Netherworld (video game)

Netherworld

Cover art
Developer(s) Jukka Tapanimäki
Publisher(s) Hewson Consultants
Designer(s) Jukka Tapanimäki
Platform(s) Commodore 64, Commodore Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, DOS, ZX Spectrum
Release date(s) 1988
Genre(s) Shooter/Puzzle
Mode(s) One player
Distribution Cassette tape, 5.25" floppy, 3.5" floppy

Netherworld is a shoot 'em up video game.

Summary

The object is to fly a small spacecraft and collect as many diamonds as possible from the level. Once enough diamonds are collected, the craft must reach a teleporter to go to the next level before the time runs out. Aside of the time limit, there are various obstacles, ranging from monsters to items which can damage the craft or block the path. The ship can destroy some obstacles by shooting, sometimes turning them to diamonds as well.

The game was originally developed by Jukka Tapanimäki for the Commodore 64, and original music was composed by Jori Olkkonen.

The game cover art features Tapanimäki's face. The cover art was done without his knowledge and approval. There was friction between the original cover artist and Tapanimäki; Unbeknownst to him, this led to the art getting shelved and new version was made. Tapanimäki and did not see the final version until the press conference in London where the game was released, giving him a big shock.

Many game magazines published a cheat code that only works in a work-in-progress version; this, along with some published POKEs, allowed to deduce that the game was leaked to pirates some 6 months before the release.

External links