We have not covered a BBC Micro or Acorn Electron game here on Retro Gaming Magazine yet.  Better sooner than later, right?  Castle Raider is a new game for both of those computer platforms that is a 2D side scrolling action platform game tasking you with exploring a dark dank castle that is full of traps, enemies and treasures. 

Castle Raider could be best compared to Super Mario Bros without the “jump on the head of the enemy” mechanic.  Here you have to avoid the enemies while exploring the levels.  If you have put in any serious amount of time with classic titles such as Dark Castle, Commander Keen or Jazz Jackrabbit then you will have a good understanding of the challenge laid out before you in Castle Raider.

Development of Castle Raider is inspired by a classic title named Moon Raider.  The lack of Castle Quest not being released on the Electron also was a major driving point for the developer to create Castle Raider.  This feat is further complicated by the fact that the Electron is not capable of doing horizontal scrolling (the Atari 2600 couldn’t do it either) and Castle Raider is a 2D side scrolling title.  The Electron can do horizontal scrolling but it is not supported in the hardware, it has to be done with special programming techniques and puts a burden on the programmer who now loses valuable computer power to a basic element of the game.

Source: Upcoming & New 8 Bit Games Facebook
Download: RetroSoftware.co.uk website

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Carl Williams

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