- Time Bandit
"Time Bandit" is an action/adventure video game that was written originally for the
TRS-80 Model I and soon ported to theTRS-80 Color Computer , but enjoyed its greatest popularity on theAtari ST andAmiga . The game was written by Bill Dunlevy and Harry Lafnear, and published byMichTron , creators of the popular "Cashman ". Later versions were created for various other platforms, including the pseudo-PC-compatible Sanyo MBC-55x with its unique 8-color display. TheAmiga andDOS versions were ported by Timothy Purves.The game's basic structure is as a top-down shooter, much like "Gauntlet" (which it predates). In each level, the player must gather keys to open locks which will allow him to exit. The popularity of the game was due in large part to the innovations on this basic gameplay model. In between each level the player chooses the next level from any one of 16 different "Timegates" (each of which can be visited up to 16 times). The worlds vary in character and (to some extent) difficulty. Some worlds incorporate elements of
text adventure game s, and most contain gameplay references to other popular games of the time, such as "Pac-Man " and "Centipede ". In addition to the primary objective of exiting each level, optionalside quest s become available in the later stages of some worlds, usually awarding the player with one of several "artifacts" upon completion.Worlds
:"These are the worlds that appear in the Atari ST version"
Future Worlds
*Major Hazard
*Gridville
*Omega ComplexOld West
*Bomb Factory
*Ghost Town
*Hotel CaliforniaFantasy Lands
*Castle Greymoon
*King's Crown
*Underworld ArenaDeep Space
*Darkside Dare
*Excalibur (inspired byStar Trek )
*Welkin IslandAncient Egypt
*Sentinel
*Cheops' Curse
*GuardianArcadia
*Shadowland (
PacMan clone)External links
*moby game|id=/time-bandit
* [http://www.atarimagazines.com/v5n6/STProductNews.html Original review from 1986]
* [http://www.atarilegend.com/interviews/interview.php?interview_id=4 Harry Lafnear interview] at Atari Legend
* [http://www.bytecellar.com/archives/000030.php A look at Time Bandit] at Byte Cellar
* [http://www.uncletravelingmatt.com/archives/2005/03/mr_t_breakdanci.php Writeup (with pics) of Sanyo MBC-55x version of Time Bandit]
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