Softography
Below is a brief synopsis of all the games published by Ocean Software, listed in chronological order. Notice how the graphics standards improve over the years. Ocean held good relationships with some of industry's key software houses including Denton Designs and Sensible Software. They also struck deals with makers of arcade games and film franchises, as well as developing their own titles in-house.
Donkey Kong (1983)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64
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Hunchback (1983)
Available on: ZX Spectrum, VIC-20, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Dragon 32/64, MSX, PC
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Pogo (1983)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum
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Royal Birkdale Championship Golf (1983)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum THE GAME The Royal Birkdaie Championship Course is as accurately produced as the medium will allow and includes all the natural features of this testing course including ' Arnold Palmers Plaque'. The local wind conditions are also represented. They can be random, or you can set the conditions yourself. 1. Firstly the computer asks you to type in your name. Your name is announced on every tee and your scorecard is automatically signed. 2. The next question refers to wind effects. If you are a beginner it is suggested that you type in 'Y' then wind Direction 0 and Wind Force p. This will mean in effect that there is no wind and your shot will be unaltered by wind effects. If you are feeling more confident, type in 'N', which will initiate full wind effects. It will produce a random wind direction and a wind force. This will slowly change during your round so keep an eye on the arrow indicator and the wind direction in compass degrees above the arrow, and the wind strength which is printed below the arrow. The maximum force is 32 which simulates gale force conditions.
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Cavelon (1984)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64
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Daley Thompson's Decathlon (1984)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC
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Hunchback II: Quasimodo's Revenge (1984)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC
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Moon Alert (1984)
Available on: ZX Spectrum
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Mr.Wimpy: The Hamburger Game (1984)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64
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Cosmic Wartoad (1985)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum
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Daley Thompson's Supertest (1985)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC
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Frankie Goes to Hollywood (1985)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64
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Match Day (1985)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, MSX
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The Neverending Story (1985)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari 8-bit computers
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Batman (1986)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, MSX
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Cobra (1986)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC As vigilante cop, Marion Cobretti of the 'Zombie Squad', you must rescue top fashion model Ingrid Knutsen from an army of psychotic killers and the evil clutches of 'The Night Slasher'.
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The Great Escape (1986)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, PC "Development on The Great Escape was begun before Ocean got into licensing movies, so it was just "inspired" by the original Great Escape movie. The game title was used simply because it best portrayed the game's plot." Gary Bracey, ex-Ocean employee
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Hunchback: The Adventure (1986)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, PC
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Miami Vice (1986)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64
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N.O.M.A.D. (1986)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC
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Parallax (1986)
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Available on: Commodore 64
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Rambo: First Blood Part II (1986)
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Available on: Commodore 64
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Short Circuit (1986)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64
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Super Bowl (1986)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC
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Top Gun (1986)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, NES, PC
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Combat School (1987)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, PC
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Double Take (1987)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64 Fossil did the C64 version in-house with graphics by the incredible Andy Sleigh.
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Head Over Heels (1987)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Amiga, Atari 8-bit, MSX
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Match Day II (1987)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, MSX
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Mutants (1987)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC
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Platoon (1987)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, MSX, Apple II, Atari ST, Amiga, NES, PC
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Tai-Pan (1987)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, MSX, Apple II, Atari ST, Amiga, NES, PC
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Tank (1987)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC
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Where Time Stood Still (1987)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Atari ST, PC
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Wizball (1987)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Amiga, PC
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Daley Thompson's Olympic Challenge (1988)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Amiga
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Eco (1988)
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Available on: Atari ST, Amiga "There was a story going around Ocean about ECO - there was some nasty crash in the ST version that required a remaster and the programmer couldn't make head nor tail of the code because of its development under the "influence". Dunno if it was remotely true - but certainly in the realms of possibility." Paul Hughes, ex-Ocean employee
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Firefly (1988)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64 The framework is represented on the screen by a system of grids, each one being one of the following: 1. A robot-occupied zone. 2. An unconstructed region. 3. A robot-free "Dead Zone". 4. A planetary sector. 5. The system power source. The system grid is arranged randomly each turn. You always start in the Dead Zone on the far left, ready to battle your way through the occupied area to the power source. Your movement is restricted to the Dead Zone areas and you can therefore only enter a system which is adjacent to a Dead Zone. You do so by positioning the Firefly on the appropriate square and pressing fire. You cannot enter a system with a planet at its core. These are the main mechanoid colonies and are too well protected against attack. The unconstructed regions are the least protected by the robots. In order to take over one of these you must first override its "intrusion detection" alarm system. This can only be done manually. If you fail to do it correctly in the given time, a chain reaction will occur, causing the robotic system to jumble itself up, forcing you to retreat to the far left of the grid. ENTERING AN OCCUPIED AREA : The solar system chart will be replaced by a close-up view of the area with one of the Firefly's battleships in the centre. The scanner at the bottom of the display will show the entire area and your battleship, observed from a distance. Your ship is equipped with an ion-thrust drive and plasma disruptor balls which, if used correctly, can get you out of impossible situations! Each area has four main energy points (fast-flashing dots on the scanner) and two teleports (slow-flashing dots). These are protected by a selected number of robots which, because of their size, will not show up on your radar. Once destroyed these robots may deposit some useful items. To take over the area you must destroy all four energy points. You accomplish this by entering each point and trying to overpower them. You can only do this, however, by collecting four excess energy units (yokas) which are constantly being expelled into the playfield by each of the energy points. The teleports can be used to move your ships into inaccessible places or for more economical travel around the playfield. However, these are robotic devices and may be difficult for humans to operate.
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G.U.T.Z. (1988)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64 The Americans were the first to pick up the transmission. Radio pulses from the vicinity of Jupiter - they had a regular pattern and a very unusual frequency. The object approached our planet and began to orbit it, not a moonlet or captured meteorite, it was an artificial craft, the product of intelligent life. "Make Contact" they said ... Have you ever tried communicating with an extremely hungry ten million tonne megabeing the size of a small moon?
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Operation Wolf (1988)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Amiga, PC, MSX, Sega Master System, TurboGrafx-16 Make your way through jungle filled with hostile soldiers, destroy any enemy installations and free all townships you encounter, with no food, no water, no chopper cover, not nearly enough ammo and no idea if you are going to make it back... volunteers only!!
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Rambo III (1988)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Amiga, PC, MSX
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Robocop (1988)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Amiga, PC, MSX, Apple II, NES, TRS-80 Coco Robocop TM & © Orion Pictures Corp. Patrolman Murphy was the 32nd cop to be gunned down in Detroit since Security Concepts Inc. took control of the police department. It was the opportunity OCP had been waiting for...They took what was left of Murphy and turned him into a deadly killing machine with a reinforced titanium body, an erased memory and a programmed mind. However they could not completely wipe out the memory of his horrific ordeal and he sets out to track down the gang responsible. In this game you are Robocop! You are the future of law enforcement.
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Batman: The Movie (1989)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Amiga, PC, MSX BATMAN™ - A LEGEND HAS RETURNED =============================== BRUCE WAYNE™. The multi-millionairre head of the Wayne Foundation is an unassuming, quiet type of guy. However, when night falls and evil stalks the streets, he sheds his daytime persona and becomes the masked vigilante of GOTHAM CITY™ - BATMAN! Crusading against crime from the rooftops of the sickened city, his objective becomes the elimination of Gus Grissom's criminal empire: in particular, the conquest of JACK NAPIER™, the psychotic second-in-command. Napier was the most cunnning and sadistic force in Gotham anyway, but when an accident befell him, twisting him both physically and mentally, he bacame the ultimate criminal - THE JOKER!™ You control the CAPED CRUSADER™ in five different scenarios as he is pitted against his malevolent nemesis in the life or death struggles that ensue. THE ULTIMATE MOVIE INSPIRES THE ULTIMATE GAME...PLAY BATMAN.
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Beach Volley (1989)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Amiga Sounds simple doesn't it! But before you make yourself the richest person in the whole Universe, remember to refuel your Spaceship - with 6 fuel pods - every time you land on a planet. Any other goodies you collect are yours to keep. Upon landing, you will find yourself equipped with the very latest Hydrovac Jet Pac, which can automatically air lift almost any rocket stage, fuel pod or valuables that you care to land upon, and release them over the rocket ship base. Don't forget your mega- powerful, Quad Photon Laser Phasers can blast any nasty, mean aliens who might object to your visit.
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Chase H.Q. (1989)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Amiga, Game Boy, Game Gear, MSX, NES, Sega Master System, TurboGrafx-16
"Chase HQ - Quite how Teque were able to NOT convey the feeling of speed, I really don't know, and the back of the box showed the Amiga version with the helicopter flying, but it never did appear in the game." Details of the perpetrators vehicles flash across your in-car computer screen as you tear away down the busy L.A. streets in search of your quarry. You are the head of SCI (Special Criminal Investigation) and the type of guys you chase don't stop for no-one! After years of experience, you have discovered that the only way of stopping these people is to ram 'em off the road! Your limited Turbo Chargers help you catch up, but these guys seem to drive the best (and fastest) sports cars on the road, so catchin' em ain't easy.
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F-29 Retaliator (1989)
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Available on: Atari ST, Amiga, PC
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The New Zealand Story (1989)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Amiga, PC, Genesis, NES, Sega Master System, TurboGrafx-16 You control Tiki the Kiwi in his search for the release of his kidnapped friends. Initially, you are armed with just a bow and arrow, but occasionally when you kill an enemy, they may drop an item which you con retrieve and use yourself. There ore many different types of item which you must discover yourself, but they vary from extra weapons to temporary invulnerability pills. Kiwis cannot fly and you are no exception, however, you get around this by knocking/shooting creatures off their balloons, which you can then commandeer and take to the skies! Surprisingly, Kiwis cannot breathe under water either, so you must be careful if you go swimming. Your oxygen level is shown on screen, so make sure you don't drown! Shooting water from your mouth replenishes oxygen and can be used to pot your adversaries. In the earlier levels, you will be shown arrows on the background which indicate the direction you must go to release the captive Kiwi on that level, but beware, on certain stages, releasing your friend alerts the Big Guardian Creature of that level, and you must first find a way of defeating it before progressing to the next level. Because the various lairs of the walrus are so well guarded, we cannot brief you further. Your techniques will develop as you play the game and each new level presents new, frantic and more original challenges! * Note - make sure you do not waste time sightseeing as you have a limited period to complete each level.
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Operation Thunderbolt (1989)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Amiga, SNES
Home Computer conversions all done by Choice Software, apart from C64, done by Rick Palmer. Gerald Wetherup did the ZX Spectrum version. Bringing you enhanced shoot-em-up action for one or two players, Thunderbolt not only reproduces the horizontally- scrolling gameplay of Wolf but brings 3D action to the scenario, pitting you against swooping jets, helicopters, tanks and many more awesome adversaries! Get the laser sight, or the bulletproof vest, but watch out for those air-to-ground missiles! GOOD LUCK IN YOUR MISSION.
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Renegade III: The Final Chapter (1989)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, MSX
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Run the Gauntlet (1989)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Atari ST, Amiga VEHICLE CHARACTERISTICS HOVERCRAFT - TRICKY TO HANDLE SPEEDBOATS - VERY FAST AND MANOEUVRABLE JET SKIS - FAST WITH VERY TIGHT TURNS INFLATABLES - MODERATE SPEED METEORS - VERY FAST 2 MAN BUGGY BUGGYS - FAST 1 MAN BUGGY QUADS - FAST 4 WHEEL BIKES SUPERCATS - AMPHIBIOUS 6 WHEEL ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE
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Sly Spy: Secret Agent (1989)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Amiga The levels take place in the following scenarios: SKY DIVING ON MOTORCYCLE WALKING SCUBA DIVE Along the way you can pick up various icons that will increase your power:- GOLDEN GUN - Each time this icon is collected a part of the Golden Gun is awarded to you. When you collect five parts the gun is complete. The gun only lasts a short time but it is very powerful. FLASHING B - This will give you more bullets. COLA CAN - This will give you more energy. CLOCK - This will give you more time. MACHINE GUN - This will change your pistol into a machine gun.
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The Untouchables (1989)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Amiga, PC, MSX THE UNTOUCHABLES - LIVE AN AMERICAN LEGEND The Untouchables THRILLING ACTION ON THE STREETS OF CHICAGO Scenario Original and diverse arcade-style sections put you in control of Elliot Ness's elite squad of crime busters. The Warehouse Bust, the Border Raid, The Alleyway Shootouts, The Railway Station Confrontation and the final Rooftop Duel enable you to re-live the knife-edge existence of Elliot Ness as you crusade through 1920's Chicago in search of Capone's retribution. Take on the Mob as you lead the Untouchables on their most exciting and difficult mission! With six levels of explosive action and a thrilling denouement. THE UNTOUCHABLES...LIVE AN AMERICAN LEGEND
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Voyager (1989)
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Available on: Atari ST, Amiga
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Battle Command (1990)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Amiga, PC The latest phase of the North/South war has been going on for over 10 years, with a World War 1 situation eventually developing - a standoff between armies massed over a long duo-in battle front. Such are the defensive capabilities of each side, full scale attacks are suicidal, so any offensive moves are, by necessity, small "behind the lines" actions performed by elite troops in specially designed vehicles. The Mauler is the latest such machine - an Armoured Fighting Machine capable of being lifted in and out of hostile territory by a fast Stealth Chopper (the Helicarrier) and armed with the most advanced weaponry science can devise. Try reading through the Your First Mission section to get the hang of how to play Battle Command. Above all, remember that you're fighting behind enemy lines on your own, with only quick thinking and several millions of Credits worth of military hardware to protect you.
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Chase H.Q. II: Special Criminal Investigation (1990)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Atari ST, Amiga, Sega Master System, TurboGrafx-16 Each successful mission will provide a new clue that will, eventually, lead you the girl's location. However it's a race against time because her only company is a time bomb!
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Clive Barker's Nightbreed: The Action Game (1990)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Atari ST, Amiga, PC You begin your journey at the gates of the Necropolis, a graveyard above an underground labyrinth where the Nightbreed live called Midian. Your task is to save the Nightbreed. a race older than man, of fantastic beings, shape-changers who are being attacked by man's jealousy in the form of the "Sons of the Free", an evil organization which come to destroy them - and you if they can.
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Clive Barker's Nightbreed: The Interactive Movie (1990)
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Available on: Atari ST, Amiga, PC
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Ivanhoe (1990)
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Available on: Atari ST, Amiga
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Lost Patrol (1990)
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Available on: Atari ST, Amiga, PC Sounds simple doesn't it! But before you make yourself the richest person in the whole Universe, remember to refuel your Spaceship - with 6 fuel pods - every time you land on a planet. Any other goodies you collect are yours to keep. Upon landing, you will find yourself equipped with the very latest Hydrovac Jet Pac, which can automatically air lift almost any rocket stage, fuel pod or valuables that you care to land upon, and release them over the rocket ship base. Don't forget your mega- powerful, Quad Photon Laser Phasers can blast any nasty, mean aliens who might object to your visit.
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NARC (1990)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Amiga, NES
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Navy SEALs (1990)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Amiga SCENARIO The Gulf of Oman -- and a secret location welcomes the arrival of the elite SEAL team. Their objective? To rescue the crew of a recently shot down helicopter. Beirut -- a dangerous stockpile of missiles must be destroyed before terrorists have a chance to use them. Only the SEAL team have the capability to complete the mission. You control the team. You control the action. You hold the fate of innocent lives in your hands.
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Shadow Warriors (1990)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Amiga, Game Boy In the concrete jungle of an American metropolis chaos has broken loose, an Oriental demon has possessed the strength of the greatest Warrior and has summoned forth a squad of ghoulish assassins who must be stopped. This duty falls to you, the last in a line of legendary combatants and the only saviour of a threatened city... Shadow Warrior, the hero of the 90's.
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Pang (1990)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Amiga, Game Boy, PC Game Play Guide the fearless Pang through a grand total of COUNTRIES, as he hunts and shoots balloons. Balloons appear in four different sizes. When a balloon is shot it divides itself into half until it reaches its smallest size. When you shoot the smallest balloons they finally disappear. After you have destroyed all the balloons you can move to the next level. In your travels you will discover different objects such as birds, robots and crabs - but watch out, not all of them will help you. FOR EXAMPLE some of them may stop you from firing. So be careful out there!
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Rainbow Islands (1990)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Amiga, Game Boy Colour, NES, Sega Master System, TurboGrafx CD The seven "Rainbow Islands" and their inhabitants. • Insect Island - caterpillars, spiders, crows • Combat Island - tanks, planes, helicopters • Monster Island - bats, werewolves, ghosts • Toy Island - water-pistols, deadly disks, teddy bears • Doh's Island - balls, spheres, capsules • Robot Island - spanners, robots, bolts • Dragon Island - cyclops, dragons, spirits
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Robocop 2 (1990)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, NES
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Total Recall (1990)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, NES Total Recall deserves a special mention because this was a salvage job in colloboration with Andy & Ivan (they did the driving bits) over the xmas holiday. I think we put this together in about 3 weeks (If memory serves me correctly). - James Higgins (ex-Ocean employee) LEVEL ONE Quaid must get from his hotel to a phone box on the far side of the city where he will receive further instructions. Along the way he must collect five vital objects to help him in his quest: a briefcase, passport, ticket to Mars, disguise and a surgical instrument for removal of an implanted homing device. LEVEL TWO Having received his instructions Quaid commandeers a "Johnny Cab" and must make his way to the derelict warehouse area where he can utilise the briefcase-video and learn further information regarding his past. LEVEL THREE A startling revelation lies within the video-briefcase. It appears that the full answers to his questions lie on Mars. Now he must escape from the warehouse to the Spaceport to begin his journey. LEVEL FOUR Melina and Quaid meet Benny, a taxi driver who helps them escape from the pursuing forces. They must negotiate a dangerous route through the caverns of Mars until they discover the way to the Rebel hideout. LEVEL FIVE Their taxi discarded, Melina and Quaid must proceed on foot back through 'Venusville', down into the caverns to meet Kuato the rebel leader. Along the route are switches that must be activated to open the doors into the alien reactor that is the heart of Quaid's dilemma. Finding Kuato, Quaid will be given the key to the core room within the heart of the reactor. Between Quaid and his final confrontation are the last vestiges of Richter's armed forces. Fight your way through, then battle Richter himself on the lift up to the core room. Emerge victorious and within you will find the villain behind your strife, Cohaagen. Here in the core room, he has planted a bomb which will destroy the reactor and Mars' only chance of salvation. Extra energy will be awarded at 50,000 points and every 100,000 points thereafter. If energy is full, ammo will be awarded. You only have one life; once your energy is depleted the game will be over.
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Darkman (1991)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, NES, Game Boy
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Elf (1991)
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Available on: Atari ST, Amiga, PC
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Epic (1991)
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Available on: Atari ST, Amiga, PC
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Hudson Hawk (1991)
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Available on: Atari ST, Amiga, PC
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The Simpsons: Bart vs The Space Mutants (1991)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Amiga, PC, Game Gear, Genesis, NES, Sega Master System SPACE MUTANTS ARE INVADING SPRINGFIELD! That's right, man! A buncha slimy, horrible totally gross and putrid monsters are taking over the bodies of the people who live there and they wanna build a weapon that's gonna take over the entire planet! Pretty cool, huh? Anyway, yours truly is the only one who can see 'em cause of my X-Ray glasses so it's up to me to stop 'em! I've gotta spraypaint things, get radical on my skateboard, use my trusty slingshot and in general, behave like a nuisance, man. Plus, with evil dudes like Nelson the bully and Sideshow Bob getting in my way, it's a good thing I've got the rest of the Simpsons to help me out! So if you're a decent person, a patriot and somebody who cares about this sorry planet, you'll do the right thing. Save the Earth! PLAY THIS GAME! Thanks, man. .
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Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Amiga, PC, Game Gear, Genesis, SNES Undaunted, another Terminator was sent back in time to 1994 to strike at John Connor, the future rebel leader, who is still a child at the time. The resistance must protect the child. Again the rebels were able to send a lone warrior to protect him. This time they will fight on the enemy's terms. This time a machine will battle one of its kind.
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WWF Wrestlemania (1991)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Amiga, PC
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The Addams Family (1992)
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Available on: ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Amiga, Game Boy, Game Gear, Genesis, NES, SNES The Addams Family has been imprisoned! Only Gomez can save the day by freeing his wife Morticia, his son Pugsley, his daughter Wednesday, Granny, Lurch and Thing. He must search the Addams Family Mansion, grounds and subterranean vaults and rescue them one by one. Strange creatures and crazy monsters lurk around every corner and in every crevice with only one thought in mind, "Stop Gomez!" Only his innate agility will aid him as he leaps and bounds around the Mansion.
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Cool World (1992)
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Available on: Commodore 64, Atari ST, Amiga, Game Boy, NES, SNES
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Lethal Weapon (1992)
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Available on: Commodore 64, Atari ST, Amiga, Game Boy, PC, NES, SNES
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Eskimo Eddie
Gryzor
Roland's Rat Race
Kong
Kong Strikes Back
Knight Rider
Street Hawk
Mike Webb told me recently that he had nothing to do with the C64 version of Streethawk, the original version started in 1985, but just the Spectrum version.
Does anyone therefore know exactly who was doing the C64 version before Colin Gresty took over in 1986?
Well if it wasn't Mike and it was done inhouse there can only be a few suspects; Dave Collier, Tony Pomfret, Bill Barna. I remember Colin's version - it was one of the first things Dave Collier showed me when I joined.
- Paulie (Paul Hughes, ex-Ocean employee)
Cheers Paul, hopefully those guys might admit to it
I'm slightly unsure now if there was indeed a first version or not. I know Martin did the tune first in 1985, then again in 1986 for a second version.
Mike told me he did the Spectrum version which was the Joust clone, with Nigel (The one given to Crash subscribers). And that seems to be what Martin may have got confused with. Was their a C64 version of the Joust clone being done too?
The two versions screenshots are definately showing two different games too (And certainly nothing resembling the Joust clone). So i'm lost
See what I wrote in the Street Hawk Spectrum thread - it may cast some light...
- Gary (Gary Bracey, ex-Ocean employee)
I forgot to say thanks for the information Gary!... I'll put that down as a possibility. (Even see if he can be tracked down anywhere)
I've asked Colin if he knows who, but Dave Collier has said he had nothing to do with it.
So its Tony, Gary or someone else now 
I'll get it in the end!
Had this interesting email from Colin Gresty, shedding some more light on the C64 conversion....
I didn't take over from anyone, I started coding from scratch, steve wahid,
as far as i remember, started the graphics from scratch.
if you look at the screen shots of what is called v1 and v2, the graphics
are the same in both versions.
I am not sure where the idea of a c64 v1 of streethawk came from, but i
never saw one, nor did i use anything else as a basis for my code.
The game was an eight way smooth scrolling top down view of a city scape
with traffic moving intelligently all over the map.
The bottom section of the screen was an instrument display showing bike
status (engine, weapons , turbo etc)
Damage to the bike needed a trip back to the secret base (denoted by an "H"
on top of the building in the scrolling view) before you were caught by the
cops/baddies for repairs and reloading/refueling etc.
There was an automatic analysis computer that brought up a "3D" line drawing
of the bike with markers showing where damage had occured, and the player
had to use the computer to repair the faults.
The games objective was to fight crime and save citizens etc.
Thats more or less it, the game wasn't finished really because I spent too
much time tinkering.
So was there even a first version ever started is the question?.... If not, then why did Martin have a tune done for it in 1985 . Time to don my sherlock holmes cap, and pipe....
hmm I was there when Colin Gresty was working on it,
Col and I shared a roomo in No.1 Central Street for a while, and I dont think he ever really finished the game, he had a major block on it....just did'nt know where to go with it. I remember him climbing under the desk and curling up often
seeking inspiration or hiding from Mr Stokes
I don't recall there ever being another version of it.
Where is he these days, I got him an interview at Icon design when he "left" Ocean, and he met and married the smashing Ree who was the receptionist. I used to live quite near them in Littleborough, and bumped into him once but we never got together for a natter.
- Brian Beuken (ex-Ocean employee)
*** ANOTHER THREAD ON STREET HAWK (SPECTRUM VERSION) ***
Whatever happened with Street Hawk on the Spectrum (at least)?
There seem to be 2 versions, one from 1985, one from 1986, which are reportedly different.
Also, there was a Crash Subscribers Edition.
http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseek.cgi?regexp=Street+Hawk&pub=Ocean+Software+Ltd
I found an original of the older version while working in a computer shop in the early 90's. Without checking I can't remember who wrote it. Apparently that was rushed out to fulfill catalogue orders after the catalogues themselves started kicking up a fuss about why it was taking so long. Then, realising it was utter crap, 'Ocean' started on a new one (with graphics by Bob Wakelin and programming by Paul Ownes Owens IIRC). It was still utter crap.
You can see the original in one of my piles of old 'Ocean' games in this pic:
http://www.MyPhotosHub.com/is.php?i=7692&img=SpectrumGames1..jpg
3rd one down after 'N.O.M.A.D.'
Oh and I just checked what that 'Crash Subscribers Edition' was and as i thought it's the older, crappier version.
- Mark Jones Junior (Ex-Ocean employee)
Colin Gresty wrote one version on the 64 which never came out (I'm pretty sure I have a copy of it somewhere on a floppy)... I know Frank - dig it out - 
- Paulie (Paul Hughes - ex-Ocean employee)
I ordered it from a software place - it took months to get to me, and when it did, it was just a version of Joust with a motorbike. Loaded it once and never again.
- Bill Harbison (Administrator of The Ocean Experience forum)
Let's see what we can work with...
Both Paul Owens and Jonathan Smith said their softographies were correct (after some corrections) when I spoke with them in 2000/2001.
Nigel Alderton was named in one of the magazine previews.
Bob Wakelin was mentioned in this thread (I never knew he did 'digital' graphics, though, could he have been responsible for inlay/advert artwork (i.e. paper) instead?)
F. David Thorpe is mentioned in the 1986 release, on the intro screen.
Paul Owens is listed as programmer for the 1986 release.
Does this help in any way, or am I confusing matters? (as if that's something new ;-) )
Sorry my cock up. It was F.David Thorpe not Bob Wakelin, Sorry
- Mark Jones Junior (ex-Ocean employee)
God, David Thorpe. I'd forgotten about him. He was ...erm... a mature bloke. Did freelance graphics for inhouse Ocean stuff just prior to me joining. I met him a few times as Streethawk was one of the legacies I inherited (along with Knight Rider).
The whole thing was a nightmare. I remember one of the titles (I think it was KR, but it may have been SH) being developed by a company in Brighton. For the life of me, I can't remember what they were called, but I'm sure they would be in the appropriate credits....
As for 2 versions of SH, it may just be that this other company did a parallel game once the first one was finished and reviewed as cack.
This was one of the first of over 100 titles I was involved with while at Ocean. At least I have an excuse for the cloudy memory this time.
- Gary (Gary Bracey, ex-Ocean employee)
...
World of Spectrum (WOS at www.worldofspectrum.org) lists the credits as: Antony R. Lill, Gary Knight, F. David Thorpe
Yes, Garry Knight!
He and his brother (friend?) had a dev company in Brighton and they were comissioned to write Street Hawk on both Spec and C64. I think just before I came on board, Ocean had taken the C64 version from them and brought it in-house.
I might be confusing this with Knight Rider as it was around the same time, but I'm pretty sure this is what happened (with one of those two titles).
I wish I could remember the name of that company in Brighton though... it's bugging me.....
- Gary (Gary Bracey, ex-Ocean employee)
Pud Pud
Midnight Resistance














































































































































