Deathchase is a 1983 vehicular combat game written for the ZX Spectrum by Mervyn Estcourt and published by Micromega in the UK. In Spain it was published by Ventamatic. The “3D” designation on the box led to the game sometimes being misnamed “3D Deathchase”, including in reviews. Timex USA published Deathchase for its range of computers in the US as Cyclepath.
Gameplay
The player controls a motorcycle-riding mercenary as he pursues two other motorcycles, one blue and one yellow, through a forest. Each enemy motorcycle destroyed is worth $1000 (i.e. points) to the player. The player’s motorcycle is equipped with forward-firing guns with which to shoot its quarry. The projectiles can be controlled mid-flight simply by steering the bike. If both enemy motorcycles are destroyed, the player moves to a night version of the same level. If both enemy motorcycles on that level are destroyed, the player moves on to a daytime level of the next stage (with more trees to avoid). There are also tanks and helicopters which appear on the horizon and can be shot for bonus points.
The game takes place over eight stages. When stage eight is completed, the game returns to the start.
Reception
ZX Spectrum gaming magazine Crash described Deathchase as “an extremely simple idea for a game, and utterly compelling to play” and awarded it a rating of 92%. In 1992, it was nominated as the best Spectrum game of all time in the magazine Your Sinclair. This status has been cemented by subsequent publications. Both Crash and Your Sinclair referred to the game as “3D Deathchase”.
Legacy
Andrew Leyden’s remake, Death Chase 2002 was highlighted in Edge magazine’s retro special. It was described as “pleasant enough” but lacking the feel of the original.
References
External links
- Deathchase at SpectrumComputing.co.uk
- Deathchase can be played for free in the browser at the Internet Archive
- Deathchase 2002 at the Internet Archive
Gamer24h Editor's Take
Put under the Gamer24h team's microscope, Deathchase raises the bar considerably with both its storytelling and technical polish. Masterfully blending Vehicular combat mechanics with modern standards, the game's fluid gameplay makes hours fly by unnoticed. If you're looking for an absorbing world and satisfying mechanics that pull you right in, this game might be exactly what you've been searching for.