Spannerman Amsoft/Gem Software
Gem Software was behind many of the better early Amsoft releases, and while this platformer is hardly a complicated game, it’s at least playable and a vaguely satisfying experience. Spannerman — presumably named because he’s the man called upon whenever a spanner is needed — is stuck inside a nuclear powerplant, and leaks are beginning to sprout. Spannerman must use his trusty tool to plug each leak while dodging mutant rats and falling debris, seemingly unconcerned about imminent destruction or radiation poisoning. The cover is a comical impression of this serious event — Spannerman wrestling with a pipe as an angry-looking rat hovers nearby. Behind them, a floor crumbles away and there are more pipes needing attention in what represents a neat summation of the game’s core elements. The desperate and wide-eyed look on Spannerman’s face is particularly amusing, reminding me of John Smyth’s excellent work for Mastertronic.