Traffic-dodging title Horace Goes Skiing was my first ever video game, what was yours?

We all, at some point, played our very first video game. Maybe you remember it well, perhaps it's all a blur. You might've been six, or 16. In the '80s, the '90s or even just a few years back. We all started on this rocky road of time-sink titles somewhere.

I don't remember exactly when I played my first game, but I know for sure what it was. It was on the ZX Spectrum +2, the first computer I ever owned, and it was Horace Goes Skiing by developer Beam Software. The sequel to 1982 Pac-Man clone Hungry Horace, ...Goes Skiing was released the same year, back when you could bang a game out in a matter of weeks.

So I began my journey to gaming infamy with this hard-as-nails title, which sees everyone's favourite amorphous blue blob, with holes for eyes, deciding to join the Aspen Elite. Unfortunately, Horace must first cross the world's busiest road just to make it to the ski shack, before crossing back over for his skiing "fun" (Why they didn't build the shack at the top of the slopes is never asked.)

A straight Frogger clone, the road-crossing section is disproportionately tough, Horace cannot stand still, running like a madman until you change his direction, or a speeding vehicle changes his ability to walk. Horace also cannot die, with game over occurring when his medical fees mean that he cannot afford ski rental. This is why we need the NHS. Fuck the Tories. Should Horace finally make it back to the slope, he enjoys a much less entertaining tree-dodging slalom down the mountain. Upon reaching the bottom of the slops, it starts all over again.

I still own my original cassette of Horace Goes Skiing. I have played literally thousands of video games since, many of which have fallen out of my aging brain, but the memory of Horace and his death-wish love of skiing will remain with me forever.

from destructoid - RSS https://ift.tt/2Cf6aqE