Targhan

A hero with a sword in hand, a fantasy world full of monsters and screens that look more like a painted canvas than an 8-bit game — that's how Targhan drew attention on the Amstrad CPC scene. This action-adventure is a good reminder of how strong and distinctive a face the home-grown output for this platform had, especially in continental Europe.

The gameplay builds on a combination of platform action and adventure exploration. You progress scene by scene, face enemies in combat and all the while search for the way forward through a non-linear world. This genre mix — close combat interspersed with discovering and figuring out where and how to proceed — was typical of European 8-bit creation and gave the game a depth that pure action tended not to have.

What's most striking about Targhan is the visual side. The CPC had a richer palette than the competition, and games that knew how to use it could look truly picturesque. Detailed backgrounds and large, expressive characters gave the fantasy world weight and character — it's precisely this aesthetic that is the reason many players remember the title.

Without going into unfounded details, Targhan should be viewed in the context of its time: 8-bit platforms were experiencing a flourishing of fantasy adventures where the hero fought his way through a hostile world accompanied by striking graphics. This game fits into that wave as one of the more ambitious attempts, one that bet on atmosphere and visual impression.

Today Targhan is more of a tip for enthusiasts who want to get to know the less-mentioned but characterful CPC titles. If you like fantasy action with a hint of discovery and appreciate honest 8-bit graphics, it's worth a try.

Why play it: For a visually inventive fantasy action-adventure that shows the distinctive character of the Amstrad CPC's gaming scene.