Jet-Boot Jack

Jet-Boot Jack
Developer(s) Jon Williams (Atari)
Mark Taylor (C64)
Dave Woodhouse (BBC/Electron)
Colin Hughes (Amstrad)
Publisher(s) English Software (UK)
Datamost (US)
Designer(s) Jon Williams
Platform(s) Acorn Electron, Amstrad CPC, Atari 8-bit, BBC Micro, Commodore 64
Release date(s)
Genre(s) Platform game

Jet-Boot Jack is a platforming video game first published for the Atari 8-bit home computers by English Software in 1983. It was later ported to a number of other platforms and spawned a sequel, Legend of the Knucker-Hole.

Gameplay

In game screenshot (Atari)

The player controls Jack, a 'space-age jogger', in a record production plant who must build up the ultimate music collection.

The production plant is set out as a series of platforms connected by lifts. To complete each level, the player must collect all the musical notes while avoiding monsters, moving lifts and stalactites. Jack can be moved left or right using his jet boots to hover or by ducking and sliding under fatal stalactites or monsters. By hovering, Jack can clear lift shafts but if he stops over the shaft, it is fatal. Jack's jet energy runs down, particularly if he stands still for a while, and must be replenished by collecting vinyl from overhanging pods. Two types of monsters can be killed for bonus points by jumping on the platform above them. A third type of monster is invincible. Bonus points are awarded when a screen is completed based on the vinyl refills unused.

There are ten screens which then repeat at a higher difficulty level e.g. with more monsters and fewer refills per vinyl pod.

Release

The original Atari version was released in 1983 in the UK by English Software. The game was a big success and became one of English's first games to be converted to other machines beginning with the Commodore 64, also in 1983, and the Acorn Electron, Amstrad CPC and BBC Micro in 1984. The Amstrad version was also later published by Amsoft (1985). The game was so in demand for the Atari that it featured as the lead game on the first three Atari Smash Hits compilations released by English Software. In the US, the game was released by Datamost with the subtitle "Adventures in the Music Machine" on the cover and billed as The Music Machine starring Jet-Boot Jack on the title screen.[1] The game was followed by a sequel Legend of the Knucker-Hole starring Jet-Boot Jack in 1984.[2] Jon Williams developed that game on the Commodore 64 but it was not ported to any other systems.

Critical reaction

Atari magazine Page 6 gave a positive review concluding "Although on a now familiar theme the unique story line and good programming makes Jet Boot Jack well worth getting. The music is good and the scrolled opening credits are superb".[3] The game was given "Hall of Fame" status by Computer and Video Games magazine. The Amstrad CPC version was given a score of 70% by Amstrad Action[4] and 72% by Amtix!.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Jet-Boot Jack (US version) at Atari Mania
  2. ↑ Legend of the Knucker-Hole at Lemon 64
  3. ↑ "The Software Reviews", Les Ellingham, Page 6, Page 6 Publications, Issue 8, Mar/Apr 1984
  4. ↑ "Jet-Boot Jack", Amstrad Action, Future Publishing, Issue 1, October 1985
  5. ↑ "Jet-Boot Jack", Amtix!, Future Publishing, Issue 2, December 1985
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