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- Bill Loguidice
- clok1966
Mark plays.... Jumpman, Manic miner / 2049er and Pickaxe Pete (c64, videopac, zx spectrum) - episode 9
A new sersies of small videos, not really reviews but just some games I happen to really like - episode 9
Game: Jumpman (1983)
Publisher: Epyx, Randy Glover
Platform: C64 (played here), Atari 800/400, Apple II, IBM PC, Wii Virtual Console (c64 version)
My collegue and friend from Armchair Arcade - Matt Barton - asked me to play Jumpman. Now I must confess that I haven't played this game a lot as the more lush graphics of other similar games at the time seem to have drawn me away from Jumpman. I have underestimated Jumpman hugely. Donkey Kong was the game I played most at the time. Atually Donkey Kong is supposed to have been an inspiration to the author (Randy Glover) when he created this little gem. However as you will see I totally suck at Jumpman as I haven't played it a lot in the past.
This game has a huge fan/user base still and a lot of spin-offs and pc versions have been created. Even the original author was working on a sequel in the early years of this century. I have Jumpman Junior on my CDTV 30-games in a joystick c64 console and I must give that a spin - and perhaps a play through video as well ;-).
The game is huge especially for its time. Can you believe it has 30 levels?
At the end of me playing level 1 of Jumpman I've included some other games that are very similar and stole time away from jumpman at the time. I am talking about Manic Miner, Miner 2049'er, Pick Axe Pete here. Check it out.
I know it's mentioned in this wonderful song:
Hey Hey 16K. I loved the song so much I actually bought the CD. Some other good songs, too, though not about retro.
That was fun seeing Manic Miner. I never played that game as a kid. Kinda hard to tell what's going on just watching it.
It's not surprising you didn't play it as a kid. I don't recall playing it either, but that's because we were in the US. It was legendary in the UK, though, particularly on its original platform, the ZX Spectrum. Matthew Smith, the game's original author, was/is something of an insane legend as well. Literally a bit crazy, but certainly well beloved. Interesting story there.
Vintage Games book!
Xbox 360: billlog | Wii: 1345 2773 2048 1586 | PS3: ArmchairArcade
Bill Loguidice, Managing Director | Armchair Arcade, Inc.
Haha, thanks for this, Mark. Jumpman is a very hard game, but Jumpman Jr. is even harder (IMO). One of our interviewees talked about its history a bit. Apparently, Jumpman was a huge hit, but the developer didn't care to make another. He basically had to be cajoled into making Jumpman Jr., fighting it all the way. When it too was a hit, they went after him for a sequel, but he refused.
A game that is very similar to it is Ultimate Wizard. :)
That was fun seeing Manic Miner. I never played that game as a kid. Kinda hard to tell what's going on just watching it.