, it offers an engaging blend of strategy and simulation. The game places players in the role of an airline manager tasked with running their own commercial airline, navigating through the complexities of the aviation industry during its golden age.
Players begin their journey by selecting routes and scheduling flights, carefully balancing costs while optimizing revenue. The mechanics of Airline require shrewd decision-making as various factors influence the airline's success, from fuel prices to passenger demand. The retro graphics, vibrant colors, and simplistic interface contribute to the nostalgic feel of the ZX Spectrum era, while the engaging gameplay keeps players invested for hours on end. This classic title successfully combines resource management with time-sensitive decisions, drawing players into an experience that is as challenging as it is addictive.
One of the most fascinating aspects of Airline is its attention to detail. Each flight requires meticulous planning and execution, requiring the player to monitor everything from aircraft maintenance to ensuring safety measures are in place. As one maneuvers through the intricate web of the airline industry, unforeseen events such as bad weather or mechanical failures can arise, testing a player's resilience and adaptability. The tension between managing immediate crises and long-term strategy creates a thrilling dynamic, making each game uniquely stimulating.
Moreover, Airline provides an opportunity for creativity. Players can customize their airline, choosing its branding, naming it, and defining their target market. This personal touch adds a deeper layer to the experience, as players feel more connected to their virtual airline. The satisfaction derived from growing a small, regional airline into a bustling international carrier is palpable, making success all the more rewarding.
Competing against the constraints of budget, player skill, and the ever-changing market landscape creates a memorable challenge. While primarily appealing to strategy enthusiasts, Airline's charm lies in its universal themes of ambition and growth. Beyond the confines of its nostalgic graphics, the game serves as a thoughtful reflection on the complexities of running a business. As players navigate through the intricate simulation, they not only find entertainment but also acquire insights into the operational dynamics of an industry that has fascinated millions around the world.
