Games published by LiveWire Software UK
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We provide a complete list of games published by this publisher.
Beast of Eden
In 1985, the video game industry was ablaze with new and innovative titles, striving to capture the hearts and minds of gamers everywhere. One such game that made a mark in the industry was Beast of Eden, released for the VIC-20.
Beast of Eden, developed by Interphase and published by Ariolasoft, was a unique and gripping adventure game that kept players on the edge of their seats. Set in a prehistoric world filled with ferocious creatures and primal dangers, the game revolved around a lone survivor from the human tribe and their quest to find the fabled paradise known as Eden.
What set Beast of Eden apart from other games of its time was its stunning graphics and captivating storytelling. The game's graphics were ahead of its time, with detailed and realistic illustrations of the prehistoric world. The player's character, the lone survivor, was depicted in a pixelated but lifelike manner that added depth to the gameplay.
As players ventured through the game, they would encounter various challenges and obstacles, ranging from treacherous terrain to combat with other creatures. The game's combat system was unique, offering players a choice between using brute force or cunning tactics to overcome their enemies. This added an element of strategy to the game, making it more than just a simple adventure title.
One noteworthy aspect of Beast of Eden was its open-world gameplay. Players had the freedom to explore the prehistoric world at their own pace, discovering hidden secrets and side quests along the way. The game also featured multiple endings, adding replay value and encouraging players to try different paths and choices.
Apart from its gameplay, Beast of Eden also had a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack. The game's music added to the overall immersive experience, with its tribal beats and eerie melodies perfectly complementing the prehistoric setting.
Can of Worms
Can of Worms, released in 1986, is an MSX game that quickly gained popularity among gamers due to its unique storyline and gameplay. Developed by Konami, this side-scrolling action game takes players on a journey through a world filled with alien creatures and intergalactic struggles.
Set in the distant future, Can of Worms follows the adventures of a lone space traveler who is tasked with saving the universe from an invasion of giant, mutated worms. The player takes control of this hero, armed with a plasma rifle and a jetpack, as they embark on a series of levels to defeat the worm queen and her army.
What makes Can of Worms stand out from other MSX games of the time is its innovative gameplay and graphics. The game utilizes both horizontal and vertical scrolling to create a sense of depth and movement, making the player feel like they are truly exploring new worlds. The graphics are also impressive for its time, with detailed backgrounds and vividly animated enemies.
One of the standout features of Can of Worms is its challenging but rewarding gameplay. The player must navigate through various levels, each with its own set of obstacles and enemies to defeat. Along the way, they can collect power-ups and upgrades that will help them in their mission. However, the game also has a limited number of lives, adding an extra layer of difficulty to the gameplay.
In addition to its main storyline, Can of Worms also offers mini-games and bonus levels, adding even more variety and excitement to the game. These mini-games range from shooting challenges to puzzle-solving tasks, making sure that players are constantly engaged and entertained.
The music and sound effects in Can of Worms are also worth mentioning. The game features a catchy soundtrack that complements the fast-paced action perfectly. The sound effects, on the other hand, add an extra layer of immersion to the gameplay, making the player feel like they are truly in the middle of an intergalactic battle.
Carry on Laughing
Carry on Laughing is a single-screen platformer in which you play Mr. Livewire, whose job is to tidy up all the classrooms at St. Hexidecimals, a school for demented programmers. The school is made up of several screens and you must tidy up each one by turning all the big X's into ticks while avoiding the various people, creatures and objects that move around the screen. At the bottom of the screen is a bar with Mr. Livewire walking from left to right across the X's, and a screen is completed when all the X's are ticks and Mr. Livewire reaches the right of the bar. On the walls surrounding each classroom is an arrow and you can select which classroom to go to next with a small grid in the lower left showing the locations you have visited. In addition to platforms to walk on, there are several ways to climb to higher levels, such as ladders, bars and, on one screen, you can use bubbles to float upwards. If you are touched by people, creatures or objects, you lose one of three lives and all marks become Xs. Two players can play and each player takes turns when the other loses a life.
CONGO
CONGO is a fascinating and action-packed video game, released on the MSX platform in 1986. Developed by Konami, this game follows the journey of a fearless explorer who braves the dangers of the African jungle to uncover ancient treasures.
The game's plot revolves around the protagonist, a courageous adventurer, who sets out on a journey to the treacherous Congolese jungle in search of the legendary Congo diamond. The game's graphics, while simple by today's standards, were revolutionary at the time of its release. The game's various levels are beautifully designed, with vibrant colors and detailed landscapes that perfectly capture the essence of the African wilderness.
Players must navigate through dense forests, avoiding wild animals and hidden traps, while collecting valuable resources and power-ups to aid them on their quest. One of the most interesting aspects of CONGO is its use of multiple gameplay styles. While the majority of the game is played in a side-scrolling manner, there are also first-person exploration sections and boss battles that require different strategies and skill sets.
To make the gameplay even more exciting, the game features a wide range of enemies, including native warriors, wild animals, and even supernatural creatures. Each enemy has its own unique behavior, adding a layer of challenge and unpredictability to the game. Along the way, players can also collect weapons such as knives, guns, and grenades to help them fend off these fierce foes.
Apart from its engaging gameplay, CONGO also boasts a dynamic soundtrack that perfectly complements the fast-paced action. The soundtrack blends traditional African beats with intense electronic music, creating a unique and immersive gaming experience. The sound effects, from the roaring of lions to the rustling of leaves, also add to the game's realism.
While CONGO was originally released on the MSX platform, it was later ported to various other consoles and home computers. This is a testament to the game's popularity and success. In fact, it is still considered a cult classic among retro gaming enthusiasts, with many praising its challenging gameplay and clever level design.
Gridtrap
In the world of gaming, it's not uncommon for a game to become a cult classic, with a dedicated fan base that continues to grow decades after its release. One such game is Gridtrap, an action-packed game released in 1983 for the Commodore 64. At the time of its release, it gained a significant following and continues to be a favorite among retro gaming enthusiasts to this day.
Gridtrap is a grid-based action game that challenges players to navigate through a maze of traps, obstacles, and enemies to reach the end goal. The game's premise is simple, but its execution is what makes it stand out from other games of its time. The graphics, while relatively simple by today's standards, were revolutionary for its time and added to the overall immersive experience.
One of the game's most notable features is its level design. Each level presents a unique challenge, with varying degrees of difficulty that keeps players engaged and on their toes. From dodging flying obstacles to avoiding traps and enemies, every level offers a different set of obstacles that require quick reflexes and strategic thinking to overcome.
But Gridtrap isn't just about navigating through a maze. The game also features power-ups and bonus items that players can collect along the way. These power-ups provide temporary boosts to the players' abilities, giving them an edge in their quest to reach the end goal. Additionally, the game also features a point system, with players earning points for every successful maneuver and collecting bonus items, adding a competitive element to the gameplay.
Perhaps one of the elements that made Gridtrap so popular was its multiplayer mode, which allowed two players to compete against each other simultaneously. This feature added a whole new level of excitement to the game, as players could challenge their friends and family in intense grid-based battles.
One aspect that often goes unnoticed is the game's music. Gridtrap's original soundtrack, composed by David Whittaker, perfectly captures the intensity and adrenaline of the game. With its catchy melodies and energetic beats, the music adds to the overall immersive experience of the game and is often praised by fans as one of the best aspects of the game.
In the 1980s, the Commodore 64 was the most popular home computer, and it's no surprise that Gridtrap, with its impressive graphics and addictive gameplay, became a must-have game. It not only took full advantage of the computer's capabilities but also pushed the boundaries of what was possible in gaming at the time.
Invaders
Across the vast landscape of video games, few are as iconic and influential as Invaders. Released in 1984 for the Commodore 64, this timeless classic revolutionized the gaming industry and captured the hearts of players around the world. Developed and published by Commodore International, Invaders set a new standard for gameplay, graphics, and sound, paving the way for future sci-fi arcade games.
At its core, Invaders is a shooter game that follows a simple yet addictive gameplay. Players control a spaceship at the bottom of the screen and must defend themselves against waves of alien invaders descending from the top. With intuitive controls and challenging levels, Invaders provides endless hours of excitement and challenge for players of all ages.
One of the defining features of Invaders is its impressive graphics and sound design. The game's 8-bit graphics were top-notch for its time, with vibrant colors and detailed sprites that brought the alien invasion to life. Coupled with its futuristic and catchy soundtrack, Invaders immerses players into its fast-paced and otherworldly atmosphere, making the gameplay even more engaging.
Another aspect that makes Invaders stand out is its unique scoring system. Unlike most games of its time, Invaders awarded players based on their shooting accuracy and strategic positioning. This encouraged players to focus on precision and tactics rather than just mindlessly shooting down aliens, adding an extra layer of depth to the game's already addictive gameplay.
One of the reasons for Invaders' enduring success is its availability on multiple platforms. While originally released for the Commodore 64, the game soon became available on other systems, including the Atari 2600, the ZX Spectrum, and the Apple II. With a wider audience, Invaders solidified its place as a beloved classic and influenced the development of future games in the genre.
Invaders also inspired a plethora of remakes and spin-offs, further cementing its impact on the gaming world. From updated versions for modern consoles to mobile adaptations, the game continues to attract new players and remind old ones of its nostalgic charm. Its influence can also be seen in popular titles like Space Invaders and Galaga, which pay homage to this groundbreaking game.
Salvage
Salvage is a classic video game that was released for the Commodore 64 in 1985. Developed by Firebird Software, it is a side-scrolling action-adventure game that takes place in a post-apocalyptic world. The game is set in the year 2084, where Earth has been ravaged by a nuclear war, leaving the planet in ruins and its inhabitants struggling to survive.
The player takes on the role of a mercenary who is hired by a group of scientists to recover valuable resources from the ruins of Earth. The ultimate goal of the game is to salvage enough resources to escape the doomed planet and travel to a new one. The game is divided into various levels, each one presenting different challenges and enemies for the player to overcome.
One of the standout features of Salvage is its graphics. For a game released in 1985, the graphics were quite impressive for its time. The developers utilized the capabilities of the Commodore 64 to create a detailed and immersive post-apocalyptic world. The landscapes and abandoned buildings are realistically portrayed, adding to the overall atmosphere of the game.
Another impressive aspect of Salvage is its gameplay. The player must navigate through treacherous environments filled with obstacles and enemies while managing limited resources. The game requires strategic thinking and quick reflexes to overcome these challenges successfully. The player also has access to a variety of weapons and tools to aid in their journey, adding an element of customization to the gameplay.
What makes Salvage even more interesting is its multiple endings. The player's actions throughout the game will affect the outcome, leading to different endings. This adds an element of replayability as players will want to experience all the possible endings. It also reflects the consequences of the player's choices, making the game more immersive and engaging.
Salvage also features a unique soundtrack. The game's music, composed by legendary musician Rob Hubbard, perfectly complements the tense atmosphere of the game. The sound effects also add to the overall experience, making the player feel like they are truly in a post-apocalyptic world.
Despite being released over 30 years ago, Salvage still holds up as a challenging and engaging game. Its graphics, gameplay, and music were ahead of its time and have stood the test of time. The game has also had a lasting impact on the gaming industry, inspiring future games in the post-apocalyptic genre.
Skramble
In 1982, computer gaming was just starting to make its mark, and one game that truly left its imprint was Skramble, released for the VIC-20. Developed by Darrell Spice Jr. and published by Commodore, Skramble was a space-themed shooter game that garnered immense popularity among gamers of that time. It was considered a groundbreaking game not only for its vibrant graphics and sound effects but also for its unique gameplay and challenging levels.
The premise of Skramble was simple yet addictive. The player controlled a spacecraft, navigating through an asteroid belt while fighting off enemy spaceships. The objective was to destroy as many asteroids and enemy ships as possible while avoiding collision with either of them. One of the things that made this game stand out was its intuitive controls and responsive gameplay, making it easy for players to dive right in and start blasting away. Each level brought more challenges as the asteroids and enemy ships increased in speed and number, keeping players on the edge of their seats.
The graphics of Skramble were visually appealing, especially for its time. The vibrant colors and detailed sprites made the game come to life, making it a treat for the eyes. Even the sound effects and music were well-crafted, adding to the overall immersive experience. The game also had a high score feature, encouraging players to compete with each other and beat their own previous scores, adding to the replay value.
One thing that made Skramble unique was its optional peripherals. Players could use a joystick or paddles to control their spacecraft, giving them different options to suit their preferences. The game also had a two-player mode, allowing friends to join forces and tackle the challenges together. This multiplayer feature was rare for that time and added another dimension of fun to the game.
Skramble received favorable reviews from critics and players alike. It was hailed as a must-have game for the VIC-20 and was considered one of the top titles for the platform. Its success also led to ports being made for other systems, such as the Commodore 64 and Atari 2600, cementing its status as a classic. Even today, Skramble holds a special place in the hearts of retro gamers, who appreciate its simplistic yet addictive gameplay.
