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RIGHT from the opening screens of Brian Bloodaxe, which simulate your Spectrum failing to load the program, you know you are entering the upper atmosphere of lunacy.

Brian is a viking, who has been frozen for centuries in a block of ice. On thawing, he decides to conquer the British, who live in 100 screens of Jet Set Willy-style arcade action.

Objects are scattered liberally about the screens, and you will need to engage in some pretty dubious imaginative thought to work out their purposes. Monsters range from ducks to Daleks, Mad Scotsmen to Turkish soldiers.

Those objects, of which you can carry three at a time, can be used to block the path of monsters or to make extra platforms. They are solid, and do not fall when dropped, and thus provide a means of leaping across blank areas of the screen. Getting the correct objects to the correct places, is, however, a daunting task.

Brian Bloodaxe is not original in concept, but the only game we have seen based on the Jet Set Willy theme to match that classic. It will be months before a solution is found to the quest for the Crown Jewels, and there is much incidental pleasure to be gained from the large sprite-style graphics and colourful visual humour. Brian Bloodaxe is a pleasant surprise in a market which has become a little turgid of late.



Chris Bourne

BRIAN BLOODAXE The Edge Memory: 48K Price: £7.95 Joystick: Kempston, Cursor, Sinclair Gilbert Factor: 8

BRIAN BLOODAXE
The Edge / £7.95

Ross: Brian Bloodaxe is the first game to feature 'Primary Imbalance'. Hmm - presumably that means it's really zany and has whacky graphics!
As Brian (the Viking), you have to slog through some 104 screens in an attempt to collect the crown jewels, and anyone who manages it can sit on the Throne. In fact, the game's a 'Jet Set' look-alike, but one that's made more complex than most because of the need to carry up to three objects at once and use them in various locations - for example, a red key raises a red portcullis, and so on.
The graphics which inhabit the various screens are all well drawn and animated, and some are very large indeed. They'll not kill the instant you touch, but each contact reduces your energy level.
You can use the graphics to assist your progress on-screen - by hopping on and off them! The game is not as precise as JSW but it does offer something rather different.
Some screens repeat, which suggests there may not be 104 unique locations in total. On the other hand that's more than made up for by the wide variety of things Brian is able to do. This one is worth a go! So, go for it! 4½/5

Dave: At first sight I thought "Oh no! Not another platform game!" But I was wrong - there's much more to do than usual, and some of the graphics are superb! 4/5

Roger: Another JSW clone, but who needs it? I certainly don't - I want one where you ride a motorbike on-screen ... go to it, you Edge people! 2/5

Brian Bloodaxe was released for the ZX Spectrum early in 1985 by The Edge who had already gained success with games such as Starbike and Psytraxx.

Brian Bloodaxe is a notable ZX Spectrum classic game due to it's back story and off-beat humour.


ZX Spectrum Brian Bloodaxe
Anyway, the whole story of this platform game was that he had been frozen in an ice block for hundreds of years - sounds like the big freeze of 2009! Anyway, being that he was a Viking king, he decides to continue where he left off: conquering Great Britain!

The game had around 100 screens of platform action to play through - and to win you had to steal the crown jewels and get our Brian seated on the throne.

In usual platform style you could move left and right and jump, allowing our 'hero' to move around the screens by jumping over enemies, gaps in the floor and so on.

Although Brian had to evade most of the games surreal and bizarre enemies (such as the famous Daleks from Doctor Who!), it was possible to kill some of them by headbutting - which would stab them with the horns of his helmet.

There were also a few items to collect which would help you in your quest (such as keys and tankards of beer) - but the emphasis of this platform game was on evading the nasties and exploration.

ZX Spectrum Games Brian Bloodaxe - note the DalekOn load up you knew you were in for something a little different. The 'liberty bell march' was the title tune and as you started the game - well let's say the first time I ever played Brian Bloodaxe it fooled me for a second. I never 'blew' on the keyboard though.... honest!

This game is probably not as well remembered as other platform or arcade games on the ZX Spectrum, but it was pretty well received when it came out. Other platformers such as Manic Miner, Technician Ted, Dynamite Dan and Jet Set Willy became the kings of the genre - Brian Bloodaxe is more of a cult title.

On Release:
Brian Bloodaxe was well recieved when it was released for the ZX Spectrum and many enjoyed the slightly wacky humour within the game. Unfortunately it came out in the midst of other platform games, and it lacked the overall polish of a lot of these other titles. It was a decent enough game at the time and for anyone that was into platform games it was definately worth getting hold of.

The test of time:
Me and my fellow geek reckon that in the grand scheme of Spectrum Games Brian Bloodaxe has not aged at all well. The graphics are pretty basic and overall the game does lack a bit of polish. Mind you, it did make us laugh - the opening of it is still funny. Worth a look for nostalgia and for anyone that missed it first time around.

It should be noted that this game is currently being remade (it must have a cult following) - check out http://mremakes.free.fr/ for more information.

We recommend getting hold of the real hardware but if not then download a ZX Spectrum emulator and download Brian Bloodaxe for the ZX Spectrum. Alternatively you could try and play it online.

GENRE: Platform game (Arcade Game)
RELEASE DATE: Early 1985
RELEASED BY: The Edge
DEVELOPER(S): Charles Bystram
PRICE: £7.95 - UK

With overtones of Monty Python (Life of Brian?) in the wrathful hand of God striking death by lightning to the careless games player, Brian Bloodaxe sets out on a quest full of Primary Imbalance.

The Edge have abandoned 'Synurgy', what ever that was, for a more imbalanced start. Don't worry when after the animated title screen has finished doing its thing, the program crashes. Observant computer owners will notice that the Sinclair logo has become a bit moth-eaten and realise that everything is okay-yah. Soon the familiar Monty Python theme music comes up and you're away.

Away to where, you may wonder. Well the inlay doesn't help much - on purpose, as it states clearly enough. But Brian Bloodaxe is a Viking Rip Van Winkle who has woken up after being stuck in an ice block for hundreds of years. On reawakening he decides to do what he original set out to do, and conquer Britain, except now it's 1983 (a period piece as you see).

Through 104 screens of platform- inspired jumping, Brian must steal the Crown Jewels and sit on the throne. The screens are variously designed, one of the early ones is a snooker table complete with killer balls for instance, and require jumping skills. Some objects can be picked up and used like the triangle on the same screen, which keeps the snooker balls away, put it can also be placed usefully and acts as a jumping platform.

The larger of the hazards can be used similarly, like the duck whose back is broad and safe as long as you walk fast enough to keep up, but watch the beak!

Primary Imbalance seems to be a highly sophisticated programming method whereby things don't always work as you might expect. Water drowns, for instance, but Brian has a fine line in walking on water as long as he keeps bouncing. On the other hand, Primary Imbalance may be nothing more sophisticated than a game frustration factor depending on how you look at it. The ability to pick up objects and use them (Brian can only carry three at a time) does make Brian Bloodaxe into more than just a platform game, as the uses of the objects are critical to success and the Throne.



CRITICISM
'Brian Bloodaxe claims to have Primary Imbalance which suggests that anything could happen, and this is certainly the case. The Monty Python music also indicates that this is no ordinary game. BB is one of the arcade/adventure type games which these days seem to be the games and require thought as well as the customary skills. It has all sorts of happenings in it. To name a few, I found I could walk on the back of nasties but dies if I met their path - quite logical - but when jumping off a ledge onto another it decided to move away, leading Brian to a watery grave - quite illogical. So my advice is to expect anything. The idea of collecting objects to use as help as seen in Knight Lore is seen here too. Bloodaxe is an excellent game which is representative of the high class software which is being produced today.'

'Straight to the point, Brian Bloodaxe is a sort of souped-up platform game with a few major differences. The main one being that the objects you collect play an important role in performing another or several actions. Also, not everything that moves is deadly - did you know that sharks are safer from behind than in head on? The graphics are excellent and the sound is fab with a rare but appreciated continuous tune that doesn't appear to affect the movement of the graphics at all. The game is certainly fun to play though I think the platform idea has been a bit overworked and should be given a rest. But with that said Brian Bloodaxe is still a truly marvellous think, and a game which I don't think The dye could improve upon. I think Primary Imbalance refers to the hyperload - I had enough problems with that - or maybe the game is played better when you balance upside down on one finger!'

'I think I've discovered what Primary Imbalance is. It is that it takes so many attempts to load it and then you try the other side just for luck and it loads straight away! I think this has to be one of the most infuriating games I have ever played. It has good graphics and sound, everything is well drawn and moves well (apart from the Rhinos) and the only thing lacking is the instructions! There are some but they are not intended to help at all so bird-brains have to work it all out for themselves.'

COMMENTS
Control keys: CAPS/Z left/right, C to jump, V/SPACE pick up/drop, X to use an object
Joystick: Kempston, Protek, AGF (auto detection), Sinclair 2
Keyboard play: responsive and simple to use
Use of colour: good, varied
Graphics: very good, large, well detailed and smooth
Sound: excellent continuous tune
Skill levels: 1
Lives: 3
Screens: 104
General Rating: Very good to excellent, a tough thinking/skill game.

Use of Computer 85%
Graphics 86%
Playability 89%
Getting Started 78%
Addictive Qualities 89%
Value for Money 76%
Overall 86%