Icarus review

The following review was submitted to BreakSpace

I guess I know the editor's policy to AI assisted and developed games now

Artificial Intelligence is a hot topic. Do I like it? Not really. Is it useful? Sometimes. I’ve used it to explain errors with Node when I couldn’t find the documentation, or I’ve exhausted alternative sources.

As the world seems to be moving towards this AI technology, and as a software developer myself (albeit modern days PHP stuff), I understand Ed’s concerns as stated in his editorial for issue six: we need an AI policy. On that note, here’s a review for a game made with the help of Claude. I didn’t know who he was either, but it turned out that it wasn’t a ‘he’, but a Large Language Model or something.

Icarus starts out looking like a bat and ball game, when in fact it is more like a catch-em up. Think Kaboom! on the Atari 2600, but with a hint of Greek mythology as a theme. Collect stars, gold and power ups by moving your “bat” left and right; hearts provide extra lives, and beware of attracting the wrath of Zeus.

On each level, various items fall from a starry night sky as above, some items will elongate your bat, whilst others shorten it. The controls are responsive, and the graphics are slightly naive. It has a certain early 1980s feel to it, especially the repetitive looped game music during play.

How much of this is Claude and how much is human is unknown, but it’s an interesting if a little repetitive distraction for your work break, and as such I’m arguing here for the inclusion of AI assisted games with the caveat that there are no Aces awarded to them. If our leader Mpk agrees, you’ll be reading this review in BreakSpace issue 7; if not, it’ll appear on my blog. Neither of which I mind, but even with my suspicions about AI, I’m okay with it assisting fledgling developers as long as the output isn’t dreadful and the resulting software works on original hardware.

Icarus is available from free from here.

All issues of BreakSpace are available for free download from here.

Best? Or Good Enough?

It's 2026. We are nearing the end of a long, hot summer. And here I am, writing this blog post on a Speccy 128 (hardware) clone thanks to some esxDOS trickery and a handy file browsing and manipulation utility by shrek128, namely Bow Commander.

Why not write this on the Blogger interface? One may ponder. To answer that rhetorical question I will put it this way: whilst I tolerate modern days computering and technologies, I love messing around with 8-bit machines, especially from the main two brands from the 1980s - Sinclair and Commodore.

Working with nearly ancient home computers gets you back to the absolute necessities. No AI getting in the way, and in this instance not even a spelling and grammar check! But this way of writing provides something that modern applications with swish user interfaces does not: a blank canvass that's good enough, allowing a different and freer creative process. Every key press is its own unique experience and in this case, using the rubber keys of a Spectrum, its own battle.

Fighting the technical limitations of an Eon ago is somehow more rewarding. No wonder machines like the Sinclair ZX Spectrum remain relevant today, with many regular releases of all types of software, although mostly entertainment stuff.

Who'd have guessed that in 1990 or 1991 that someone would still be using 8-bit home computers so readily some three decades later? One has to wonder what this says about the modern tech? Or, perhaps a more pertinent observation is that it is all part of the human condition, wanting to go back to simpler times or being afraid of change?

For me, it has always been about what is useful. Here is the prime example. To write, I just need a simple text editor. That is all. But for you to read these words, I am then reliant on modern days technology, though I'm not adverse to publishing my ramblings on cassette tape for the old Speccy if anyone is interested?

As I mentioned above, for me, "best" is often beaten by good enough. The text editor in Bow Commander is good enough. The Omni 128HQ is good enough. And the Spectrum 48 is good enough. You only need more, or better, if you believe that you do.

Deadline time

It's the final Countdown!

It's got to that time again. As I write, a deadline is looming for the one publication that I [still] opine for, and that's the now famous (almost) BreakSpace. My previous record for number of reviews was in the low 20s, but for this issue, I've gone a couple better. One only imagines how many reviews I could have written if I wasn't wasting so much time playing Sinclair ZX Spectrum games.

It hasn't gone unnoticed that the quality of entertainment software is now much better than it was in the early days, and by that, I mean from around 2002 onwards when new wares were in the hands of just a few people. Now we're in a very definite peak. A stock market analogy would be that it's a Bull Market, and there's a feel of the good old days about it, when you almost couldn't keep up with new releases on popular systems like the Spectrum.

What's helped is not just a renewed interest in the rubber-clad micro, but the numerous clones, including The Spectrum which if nothing else continues to be a commercial success, likely far outselling all other clones regardless of how much "better" those [clones] happen to be. I still say the Omni 128 HD is the best clone of all, although nearly everyone disagrees with that sentiment. But I'm used to being an outlier with a different world view than others.

All of this has me pondering a question: when will this Bull Market become a Bear Market?

My own daughter has some nostalgia for Speccy software, she loves the EggHead games; especially EggHead II. But then she is her father's daughter. There is one person who may carry on the 8-bit legacy into this century and who is currently under the age of 35. I suspect that she isn't the only one: her friends enjoy 8-bit games too, because there's something refreshing about them to this new generation of gamers. Most are way more difficult than modern titles, even those inspired by 1980s and 1990s gaming. There is no hand-holding. You are thrown into the deep end and expected to swim right away. No tutorials. No explainers. Just get on with it!

Whatever the future holds, 8-bit computing and gaming has been a part of my life since the 1990s, and if I'm the last person alive still entertaining myself with these ancient technologies, through programming, gaming or whatever they can do, then so be it. But enjoy this time: Bear Markets don't last forever!

The Comfort Blanket of Retro Gaming in the Face of Tragedy

My last post began with the title "Surviving 2025". This one is going to be even tougher to write, I think. But I'll give it a go anyway.

At the time of writing, the final month of January is nearly done, and last week I had the worst news; someone who I was very close to has sadly and tragically passed. As one might imagine, this has put extraordinary pressure on me and my family, but I know I will get through. Time is a great healer. But mostly, I am concerned greatly for my child, and angry at a system that failed the departed. I hope she has found peace.

Before I continue (as I must: writing is cathartic for me), may I remind you, dear reader, that if you are feeling low or are at risk to yourself, it is never too late to seek help. You are enough, and there is always someone to talk to. Help is only a few clicks away: https://www.iasp.info/suicidalthoughts/ - I also believe that these hoodies send a positive message too: https://live2lives.org/

The comfort blanket of video gaming has again been a companion for me this week, but this time I went to the Amiga, or, more precisely, THEA500 Mini from Retro Games Ltd. With some WHDLoad magic, there was quite a few games to play through. And I found one that I was still good at: Turrican! This classic game from the great mind of Manfred Trenz is probably my all time favourite. I got to that bit where the platforms are vertically stacked (Level 1-2 I think). This took me an age to learn back in 1990, but I got there. I was struggling though in the here and now. What was I doing wrong? The issue wasn't my skills at this fab game, but that I was using as a controller and not a joystick. I just couldn't get on with Turrican and the bundled A500 Mini control pad here. So I got out my joystick from THEC64 Black Edition. And that was much better. Progress became easier. And my mind, for a short while at least, was distracted.

Soon it was back to reality though: life, like many video games from the 1980s and early 1990s, well it isn't always fair. You're not able to switch to easy mode, and there is no walkthough, except the daily one that we all experience. Please look after yourselves, and look out for anyone who might be in crisis. Your actions could be the difference to make someone's life a little easier.

Surviving 2025: Therapy, Friends, and the Comfort Blanket of 8-Bit ZX Spectrum Magic

2025 was a year I'd rather forget, except for many excellent entertainment software releases for the Sinclair ZX Spectrum and the likes

2025 might not have been the best year for humanity, and if you forgive the self-indulgence for a short while, it was not for me personally either. Before I get into my usual meandering gaming topics, there is a good reason why I support mental health and anti-suicide charities; without wishing to dwell too much on this sore and often painful topic, I can guarantee that unless one lacks empathy or humanity, seeing suicide, or suicidal attempts, up close and personal isn't a pleasant situation to live through. Even if the tragic loss happens to someone who you have fallen out with, or thought ill of in life, such a desperate final act is no less saddening, indeed heart-breaking. The phrase "I'd rather listen to your problems than attend your funeral" is especially pertinent. So, please, if you are feeling low, or have thoughts of self harm or ending one's own mortal existence, reach out to someone. I find this resource to be useful for those who need it: Suicidal Crisis Support. Reaching out can help; it is never too late to seek support.

What got me through 2025, aside from Mind, some talking therapies and beautiful, supportive people around me was the comfort blanket of 8-bit gaming. It was a really great year for entertainment software, and joining the Break Space team from issue two really helped me to focus on something positive. Sometimes, because of external pressures, it was all a bit of a blur, and I'd wager that many of my submissions [to Break Space] weren't my best, but then again, as someone who left School without any GCSEs, I suppose I've done quite well. This fact perhaps also explains my err... let's call it unique, clumsy and deviant writing style. This is a self-critique here; one may opine about it using different nomenclatures.

At the time of writing, Break Space issue four has just been released, and I've already authored two pieces for consideration by the editorial overlord Mpk who put in a tremendous effort to get this issue finished. I don't envy him one bit, as this is clearly a passion project not just for him, but for the whole review team. Not to mention that all of this gaming goodness is provided for free, so even if you only have a passing interest in 8-bit computer software, it's certainly worth a look. All current issues are available to download from https://breakspace.itch.io/ - it's certainly the most cost effective 8-bit gaming 'zine currently on the market, so download and [one hopes] enjoy!