‘Behind Enemy Lines’ Game Review – The Apprentice (1986)

Something different for my latest mini series, as I take a look at Mastertronic games for other 8-bit systems, which never made it to the C64.

First up is an Amstrad CPC game called The Apprentice, a flick-screen adventure offering...

October in Review

Well, not a lot to say about October as I’ve only just started reviewing games again after my Play Expo distractions. Those that I did review were pretty good though, with the exception of the dire Super Trolley!

So, it must be time for an updated ‘best and worst’ games chart. As mentioned a couple of months back, I’m splitting the original games from the re-releases so I now have two top tens, but am keeping a combined ‘bottom ten’. The most notable addition to these new charts is a brand new worst-ever Mastertronic game!

Top Ten Original Mastertronic Games

  1. Street Surfer (Entertainment USA, 1986)

  2. Kikstart (Mastertronic, 1985)

  3. Big Mac: The Mad Maintenance Man (Mastertronic, 1985)

  4. Bomb Fusion (Mastertronic, 1989)

  5. Kane (Mastertronic, 1985)

  6. Hero of the Golden Talisman (M.A.D., 1985)

  7. Mindtrap (Mastertronic, 1989)

  8. Night Racer (Mastertronic, 1988)

  9. Panther (Entertainment USA, 1986)

10. Protector (Mastertronic Plus, 1989)

Top Ten Mastertronic Re-releases

  1. Ghostbusters (Ricochet, 1988)

  2. Rock n' Bolt (Ricochet, 1988)

  3. Rescue on Fractalus (Mastertronic Plus, 1989)

  4. Gemini Wing (Mastertronic Plus, 1989)

  5. Aliens (Ricochet, 1988)

  6. Toy Bizarre (Ricochet, 1989)

  7. Tetris (Mastertronic Plus, 1989)

  8. Speed King (Mastertronic, 1985)

  9. Brian Jacks Superstar Challenge (Ricochet, 1987)

10. Erebus (Ricochet, 1988)

Bottom Ten Mastertronic Releases (In reverse order, worst at the bottom)

10. Super Trolley (Mastertronic, 1988)

  9. Munch Mania (Mastertronic, 1984)

  8. Rockford: The Arcade Game (M.A.D., 1988)

  7. Knightmare (Ricochet, 1988)

  6. Speed Zone (Mastertronic, 1989)

  5. Growing Pains of Adrian Mole (Ricochet, 1987)

  4. Double Dragon (Mastertronic Plus, 1990)

  3. FA Cup Football (Ricochet, 1988)

  2. Sport of Kings (M.A.D., 1987)

  1. The Election Game (Mastertronic, 1984)

I’m hoping to ramp up the frequency of reviews again over the coming weeks, so expect to see new additions to all the charts in a month’s time!

Game Review – Super Trolley (1988)

Now then, now then, what do we have here? A shelf-stacking simulator, which is just as interesting as it sounds!

Game Review – Hero of the Golden Talisman (1985)

Mr Chip Software comes up with the goods once again with this early M.A.D. release, coded by the always-reliable Shaun Southern.

Game Review – Micro Mouse (1990)

Another polished production from MC Lothlorien, who definitely seem to have a thing for maze games!

Collection Update – Two Ton Up!

Well I’ve had these two games for over a month now and the video has been on YouTube for ages but I forgot to post here for my legion of 3 or 4 adoring blog followers! ;-)

Two relatively easy finds from Ebay this time in Leviathan (Mastertronic Plus, £2.99) and Kentilla (Mastertronic, £2.75) which take my overall total to an even 200 games.

Total games: 200

Average cost: £1.18

Game Review – Big Mac: The Man Maintenance Man (1985)

I do love a good old single-screen platformer, and this is certainly both old and good...