''Deathchase'' is a 1983

vehicular combat game Vehicular combat games (also known as just vehicular combat or car combat) are a sub-genre of vehicle simulation video games where the primary objectives of gameplay include vehicles armed with weapons attempting to destroy vehicles controlled b ...

written for the

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 ...

by Mervyn Estcourt and published by

Micromega ''MicroMega'' is a political, cultural, social and economic newsmagazine published bimonthly in Rome, Italy. The title ''MicroMega'' is probably inspired by a tale by Voltaire. History and profile ''MicroMega'' was founded in March 1986 by the ...

in the UK. In Spain it was published by Ventamatic. It is commonly known by the incorrect name of "3D Deathchase", perhaps due to the prominent "3D" on the inlay, and that some magazines incorrectly referred to this title. Timex USA obtained the rights to distribute ''Deathchase'' for its range of computers in the US. They rebranded the game ''Cyclepath'' but it was a commercial failure.

Gameplay

The player controls a

motorcycle A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle steered by a handlebar. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruising ...

-riding mercenary as he pursues two other motorcycles, one blue and one yellow, through a

forest A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological function. The United Nations' ...

. Each enemy motorcycle destroyed is worth $1000 (i.e. points) to the player. The player's motorcycle is equipped with forward-firing guns with which to shoot its quarry. The projectiles can be controlled mid-flight simply by steering the bike. If both enemy motorcycles are destroyed, the player moves to a night version of the same level. If both enemy motorcycles on that level are destroyed, the player moves on to a daytime level of the next stage (with more trees to avoid). There are also

tank A tank is an armoured fighting vehicle intended as a primary offensive weapon in front-line ground combat. Tank designs are a balance of heavy firepower, strong armour, and good battlefield mobility provided by tracks and a powerful engin ...

s and

helicopters A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by horizontally spinning rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forward, backward and laterally. These attributes ...

which appear on the horizon and can be shot for bonus points. The game takes place over eight stages. When stage eight is completed, the game returns to the start.

Reception

It received a positive reaction from the gaming press, garnering praise for what was then an advanced form of 3D gameplay. A contemporary review in the ZX Spectrum gaming magazine ''CRASH'' described ''Deathchase'' as "an extremely simple idea for a game, and utterly compelling to play" and awarded the game 92%. In 1992 it was nominated as the best Spectrum game ever in the magazine ''

Your Sinclair ''Your Sinclair'', or ''YS'' as it was commonly abbreviated, was a commercially published and printed British computer magazine for the Sinclair range of computers, mainly the ZX Spectrum. It was in circulation between 1984 and 1993. History The ...

''. Both ''CRASH'' and ''Your Sinclair'' referred to the game as "3D Deathchase"

Legacy

Andrew Leyden's remake, ''Death Chase 2002'' was highlighted in '' Edge'' magazine's retro special.Edge presents: Retro, Future Publishing 2002, ''Friends Reunited'' article It was described as "pleasant enough" but lacking the feel of the original.

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Deathchase ZX Spectrum games ZX Spectrum-only games 1983 video games Vehicular combat games Video games developed in the United Kingdom Video games set in forests