Wizball
Encyclopedia
Wizball is a computer game written by Jon Hare
and Chris Yates
(who together formed the company Sensible Software
) and released in 1987
for the Commodore 64
, ZX Spectrum
and Amstrad CPC
. Versions for the Amiga
, Atari ST
and PC were also released. The music in the Commodore 64 version was composed by Martin Galway
.
Wizballs more comical sequel, Wizkid, was released in the early 1990s for the Amiga, Atari ST and IBM PC.
The theme of Wizball is unique. It is a horizontally-scrolling game, which involves navigating around a landscape and shooting at sprite
s. However, the aim of the game is to collect droplets of coloured paint
to colour the level. Each level starts off as monochromatic
, drawn in three shades of grey, and needs three colours to be collected to complete it. The player, a wizard who has taken the form of a green ball, has access to three levels at a time, and can navigate between them through portals. Each level has droplets of a different primary colour
which may be collected. At the same time, each level needs a different colour to be added, which can be composed by collecting sufficient quantities of the correct primary colours.
The wizard himself is not capable of collecting paint droplets, and is initially capable of very limited movement, bouncing up and down at a fixed rate, with the player only controlling a speed of rotation, and thus how fast it will move horizontally after next touching the ground. Collecting green pearls (which appear when some sprites have been shot) gives the player tokens which can be used to "buy" enhancements, such as greater control over movement and improved firepower, and also a companion known as Catellite. Catellite (ostensibly the wizard's cat
) is also spherical in form. It normally follows the wizard, but it can also be moved independently by holding down the fire button whilst moving the joystick
(which also renders the wizard uncontrollable). Only Catellite is capable of collecting paint droplets; the player has to use it to do so. In the two-player mode, Catellite is controlled by the second player. As well as droplets of primary colours, sometimes droplets of other colours also appear, having various effects. These include:
More recently in 2007, the game's 20th anniversary year, a remake for Windows
and Mac OS
operating systems has been produced by Graham Goring. The gameplay of the remake is based on the Commodore 64 version but contains updated graphics, music and sound effects.
developed a sequel Wizkid which was released by Ocean Software
. Although the story in Wizkid continues directly from Wizball, the actual games are only superficially related to each other.
award in the July 1987 issue of ZZAP!64
magazine, and later went on to be crowned its Game of the Decade.
Wizball at Atari Legends
Wizball Remake by Graham Goring
Wizball at c64-wiki.com
Wizball complete play-through at recordedamigagames.ath.cx
Jon Hare
Jon "Jops" Hare is a British computer game designer, game artist and musician. He is one of the two founder members and directors, with Chris Yates, of Sensible Software, one of the most successful European games development companies of the late 1980s and 1990s.Hare was co-designer and artist of...
and Chris Yates
Chris Yates
Chris Yates was an Australian rugby league player for the Western Suburbs Magpies in the National Rugby League.-References:...
(who together formed the company Sensible Software
Sensible Software
Sensible Software was a software house active during the 1980s and 90s, from the United Kingdom.The company was well-known for the very small sprites used for the player characters in many of their games, including Sensible Soccer, Cannon Fodder and Sensible Golf.- Early history :Sensible Software...
) and released in 1987
1987 in video gaming
-Notable releases:* January 14, Nintendo releases Zelda II: The Adventure of Link in January for the Famicom Disk System in Japan only. The game would go unreleased in America for nearly two years afterwards.* February 20, Konami releases Contra...
for the 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...
, ZX Spectrum
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd...
and Amstrad CPC
Amstrad CPC
The Amstrad CPC is a series of 8-bit home computers produced by Amstrad between 1984 and 1990. It was designed to compete in the mid-1980s home computer market dominated by the Commodore 64 and the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, where it successfully established itself primarily in the United Kingdom,...
. Versions for the Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
, Atari ST
Atari ST
The Atari ST is a home/personal computer that was released by Atari Corporation in 1985 and commercially available from that summer into the early 1990s. The "ST" officially stands for "Sixteen/Thirty-two", which referred to the Motorola 68000's 16-bit external bus and 32-bit internals...
and PC were also released. The music in the Commodore 64 version was composed by Martin Galway
Martin Galway
Martin Galway is one of the best known composers of music for the Commodore 64 sound chip, the SID soundchip, and for the Sinclair ZX Spectrum...
.
Wizballs more comical sequel, Wizkid, was released in the early 1990s for the Amiga, Atari ST and IBM PC.
Gameplay
Sprite (computer graphics)
In computer graphics, a sprite is a two-dimensional image or animation that is integrated into a larger scene...
s. However, the aim of the game is to collect droplets of coloured paint
Paint
Paint is any liquid, liquefiable, or mastic composition which after application to a substrate in a thin layer is converted to an opaque solid film. One may also consider the digital mimicry thereof...
to colour the level. Each level starts off as monochromatic
Monochrome
Monochrome describes paintings, drawings, design, or photographs in one color or shades of one color. A monochromatic object or image has colors in shades of limited colors or hues. Images using only shades of grey are called grayscale or black-and-white...
, drawn in three shades of grey, and needs three colours to be collected to complete it. The player, a wizard who has taken the form of a green ball, has access to three levels at a time, and can navigate between them through portals. Each level has droplets of a different primary colour
Primary Colors
Primary Colors: A Novel of Politics is a roman à clef, a work of fiction that purports to describe real life characters and events — namely, Bill Clinton's first presidential campaign in 1992...
which may be collected. At the same time, each level needs a different colour to be added, which can be composed by collecting sufficient quantities of the correct primary colours.
The wizard himself is not capable of collecting paint droplets, and is initially capable of very limited movement, bouncing up and down at a fixed rate, with the player only controlling a speed of rotation, and thus how fast it will move horizontally after next touching the ground. Collecting green pearls (which appear when some sprites have been shot) gives the player tokens which can be used to "buy" enhancements, such as greater control over movement and improved firepower, and also a companion known as Catellite. Catellite (ostensibly the wizard's cat
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
) is also spherical in form. It normally follows the wizard, but it can also be moved independently by holding down the fire button whilst moving the joystick
Joystick
A joystick is an input device consisting of a stick that pivots on a base and reports its angle or direction to the device it is controlling. Joysticks, also known as 'control columns', are the principal control in the cockpit of many civilian and military aircraft, either as a center stick or...
(which also renders the wizard uncontrollable). Only Catellite is capable of collecting paint droplets; the player has to use it to do so. In the two-player mode, Catellite is controlled by the second player. As well as droplets of primary colours, sometimes droplets of other colours also appear, having various effects. These include:
- Light blue - causes a "filth raid", where a wave of fast-moving enemies appear, shooting bullets at the player.
- Grey - changes Catellite into an "Indestructacat", making it invulnerable to enemies.
- White - gives an extra life.
- Purple - changes Catellite into a "mutant cat", causing it to disobey the player's controls.
- Black - causes "freaky bits", turning most of the scenery black.
More recently in 2007, the game's 20th anniversary year, a remake for Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
and Mac OS
Mac OS
Mac OS is a series of graphical user interface-based operating systems developed by Apple Inc. for their Macintosh line of computer systems. The Macintosh user experience is credited with popularizing the graphical user interface...
operating systems has been produced by Graham Goring. The gameplay of the remake is based on the Commodore 64 version but contains updated graphics, music and sound effects.
Versions
The Commodore 64 version is the original. The Atari ST and Amiga versions were ported by other programming teams. The Amiga and Atari ST versions were tweaked to balance the difficulty: only one wave of enemies is active on the landscape at a time, rather than several as in the Commodore 64 version.Sequels
In 1992 Sensible SoftwareSensible Software
Sensible Software was a software house active during the 1980s and 90s, from the United Kingdom.The company was well-known for the very small sprites used for the player characters in many of their games, including Sensible Soccer, Cannon Fodder and Sensible Golf.- Early history :Sensible Software...
developed a sequel Wizkid which was released by Ocean Software
Ocean Software
The British company Ocean Software was one of the biggest European video game developers/publishers of the 1980s and 90s...
. Although the story in Wizkid continues directly from Wizball, the actual games are only superficially related to each other.
Critical Acclaim
The game won a SizzlerSizzler (disambiguation)
Sizzler may refer to:Fashion*A micro-mini dress with matching panties popular in the 1970's usually made of polyesterBusiness and commerce*Sizzler, a restaurant chain...
award in the July 1987 issue of ZZAP!64
Zzap!64
Zzap!64 was a computer games magazine covering games on the Commodore International series of computers, especially the Commodore 64 . It was published in the UK by Newsfield Publications Ltd and later by Europress Impact....
magazine, and later went on to be crowned its Game of the Decade.