''Heartland'' is a

platform game A platform game (often simplified as platformer and sometimes called a jump 'n' run game) is a sub-genre of action video games in which the core objective is to move the player character between points in an environment. Platform games are charac ...

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 ...

Amstrad CPC The Amstrad CPC (short for ''Colour Personal Computer'') is a series of 8-bit home computers produced by Amstrad between 1984 and 1990. It was designed to compete in the mid-1980s home computer market dominated by the Commodore 64 and the Sin ...

, and

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 ...

released by

Odin Computer Graphics Odin Computer Graphics were a Liverpool-based computer games developer who came to prominence in the mid-1980s with a variety of titles for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64 and Amstrad CPC home computers. History Odin consisted of Managing Director Pa ...

in 1986.

Plot

The Heartland has fallen under the rule of the ruthless tyrant Midan and his minions. To overthrow him, the final six pages of a magical book must be found and assembled. However, to confuse would-be adventurers Midan has created six evil pages; these must also be destroyed.

Gameplay

The game is very similar to the earlier Odin titles ''

Nodes of Yesod ''Nodes of Yesod'' is a video game developed and published by Odin Computer Graphics in 1985. The game is similar in style to ''Underwurlde'' by ''Ultimate Play the Game'', which was released a year earlier, and ''Metroid'' which was released a ye ...

'' and '' Arc of Yesod''. The player must locate the six magical pages and also destroy the six dark pages. Various spells may be collected, including a magical hat which may be thrown to kill enemies. Knives and fireballs can also be used to attack enemies. Contact with enemies will cause the player to lose energy; as he grows weaker the face of Midan gradually appears at the top of the screen.

Reception

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 ...

'' wrote, "Stunning to look at, delightful to play, HEARTLAND is magical and stylish. Simple without being simple-minded."

Crash Crash or CRASH may refer to: Common meanings * Collision, an impact between two or more objects * Crash (computing), a condition where a program ceases to respond * Cardiac arrest, a medical condition in which the heart stops beating * Couch su ...

reviewed the game stating "This is a very nice game. The graphics are fabulous, and the animation is really rather neat and the game itself is very attractively designed. Playability-wise, Heartland is very good indeed, and it’s also addictive. Lots of things combine to make this one of the better games on the Spectrum". Zzap!64's reviewers complimented the game's graphics and playability and said it was "another high quality arcade adventure from Odin".

References

External links

*{{WoS game, id=0002267, name=Heartland
''Heartland''
at Lemon 64
''Heartland''
at C64.com
''Heartland''
at CPC-Power 1986 video games ZX Spectrum games Commodore 64 games Amstrad CPC games Platformers Video games developed in the United Kingdom