Matt's Old Gaming MAgazine Reviews

I like to think the woman is saying "That's a big chopper, hop on and let's go for a ride" while waiting for her friend to sneak up and bonk Ax over the head.

I played through the arcade version on MAME with my daughter who was about six at the time, and we completed it very easily on a handful of creds even though it was the first time she'd played any scrolling fighter! It was just a very easy game but yes, very replayable thanks to the fun factor.

Space Harrier on the Amiga (ignore the Speccy, they're hooked up to the same TV) is a great conversion. Full screen and very fast. Seems like that wasn't always the plan though as C&VG expected it to be identical to the ST version, which had a large border.

The controversy over this one always seems to be around the in-game music. What's the story there? It's obv a funked-up version of Somewhere Over The Rainbow. Was the original (which is in the home versions) ever licensed?

Always gets compared to Gauntlet but it's actually a more in-depth and involving game, particularly if you ignore Gauntlet's multi-player elements (which were pretty irrelevant to most 8-bit kids playing alone in their bedrooms back in the day).

Did you get bored of Star Wars already?

Wowzers. Did E.T really cost £49.95 when it was first released on VHS in 1988? That's £137.61 in today's money apparently. From C&VG August 88.

#retro #retrogaming #zxspectrum #c64 #amiga

Was this written before they made the most recent film or is the subtitle a joke?

Interestingly an EAB post mentions the animation, which obviously isn't viewable in the mag preview, so possibly someone knows more about it or has seen it in action?

What is this game? Ancient Mariner (Systems Architects). Previewed in C&VG #71 but no entry on HOL or @gamesthatwerent.com . But looks quite developed and ambitious. No hits on @mobygames.com for Systems Architects either. Looks cool though #amiga #Atari #retrogames

YouTube video by Kim Justice AMIGA POWER vs. Team 17 (And More): The Whole Story | Kim Justice

Probably my fav @kimjustice.bsky.social vid for a while. So interesting to read about the rivalries, first between Amiga Power & Team17 and then, even more interestingly, betweem AP and Amiga Format. I read both avidly & never realised the depth of animosity www.youtube.com/watch?v=Km_2...

So cool that mags back in the day would commission actual comic artists to draw artwork for their pages, like this awesome Glenn Fabry piece accompanying the Slaine preview in C&VG October 1987. #retro #retromags #retrogaming

I only played the demo, which iirc was given away with an issue of Zero. It was quite good fun though.

Battle Command (1990) - MobyGames Battle Command is a 3D arcade/strategy game, loosely derived from the same developers' Carrier Command. In a near future alternate reality, the Ultra War is fought between the two dominate races in th...

There's also Battle Command, which mags at the time referred to as a sequel, if I remember rightly. Checking now, I see they are both credited to Realtime Games on the title screens:

www.mobygames.com/game/10121/b...

Why was it quite normal to charge £1 more for the C64 (tape) version of a game than the Spectrum version in the mid 80s? Seems a bit pointless but it was pretty standard. #retro #c64 #zxspectrum

The October '87 C&VG news section has what I guess is the first news of a Robocop game? No mention of Data East license & says won't be out til late next year. Long development time for an 8-bit game & not sure if the very low-res digitised image is a still from the film or v early game concept.

First new delivery to Fort Mogmar for a while, 6 so far uncollected issues of C&VG from 87, 88 + 89. Plus two doubles to add to the swaps pile (not in pic). The late 80s C&VG era of my collection is getting quite full now. #retro #retromags #C&VG

This looks very much up my street. Any good?

Cannibalism in games is an interesting subject. Can't remember names at the moment but I know I've played some Roguelikes where it's an option that's always there. Sometimes it leads pretty severe consequences but sometimes its just left to sit on the player's moral conscience. Fun!

The Artistry of Avril Harrison What links King Tut, a street urchin, and The Secret of Monkey Island? Let’s find out together!

Last year, I paid tribute to computer artist Avril Harrison, one of the artists who pioneered the use of the Commodore Amiga in a then-new field of artistry.

Yesterday, I learned that she passed away in 2019 at the age of 61. I've polished up the article and added a bit more to it.

Oh! I think I finally found one that @gamesthatwerent.com hasn't got yet!
Did this Archimedes port of Hard Drivin' ever exist beyond this brief mention? Could have been pretty awesome at the time! "Four times faster than any other format".
#retrogaming #retro #oldmags

My copy of The Games Machine #23 October 89 has this little unopened "Are You A Winner?" package taped to the front.
1. Why didnt the original owner open it?
2. Should I? Or preserve it?
#retrogaming #oldmags #retro

Sinclair User Oct 1989: Power Drift programmer notes, Galaxy Force preview.

READ: https://archive.org/stream/sinclair-user-magazine-091/SinclairUser_091_Oct_1989#page/n00/mode/2up #zxspectrum #retrogaming

I also wrote a lil' piece about the piracy scene between the 80s and 90s in Europe, delving into several interesting experiences such as the Twilight CDs from the Netherlands
genesistemple.com/the-european...

YouTube video by Kim Justice 10 Classic Arcade Game Treasures From...1982 | Kim Justice

NEW VIDEO! The Arcade Treasures of 1982, featuring some truly outstanding titles; Mr. Do, Frenzy, Nibbler, and a trio of European games including Bagman and Blue Print. Enjoy and please share :) www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkPl...

I remember this looked totally amazing when it came out, it felt like playing the movie. Seems funny looking at it now, but that's what I thought back then.

Really glad you went back to doing the games chronologically, makes much more sense to me to do it this way!

I am going to Japan today! First time. I want to look at retro game stuff obvs and I know Akihabara is the place to go but beyond that I have no idea. Where would you be heading if you were going to Japan today and you wanted to look at cool #retrogaming stuff? #retro #help

The greatest computer of all time, challenged possibly only by the ZX Spectrum.