| Trailblazer | |
| Developer: | Mr. Chip Software |
| Publisher: | Gremlin Graphics Mindscape |
| Platforms: | Commodore 64, C16 / Plus/4, Atari 8-bit, Amstrad CPC, Amiga, Atari ST, MSX, ZX Spectrum |
| Released: | 1986 |
| Genre: | Racing |
| Modes: | Single-player |
| Designer: | Shaun Southern |
| Programmer: | Commodore 64 Shaun Southern Ports Shaun Hollingworth Peter M. Harrap Chris Kerry Colin Dooley |
Trailblazer is a racing video game developed by Mr. Chip Software and published by Gremlin Graphics for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit computers, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 16 and Plus/4 in 1986 (there was also an enhanced version on Amstrad CPC 3" disc). It was ported to the Amiga and Atari ST.
In 2005 a remake for the Gizmondo was released,[1] and was also adapted in 2011 for the PS3, PlayStation Portable, PS Vita and PlayStation TV as part of the Playstation Mini series.
The game received a direct sequel titled in 1987.
Trailblazer is a racing game which players play as a soccer ball along a series of suspended passages. The game can be played either in time trial or arcade mode and four track. The races usually last between 15 and 45 seconds. Special fields on the track let the ball jump (blue), slow down (red), speed up (green) or warp speed the ball (white), invert the controls (cyan/light blue), bounce it backwards (purple) or are holes (black).
Shaun Southern had made some great games for the Commodore 16 before he moved onto the Amiga and the game was inspired by the arcade game Metrocross.[2]
The game was reviewed in 1990 in Dragon #158 by Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser in "The Role of Computers" column, as part of the Mastertronic MEGA Pack of 10 games previously released in Europe. The reviewers gave the game 5 out of 5 stars, stating: "Our favorite on this disk; racing on Cosmic Causeway roads against the clock or against a robot. This one was really fun".[3]
Zzap!64s reviewers also enjoyed the game which they thought was "an excellent variation on the race game theme". The overall rating given was 93%, qualifying the C64 version for the magazine's Sizzler award.[4] Steve Panak, reviewing the Atari 8-bit version for ANALOG Computing, concluded that "the game is the most original arcade action wristbuster to come down the pike in a long time, and one of the best two-player competition games I've seen".[5] Avery Score for Gamespot said that the game was one of the more unique and enjoyable of the launch games they seen.[6] It received a Your Sinclair Megagame award.[7]
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