''Revolution'' is an

isometric The term ''isometric'' comes from the Greek for "having equal measurement". isometric may mean: * Cubic crystal system, also called isometric crystal system * Isometre, a rhythmic technique in music. * "Isometric (Intro)", a song by Madeon from ...

puzzle video game Puzzle video games make up a broad genre of video games that emphasize puzzle solving. The types of puzzles can test problem-solving skills, including logic, pattern recognition, sequence solving, spatial recognition, and word completion. H ...

released by

U.S. Gold U.S. Gold Limited was a British video game publisher based in Witton, Birmingham, England. The company was founded in 1984 by Anne and Geoff Brown in parallel to their distributor firm, CentreSoft, both of which became part of Woodward Brown Ho ...

1986 The year 1986 was designated as the International Year of Peace by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands by separating from the Netherlands Antilles. **Spain and Portugal ente ...

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 ...

and

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 ...

. It was programmed by

Costa Panayi Costa Panayi is a former computer game programmer active during the 1980s. He founded Vortex Software with Paul Canter, publishing games for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64 and Amstrad CPC. He is of Greeks, Greek Cypriot descent, and studied engi ...

and is a development of the earlier 3D games ''

Highway Encounter ''Highway Encounter'' is a video game published for the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, MSX, Commodore 64, Sharp MZ, and Tatung Einstein by Vortex Software in 1985. It was written by Costa Panayi who also coded '' Android'', '' Android Two'', '' TLL' ...

'' and ''

Alien Highway ''Alien Highway: Encounter 2'' is an Isometric projection, isometric action game released by Vortex Software, Vortex in 1986 for the ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC. It was programmed by Mark Haigh-Hutchinson and is the sequel to ''Highway Encounter ...

''.

Gameplay

The player controls a

bouncing ball The physics of a bouncing ball concerns the physical behaviour of bouncing balls, particularly its motion before, during, and after impact against the surface of another body. Several aspects of a bouncing ball's behaviour serve as an introd ...

on a series of superimposed levels, each consisting of an array of square tiles, on which are arranged a number of puzzles. Each puzzle consists of two black cubes that turn temporarily white when touched by the player's ball, before turning black again. To solve the puzzle, both cubes must touched in rapid succession so that they both turn white simultaneously. There are nine levels in total. When all the puzzles on one level are complete the player ascends to the next. The height of the ball's bounce is controlled by the "fire" button, while the direction controls steer it around the map. The player must take care not to fall off the edge of the level, or through the gaps between tiles. Flying platforms, conveyor belts, adhesive surfaces, spiked balls, and other structures may help or hinder the player in his attempt to solve the puzzles. The player has five balls. There is also a time limit that must be beaten.

Background

Mark Haigh-Hutchinson Mark Haigh-Hutchinson (20 August 1964 – 15 January 2008) was an English video game developer. He is most notable for working on ''Zombies Ate My Neighbors'', mid to late 1990s '' Star Wars'' titles, and the ''Metroid Prime'' games. Biograph ...

"The result of Costa's efforts was REVOLUTION, an abstract isometric puzzle game. It was designed with lastability in mind - each time the game starts the puzzles are shuffled between levels as well as their locations within the level.

'Shifting the puzzles around and creating a new landscape, or set of levels, each time you start play - it's trying to make the game something more than other games on the market' Luke ndrewswould say at the time.

'Even with our old games, you always had the first level, second level, third level, and so on. ALIEN HIGHWAY, the remix of HIGHWAY ENCOUNTER started us thinking that way, and with REVOLUTION I think the changes in the puzzle and landscapes are the main attraction. If someone picks up the game and can't get past the first level, then the game can be played on level one and the player still gets thirty new puzzles so you can still enjoy it, even if you never get past the first level!'"Mark Haigh-Hutchinson, "The History of Vortex Software", March 1995

Reviews

*''

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 ...

'': "Yet another cracker from Costa Panayi..." *''

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 ...

'': "A brilliant game with masses of tortuous puzzles, set in an abstract landscape. Think, not zap."

References

External links

*{{WoS game, id=0004125, name=Revolution 1986 video games ZX Spectrum games Amstrad CPC games Puzzle video games Video games developed in the United Kingdom Video games with isometric graphics Vortex Software games