Beach Head II: The Dictator Strikes Back
Encyclopedia
Beach-Head II: The Dictator Strikes back is 1985
computer game, a sequel to Beach-Head. It was developed
and published
by Access Software. It was designed by Bruce Carver
and his brother, Roger, and was released for the Amstrad CPC
, Apple II
, Atari 8-bit (Atari 400/800), Commodore 64
and ZX Spectrum
.
The spelling of the game's name varies. The title screen spells it "Beach Head", while the box said "Beach-Head".
with the prisoners out of the dictator's fortress. Finally the player and the dictator face off, on opposite cliffs, separated by water. To defeat him, the player must make him fall in the water by throwing knives at him. He tries to do the same to the player.
In one player mode there are three skill levels, harder modes resulting in faster movements and the computer opponent gaining in intelligence. In two player mode one player controls the usual side whilst his opponent will control the Dictator's forces.
This game was notable for using synthesized speech (courtesy of Electronic Speech Systems
, then of Berkeley, California
). Known for its deathly scream (also heard in Epyx
's Impossible Mission
), laughing, "I'm hit", "Medic", "Hey! Don't shoot me" and "You can't hurt me" in the game.
version of the game was a Sizzler, scoring 90% overall, in Issue 4 of Zzap!64
. The Spectrum version of the game attained a more modest 74% in sister magazine, Crash
.
1985 in video gaming
-Notable releases:* Brøderbund releases Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?, the first game of the prolific Carmen Sandiego series* Nintendo releases Super Mario Bros. on September 13, 1985, which eventually sells 40 million copies making it the best-selling video game of all time until 2008.*...
computer game, a sequel to Beach-Head. It was developed
Video game developer
A video game developer is a software developer that creates video games. A developer may specialize in a certain video game console, such as Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3, or may develop for a variety of systems, including personal computers.Most developers also...
and published
Video game publisher
A video game publisher is a company that publishes video games that they have either developed internally or have had developed by a video game developer....
by Access Software. It was designed by Bruce Carver
Bruce Carver
Bruce E. Carver was a co-founder of video game developer Access Software in 1982...
and his brother, Roger, and was released for the Amstrad CPC
Amstrad CPC
The Amstrad CPC is a series of 8-bit home computers produced by Amstrad between 1984 and 1990. It was designed to compete in the mid-1980s home computer market dominated by the Commodore 64 and the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, where it successfully established itself primarily in the United Kingdom,...
, Apple II
Apple II
The Apple II is an 8-bit home computer, one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products, designed primarily by Steve Wozniak, manufactured by Apple Computer and introduced in 1977...
, Atari 8-bit (Atari 400/800), Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
and ZX Spectrum
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
.
The spelling of the game's name varies. The title screen spells it "Beach Head", while the box said "Beach-Head".
Gameplay
Beach-Head II featured the player pursuing the eponymous Dictator in several ways. There are four levels in the game. In the first level, called Attack, the player deploys soldiers along a path with walls to cover him from the dictator's gun. The objective is to destroy the gun. The second level involves rescuing the prisoners from deadly obstacles by clearing them with a gun. The third level's objective is to escape from the area by flying a helicopterHelicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
with the prisoners out of the dictator's fortress. Finally the player and the dictator face off, on opposite cliffs, separated by water. To defeat him, the player must make him fall in the water by throwing knives at him. He tries to do the same to the player.
In one player mode there are three skill levels, harder modes resulting in faster movements and the computer opponent gaining in intelligence. In two player mode one player controls the usual side whilst his opponent will control the Dictator's forces.
This game was notable for using synthesized speech (courtesy of Electronic Speech Systems
Electronic Speech Systems
ESS Technology Incorporated ) is a listed manufacturer of computer multimedia products based in Fremont, California. It was founded by Fred Chan and Forrest Mozer in 1984. The firm employs more than 500 people worldwide. Robert L. Blair is the CEO and President of the company.Historically, ESS...
, then of Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
). Known for its deathly scream (also heard in Epyx
Epyx
Epyx, Inc. was a video game developer and publisher in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s. The company was founded as Automated Simulations by Jim Connelley and Jon Freeman, originally using Epyx as a brand name for action-oriented games before renaming the company to match in 1983...
's Impossible Mission
Impossible Mission
Impossible Mission is a platform computer game for several home computers. The original version for the Commodore 64 was programmed by Dennis Caswell and published by Epyx in 1984.-Description:...
), laughing, "I'm hit", "Medic", "Hey! Don't shoot me" and "You can't hurt me" in the game.
Reception
The Commodore 64Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
version of the game was a Sizzler, scoring 90% overall, in Issue 4 of Zzap!64
Zzap!64
Zzap!64 was a computer games magazine covering games on the Commodore International series of computers, especially the Commodore 64 . It was published in the UK by Newsfield Publications Ltd and later by Europress Impact....
. The Spectrum version of the game attained a more modest 74% in sister magazine, Crash
CRASH (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:...
.
External links
- Beach-Head II from GameBase64.com