Desert Island Tapes: Thomas Gruca

Desert Island Tapes: Thomas Gruca

I played it briefly in the Eighties and couldn't understand it at all. But a few years ago I slowly got sucked into the roguelike world and it has completely changed my outlook on gaming. If it was possible most of this list would be populated by these games, unfortunately ZX has a rather weak RL library, so Rogue it is. It has an atrocious icon-driven interface, but it's still the good ol' Rogue underneath.

It really helps to have a few backup solar systems to explore, when you're trapped on a tiny piece of land surrounded by water. Perhaps I could finally learn how to dogfight, since it has always been my weak spot in these kinda games.

Laser Squad

A true revelation back in the day. All of a sudden all my other beloved games seemed so simplistic and childish. Being immensely replayable, it perfectly fits my current situation.

The Mystery Of Arkham Manor

Another bigger than life title. It completely overwhelmed me when I was a kid. I actually seriously thought I have to file journalistic reports and, some sort of AI will review them and write back. Have much more realistic expectations now, but still need to take it with me even if just for the memories.

Knight Lore

It was a toss up between this and MOVIE, but KL was my first AAA gaming love so here it is. I was dreaming about it for years before I actually got a ZX. Once I did, it has proven impossibly hard, but I still enjoyed loitering around the castle and trying to beat rooms, not the game itself. Perhaps now, with all that spare time...

Guadalcanal

How fitting! Nothing better than waging a war for the domination of countless small islands, while being stuck on one. Seriously though, it's another fantastic game with huge replay value, a tactical choice, if you will.

My only attempt at gaming the system a little but you did say "collections", didn't you? I suppose a canny operator could use this loophole to take 8 huge compilations (Ed - aye see Pete Prodge!), but I quite like the one-tape-one-program idea. Still, if I can have 2 of my favourite Durrell games instead of one I will go for that. Turbo Esprit and Saboteur! are my Top 10 games, the other two could perhaps be fun too.

Even infinite dungeons and galaxies can get boring after a while. Finally, I can try and accomplish my childhood dream of writing a proper text adventure. Back then it ended up with a couple of simplistic "choose 1) 2) 3)" efforts, hopefully I can build on that and come up with a Hobbit-beater. (Editor's note to self - resist the urge to make the "beater" joke - you're over 40)

Creating Adventure Programs

"Creating Adventure Programs on ZX Spectrum" - if I fail with PAW I could always fall back on this classic text, it's a much simpler affair.

A Toothbrush

For my luxury? Ummm, I don't know, I'm a rather simple creature. Since I won't have anything else anyway, one luxury won't make any difference I suppose. Toothbrush? Futon? Or maybe an extra tape: "Movie", please!

(Ed - DENIED! You're having the toothbrush)

How will you cope?

Easy, I'm a street child, survival is my game, plus, literally, I have played a zillion survival/stranded games. This counts, right? I just have to collect some random junk and craft away. Or CLIMB PALM TREE, TAKE COCONUT, D, GIVE COCONUT TO NATIVE, FOLLOW NATIVE, CHOOSE WIFE, etc

If you could only take ONE tape? That's just cruel. PAW, I guess. Even Rogue would get boring after 10 years. (but Linley's Dungeon Crawl wouldn't - true story, been playing it for 10 years at least once a day).

Which game would you banish to a DIFFERENT desert island? Hmmm, no, not really. I simply love ALL retro games, even the bad un's. I believe all of them have some value, after all it's not possible to evolve anything without some errors and mutations happening along the way. So, there's a place even for assorted Hunchback's and Renegade 3's in my library.

AY BY UGLIFRUIT
FONTS BY FZX