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Lords of Midnight: The Citadel

2024-11-21T16:09:56Z

78.3.46.84:

{{Short description|1995 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = Lords of Midnight: The Citadel
|image = Lords of Midnight 3 cover.jpg
|developer = Maelstrom Games
|publisher = [[Domark]]
|producer = Hugh F. Batterbury
|designer = [[Mike Singleton]] Paul A. Hodgson David Ollman James Shaw
|artist = Andrew Elkerton Stuart Flint
|composer = Paul Robotham
|engine =
|released = {{vgrelease|EU|1995|NA|1995<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/c64/575798-the-lords-of-midnight/data|title=Release information on GameFAQs}}</ref>}}
|genre = [[Strategy game|Strategy]]
|modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
|platforms = [[MS-DOS]]
}}

'''''Lords of Midnight: The Citadel''''' (also known simply as '''''Lords of Midnight''''') is the second and final sequel to the classic [[ZX Spectrum]] game ''[[The Lords of Midnight]]'' by [[Mike Singleton]]. It was developed by Maelstrom Games and published by [[Domark]] in 1995. It was distributed by [[Spectrum HoloByte]] in North America.

The sequel departs quite radically from its predecessors, abandoning the previous installments' [[turn-based]] movement and opting for [[Real-time game|real-time]] [[3D computer graphics|3D]] movement.

==Gameplay==
The character switching from the previous games is still present, although character movement is different. Game characters can be given autonomous tasks and these are then executed independently by the [[game engine]], without further need of player input.

==Development==
''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' reported in March 1994 of "gossip and rumor in the ether—talk of a new Mike Singleton game, the third part of ''Lords of Midnight''" and possibly named ''Eye of Doom''.<ref name="matthews199403">{{Cite magazine | last=Matthews | first=Robin | date=March 1994 | title=Rally Round The Wicket, Boys! | department=Over There | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1994&pub=2&id=116 | magazine=Computer Gaming World | pages=98,100}}</ref>

''The Citadel'' is a direct continuation of ''[[Doomdark's Revenge]]''. Morkin's father, Luxor the Moonprince, who by now is an old man, sets off on a quest to find the fabled Eye of the Moon. During his quest he is captured by Boroth Wolfheart and imprisoned in a Citadel. The main quest is to aid Morkin in finding and freeing his captured father.

Some storyline details were changed from what had been issued as the story for the ''Eye of the Moon'', such as the game canvas being set in the Blood March, now located south-east of Midnight, instead of south-west as the original. Further, the original story had Luxor set Morkin out on the quest for the Eye of the Moon, whereas the story of ''The Citadel'' had Luxor already captured.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icemark.com/citadel/novella/chapter5.htm|title=Novella excerpt}}</ref> Game designer Singleton explained the continuity error by stating the events of ''The Citadel'' take place some 20 years prior to the events in the ''Eye of the Moon''.<ref name=rg>{{cite magazine|magazine=Retro Gamer|page=69|title=Lords of Mightnight 3: The Citadel|issue=4|date=March 2004}}</ref>

==Reviews==
* ''[[Australian Realms]]'' #25<ref>{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/australian-realms-magazine/Australian%20Realms%20%2325%20OctoberNovember%201995/page/4/mode/2up | title=Australian Realms Magazine - Complete Collection | date=June 1988}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.icemark.com/citadel/index.html Chris Wild's page for ''The Citadel'']
* [https://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/lords-of-midnight ''Lords of Midnight: The Citadel''] at [[MobyGames]]

[[Category:1995 video games]]
[[Category:Domark games]]
[[Category:DOS games]]
[[Category:DOS-only games]]
[[Category:Fantasy video games]]
[[Category:Maelstrom Games games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:Spectrum HoloByte games]]
[[Category:Strategy video games]]
[[Category:Video game sequels]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom]]

The Lords of Midnight

2024-11-21T16:03:39Z

78.3.46.84:

{{Short description|1984 epic fantasy video game}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = The Lords of Midnight
| image = LordsOfMidnight.jpg
| caption = European cover art
| developer = [[Mike Singleton]] Chris Wild {{small|(remake)}}
| publisher = {{Plainlist|
* [[Beyond Software]] {{small|(SPEC)}}
* [[Amsoft]] {{small|(CPC)}}
* [[Mindscape (company)|Mindscape]] {{small|(C64)}}
}}
| released = '''ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC'''{{vgrelease|EU|1984}}'''Commodore 64'''{{vgrelease|EU|1985|NA|1985}} Remake '''iOS'''{{vgrelease|WW|{{Start date|2012|10|28}}}}'''Android'''{{vgrelease|WW|{{Start date|2013|01|11}}}}'''OS X'''{{vgrelease|WW|{{Start date|2012|07|05}}}}'''Microsoft Windows'''{{vgrelease|WW|{{Start date|2013|07|12}}}}'''BlackBerry OS'''{{vgrelease|WW|{{Start date|2013|10|28}}}}
| genre = [[Role-playing video game|Role-playing]], [[Computer wargame|wargame]]
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]]
| platforms = [[ZX Spectrum]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Commodore 64]], [[iOS]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[OS X]], [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[BlackBerry OS]]
}}

'''''The Lords of Midnight''''' is an [[epic fantasy]] video game combining aspects of [[Computer wargame|wargames]] and [[graphic adventure]]s, written by [[Mike Singleton]] and originally released in 1984 for the {{nowrap|[[ZX Spectrum]]}}. Well received from the beginning, it was soon converted for the [[Amstrad CPC]] and [[Commodore 64]]. The game featured an innovative 3-D effect that Singleton called ''landscaping'', which served to bring the [[Player character|player]] into the game much more than usual. ''The Lords of Midnight'' is often named with ''[[Elite (video game)|Elite]]'' as among the top role-playing games of the 1980s. The player must destroy Doomdark, the evil Witchking who has locked the Land of Midnight in perpetual winter. There are multiple ways in which this can be achieved. It was followed by ''[[Doomdark's Revenge]]'' also in 1984, and ''[[Lords of Midnight: The Citadel]]'' in 1995.

==Gameplay==
''The Lords of Midnight'' is a strategy/role-playing game hybrid. The player starts with four characters (Luxor the Moonprince, Rorthron the Wise, Corleth the Fey, and Morkin, Luxor's son), and then has the option to recruit up to twenty-eight further characters (such as Lords Blood, Ithrorn, Xajorkith, Shadows, etc. plus the Utarg of Utarg, Farflame the Dragon Lord and Fawkrin the Skulkrin) to join in the quest to destroy Doomdark, the evil Witchking who has locked the Land of Midnight in perpetual winter.

The game can be played in three ways, firstly as a straight adventure game, where the goal is for Morkin to destroy the Ice Crown, the source of Doomdark's power. The second is as a [[Computer wargame|wargame]], recruiting other lords and their armies until they are strong enough to defeat Doomdark's armies and storm his citadel in the far north. A third variation, referred to in the manual as the 'Epic', requires the player to complete the game both ways simultaneously.

The player has an advantage in that only one of the two objectives is needed to defeat Doomdark. The game is won whenever the Ice Crown is destroyed or when Doomdark's home citadel of Ushgarak falls. For Doomdark to win, he has to complete two objectives. First, he must kill Morkin, Luxor's son, since as long as Morkin is alive, the game continues. Also, he must subdue the armies of the Free, either by killing Luxor or by conquering Xajorkith, the capital citadel of the Free lands.

The game featured a groundbreaking technique called ''landscaping'' to depict the lands of Midnight from a [[First-person (video games)|first-person perspective]]. Also, even after completion the game may be enjoyed numerous times, since each time Doomdark's armies can attack from different routes and do not always follow the same pattern.

At the time of its release Singleton thought there was no way to defeat Doomdark before Xajorkith fell. Gamers quickly proved him wrong, and even now various Internet groups devoted to the game continue to refine their strategies to defeat Doomdark.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/midnight/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120630024109/http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/midnight/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 June 2012 |title=Yahoo! Groups |website=Games.groups.yahoo.com |date=1998-09-09 |access-date=2016-06-27}}</ref>

''[[Crash (magazine)|Crash]]'' published a four-page map of the game in 1984.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/stream/Crash_No._11_1984-12_Newsfield_GB#page/n121/mode/2up |title=Crash - No. 11 (1984-12) (Newsfield) (GB) |via=Archive.org |date= December 1984|access-date=2016-06-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/stream/Crash_No._11_1984-12_Newsfield_GB#page/n125/mode/2up |title=Crash - No. 11 (1984-12) (Newsfield) (GB) |via=Archive.org |date= December 1984|access-date=2016-06-27}}</ref> Hungarian computer magazine ''CoV'' also published a full-detailed map, along with a walkthrough in their 19th issue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pcvilag.muskatli.hu/irodalom/CoV/CoV19/cov19.html |title=CoV magazine |date=1991 |website=Pcvilag.muskatli.hu |access-date=2016-06-27}}</ref>

==Development==
The [[3D computer graphics|3D]] effect used in the game was achieved by "billboarding" (see [[Sprite (computer graphics)|sprite]]) pre-scaled images of mountains, forests, buildings, etc. to create the impression of a perspective-correct landscape scene, available from a view of 8 points of the compass; the technique was self-described as "landscaping".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~jg27paw4/yr09/yr09_29.htm |title=Your Spectrum : Spectrum Adventures |date=November 1984 |website=Users.globalnet.co.uk |access-date=2016-06-27}}</ref> This innovation created a strong impression at the time, and the game received high praise for its graphics; "landscaping" was also used in the sequel ''[[Doomdark's Revenge]]'', but did not see significant further use in other games.

Singleton designed the game, wrote the novella/manual, and developed "landscaping" in the last three months of 1983. He wrote the code in the first three months of 1984 and the game he submitted to the software house in April was entirely his own product.{{r|maher20140107}}

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| award1Pub = ''Crash''
| award1 = Crash Smash<ref>Game review, Crash magazine, [[Newsfield Publications]], issue 7, August 1984, page 72</ref>
}}
''[[CRASH (magazine)|CRASH]]'' awarded ''Lords of Midnight'' 10 out of 10 in the adventure column, highlighting the panoramic views, detailed units and "wonderfully coherent" storyline.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=CRASH|title=Lords of Midnight|url=http://www.crashonline.org.uk/07/midnight.htm|issue=7|date=August 1984|author=Brewster, Derek|publisher=Newsfield}}</ref> The game won the award for best adventure game of the year according to ''CRASH'' readers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crashonline.org.uk/12/awards.htm |title=CRASH 12 - Readers' Awards |website=Crashonline.org.uk |access-date=2016-06-27}}</ref>

Lyndsey Paton reviewed ''The Lords of Midnight'' for ''[[White Dwarf (magazine)|White Dwarf]]'' #60, and wrote that "this should provide a sustained challenge for the experienced adventure gamer, and a complex and absorbing introduction to the complete novice".<ref name="WD60">{{cite journal | last = Paton | first = Lyndsey | title = Microview | journal = [[White Dwarf (magazine)|White Dwarf]] | issue = 60 | pages = 30–31 | publisher = [[Games Workshop]] | date = December 1984}}</ref>

''[[Zzap!64]]'' rated it at 91%, calling it "truly an epic game ... a must for adventurers and strategists alike", although one of the three reviewers expressed disappointment that the Commodore 64 version's graphics did not improve on the Spectrum original.<ref name="zzap198505">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/zzap64-magazine-001/ZZap_64_Issue_001_1985_May#page/n81/mode/2up | title=The Lords of Midnight | work=Zzap!64 | date=May 1985 | access-date=26 October 2013 | author1=Wade, Bob | author2=Penn, Gary | author3=Rignall, Julian | pages=82–84 | type=review}}</ref> It was also Best Strategy Game of the Year at the [[Golden Joystick Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=C+VG/Issue044/Pages/CVG04400122.jpg |format=JPG |title=World of Spectrum |website=Worldofspectrum.org |access-date=2016-06-27}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
A sequel titled ''[[Doomdark's Revenge]]'' took place in a land north of Midnight called the Icemark. The object was to defeat the daughter of Doomdark, who sought revenge against Luxor for her father's death.

The planned final installment of the trilogy, ''[[Doomdark's Revenge#The Eye of the Moon|The Eye of the Moon]]'', was never released.<ref name="maher20140107">{{cite web | url=http://www.filfre.net/2014/01/mike-singleton-and-the-lords-of-midnight/ | title=Mike Singleton and The Lords of Midnight | work=The Digital Antiquarian | date=2014-01-07 | access-date=11 July 2014 | author=Maher, Jimmy}}</ref>

''[[Lords of Midnight: The Citadel]]'' was released for the PC platform much later, but did not repeat the original's success, as by then graphics had become more advanced.{{citation needed|date=December 2012}}

The original games have been adapted for the PC by Chris Wild and can be found online together with [[source code]] generated by [[disassembly]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Chris Wild |url=http://www.icemark.com/downloads/index.html |title=Downloads |website=Icemark.com |access-date=2016-06-27}}</ref>

There has also been some work into creating a new modernized version of ''The Lords of Midnight'' for iPhones and iPads, with a collaboration between the original author of the game, and the author of the game ports for Windows, Chris Wild. Following Singleton's death on 10 October 2012, the new version was released on iOS the same month, followed by Windows, Android and BlackBerry versions in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thelordsofmidnight.com/blog/index.php/2012/12/02/the-lords-of-midnight-are-coming/ |title=are coming… |publisher=The Lords of Midnight |date=2012-12-02 |access-date=2016-06-27}}</ref>

As part of the release of the [[ZX Spectrum Next]] in 2020, a port of ''The Lords of Midnight'' was made by Matt Davies and Simon Butler was made based on Singleton's original code.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.specnext.com/sn1-2/ |title=System/Next 1.2 |publisher=ZX Spectrum Next |date=2020-02-05 |access-date=2023-01-09}}</ref>

===Novelisation===
Upon its release, [[Beyond Software]], the publishers of the game, offered to turn the campaign of the first person to offer proof of completing the game into a published novel. While there were not many ways of offering proof that the campaign was completed, many players sent reams of thermal printer paper to Beyond, hoping to get their campaign published. The first person to send in their claim to victory did so within two weeks of the game's release.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icemark.com/tower/retrogamer/part1_04.jpg|title=Retro Gamer Issue 4, March 2004 (scan)|website=Icemark.com|access-date=2016-06-27}}</ref> In the end, however, no publisher was interested in publishing what they deemed a fringe publication, and the offered prize was forfeit.<ref name=ps>{{cite web|url=http://www.nvg.ntnu.no/sinclair/industry/programmers/mikesingleton_sua84.htm|title=Mike Singleton, Lord of Midnight: 2nd Sinclair User Annual, 1984|website=Nvg.ntnu.no|access-date=2016-06-27}}</ref>

Tentative discussions were held, in which Singleton offered to write the novel himself. Ultimately time constraints and the reluctance on the publisher's part made all plans for a novel impossible.<ref name=ps />

In 2016, Drew Wagar began to write a novel covering the War of the Solstice.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thelordsofmidnight.com/blog/2016/04/10/why-is-the-solstice-so-important/ |title=Why is the Solstice so important? |work=thelordsofmidnight.com |date=10 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://thelordsofmidnight.com/blog/2016/06/20/he-had-heard-the-tales-men-told/ |title=He had heard the tales men told… |work=thelordsofmidnight.com |date=20 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.drewwagar.com/progress-report/he-thinks-again/|title=An update on the Lords of Midnight Novel {{!}} The official website of Drew Wagar|website=www.drewwagar.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-01-30|archive-date=30 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130204553/https://www.drewwagar.com/progress-report/he-thinks-again/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The novel was delayed several times until its release in September 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.drewwagar.com/progress-report/lords-of-midnight-revised-publication-date/|title=Lords of Midnight, revised publication date {{!}} The official website of Drew Wagar|website=www.drewwagar.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-05-17|archive-date=18 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180518054543/https://www.drewwagar.com/progress-report/lords-of-midnight-revised-publication-date/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Ebook version of the novel was made available on the summer solstice, June 21, 2018<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.drewwagar.com/progress-report/lords-of-midnight-ebook-launches/|title=Lords of Midnight Ebook Launch {{!}} The official website of Drew Wagar|website=www.drewwagar.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-06-21|archive-date=21 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621194430/https://www.drewwagar.com/progress-report/lords-of-midnight-ebook-launches/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and was soon followed by the paperback version.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.drewwagar.com/announcements/lords-of-midnight-paperback-available//|title=Lords of Midnight Paperback available! {{!}} The official website of Drew Wagar|website=www.drewwagar.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-06-21|archive-date=30 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930034155/https://www.drewwagar.com/announcements/lords-of-midnight-paperback-available/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.mobygames.com/game/lords-of-midnight_ ''The Lords of Midnight''] at [[MobyGames]]
* {{WoS game|id=0006604}}
* [http://www.c64sets.com/lords_midnight.html ''The Lords of Midnight''] at Commodore 64 Boxed Sets

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lords of Midnight, The}}
[[Category:1984 video games]]
[[Category:Amstrad CPC games]]
[[Category:Android (operating system) games]]
[[Category:BlackBerry games]]
[[Category:Commodore 64 games]]
[[Category:Computer wargames]]
[[Category:Fantasy video games]]
[[Category:Golden Joystick Award winners]]
[[Category:IOS games]]
[[Category:MacOS games]]
[[Category:Role-playing video games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Windows Phone games]]
[[Category:ZX Spectrum games]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Amsoft games]]

Time-Gate

2024-11-21T15:36:58Z

78.3.46.84:

{{Short description|1982 video game}}
{{other uses|Timegate (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = Time-Gate
|image = TimeGateSpectrumBoxArt.jpg
|developer = John Hollis
|publisher = [[Quicksilva]]
|released = 1982<ref name='pcw301282'>{{cite magazine |title=Top 10|magazine=Popular Computing Weekly |volume=1|issue=36 |publisher=Sunshine Publications |date=30 December 1982|page=31|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=2735&page=31|access-date=15 May 2021}}</ref>
|genre = [[Action game|Action]]
|modes = [[Single-player]]
|platforms = [[ZX Spectrum]]
}}

'''''Time-Gate''''' (also known as '''''Timegate''''', '''''4D Time-Gate''''' or '''''4D Defender''''') is a [[ZX Spectrum]] game from [[Quicksilva]], and one of the first 3D combat games. The name is derived from its treatment of time as a [[dimension]], in which one could travel (albeit backwards only). The first press launch in the UK games industry was for this title.<ref>{{cite journal | doi=10.1080/23311983.2016.1190441 | volume=3 | title=A first-hand account of Quicksilva and its part in the birth of the UK games industry, 1981–1982 | year=2016 | journal=Cogent Arts & Humanities | page=1190441 | last1 = Eyles | first1 = Mark | last2 = Wade | first2 = Alex| doi-access=free}}</ref>

==Plot==
''Time-Gate'' had one embarking on a perilous mission to repel the Squarm invaders who have conquered Earth, by fighting through hordes of same, thus finding and locating the time-gates (hence the name) and using the gates to travel back through time to an earlier era, where one fought through more Squarm to find another gate. Eventually, if one hadn't been killed by the enemy, one got back to the year before the Squarm invaded, located their home planet, and locked onto it with one's meson RAM (48K), thereby destroying it and retroactively preventing its inhabitants from ever having invaded in the first place.

==Development==
''Time-Gate'', due to its intense use of machine-code-driven sound, placed more stress on the Spectrum's sound capabilities than previous games,<ref>Letter from Quicksilva to ''ZX Computing'' magazine, April–May 1983 — http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=ZXComputing/Issue8304/Pages/ZXComputing830400009.jpg</ref> and thereby inadvertently revealed a design flaw in early machines, whereby the ''Time-Gate'' sound effects would crash those machines. This resulted in some people buying the game to stress-test their Spectrums.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{WoS game|id=0005286|name=Time-Gate}}

[[Category:1982 video games]]
[[Category:Action games]]
[[Category:Quicksilva games]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Video games about time travel]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:ZX Spectrum games]]
[[Category:ZX Spectrum-only games]]

Kong Strikes Back!

2024-11-21T15:31:00Z

78.3.46.84:

{{Short description|1984 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = Kong Strikes Back!
|image = File:Kong_Strikes_Back_ZX_Spectrum_Cover_Art.jpg
|caption = ZX Spectrum cover art
|developer = [[Ocean Software]]
|publisher = Ocean Software
|producer = Jon Woods
|released = {{Video game release|EU|November 1984<ref name=homecomputing83 />}}
|genre = [[Platform game|Platform]]
|programmer = N. Alderton J. M. Smith<ref name=crash />
|modes = [[Single-player]]
|platforms = [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Commodore 64]], [[ZX Spectrum]]
}}

'''''Kong Strikes Back!''''' is a 1984 [[Platform game|platform]] [[video game]] published by [[Ocean Software]] in [[1984 in video gaming|1984]] for the [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Commodore 64]] and [[ZX Spectrum]]. While its predecessor, ''Kong'', is a ''[[Donkey Kong (arcade game)|Donkey Kong]]'' [[Video game clone|clone]], ''Kong Strikes Back!'' is a clone of ''[[Mr. Do's Wild Ride]]'' with ''Donkey Kong''-inspired graphics.

==Gameplay==
The player must rescue a [[damsel in distress]] on a [[rollercoaster]] in a fairground, and the goal of each level is to reach the top of the level to save her from Kong, a large ape. The player must avoid rollercoaster carts and various hazards by climbing up ladders on the track, and then climbing down and continuing up the track after the hazards pass.<ref name=amstradaction />

==Development==
''Kong Strikes Back!''{{'}}s graphics are inspired by ''[[Donkey Kong (arcade game)|Donkey Kong]]'', while its gameplay is a clone of ''[[Mr. Do's Wild Ride]]''. ''Kong Strikes Back!'' was released in the EU in mid-November 1984,<ref name=homecomputing83 /> and TV advertisements for the game aired around Christmas 1985.<ref name=tvgamer>{{cite magazine|title =News: Leading Ocean's games list for Christmas|date =November 1984 |url =https://archive.org/stream/TV_Gamer_1984-11_Boytonbrook_GB/TV_Gamer_1984-11_Boytonbrook_GB#page/n7/mode/2up |magazine =TV Gamer |publisher =Boytonbrook|page =8}}</ref><ref name=homecomputing83>{{cite magazine|title =News: Roland's Rat Adventure |date =October 1984 |url =https://archive.org/stream/home-computing-weekly-083/Home_Computing_Weekly_083#page/n5/mode/2up |magazine =Home Computing Weekly |publisher =[[Argus Specialist Publications]]|issue =83 |page =6}}</ref> To promote the release of ''Kong Strikes Back!'', Ocean ran a [[caption contest]] in ''Home Computing Weekly'', with the winners receiving a copy of either the Commodore 64 or the ZX Spectrum version of the game.<ref name=contest>{{cite magazine|title =Competition: Monkey Business |date =February 1985 |url =https://archive.org/stream/home-computing-weekly-099/Home_Computing_Weekly_099#page/n7/mode/2up|magazine=Home Computing Weekly |publisher =[[Argus Specialist Publications]]|issue =99 |page =8}}</ref>

''Kong Strikes Back!'' appears on both the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64 versions of the 1986 video game compilation ''Off the Hook'', which donated all proceeds to the charity [[The Prince's Trust]] to help fight [[drug abuse]].<ref name=computergamerAD>{{cite magazine|title =Off the Hook Magazine Advertisement|date =May 1986 |url =https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gamer_Magazine_Issue_014/page/96/mode/2up |magazine =Computer Gamer |publisher =[[Argus Specialist Publications]]|issue =14 |page =97}}</ref>

''Kong Strikes Back!'' is one of the first games with music composed by [[Martin Galway]].{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| rev1 = ''[[Amstrad Action]]''
| rev1Score = 83% (Amstrad)<ref name=amstradaction />
| rev2 = ''Home Computing Weekly''
| rev2Score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name=HCW />
| rev3 = ''[[Crash (magazine)|Crash]]''
| rev3Score = 73% (Spectrum)<ref name=crash />
| rev4 = ''[[Sinclair Programs]]''
| rev4Score = 65% (Spectrum)<ref name=sinclairprograms />
}}
''[[Amstrad Action]]'' gave the Amstrad CPC version of ''Kong Strikes Back!'' an overall score of 83%, praising its "slick" graphics, "great" music, and "intense" action gameplay.<ref name=amstradaction>{{cite magazine|title =Amsyclopedia! - Arcade-Action - Kong Strikes Back |date =October 1985 |url =https://archive.org/details/Amstrad_Action_Issue_001/page/70/mode/2up |magazine =[[Amstrad Action]] |publisher =Future Publishing|issue =1 |page =71|issn=0954-8068}}</ref> ''[[Crash (magazine)|Crash]]'' gave the ZX Spectrum version an overall score of 73%, criticizing the lack of a backstory for the game, further expressing that the game's graphics are "old fashioned" and "quite plain", particularly criticizing the damsel's "ugly" sprite. ''Crash'' praised the game's difficulty curve, as well as its "fast" movement and 'intuitive' controls, further calling ''Kong Strikes Back!'' "definitely above average".<ref name=crash>{{cite magazine|title =Reviews: Kong Strikes Back |date =February 1985 |url =https://archive.org/details/Crash_Magazine_013/page/130/mode/2up |magazine =[[Crash (magazine)|Crash]] |publisher =Newsfield|issue =13 |page =130|issn=0954-8661}}</ref>

''[[Sinclair Programs]]'' gave the ZX Spectrum version an overall score of 65%, praising its "addictive" gameplay as well as its difficulty, further calling ''Kong Strikes Back!'' a "well-thought out and immaculately constructed" game.<ref name=sinclairprograms>{{cite magazine|title =Soft Focus: Kong Strikes Back |date =April 1985 |url =https://archive.org/details/sinclair-programs-30/page/n19/mode/2up |magazine =[[Sinclair Programs]] |publisher =EMAP|issue =30 |page =21|issn=0263-0265}}</ref> ''Home Computing Weekly'' gave the Commodore 64 version four stars out of five.<ref name=HCW>{{cite magazine|title =Now Follow That! |date =February 5, 1985 |url =https://archive.org/details/home-computing-weekly-098/page/n23/mode/2up |magazine =Home Computing Weekly |publisher =[[Argus Specialist Publications]] |last =Ryan |first =Margaret |issue =98 |page =25}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{lemon64 game|id=1458|name=Kong Strikes Back!}}
* {{moby game|id=/kong-strikes-back|name=''Kong Strikes Back!''}}
* [https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.php?cat=96&id=2742 ''Kong Strikes Back!''] at Spectrum Computing
* {{IAg|Kong_Strikes_Back_1985_Ocean}}

[[Category:1984 video games]]
[[Category:Amstrad CPC games]]
[[Category:Commodore 64 games]]
[[Category:Ocean Software games]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Video game clones]]
[[Category:Video game sequels]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Martin Galway]]
[[Category:ZX Spectrum games]]

Tombs & Treasure

2024-11-21T14:53:58Z

78.3.46.84: /* Gameplay */

{{Short description|1986 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = Tombs & Treasure
|image = TombsandTreasurebox.jpg
|alt = Tombs & Treasure
|caption = Box art of ''Tombs & Treasure''
|developer = [[Nihon Falcom]] [[Compile (company)|Compile]] (FC/NES)
|publisher = Nihon Falcom [[Tokyo Shoseki]] (FC)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=19994|title=太陽の神殿アステカII (FC) - ファミ通.com}}</ref> [[Infocom]] (NES)
|composer = Takahito Abe
|released = '''PC-88''' {{vgrelease|JP|October 1986<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=28069|title=太陽の神殿 -アステカII- (PC-8801) - ファミ通.com}}</ref>}} '''Famicom/NES''' {{vgrelease|JP|August 3, 1988|NA|June 1991}}
|genre = [[Adventure game|Adventure]], [[Role-playing video game|role-playing]]
|modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]]
|platforms = [[PC-8800 series|PC-8801]], [[PC-9800 series|PC-9801]], [[FM-7]], [[Sharp X1]], [[MSX2]], [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Famicom/NES]]
}}

'''''Tombs & Treasure''''', known in Japan as {{nihongo|'''''Asteka II: Templo del Sol'''''|太陽の神殿: ASTEKA II|Taiyō no Shinden: Asutekā Ni|"Temple of the Sun: Asteka II"}}, is an [[adventure game]] originally developed by [[Falcom]] in 1986 for the [[PC-8800 series|PC-8801]], [[PC-9800 series|PC-9801]], [[FM-7]], [[MSX#MSX2|MSX 2]] and [[Sharp X1|X1]] Japanese computer systems. A [[NES|Famicom/NES]] version, released in 1988, was altered to be more story-based, and features new music and [[Role-playing video game|role-playing]] elements; an English-language NES version was published by [[Infocom]] in 1991. Japanese [[enhanced remakes]] were released for the [[Sega Saturn|Saturn]] and [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] systems in 1998 and 1999, respectively.

The game takes place in the ancient [[Maya civilization|Mayan]] city of [[Chichen Itza]] on the [[Yucatán Peninsula]]. It alternates between using a three-quarters overhead view for travelling from ruin to ruin, and switching to a [[first-person perspective]] upon entering a specific location.

==Plot==
At the start of the game, the player is allowed to name both the protagonist, a young brown-haired man, and the lead female, a green-haired lass who is the daughter of one Professor Imes; if no names are manually entered, the game will randomly choose from a pre-coded list of names for both characters.

Professor Imes is a renowned [[archaeology|archaeologist]] who has been investigating an artifact known as the Sun Key, which potentially has the ability to unlock the greatest secrets of the lost Mayan civilization, and is rumored to be housed somewhere within Chichen Itza. On his latest expedition, he and his team mysteriously disappeared while exploring different temples between June 22 and July 14; only his guide, José, was able to escape unharmed and return with some artifacts that the team found, hoping they will help the player in his quest to find the professor. The three, after talking with the professor's secretary Anne, travel to Mexico and into the ancient city to look for clues.

Several actual sites of Chichen Itza are explored by the player, although their interiors and purposes are purposefully changed slightly in order to help create an atmosphere of fantasy and mystery-solving intrigue. Furthermore, each ruin is home to a demon that is said to be under the control of a creature known only as Tentacula, although this is only speculation that is gathered from the professor's notes and what José has to say to the player at the start.

==Gameplay==
''Tombs & Treasure'' is predominantly about solving [[puzzle]]s and interacting objects with one another as they are found throughout the Mayan city. When travelling from temple to temple, the only available action is to walk using the D-pad, but once a temple is entered, the player may start exploring much more thoroughly. Using a list of picture-based action keys ("Go", "Push", "Wash", etc.), the characters can interact with the environment, inspecting it for clues and manipulating it to unlock another area elsewhere. There are several items to collect, as well, whose purpose can be learned by looking at them. The game gives each of the three characters—the boy, the girl, and José—their own special attributes to let them all contribute to the quest. The boy is the player's in-game avatar and usually does the most hands-on work; the girl is talented [[music]]ally; and José is very strong and able to move things the other two cannot.

[[File:Tombsballcourt.png|thumb|right|The player entering the [[Mesoamerican ballcourt|Ball Court]]]]
Some light turn-based [[combat]] also faces the player when a demon is encountered inside a ruin. These encounters almost always happen in the very first room of a ruin, although there are some exceptions. Fighting is accomplished, simply enough, using the "Fight" command, although doing this means the player is using his bare hands. Equipping the sword is done before each fight by selecting "Use", and then highlighting the [[sword]] in the inventory, first. Battles are strictly turn-based, with no means of healing, and are simply bashing away at the monster until one or the other is dead, but it is possible to run away from the fight with the "Go" command, with the player being fully healed when he comes back to try the battle again later.

The game uses a simplistic [[experience point]] system which gives the player additional levels (and [[hit point]]s) both from winning battles, and from successfully solving puzzles throughout Chichen Itza. As such, the player is kept from advancing too far, or too early, simply because he won't be strong enough yet to contend with the higher-level monsters he's sure to encounter. Occasionally the player may be defeated despite being strong enough. The game also came packaged with a small guide which represented the professor's journal; it is written in an awkward cursive form and can be hard to understand, as well as speaking in riddles, but can often aid the player if read correctly. While there are a few ruins which are strictly for show and cannot be entered, the vast majority can.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Infocom games}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tombs and Treasure}}
[[Category:1986 video games]]
[[Category:Adventure games]]
[[Category:Compile (company) games]]
[[Category:FM-7 games]]
[[Category:Infocom games]]
[[Category:MSX2 games]]
[[Category:NEC PC-8801 games]]
[[Category:NEC PC-9801 games]]
[[Category:Nihon Falcom games]]
[[Category:Nintendo Entertainment System games]]
[[Category:Role-playing video games]]
[[Category:Sharp X1 games]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Tokyo Shoseki games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
[[Category:Video games set in Mexico]]
[[Category:ZAP Corporation games]]