Ocean Software
Ocean Software business and news from across the web.
81-year-old dev finally finishes and releases "abandoned" puzzle game after hearing there's "big…After 37 years, 81-year-old developer Colin Porch has released "Return to Blacktooth," a sequel to the puzzle game "Head Over Heels." Inspired by the demand for retro games, Porch revived the project, which was originally shelved due to market shifts in the late 1980s. The game is now available for Atari ST and Commodore Amiga.- The Pirates Of Dark WaterThis review examines The Pirates of Dark Water, a 1994 Super Nintendo beat-em-up based on the short-lived Hanna-Barbera animated series. While the game features rough graphics and mechanics that don't fully capture the ambition of its source material, it offers a functional co-op experience and successfully evokes the atmosphere of the original show. The article highlights the game's strengths, such as its unique swinging pirate enemies and the potential for nostalgic appeal, while acknowledging its limitations and the property's overall legacy of lost potential.
81-year-old developer makes sequel to ZX Spectrum classic after 40 year wait81-year-old programmer Colin Porch, who worked on the original 1980s ZX Spectrum game Head Over Heels, has released a sequel titled Return To Blacktooth: A Head Over Heels Adventure after nearly 40 years. Development initially began in 1989 but was abandoned until Porch was inspired to finish it, securing permission from the IP rights holders. The game is available on itch.io and will receive a physical release from Thalamus Digital Publishing.- Just Add Water Strengthens Leadership Team with Appointment of Industry Veteran Gareth Betts as Senior ProducerJust Add Water Development has appointed Gareth Betts as Senior Producer, bringing over three decades of industry experience to the UK-based studio. Betts previously held roles at Bandai Namco Entertainment and Sony, working on titles like The Dark Pictures Anthology and Wipeout HD. His appointment is part of the studio's strategy to enhance production capabilities as it moves towards 'AA' development.
Dungeon Crawler Carl: A Parade of Horribles is out, and if you haven’t read the other seven yet, you are in for a busy old weekThe eighth book in Matt Dinniman's popular LitRPG series, Dungeon Crawler Carl: A Parade of Horribles, has been released, along with its audiobook version narrated by Jeff Hays. The series, which features a cat named Donut who gains a voice and personality after leveling up, is described as brutal, hilarious, and unputdownable. A TV show spin-off is also in development.
The Untouchables (SNES)The SNES version of The Untouchables is an enhanced port of the NES title, featuring three gameplay styles: third-person shooting, side-scrolling, and top-down shooting. While it improves upon the original with better controls and redesigned levels, the game suffers from pacing issues due to overly long and repetitive assignments. Despite its flaws, it is considered a stronger title than its predecessors.
HOT NEWS : Terra Cresta Amiga AGA port discovered and released!A previously unreleased Amiga port of the 1985 vertically scrolling shooter Terra Cresta has been discovered and released by Spreadpoint and the Swiss Cracking Association. This Amiga 1200 version, originally worked on around 1992 but never completed, has been restored with some glitches fixed and a new music track added. The game is now available for download, though it initially launched without music.
Super Hang-On, Power Drift, Harley Davidson And SmashTV Reviewed.This article reviews four Amiga ports: Super Hang-On, Power Drift, Harley Davidson: Road to Sturgis, and Smash TV. Super Hang-On is praised as a near-perfect arcade conversion, while Harley Davidson: Road to Sturgis is highlighted for its originality and immersive gameplay. Power Drift is criticized as an unplayable mess, and Smash TV is noted as a solid, fun port with good two-player support, despite not being the developer's best work.