Trailblazer (video game)

Trailblazer is a racing video game developed by Mr. Chip Software and published by Gremlin Graphics for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit family, Amstrad CPC and Commodore 16/Plus/4 in 1986 (there was also an enhanced version on Amstrad CPC 3" disc). It was ported to the Amiga and Atari ST.

Trailblazer
Commodore 64/128 cover art
Developer(s)Mr. Chip Software
Publisher(s)Gremlin Graphics
Mindscape
Designer(s)Shaun Southern
Programmer(s)Commodore 64
Shaun Southern
Ports
Shaun Hollingworth,
Peter M. Harrap
Chris Kerry
Colin Dooley
Platform(s)Commodore 64, C16 / Plus/4, Atari 8-bit, Amstrad CPC, Amiga, Atari ST, MSX, ZX Spectrum
Release1986
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player
Not to be confused with Trailblazers (video game).

In 2005 a remake for the Gizmondo was released,[1] and was also adapted in 2011 for the PS3, PlayStation Portable, PS Vita and PlayStation TV as part of the Playstation Mini series.

The game received a direct sequel titled Cosmic Causeway: Trailblazer II in 1987.

Gameplay
The ball gets thrown out of a hole between some green speedup squares; blue jump squares lie ahead.

Trailblazer is a racing game which players play as a soccer ball along a series of suspended passages. The game can be played either in time trial or arcade mode and four track. The races usually last between 15 and 45 seconds. Special fields on the track let the ball jump (blue), slow down (red), speed up (green) or warp speed the ball (white), invert the controls (cyan/light blue), bounce it backwards (purple) or are holes (black).

Development

Shaun Southern had made some great games for the Commodore 16 before he moved onto the Amiga and the game was inspired by the arcade game Metrocross.[2]

Reception

The game was reviewed in 1990 in Dragon #158 by Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser in "The Role of Computers" column, as part of the Mastertronic MEGA Pack of 10 games previously released in Europe. The reviewers gave the game 5 out of 5 stars, stating: "Our favorite on this disk; racing on Cosmic Causeway roads against the clock or against a robot. This one was really fun".[4]

Zzap!64's reviewers also enjoyed the game which they thought was "an excellent variation on the race game theme". The overall rating given was 93%, qualifying the C64 version for the magazine's Sizzler award.[5] Steve Panak, reviewing the Atari 8-bit version for ANALOG Computing, concluded that "the game is the most original arcade action wristbuster to come down the pike in a long time, and one of the best two-player competition games I've seen".[6] Avery Score for Gamespot said that the game was one of the more unique and enjoyable of the launch games they seen.[7]

Reviews

References
  1. Grannell, Craig (May 2010). "The Making Of... Trailblazer and Cosmic Causeway". Retro Gamer. No. 76. Imagine Publishing. pp. 86–89.
  2. Retro Gamer Team (2008-08-27). "Trailblazer". Retro Gamer. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  3. Smith, Rachael. "Trailblazer". Your Sinclair. Archived from the original on October 26, 2005.
  4. Lesser, Hartley; Lesser, Patricia; Lesser, Kirk (June 1990). "The Role of Computers". Dragon. No. 158. TSR. pp. 47–54. ISSN 0279-6848.
  5. Eddy, Richard; Penn, Gary; Rignall, Julian (December 1986). "Zzap! Test: Trailblazer". Zzap!64. No. 20. Newsfield Publications. pp. 172–173. ISSN 0954-867X.
  6. Panak, Steve (April 1988). "Panak Strikes!". ANALOG Computing. No. 59. L.F.P. pp. 56–57. ISSN 0744-9917.
  7. Score, Avery (May 17, 2006). "Trailblazer Hands-On". GameSpot. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  8. "Computer Gamer - Issue 27 (1987-06) (Argus Press) (GB)". June 1987.
  9. "Amtix Magazine Issue 14". December 1986.
  10. "Commodore User Magazine Issue 39". December 1986.
  11. "Computer Gamer - Issue 20 (1986-14) (Argus Press) (GB)".
  12. "Computer Gamer - Issue 21 (1986-12) (Argus Press) (GB)". December 1986.
  13. "Kultpower.de - die Powerplay und ASM Fan Site".
  14. "Unknown". Popular Computing Weekly.
  15. "CVG Magazine Issue 068". June 1987.
  16. Tilt vol. 3.
  17. Generation 4 vol. 1 (in French).
  18. "Australian Commodore Review, the - Volume 4 Issue 2 (1987-02) (Saturday Magazine) (AU)". February 1987.
  19. "Kultboy.com - DIE Kult-Seite über die alten Spiele-Magazine und Retro-Games!". Kultboy. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  20. "Le site des anciennes revues informatiques" [The site of old computer journals]. Abandonware Magazines. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  21. "Computer Gamer - Issue 21 (1986-12) (Argus Press) (GB)". December 1986.
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