Zapped to the Past

1988 is finally over! As we have swam through the dog eggs on your behalf we look back over the year and the games from the issues of Zzap from January to December 1988, selecting some of the titles we have played for our prestigious Zapped to the Past Golden Breadbin awards. Which game will be heralded as having the ‘Best Visuals’ or win the ‘Best Audio’ or the ‘Worst Game?’ There is only one way...

In the month of December 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode one-hundred-and-nine of Zapped to the Past, we conclude our look at some of those games, including the saucy Savage, the jumpy Joe Blade II and the naff Nato Assault Course and wonder… exactly how many Japanese acrobats could you balance on your shoulders? Games covered in this episode: Fifth Gear Around the Wo...

In the month of December 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode one-hundred-and-eight of Zapped to the Past, we continue our look at some of those games, including the pedantic Pro Skateboard Simulator, the bolshy Battle Island and the bilious Bubble Ghost and wonder… are the decks of U.S. battleships often disguised as guitar necks? Games covered in this episode: Pro Skate...

In the month of December 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode one-hundred-and-seven of Zapped to the Past, we continue our look at some of those games, including the shooty Slayer, the shoddy Street Gang, and the horrible Hopper Copper, and wonder why police stations would be equipped with space hoppers as a last transport resort? Games covered in this episode: Slayer Hop...

In the month of December 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode one-hundred-and-six of Zapped to the Past, we start our look at some of those games, including the booming Bombuzal, the purple crabbed Pulse Warrior, and the powerless Power Pyramids, and wonder why anyone would buy four Pyramids from someone who couldn’t even turn them on!? Games covered in this episode: Bomb...

In the month of November 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode one-hundred-and-five of Zapped to the Past, we conclude our look at some of those games, including the crushing Cybernoid 2, the pathetic Pink Panther, and the scattershot Soldier of Fortune, and wonder how much bird seed would you need to keep the Caliph alive? Games covered in this episode: Cybernoid 2 Pink P...

In the month of November 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode one-hundred-and-four of Zapped to the Past, we start our look at some of those games, including the amazing Armalyte, the barren Battle Stations, and the furry Foxx Fights Back, and wonder who thought a blend of ice hockey, netball and crown green bowls was a good idea? Games covered in this episode: Armalyte V...

In this first of a series of special episodes of Zapped to the Past, we go back to our past and pick up some of those games we never looked at from the first few issues of Zzap! 64, including the bouncy Up ‘n Down, the giant Frak and the trippy Master of the Lamps. Games covered in this episode: Rock ‘n Bolt Software Star Mama Llama Jack Attack Frak Up ‘n Down Master of the Lamps Caverns of Sillah...

In the month of October 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode one-hundred-and-three of Zapped to the Past, we conclude our look at some of those games, including the hoary Hotshot, the sunny Summer Olympiad and the swimmy Scuba Kidz, and wonder if there is any animal Andy Serkis cannot play? Games covered in this episode: Summer Olympiad Stunt Bike Simulator Scuba Kidz Sco...

In the month of October 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode one-hundred-and-two of Zapped to the Past, we start our look at some of those games, including the copycat Katakis, the muscle destroying Daley Thompson’s Olympic Challenge, and the laborious LA Crackdown, and wonder just who this mysterious character on a winged horse from ancient Greece could be? Games covered...

In the month of September 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode one-hundred-and-one of Zapped to the Past, we conclude our look at some of those games, including the supersonic Slimey’s Mine, the massive Mickey Mouse and the pathetic Professional Snooker Simulator and wonder… exactly how many gladiators of ancient Rome were killed via ornithological means…?    Games covere...

In the month of September 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In the mighty episode one-hundred of Zapped to the Past, we continue our look at some of those games, including the slinky Salamander, the nefarious Netherworld and the ropey Road Blasters and wonder… exactly how dirty would a world need to get for soap bubble manufacturing to be an industry…?  Games covered in this epis...

In the month of September 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode ninjary-nine of Zapped to the Past, we conclude our look at some of those games, including the less ninjary Last Ninjary 2, the more ninjary Ninjary Scooter Simulator, and the ninjaless Night Racer, and wonder how much grease does it take to grease a rusty mining cart…? Games covered in this episode: Last Ninj...

In the month of August 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode ninety-eight of Zapped to the Past, we conclude our look at some of those games, including the meandering Metropolis, the shonky Shackled and the drowsy Dark Side and wonder… Why would gristle even be chubby in the first place? Games covered in this episode: Dark Side Metropolis Chubby Gristle Marauder Oops! Aqua...

In the month of August 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode ninety-seven of Zapped to the Past, we conclude our look at some of those games, including the dreary Dark Castle, the torpid To Hell and Back, and the sorry Street Fighter, and wonder just how many talents does Julio Inglesias have up his sleeve? Games covered in this episode: Hawkeye Vixen Super Trolley Polterg...

In the month of August 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode ninety-six of Zapped to the Past, we start our look at some of those games, including the frightful Flintstones, the divisive Desolator, and the brutal (but dull) Barbarian II, and wonder why C3PO never presented himself in such a way to Master Luke… Games covered in this episode: Barbarian II - The Dungeon of Dr...

In the month of July 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode ninety-five of Zapped to the Past, we conclude our look at some of those games, including the crappy Karnov, the brain busting Brainstorm, and the lackluster Lazer Tag, and wonder if lazer tag players play with their taggers out…? Games covered in this episode: Brainstorm Karnov Pro Golf Infiltrator II - The Next D...

In the month of July 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode ninety-four of Zapped to the Past, we conclude our look at some of those games, including the woeful Wizard Warz, the ropey Roadwars, and the trippy Thrust 2, and wonder if you will give generously to those suffering from Low Polyism? Games covered in this episode: The Great Giana Sisters Trigger Happy Wizard Warz...

In the month of June 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode ninety-three of Zapped to the Past, we conclude our look at some of those games, including the naughty Northstar, the misfire of Microleague Wrestling, and the gloopy Gutz, and wonder what a man-frog was doing solving crimes in Hawaii… Games covered in this episode: Draconus Microleague Wrestling Road Warrior Gutz...

In the month of June 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode ninety-two of Zapped to the Past, we continue our look at some of those games, including the not inspired by Aliens at all, guv’nor, Alien Syndrome, the expansive but empty Echelon, and the weird Wheelies, and wonder just how many kicks to a shin would it take to take down a turn of the century French fighter? Game...

In episode three of Battle of the Pilots, Adrian and Graham from the Zapped to the Past podcast reach into the massive back catalogue of TV shows from over the last 50 years and pluck out a couple of pilot episodes for a head to head battle. For episode three, we have chosen two mid 70s mostly British cult sci-fi shows - the darkly dystopian Blake’s 7 vs the brightly nihilistic Space 1999… let bat...

Here’s the third of our ‘Ask the Podcast’ specials where we tackle some of the questions asked by our Patrons in our exclusive Discord Channel. If you wish to pose us your own questions then you can do so by signing up to our Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/zappedtothepast We did say that we were not going to release anything over the Christmas break, but we thought this might make a nice pres...

In the month of June 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode ninety-one of Zapped to the Past, we start our look at some of those games, including the torturous Three Stooges, the vexing Vampire Empire, and the tittersome Train Robbers, and wonder why would robots be built with smell receptors…? Games covered in this episode: Impossible Mission 2 Lee Enfield in the Tournamen...

In the month of May 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode ninety of Zapped to the Past, we conclude our look at some of those games, including the heroic Herobotix, the repetitive Rimrunner and the superfluous Stealth Mission, and wonder why would anyone let Ted Rogers lend a hand in designing their game…? Games covered in this episode: Stealth Mission Blood Valley Impact...

In the month of May 1988 many games were released for the Commodore 64. In episode eighty-nine of Zapped to the Past, we continue our look at some of those games, including the platformy Pac-Land, the turgid Top Fuel Challenge and the calamitous Championship Sprint, and wonder what started the great Gravy Wars of 1992…? Games covered in this episode: Pac-Land Tanium Wolfman Corporation The Halls o...