CLASSIC MOMENTS

» PLATFORM: AMSTRAD CPC »RELEASED: 1987 » DEVELOPER: JON RITMAN, BERNIE DRUMMOND AND GUY STEVENS

1987was a pivotal year for the 8-bit computers. Throughout these 12 months, originality still flourished on the Spectrum, Amstrad and Commodore 64 despite the inevitable creep of releases licensed from arcade machines and movies. Head Over Heels is steeped in inventiveness, not least the innovative way in which each character has certain qualities that are manipulated in order to progress. However, operating Head and Heels separately will only get you so far; eventually the puzzles take on such a devious design that only the two creatures combined can solve them. Frustratingly separated by a just-too-high wall early on in the game, the pair escape and descend independently to the marketplace below the grim prison of the emperor Blacktooth. To the quirky strains of How Much Is That Doggie In The Window, Heels scampers past stalls of fruit and vegetables until he comes face to face with his lifelong chum. One more swift jump and Head is safely installed on Heels and their adventure against the evil Blacktooth empire can continue – together.