Underwurlde
Encyclopedia
Underwurlde is a video game for the ZX Spectrum
and Commodore 64
developed and released by Ultimate Play The Game
in 1984. The game is the second in the Sabreman
series, following on from his adventures in Sabre Wulf
. The format of the game is a 2D side view flip-screen
platform game. The aim is to escape from the Underwurlde via one of the three exits, to go to either Knight Lore
, Pentagram
or Mire Mare
.
Again taking on the role of Sabreman, the player must navigate a flip-screen maze (597 screens) that encompasses a castle
and the large system of cave
rns beneath it. Unlike the maze in Sabre Wulf
, which is viewed from above, rooms here are viewed from the side, and play takes the form of a platform game
. Sabreman must make his way through the maze to one of three exits (one for each of the sequel
s to Underwurlde). To get to the three exits, three different guardians must be defeated , but the guardians are vulnerable to different weapons hidden in the maze. Each cavern has one guardian, who rests beneath an enormous stalactite
, requiring that the monster be destroyed in order to pass. The location of all the weapons, other than the slingshot (which does not affect any guardians) is different each time, out of a variety of places.
Along the way, Sabreman is attacked by a range of enemies from winged harpies
to floating jellyfish
. Oddly bereft of his trademark
sabre
, Sabreman can fend off these adversaries with the weapons he collects on his journey (a slingshot
in the screenshots below). Contact with enemies does not directly cause damage, their aim instead is to cause fatal falls by knocking the player off platforms. After one of the first two guardians is destroyed (the third one cannot be accessed except through passing the second one), two more enemies are added, one that resembles a seal and otherwise acts like the starting enemies, and the eagle, which has the added ability of picking up Sabreman, and possibly dropping him from an enormous height. Although Sabreman is tough enough to survive short drops, the caverns are full of chasms deep enough for a lethal fall. However, there is one item, the blue gem, that makes him temporarily invincible. These may only be found on ledges in vertical shafts in the caves. The only other item found besides gems and weapons are the extra lives, which are in fixed locations.
Climbing in and out of these pits can be achieved in several ways. Firstly, Sabreman can make rather athletic bounds between platforms. Alternatively, in the caverns he can make use of conveniently placed ropes to safely ascend or descend, but there is a risk of falling stalactites that will fall down the middle of the shaft, and even touching this obstacle when not affected by the Gem is instantly fatal. Also, in some parts of the maze, bubble
s of volcanic
gas
can carry Sabreman up the chasms.
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
and 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...
developed and released by Ultimate Play The Game
Ultimate Play the Game
Ultimate Play The Game was a critically acclaimed video game developer of the early home computer era. "Ultimate Play The Game" was the trading name of Ashby Computers & Graphics Ltd. , a software company founded in 1982 by two ex-arcade game developers Tim and Chris Stamper...
in 1984. The game is the second in the Sabreman
Sabre Man
The Sabreman series of games was released by Ultimate Play the Game for the Sinclair ZX Spectrum in the 1980s. Some of the installments were also released on other popular home microcomputers, namely the Amstrad CPC, BBC Micro, Commodore 64 and MSX...
series, following on from his adventures in Sabre Wulf
Sabre Wulf
Sabre Wulf is a ZX Spectrum video game developed and released by Ultimate Play The Game in 1984. The game is the first in the Sabreman series. It was written originally by Tim Stamper and Chris Stamper, and later ported to many other computer platforms...
. The format of the game is a 2D side view flip-screen
Flip-screen
In video games, flip-screen is a principle whereby the playing environment is divided into single-screen portions...
platform game. The aim is to escape from the Underwurlde via one of the three exits, to go to either Knight Lore
Knight Lore
Knight Lore is a computer game developed and released by Ultimate Play The Game in 1984. The game is the third in the Sabreman series, following on from his adventures in Sabre Wulf and Underwurlde. Unlike the earlier games in the series it used Ultimate's filmation engine to achieve a 3D look...
, Pentagram
Pentagram (video game)
Pentagram is a ZX Spectrum and MSX video game released by Ultimate Play The Game in 1986. It is the fourth in the Sabreman series, following on from his adventures in Sabre Wulf, Underwurlde and Knight Lore. Similarly to Knight Lore it uses the isometric Filmation engine. The game was written by...
or Mire Mare
Mire Mare
Mire Mare is an unreleased video game by Ultimate Play The Game.Underwurlde, the second game in the Sabreman series of titles from Ultimate has three separate exits, each naming another game in the series. The first exit names Knight Lore, which was released at the same time as Underwurlde...
.
Plot
A traveller visits the "Underwurlde", but finds himself trapped when previously dormant creatures and carnivorous plants wake in the hope of a meal. The traveller must travel farther down into the Underwurlde to confront the ultimate evil and make his escape.Gameplay
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
and the large system of cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
rns beneath it. Unlike the maze in Sabre Wulf
Sabre Wulf
Sabre Wulf is a ZX Spectrum video game developed and released by Ultimate Play The Game in 1984. The game is the first in the Sabreman series. It was written originally by Tim Stamper and Chris Stamper, and later ported to many other computer platforms...
, which is viewed from above, rooms here are viewed from the side, and play takes the form of a platform game
Platform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
. Sabreman must make his way through the maze to one of three exits (one for each of the sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
s to Underwurlde). To get to the three exits, three different guardians must be defeated , but the guardians are vulnerable to different weapons hidden in the maze. Each cavern has one guardian, who rests beneath an enormous stalactite
Stalactite
A stalactite , "to drip", and meaning "that which drips") is a type of speleothem that hangs from the ceiling of limestone caves. It is a type of dripstone...
, requiring that the monster be destroyed in order to pass. The location of all the weapons, other than the slingshot (which does not affect any guardians) is different each time, out of a variety of places.
Along the way, Sabreman is attacked by a range of enemies from winged harpies
Harpy
In Greek mythology, a harpy was one of the winged spirits best known for constantly stealing all food from Phineas...
to floating jellyfish
Jellyfish
Jellyfish are free-swimming members of the phylum Cnidaria. Medusa is another word for jellyfish, and refers to any free-swimming jellyfish stages in the phylum Cnidaria...
. Oddly bereft of his trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
sabre
Sabre
The sabre or saber is a kind of backsword that usually has a curved, single-edged blade and a rather large hand guard, covering the knuckles of the hand as well as the thumb and forefinger...
, Sabreman can fend off these adversaries with the weapons he collects on his journey (a slingshot
Slingshot
A slingshot, shanghai, flip, bean shooter or catapult is a small hand-powered projectile weapon. The classic form consists of a Y-shaped frame held in the off hand, with two rubber strips attached to the uprights. The other ends of the strips lead back to a pocket which holds the projectile...
in the screenshots below). Contact with enemies does not directly cause damage, their aim instead is to cause fatal falls by knocking the player off platforms. After one of the first two guardians is destroyed (the third one cannot be accessed except through passing the second one), two more enemies are added, one that resembles a seal and otherwise acts like the starting enemies, and the eagle, which has the added ability of picking up Sabreman, and possibly dropping him from an enormous height. Although Sabreman is tough enough to survive short drops, the caverns are full of chasms deep enough for a lethal fall. However, there is one item, the blue gem, that makes him temporarily invincible. These may only be found on ledges in vertical shafts in the caves. The only other item found besides gems and weapons are the extra lives, which are in fixed locations.
Climbing in and out of these pits can be achieved in several ways. Firstly, Sabreman can make rather athletic bounds between platforms. Alternatively, in the caverns he can make use of conveniently placed ropes to safely ascend or descend, but there is a risk of falling stalactites that will fall down the middle of the shaft, and even touching this obstacle when not affected by the Gem is instantly fatal. Also, in some parts of the maze, bubble
Liquid bubble
A bubble is a globule of one substance in another, usually gas in a liquid.Due to the Marangoni effect, bubbles may remain intact when they reach the surface of the immersive substance.-Common examples:...
s of volcanic
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
gas
Gas
Gas is one of the three classical states of matter . Near absolute zero, a substance exists as a solid. As heat is added to this substance it melts into a liquid at its melting point , boils into a gas at its boiling point, and if heated high enough would enter a plasma state in which the electrons...
can carry Sabreman up the chasms.
External links
- Underwurlde at Ultimate Wurlde
- Underwurlde review at CRASH magazineCRASH (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:...
- A walkthrough video of Underwurlde on the ZX Spectrum