Joe Blade
{{Short description|1987 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = Joe Blade
|image = Joe Blade cover.jpg
|designer = Colin Swinbourne
|publisher = Players (Interceptor Micros)
|released = 1987
|genre = Platform
|modes = Single-player
|platforms = ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Acorn Electron, BBC Micro, Atari 8-bit, MSX, Amiga, Atari ST
|caption =
|alt =
|developer = Players
}}
Joe Blade is a video game published by Interceptor Micros on their Players budget label for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64 and Amstrad CPC in 1987.{{Cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/the-games-machine-04/page/n63|title=Joe Blade|magazine=The Game Machine|publisher=Newsfield|date=March 1988|page=64|issue=4}} It reached the top of the UK game charts, replacing Renegade.{{cite magazine |title=Charts|magazine=Popular Computing Weekly|issue=44|publisher=Sunshine Publications|date=6 November 1987|page=35|url=https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/page.php?issue_id=2983&page=35|access-date=29 January 2022}} In Germany, the game peaked at number 7.{{cite magazine |title=Hotline Top 30 Im Januar|magazine=Aktueller Software Markt|issue=|publisher=Tronic-Verlag|date=January 1988|page=34|url=https://archive.org/details/asm_magazine-1988-01/page/n33/mode/2up|access-date=29 January 2022}} It was ported to the Acorn Electron, BBC Micro, Atari 8-bit computers, MSX, Amiga, and Atari ST. A sequel, Joe Blade 2, was published in 1988. Another sequel, Joe Blade 3, was released in 1989.{{cite magazine |title=Pre-Views - Joe Blade 3 |journal=Sinclair User |date=September 1989 |issue=90 |url=https://archive.org/details/sinclair-user-magazine-090/page/n86/mode/1up |publisher=EMAP |page=87}}
Gameplay
The first Joe Blade title portrayed Blade as a lone commando sent into an evil mastermind's complex to release a number of diplomats.
Reception
Ron Stewart for Page 6 said "It is not a great game, but for under a tenner what do you expect. There is enough game play here to keep you going for a while."{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/Page6-33-May88/page/46/mode/2up|title=Page6 33 May88|via=Internet Archive}}
Arnie Katz & Joyce Worley for Ahoy!'s AmigaUser said "Joe Blade is an exceptionally well programmed product. Its animated illustrations and jaunty soundtrack give it an edge over numerous other 'storm-the-fortress' epics".{{Cite magazine |last=Katz |first=Arnie |last2=Worley |first2=Joyce |date=November 1988 |title=Joe Blade |url=https://archive.org/details/Ahoys_AmigaUser_Issue_3_1988-11_Ion_International_US/page/n36/mode/1up?view=theater |magazine=Ahoy!'s AmigaUser |pages=37, 39}}
Computer and Video Games said "Nice and cheap with ace graphics, Joe Blade certainly cuts it. A good buy."{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_and_Video_Games_Issue_0073a/page/n25/mode/2up|title=Computer and Video Games Issue 0073a|via=Internet Archive}}
Crash said "extremely playable and addictive."{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/Crash_No._44_1987-09_Newsfield_GB/page/n29/mode/2up|title=Crash - No. 44 (1987-09)(Newsfield)(GB)|date=September 24, 1987|via=Internet Archive}}
Reviews
- MegaJoystick (Spanish){{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/megajoystick-spanish-02/page/n33/mode/2up|title=MegaJoystick Magazine (Spanish) Issue 02|via=Internet Archive}}
- Amstrad Accion (Spanish){{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/amstrad-accion-04/page/n31/mode/2up|title=Amstrad Accion Issue 04|via=Internet Archive}}
- Zzap! - Nov, 1987
- Atari User - Nov, 1988
- The Games Machine - Mar, 1988
- Commodore User - Oct, 1987
- Compute's Amiga Resource - Feb, 1990
- Atari ST User - Jul, 1988
- ASM (Aktueller Software Markt) - Oct, 1987
- Your Sinclair #23
References
{{reflist}}