Spiky Harold is a platform video game written by Andrew Rogers and published by Firebird Software in 1986.[1] It was released for Amstrad CPC, Atari 8-bit computers, Commodore 16 / Plus/4, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum home computers.

Spiky Harold
Developer(s)Andrew Rogers
Publisher(s)Firebird Software
Platform(s)Amstrad CPC, Atari 8-bit, C16 / Plus/4, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum
Release1986
Genre(s)Platform

Plot

edit

As winter approaches, a hedgehog named Harold must get ready for hibernation by gathering food that is buried beneath the hedgerows.

Gameplay

edit
 
Atari 8-bit screenshot

Spiky Harold is a flip-screen platform game in which the player moves the protagonist, Harold, from room to room collecting various objects. The goal of this game is to collect enough food for Harold the hedgehog to survive on while hibernating. The necessities are strewn across and below a big hedgerow. Coins that grant extra lives, wine glasses that change Harold's directions, apples, and other food items are among the numerous things that need to be collected. Unfortunately, all the objects are guarded by wasps, rodents, sulfur clouds, and bouncing balls. All the items have to be collected within the 24 hours displayed on the clock at the bottom of the screen. If the player is successful in gathering all of the required materials within the specified time, they must then deliver Harold back to his pad, where he can sleep the winter away.

Reception

edit

Spiky Harold received mixed reviews. Commodore User reviewer complained about the slow, repetitive gameplay and dire music detracting a lot from what could have been a good game.[2] Stuart Kirkham writing for the Computer Gamer magazine summed up Spiky Harold as a good platform game that has plenty of entertainment to offer for a small price.[3]

References

edit
  1. ^ Hague, James. "The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers".
  2. ^ "Screen Scene". Commodore User: 38. October 1986.
  3. ^ "Gamer Review". Computer Gamer: 32. February 1987.
edit