Winged Warlords
Encyclopedia
Winged Warlords is a ZX Spectrum
game which was published by CDS Microsystems in 1983
. It is a clone of Joust
, in terms of level design and gameplay. The graphics are different, with the ostrich mounts being replaced with winged horses
.
It was authored by Mike Lamb, who went on to write many Spectrum conversions of arcade games such as Arkanoid
and Renegade
Collision with a computer-controlled enemy results in one warlord being dismounted, depending on who had the altitudinal advantage. If the player is dismounted, he loses one of four lives. If the enemy is dismounted, the figure tumbles downwards as his mount flies away. This dismounted warlord may be attacked again for bonus points. If left unattented, the warlord eventually calls a new mount and re-enters the battle (coloured magenta instead of cyan.)
Occasionally the Winged Warlord equivalent of Joust's pterodactyl will appear; the Evil Bird of War (which appears to be some kind of large duck.) Contact with this is lethal for the player; it must be avoided as it makes its way across the screen.
magazine reviewed Winged Warlords in issue 3, awarding it 79%, whilst Sinclair User
gave it 6/10; generally receiving better critical success than other Spectrum Joust clones such as Softek's Ostron
.
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
game which was published by CDS Microsystems in 1983
1983 in video gaming
-Events:* A major shakeout of the video game industry begins. By 1986, total video games sales will decrease from US$3.2 billion to US$0.1 billion.* MCA Universal files suit against Nintendo, claiming that the latter company's video arcade hit Donkey Kong violated Universal's copyright on King Kong...
. It is a clone of Joust
Joust (arcade game)
Joust is an arcade game developed by Williams Electronics and released in 1982. It is a platform game that features two-dimensional graphics. The player uses a button and joystick to control a knight riding a flying ostrich...
, in terms of level design and gameplay. The graphics are different, with the ostrich mounts being replaced with winged horses
Pegasus
Pegasus is one of the best known fantastical as well as mythological creatures in Greek mythology. He is a winged divine horse, usually white in color. He was sired by Poseidon, in his role as horse-god, and foaled by the Gorgon Medusa. He was the brother of Chrysaor, born at a single birthing...
.
It was authored by Mike Lamb, who went on to write many Spectrum conversions of arcade games such as Arkanoid
Arkanoid
is an arcade game developed by Taito in 1986. It is based upon Atari's Breakout games of the 1970s. The title refers to a doomed "mothership" from which the player's ship, the Vaus, escapes.-Overview:...
and Renegade
Renegade (video game)
Renegade is a video game released in American and European arcades in 1986 by Taito. It is a westernized conversion of the Japanese arcade game , released earlier the same year by Technos...
Gameplay
Presented with a 2D side-view arena with several platforms, the player maneuvers a pegasus-mounted warlord. Left and right movement is inertia-heavy, as is 'flap' movement against gravity. In one difference with the arcade version of Joust, the flap key may be held down rather than tapped.Collision with a computer-controlled enemy results in one warlord being dismounted, depending on who had the altitudinal advantage. If the player is dismounted, he loses one of four lives. If the enemy is dismounted, the figure tumbles downwards as his mount flies away. This dismounted warlord may be attacked again for bonus points. If left unattented, the warlord eventually calls a new mount and re-enters the battle (coloured magenta instead of cyan.)
Occasionally the Winged Warlord equivalent of Joust's pterodactyl will appear; the Evil Bird of War (which appears to be some kind of large duck.) Contact with this is lethal for the player; it must be avoided as it makes its way across the screen.
Reviews
CRASHCRASH (magazine)
Crash was a magazine dedicated to the ZX Spectrum home computer. It was published from 1984 to 1991 by Newsfield Publications Ltd until their liquidation, and then until 1992 by Europress.-Development:...
magazine reviewed Winged Warlords in issue 3, awarding it 79%, whilst Sinclair User
Sinclair User
Sinclair User, often abbreviated SU, was a magazine dedicated to the Sinclair Research range of home computers, most specifically the ZX Spectrum...
gave it 6/10; generally receiving better critical success than other Spectrum Joust clones such as Softek's Ostron
Ostron
Ostron is a ZX Spectrum video game developed and released by Softek in 1983. It was also released with the title Joust. Gameplay is similar to the arcade game, Joust. -Reception:...
.