Software:Friday the 13th (1985 video game)
| Friday the 13th | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Domark[1] |
| Publisher(s) | Domark[2] |
| Platform(s) | Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum[2] |
| Release | 1985 |
| Genre(s) | Action-adventure, Survival horror[2] |
| Mode(s) | Single-player[2] |
Friday the 13th (stylized as Friday the 13th: The Computer Game[2]) is the first game adaptation based on the films of the same name. It was released in 1985[2][1] by Domark[3] for the Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum.[2][1] The game was released on floppy diskette and cassette tape. The player's goal is to find and kill Jason, while making sure their friends or they themselves are not killed by Jason.[3]
Gameplay
The player can roam freely around the scenery and walk both inside and outside buildings. Jason, as well as other characters, do the same. It is the player's task to make sure their friends do not get killed by Jason, who often appears disguised as one of them,[2] unless he is hit once and becomes visible as a man dressed in black.[4] Various improvised weapons (e.g., a chainsaw, a pitchfork, a machete, etc.)[2] are scattered around the camp and inside various buildings such as a barn, a church and a cabin. Once picked up, they can be used to confront Jason.[3] There are five levels in the game and each time the player assumes the role of another character. The character assignment is random at the start of the round.[2][3] The game uses an early pseudo-3D view along with a more traditional side view, depending on the character's location.[3] The game also features a "fear meter", in the form of a blonde woman's head with hair standing on end, to symbolize the player character's level of fright at the time.[3][5] Unlike the later Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) title, the game included scenes of gore consistent with the film franchise.[3] For example, when a character is killed by Jason, sometimes there is a scream followed by a quick cut to a graphic image of a machete embedded into their head.[2][6][3]
Reception
The game's main appeal was the obvious horror elements, which included atmospheric music and digitized screams.[5][6] Some criticized that it changed elements from the franchise, such as Jason being dressed all in black,[2] which has nothing in common with his appearance from the movies.[6]
The game received otherwise negative review, regardless of the platform. Zzap!64 gave it 13%,[7] Your Sinclair gave it 3/10, Crash 3/10 and Sinclair User 4/10.[8]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Friday the 13th: The Computer Game". IGN. Imagine Games Network. http://www.ign.com/games/friday-the-13th-the-computer-game/c64-14280383.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 Jeffrey Wittenhagen (2014) (in English). Hidden Treasures: Rare & Unappreciated Gems. pp. 19–23. ISBN 978-1312016712.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Bernard Perron (2018). The World of Scary Video Games: A Study in Videoludic Horror. Bloomsbury Academic. p. s 45, 223, 224 443. ISBN 978-1501316197.
- ↑ John Squires (August 21, 2014). "Remembering the 'Friday the 13th' Video Game That Time Forgot". http://halloweenlove.com/remembering-the-friday-the-13th-video-game-that-no-one-remembers/.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Bernard Perron, ed (2009). Horror Video Games: Essays on the Fusion of Fear and Play. McFarland. p. 33. ISBN 978-0786441976.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Judge Greg (December 1, 2014). "Friday the 13th for Commodore 64". http://www.enthusiacs.com/the-attic-friday-the-13th-for-commodore-64/.
- ↑ ''Zzap!64, issue 10, page 37
- ↑ "Your Sinclair, May 1986 YS5". http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/fridaythe13th.htm.
External links
- Friday the 13th at MobyGames
- Friday the 13th at Lemon64
- Friday the 13th at CPC-Power
- Friday the 13th at World of Spectrum
- Friday the 13th, Domark, 1985, Complete Game
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