HUNCHBACK
VARIOUS, 1984
One year later, Spectrum Games transformed into Ocean Software, and the company was on the cusp of the big time. For its first officially licensed arcade game, it chose the obscure Century Electronics coin-op machine, Hunchback. Loosely based on the Victor Hugo story, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, Quasimodo strides across the top of a castle wall, dodging arrows, soldiers and fireballs. It’s an uncomplicated arcade game, which may have been why Ocean selected it for home conversions, with mixed results. The Commodore 64 game is probably the pick of the bunch, while the Spectrum game lacks a touch of finesse. Still, an excellent Bob Wakelin cover and the distinctive Ocean-style packaging helped Hunchback become a best-seller.