Minit Man Penguin Software

Minit Man is an obscure Commodore 64 game from Penguin Software that sees the player in control of a large helicopter on its mission to repel a robotic alien horde. This is done by completing the construction of a bridge and shooting alien robots, and these gameplay elements are attractively – and accurately – displayed on the game's front cover. The twin-rotor chopper hovers to the right, a long bridge section held underneath by its magnetic clamp. To the left is an alien robot that is guarding the partially-constructed bridge below, next to a plunging ravine. It's a neat summation of the game's main elements, yet the primary inspiration for me in this picture is its sense of perspective. The factory beneath the helicopter is expertly drawn, and with a real sense of scale that even engenders a touch of vertigo if I look at it for too long.