Chuckie Egg

A few platforms, ladders, a flock of enraged hens and a heap of eggs to collect - and suddenly it is midnight and you are telling yourself just one more try. Chuckie Egg is a textbook example of how an utterly simple idea turns into an addictive classic.

The principle is instantly clear: on each single-screen level you must collect all the eggs while weaving between platforms and climbing ladders. The hens running around the level make it harder for you, along with a ticking timer in the form of dwindling grain - when it runs out, you are in trouble. The further you progress, the more cunningly the screens are designed and the more precise your jumps and timing must be.

The game was released in 1983 by the studio A&F Software and quickly became one of the most-played and most-loved early platformers on the Spectrum. Its charm lies in a perfect balance: the controls are fair, the rules simple, but the room for improvement practically endless. It is the kind of game where you always know the mistake was yours, and that is exactly why you immediately want to try to do better.

Chuckie Egg was ported to a number of home computers and became one of those titles that connected players across platforms - everyone had their best level reached and their high score. The chase for a high score was a natural part of the experience.

Today it is seen as one of the pillars of the British 8-bit scene and proof that timeless gameplay needs no tricks. Its simplicity, purity and instant clarity make it a game that ages more slowly than most of its contemporary rivals.

Why play: For that true, pure arcade addictiveness - one of the best early Spectrum platformers, the one you always tell yourself just once more.