DATA BURST
HEAD OVER HEELS
FORMAT: SINCLAIR NEXT CREDITS: RUSTY PIXELS (MICHAEL WARE, SIMON BUTLER, SPACE FRACTAL) PRICE: DIGITAL £12 / PHYSICAL £22 PLUS POSTAGE WEB: RUSTYPIXELS.UK/PRODUCT/HEAD-OVERHEELS-DIGITAL/FUSIONRETROBOOKS.COM/PRODUCTS/HEAD-OVER-HEELS
The dream team originally released this excellent remake for Kickstarter backers of the second batch of Sinclair Next hardware. Deluxe physical versions have sold out, but standard versions (with physical SD card and printed manual in a DVD-style case) are still available. For those who haven’t played this classic game by Jon Ritman and the late Bertie Drummond, Head and Heels are a pair of secret agents plotting to overthrow the Blacktooth Empire. The pair start the game in separate prison cells. Fortunately, there is a way out, and now the two agents with their special skills – Head can jump and glide, Heels can run – must reunite somehow. Picking up the Donut Gun and Donuts lets Head freeze enemies, while Heels can find the Bag to let him carry and drop useful objects. The aim is to find six crowns to free the planets and then escape back home. The gorgeous, upgraded graphics have so many great touches, including animated background features, and the superb Space Fractal soundtrack is filled with great tunes. It’s still a challenging game with clever puzzles and over 500 locations to discover, including new areas, and the addition of Golden Chickens to track down. This is a truly lavish tribute to a classic Spectrum