A pixel pioneer
After the death of Sir Clive Sinclair, we look back at his much-loved creation the ZX Spectrum
break from a linear gaming path, allowing players to move around the mansion as they saw fit, collecting objects as they went.
All in all there were 60 screens to play through in order to complete the game, a task rendered near impossible by ‘The Attic bug’ which saw various rooms becoming corrupted, hiding monsters and, in some cases, triggering a game over.
BOMB JACK – ELITE (1986)
Released at the height of the Spectrum’s popularity, Bomb Jack – Elite was ported from the highly successful Japanese arcade machine.
Each new screen presented a fresh pattern of bombs which our hero Jack must defuse in order to stay alive.
It’s no mean feat either, as alongside the bombs there are UFOs, darting birds and mummies trying to pick you off.
You can even boost your score by defusing the bombs ‘in order’, picking off the fizzing ones in succession.
RAINBOW ISLANDS: THE STORY OF BUBBLE BOBBLE 2 (1989)
Bubble Bobble’s adorable dragons Bub and Bob took human form in this sequel to Taito’s hugely popular arcade hit.
Named Bubby and Bobby, the aim was to make your way across seven different islands, defeat the ‘dark shadow’ and rescue the Rainbow Islands.
Each ‘island’ had its own theme, with three stages to make your way through before you are caught in rising waters and ‘drown’.
Various items provide power ups, from the ability to fire multiple rainbows, to the speed in which you can fire them.
Each island also has its own boss, from a bouncing spider and bombdropping helicopter, to an Easter Island style head spitting deadly diamonds, and a sinister vampire.