Isometric View Games: 1987 (Goonies II, Driller, Maniac Mansion, Maze of Galious, Zillion, Faxanadu and Dungeon Master are released)
1983|1984|1985|1986|1987|1988|1989
Head Over Heels (PCs, 1987/Remade in 2003)
Subgenre: Action Adventure/Puzzle Platformer
Perspective: Isometric
-Two character team gameplay (switch on the fly; Head can change direction during his jumps and after he gets a weapon can fire at enemies, Heels can collect things, runs faster and jumps higher) - These two characters start in different parts of a maze and each one has to solve rooms using his own abilities. From time to time they meet and can join their body parts (Head sits on top of Heels and they create a character that has the abilities of both parts)
-Object interaction
-No character upgrades?
-No save or password save until the remake (can eat a fish for a checkpoint)
-No map
Playthrough (AMI) - Video Guide/Review - Mini Review (fan remake)
Where Time Stood Still (Multi, 1987) - Action Adventure (similar to The Great Escape), Proto-Survival Sim
Isometric
Other: Goal is to have all characters survive but you can reach the ending with only one left, Basic day/night cycle, Run button, Can only access a party member's inventory if they are near you, Can trade some items for others
Four different playable characters (can only switch if the current one dies; Clive becomes hungry and tired easily, Dirk doesn't tire easily and knows some of the local language but is only competent while his fiancé survives, ) - the ones not currently used follow the player avatar kinda like in a JRPG+the rest of the party will complain if tired or hungry (they might even abandon you)
Item inventory (4 per char)
Scripted events (for example one party member falling while crossing a bridge forcing you to use a rope to save him)
Fatigue and hunger mechanics
So-so party pathfinding AI
No save feature
Game comes with a map in the manual (Spectrum version)
Some tool gating (torch - ?, dynamite (can blow up a village or some rocks), a box - ?)
Some inventory puzzles and other puzzles (can lure one enemy with others)
Audio cue when the swamp monster is near - Alcazar, Zelda
Party members speak to you without interrupting gameplay
Playthrough (ST)
Airball (PCs, 1987)
Subgenre: Action Adventure/Puzzle Platformer
Perspective: Isometric
Other: Ball avatar, Oxygen mechanic (can refill in the starting room and some other rooms)
Some ability/tool gating (a candle for dark rooms, more?)
150 rooms
No maps?
No save or password save, Lives system (only 3 and you can't gain any more)
Fall damage (insta-death)
Playthrough (XE)
Outliers:
The Last Ninja (PCs, 1987)
Subgenre: Action Adventure, Level-based (and you don't backtrack to previous ones)
Perspective: Isometric
Other: Jumping, Can block attacks
-Search move
-Weak/fast and strong/slow melee attacks
-High and low attacks (can also crouch)
-Shows enemy health bars
-Adjustable player and enemy speed (can be used to your advantage in some situations)
-Weapon and item inventories
-Minor ability/tool gating (claw to climb cliffs and rope to climb at another spot)
-No character upgrades (the glove is only used to pick up a flower unlike what the C64 manual says?)
-Can save on PC and Amiga (Remix version), Lives system
-No maps
Playthrough (C64) - Review - Mini Review
Head Over Heels (PCs, 1987/Remade in 2003)
Subgenre: Action Adventure/Puzzle Platformer
Perspective: Isometric
-Two character team gameplay (switch on the fly; Head can change direction during his jumps and after he gets a weapon can fire at enemies, Heels can collect things, runs faster and jumps higher) - These two characters start in different parts of a maze and each one has to solve rooms using his own abilities. From time to time they meet and can join their body parts (Head sits on top of Heels and they create a character that has the abilities of both parts)
-Object interaction
-No character upgrades?
-No save or password save until the remake (can eat a fish for a checkpoint)
-No map
Playthrough (AMI) - Video Guide/Review - Mini Review (fan remake)
Where Time Stood Still (Multi, 1987) - Action Adventure (similar to The Great Escape), Proto-Survival Sim
Isometric
Other: Goal is to have all characters survive but you can reach the ending with only one left, Basic day/night cycle, Run button, Can only access a party member's inventory if they are near you, Can trade some items for others
Four different playable characters (can only switch if the current one dies; Clive becomes hungry and tired easily, Dirk doesn't tire easily and knows some of the local language but is only competent while his fiancé survives, ) - the ones not currently used follow the player avatar kinda like in a JRPG+the rest of the party will complain if tired or hungry (they might even abandon you)
Item inventory (4 per char)
Scripted events (for example one party member falling while crossing a bridge forcing you to use a rope to save him)
Fatigue and hunger mechanics
So-so party pathfinding AI
No save feature
Game comes with a map in the manual (Spectrum version)
Some tool gating (torch - ?, dynamite (can blow up a village or some rocks), a box - ?)
Some inventory puzzles and other puzzles (can lure one enemy with others)
Audio cue when the swamp monster is near - Alcazar, Zelda
Party members speak to you without interrupting gameplay
Playthrough (ST)
Airball (PCs, 1987)
Subgenre: Action Adventure/Puzzle Platformer
Perspective: Isometric
Other: Ball avatar, Oxygen mechanic (can refill in the starting room and some other rooms)
Some ability/tool gating (a candle for dark rooms, more?)
150 rooms
No maps?
No save or password save, Lives system (only 3 and you can't gain any more)
Fall damage (insta-death)
Playthrough (XE)
Outliers:
The Last Ninja (PCs, 1987)
Subgenre: Action Adventure, Level-based (and you don't backtrack to previous ones)
Perspective: Isometric
Other: Jumping, Can block attacks
-Search move
-Weak/fast and strong/slow melee attacks
-High and low attacks (can also crouch)
-Shows enemy health bars
-Adjustable player and enemy speed (can be used to your advantage in some situations)
-Weapon and item inventories
-Minor ability/tool gating (claw to climb cliffs and rope to climb at another spot)
-No character upgrades (the glove is only used to pick up a flower unlike what the C64 manual says?)
-Can save on PC and Amiga (Remix version), Lives system
-No maps
Playthrough (C64) - Review - Mini Review