''Action Biker'' (also known as ''KP Skips Action Biker with Clumsy Colin'' in the UK) is a 1985 game for the

Atari 8-bit family The Atari 8-bit family is a series of 8-bit home computers introduced by Atari, Inc. in 1979 as the Atari 400 and Atari 800. The series was successively upgraded to Atari 1200XL , Atari 600XL, Atari 800XL, Atari 65XE, Atari 130XE, Atari 800XE, ...

Commodore 64 The Commodore 64, also known as the C64, is an 8-bit home computer introduced in January 1982 by Commodore International (first shown at the Consumer Electronics Show, January 7–10, 1982, in Las Vegas). It has been listed in the Guinness ...

, and

ZX Spectrum The ZX Spectrum () is an 8-bit computing, 8-bit home computer that was developed by Sinclair Research. It was released in the United Kingdom on 23 April 1982, and became Britain's best-selling microcomputer. Referred to during development as t ...

released by

Mastertronic Mastertronic was originally a publisher and distributor of low-cost computer game software founded in 1983. Their first games were distributed in mid-1984. At its peak the label was one of the largest software publishers in the UK, achieved b ...

. The game was a tie-in with snack food KP Skips, whose mascot was "Clumsy Colin" who featured in television adverts for Skips at around the time the game was published. Although marketed under the same title, the ZX Spectrum version of ''Action Biker'' differs significantly from the Atari and C64 versions, to the extent that '' Retro Gamer'' magazine featured it in their "Same Name, Different Game" column. The music was composed by Rob Hubbard.

Gameplay

The player controls the protagonist Clumsy Colin who rides a motorbike and has to navigate a landscape to extra equipment to improve the bike. Once all forty pieces are collected the player performs a final drag race. There is a time limit, and the player also has a limited number of lives reduced by crashing into background objects. The Atari and Commodore 64 versions feature an isometric view of the town, which wraps around at the edges. The Spectrum version has a different viewpoint. There are several key areas to the map: the petrol station (where the player can refuel), the lakes (including an island that is initially inaccessible), the rollercoaster (which can be ridden on the C64 and Atari versions) and the building site (which changes shape as the game progresses). Among the extras collected are a new gearbox (allowing the player to switch to low gear for higher acceleration), water-skis or a snorkel (to allow the player to cross water) and a larger fuel tank.

Spectrum version

Although the ZX Spectrum version shares the basic gameplay elements of navigating a motorbike around a scrolling city and collecting objects with the Atari and C64 versions, it is otherwise significantly different in both plot and execution. The aim of this version, according to the instructions is to "find olin'sfriend Marti and take him to the spaceport". Items helping him do this can be found inside houses around the city. However "the alarm is set to go off at 8 o'clock and wake him up", and Colin will also "wake up" if he collides with other vehicles. While it may be implied that the game- including the otherwise incongruous "spaceport" reference- takes place within Colin's dream, the instructions do not explicitly state this. Further, actually picking up Martin in the game gives a message that he should be taken to the "airport", not the spaceport. In addition, Colin's bike has limited fuel, but "he can gain energy by eating Skips or by refueling at a garage."

Reception

The Commodore 64 version was positively reviewed by '' Zzap!64'' who thought it was one of the best Mastertronic titles to date and excellent value for money. It was given an 83% overall score. The ZX Spectrum version received generally poor reviews. A contemporary ''

Sinclair User ''Sinclair User'' was a magazine dedicated to the Sinclair Research range of home computers, most specifically the ZX Spectrum (while also occasionally covering arcade games). Initially published by ECC Publications, and later EMAP, it was publi ...

'' review commented that "why Colin is asleep is a mystery."

References

External links

''Action Biker''
at Atari Mania * *{{WoS_game, id=0000072
Gameplay video
1985 video games Advergames Atari 8-bit family games Commodore 64 games Mastertronic games Motorcycle video games Racing video games Video games scored by Rob Hubbard Video games developed in the United Kingdom Video games with isometric graphics ZX Spectrum games