Head Over Heels

A computer video game, first written in 1987 for Z80-microprocessor-based home computers (ZX Spectrum, CPC Amstrad/Schneider, MSX) by Jon Ritman (game design and programming) and Bernie Drummond (graphics). Due to its huge success, it was then ported to virtually every 8-bit and 16-bit platform (Atari XL/XE/ST, Commodore 64, Commodore Amiga, etc). The latest remarkable remake of Head Over Heels (for Windows, Mac, Linux and BeOS) by Retrospec is available as a freeware on their website: [1]. The original game is visually very similar to Knight Lore and Alien 8 (from Ultimate, aka Ashby Computer Graphics). The game uses an isometric engine that is similar to the "filmation" technique, first developed by above mentioned Ultimate. Head Over Heels is the second isometric game by Jon Ritman and Bernie Drummond, after Batman. The game introduces an original concept: the player controls (first separately) two characters instead of just one. The two characters have different abilities, which become complementary when at some point of the game the player combines them together. Compared to its predecessors, the game offers unique and revolutionary gameplay, more complex puzzles, and more than 300 rooms to explore. Graphically, Head Over Heels has probably pushed the limits of ZX Spectrum display capabilities further than any other game. Head Over Heels is remembered by many as a landmark in computer game industry. In 1994 its authors wrote Monster Max; another isometric masterpiece, this time for Game Boy platform. The game, although monochrome, was twice the size of Head Over Heels!