Robocop

„Dead or alive, you're coming with me.“ When Ocean brought the movie RoboCop to home computers in 1988, one of the biggest hits of the entire 8-bit era was born — and on the Amstrad CPC it was among the best you could get.

The game is an action adaptation of the cult film and combines side-scrolling action with run & gun elements: as the cyborg law enforcer you march through the streets of Detroit, shoot gangsters, rescue hostages and fight your way to the final showdown. Between levels come diversions too, such as target shooting practice. The pace and difficulty are carefully tuned to keep the player on edge from start to finish.

Behind the game stands the British studio Ocean Software, which at the time became famous for licensed film adaptations and grew into one of the most important European publishers. For Ocean, RoboCop meant enormous commercial success — it was among the best-selling games of its day and long reigned atop the UK sales charts.

The CPC version shows Ocean's typical craftsmanship: decent graphics, recognizable settings from the film and action that keeps up the momentum. At a time when film licenses often meant disappointment, RoboCop was a pleasant exception — a game that complemented its cinematic source with dignity.

RoboCop's success helped confirm the model Ocean built on: take a popular film and turn it into a playable, sales-strong game. For owners of the CPC and other 8-bits, it was one of those titles that simply had to be in your collection.

Why play it: For one of the most successful film adaptations of the 8-bit era — brisk action with the atmosphere of the cult RoboCop.