Head Over Heels (video game)

Infobox VG|title = Head Over Heels


developer = Ocean Software
publisher = Ocean Software
designer = Jon Ritman (programming), Bernie Drummond (graphics), Guy Stevens (sound), F. David Thorpe (loading screen)
engine =
released = 1987, 1988, 1989
genre = Arcade adventure
modes = Single player
ratings =
platforms = Amstrad CPC, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Commodore Amiga, MSX, ZX Spectrum
media = Cassette, Floppy disk
requirements =
input = Keyboard, Joystick

"Head Over Heels" is an arcade adventure, released in 1987 for several popular 8-bit home computers, and subsequently ported to a wide range of formats. Originally, the working title for the game was "Foot And Mouth" [ [http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=718207 Head over Heels] at everything2.com] .

Visually, "Head Over Heels" bears a number of similarities with Ultimate Play The Game's "Knight Lore" and "Alien 8". It uses an isometric engine that is similar to the Filmation technique first developed by Ultimate. "Head Over Heels" is the second isometric game by Jon Ritman and Bernie Drummond, after the "Batman" computer game.

from a hooter to paralyse enemies; while Heels can run twice as fast, climb certain staircases that Head cannot, and carry objects around a room in a bag), which become complementary when the player combines them together after about a sixth of the game. Compared to its predecessors, the game offers unique and revolutionary gameplay, more complex puzzles, and more than 300 rooms to explore.

Drummond contributed some famously surreal touches, including robots (controlled by push switches) that bore a remarkable resemblance to the head of Prince Charles on the body of a Dalek. Other surreal touches include enemies with the heads of elephants and staircases made of dogs that teleported themselves away as soon as Head entered the room. [cite web | url = http://www.duketastrophy.demon.co.uk/spectrum/specrevs/headheel/review.htm | title = Head over Heels | accessdate = 2006-12-04 | last = Goring | first = Graham|work = The Big Wobbly Speccy Game Review Page]

In 1994 its authors wrote "Monster Max", another isometric video game, for the Game Boy. The game, although monochrome, is twice the size of "Head Over Heels". [cite web | url = http://www.ritman.freeservers.com/games/max/home.htm | title = Monster Max information at Jon Ritman's website | accessdate = 2007-01-12 | last = Ritman | first = Jon]

Plot

Headus Mouthion (Head) and Footus Underium (Heels) are two spies from the planet Freedom. They are sent to Blacktooth to liberate the enslaved planets of Penitentiary, Safari, Book World and Egyptus, and then to defeat the Emperor to prevent further planets falling under his rule. Captured and separated, the spies are placed in the prison headquarters of Castle Blacktooth and must first escape, then break through the market to the orbiting Moonbase where they can teleport down to the planets to locate and reobtain the stolen crowns. Liberation of the planets and defeat of the Emperor will allow Head and Heels to return to Freedom as heroes.

Ritman admits that storyline lacked real connection to gameplay. In an interview for Edge magazine, he stated that he "made the whole game up and then added the bullshit in the last ten minutes." Fact|date=February 2007

Conversions and remakes

"Head Over Heels" was first released in 1987 for Z80-microprocessor-based home computers (ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, MSX). Due to its huge success, it was later ported to other platforms including the Atari XL/XE and ST, Amstrad PCW, Commodore 64 and the Commodore Amiga.

The latest remake of "Head Over Heels" (for Windows, Mac OS, Linux and BeOS) by Retrospec is available as freeware on their website. [http://retrospec.sgn.net] . It was recentlyvague|date=March 2008 voted the second best remake ever by PC Zone magazine.

A different remake is available at helmantika.org [http://www.headoverheels2.com/en/index.htm] , and a new remake, using renderized graphics, is in progress from the same authors [ [http://www.remakeszone.com/gente/entrevis/entrevis.php?id=7&lng=english&seccion=entrevista Interview with author] at remakeszone.com] .

Critical reaction

"Your Sinclair" awarded "Head over Heels" 9/10 in the June 1987 issue [ [http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/headoverheels.htm Head Over Heels ] ] and the game was placed at number 5 in the Your Sinclair official top 100.

CRASH magazine gave "Head over Heels" 97% and called the game "The best fun you're likely to have with a Spectrum for quite some time". [ [http://www.crashonline.org.uk/39/headheels.htm CRASH 39 - Head over Heels ] ]

Zzap!64 gave the Commodore 64 conversion of the game 98%: enough for its coveted "Gold Medal Award"; the joint highest score in the magazine's history; and the first Gold Medal of the year - in it's August 1987 issue. It was described as "An all time classic - not to be missed for any reason" [cite journal | year = 1987 | month = August | title = Zzap! 64 | issue = 28 | pages = 14-16 ]

Comparison of various formats

In this scene we see Head and Heels separated at the start of the game.

Cultural references

* This game is parodied in the DVD release of "The IT Crowd" series one. In the DVD menu system, a game very similar to "Head Over Heels", but with characters from the TV show, is played while you choose an episode.

References

External links

* [http://hol.abime.net/677 "Head Over Heels" on the Amiga] at the [http://hol.abime.net/ Hall of Light (HOL)]
*WoS game|id=0002259|name=Head Over Heels
*Lemon64 game|id=1158|name=Head Over Heels
* [http://www.duketastrophy.demon.co.uk/spectrum/specrevs/headheel/review.htm "Head Over Heels" Review] by Graham Goring
* [http://www.crashonline.org.uk/39/headheels.htm CRASH review] from 1987
* [http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/headoverheels.htm Your Sinclair review] from 1987
* [http://www.gamestudies.org/0302/vanlooy/ "Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown"] - analysis and dissertation of Head Over Heels at gamestudies.org.
*moby game|id=/head-over-heels|name="Head Over Heels"
* [http://retrospec.sgn.net/games/hoh/ Head over Heels /PC] a Windows/Linux remake of the game.
* [http://thelegacy.de/Museum/game.php3?titel_id=7188&game_id=7267 http://thelegacy.de/Museum/game.php3?titel_id=7188&game_id=7267]
* [http://www.easyretro.com/node/105/Head-Over-Heels.html Play Head over heels online]
* [http://www.duketastrophy.demon.co.uk/spectrum/specrevs/headheel/review.htm Game review] at duketastrophy.demon.co.uk