Isometric View Games: 1986 (Cholo, Academy, Kid Icarus, King's Quest III, Metroid and Alex Kidd in Miracle World are released)
1983|1984|1985|1986|1987|1988|1989
The Great Escape (Multi, 1986)
Subgenre: Action Adventure, Stealth
Perspective: Isometric
-Prison break theme
-Multiple ways to escape
-NPCs following daily routines (the game also performs these for you if you let go of the controls for a bit)
-No save or password save?
-No maps?
-Called Arcade Adventure and Action Adventure back in the day
-Torch item (used like a key)
Playthrough - Video Review/Commentary - Mini-Review
Magnetik Tank/MGT (PCs, 1986)
Subgenre: Action Adventure/Maze Action
Perspective: Isometric
Other: Tank-based
-Ice physics
-Block puzzles (some can be pushed, some can be moved by shooting them, some can be used for lifts)
-No save or password save?
-No maps?
Playthrough - Video Review - Mini-Review
Batman (PCs/MSX, 1986)
Subgenre: Action Adventure w/ Platforming
Perspective: Isometric
Checkpoint system (batstone clusters) - No save or password save (added in more recent fan remakes), Lives system
Object manipulation
Some ability/tool gating (The Batbag allows you to pick up and drop objects, Jet Batboots allow you to jump, the Thruster allows Road-Runnering (movement while you fall), and the Low Gravity Batbelt keeps you in the air for longer, temporary enhanced jump item)
No maps
Multiple floors
Called Action Adventure back in the day
Playthrough - Video Review - Mini-Review
Chimera (PCs, 1986)
Subgenre: Action Adventure/Puzzle Platformer?, Activate a bomb and escape mission (no added timer after activation)
Perspective: Isometric
Other: No platforming
Object manipulation
Hunger and thirst mechanics
Minor tool gating (use a wrench/spanner to remove some obstacles), No char upgrades
No save or password save? (short)
No map?
Called Arcade Adventure back in the day
Playthrough (XL/XE)
Bobby Bearing (PCs, 1986)
Subgenre: Action Adventure/Puzzle, Rescue+escort mission
Perspective: Isometric view
Other: Rolling ball avatar, Time limit, Jumping w/ momentum
No save or password save?
No maps?
Playthrough -
Spell of Destruction/Wizardry (PC, 1986)?
Subgenre: Proto-Action Adventure/Puzzle
Perspective: Isometric View
-"Find chest" and "hint" spells
-No save or password save
-No map?
-Called Action Adventure back in the day
Fairlight II (PCs, 1986)
Subgenre: Action Adventure?
Perspective: Isometric
Other: Some platforming
-Object manipulation
-5 item inventory
-Save feature
-Carry blocks with you and use as platforms or weapons (can also use a flying carpet)
-No character upgrades?
-No maps?
Playthrough (Spectrum)
Get Dexter! (PCs, 1986)
Subgenre: Puzzle Platformer/Action Adventure?
Perspective: Isometric
Other: Color-coded locked doors
-CPU ally (helps with some puzzles?)
-Healing points
-Object Manipulation
-Can use some enemies as platforms
-No save or password save?
-No maps?
-Called Arcade Adventure back in the day
Playthrough
Quazatron (Spectrum, 1986)
Subgenre: Action Adventure?
Perspective: Isometric
Other: Separate mini-game for controlling/grappling enemy robots (similar to Paradroid, lets you take some enemy robot components for own use)
-Map feature
-Elevators
-No save or password save?
Playthrough
Spindizzy (PCs, 1986)
Subgenre: Puzzle Platformer/AA?
Perspective: Isometric
Other: Cone avatar which can transform into a ball and a dreidel/spinner, Time limit (extended by collecting crystals), Jump via ramps
-Elevators
-Auto-map and compass
-No save or password save?
Playthrough
Pyracurse (Spectrum, 1986)?
Subgenre: Action Adventure/Action Puzzle?
Perspective: Isometric view
Other: 4 different playable chars (switch on the fly?, can make anyone the team leader which makes the others follow you - or you can go solo), No platforming?
-Each char can carry 3 items
-No save or password save?
-Came with a layout map
-Called Arcade Adventure back in the day
Playthrough
The Great Escape (Multi, 1986)
Subgenre: Action Adventure, Stealth
Perspective: Isometric
-Prison break theme
-Multiple ways to escape
-NPCs following daily routines (the game also performs these for you if you let go of the controls for a bit)
-No save or password save?
-No maps?
-Called Arcade Adventure and Action Adventure back in the day
-Torch item (used like a key)
Playthrough - Video Review/Commentary - Mini-Review
Magnetik Tank/MGT (PCs, 1986)
Subgenre: Action Adventure/Maze Action
Perspective: Isometric
Other: Tank-based
-Ice physics
-Block puzzles (some can be pushed, some can be moved by shooting them, some can be used for lifts)
-No save or password save?
-No maps?
Playthrough - Video Review - Mini-Review
Batman (PCs/MSX, 1986)
Subgenre: Action Adventure w/ Platforming
Perspective: Isometric
Checkpoint system (batstone clusters) - No save or password save (added in more recent fan remakes), Lives system
Object manipulation
Some ability/tool gating (The Batbag allows you to pick up and drop objects, Jet Batboots allow you to jump, the Thruster allows Road-Runnering (movement while you fall), and the Low Gravity Batbelt keeps you in the air for longer, temporary enhanced jump item)
No maps
Multiple floors
Called Action Adventure back in the day
Playthrough - Video Review - Mini-Review
Chimera (PCs, 1986)
Subgenre: Action Adventure/Puzzle Platformer?, Activate a bomb and escape mission (no added timer after activation)
Perspective: Isometric
Other: No platforming
Object manipulation
Hunger and thirst mechanics
Minor tool gating (use a wrench/spanner to remove some obstacles), No char upgrades
No save or password save? (short)
No map?
Called Arcade Adventure back in the day
Playthrough (XL/XE)
Bobby Bearing (PCs, 1986)
Subgenre: Action Adventure/Puzzle, Rescue+escort mission
Perspective: Isometric view
Other: Rolling ball avatar, Time limit, Jumping w/ momentum
No save or password save?
No maps?
Playthrough -
Spell of Destruction/Wizardry (PC, 1986)?
Subgenre: Proto-Action Adventure/Puzzle
Perspective: Isometric View
-"Find chest" and "hint" spells
-No save or password save
-No map?
-Called Action Adventure back in the day
Fairlight II (PCs, 1986)
Subgenre: Action Adventure?
Perspective: Isometric
Other: Some platforming
-Object manipulation
-5 item inventory
-Save feature
-Carry blocks with you and use as platforms or weapons (can also use a flying carpet)
-No character upgrades?
-No maps?
Playthrough (Spectrum)
Get Dexter! (PCs, 1986)
Subgenre: Puzzle Platformer/Action Adventure?
Perspective: Isometric
Other: Color-coded locked doors
-CPU ally (helps with some puzzles?)
-Healing points
-Object Manipulation
-Can use some enemies as platforms
-No save or password save?
-No maps?
-Called Arcade Adventure back in the day
Playthrough
Quazatron (Spectrum, 1986)
Subgenre: Action Adventure?
Perspective: Isometric
Other: Separate mini-game for controlling/grappling enemy robots (similar to Paradroid, lets you take some enemy robot components for own use)
-Map feature
-Elevators
-No save or password save?
Playthrough
Spindizzy (PCs, 1986)
Subgenre: Puzzle Platformer/AA?
Perspective: Isometric
Other: Cone avatar which can transform into a ball and a dreidel/spinner, Time limit (extended by collecting crystals), Jump via ramps
-Elevators
-Auto-map and compass
-No save or password save?
Playthrough
Pyracurse (Spectrum, 1986)?
Subgenre: Action Adventure/Action Puzzle?
Perspective: Isometric view
Other: 4 different playable chars (switch on the fly?, can make anyone the team leader which makes the others follow you - or you can go solo), No platforming?
-Each char can carry 3 items
-No save or password save?
-Came with a layout map
-Called Arcade Adventure back in the day
Playthrough