Hobgoblin on Acorn BBC Micro Model B vintage computer

[PhoenixRisen7]

i like the way you can never forget which game you are playing - 25% of the display is the name of the game haha

[DrOrphious79]

that looked harsh. you gave it the ol collge try tho right.

[pete212]

Just stumbled on this browsing your channel...I loved this back in the day and played it everyday even after finishing it.. Blimey it looks dated now...

[kyberhai]

Really fond memories of this one. I swear the only diff between Beeb and Elk versions was one colour - always loaded Elk version because I prefered green over purple. I could finish this in the end, but I remember playing with a cousin who could never get past one of the archers.

Budget titles like this were real gems, and Hobgoblin II was well worth seeing too! In fact I liked them so much I made my own level editor for the original game 8>

[SteveBenway]

@kyberhai The budget stuff really kept gaming alive for people like me back in the day. I was skint most of the time and it was all I could afford :)

[johannbock]

When I asked a gaming forum for tortuously difficult platformers, someone directed me to the C64 version of this. The best part is how it sends you back one screen every time you die, making it grueling to finish even with a trainer.

"PREPARE FOR ATTACK" ha ha ha

(Apologies if this double or triple posts, Youtube is acting weird)

[hewey999]

LOL ...Im gonna have to try this myself, it CANT be that hard can it??

[SteveBenway]

@hewey999 Well there's the question. Either it's that hard, or I'm that crap... lol.

[narsylaron]

In fact I'm quite sure you had to jump and shoot the spitting head a few times before it copped it. Shame you couldn't show more of the game because it was really quite good I thought

[narsylaron]

Steve thanks for posting this - I also owned a Beeb and relished its games. I'm sure I completed this - it is infuriating but not that tough! And I'm sure you can shoot the spitting head - perhaps it takes a few hits. Or maybe my memory is playing tricks...

[douglashoskins79]

One of my Acorn Electron favourites this was. A knack was required for killing the archers and faces in the trees; involved jumping and firing in rhythm with the enemy. Completed once and once only!

[wrestletube1]

This game is alright for those that swear anyway out of habbit. :P

[Supportahol]

You have NO idea how many times "BASTARD" was called out at games like this from our own livingroom in the 80's! Even on christmas night when everyone was supposed to be all holy and appreciative! All you could hear coming from the room...BASTARD!!!!

[SteveBenway]

LOL. Yup. It really is that kinda game. Good to know you got into the true spirit of the game ;-)

[Supportahol]

Between you and me man... i really miss those games...especially the commodore64 ones. : 0 (

[mrslisabates]

Pure genius, absolutely briliant!!!!!!!

Thank-you for making my evening!!!!!!

[jamesbatch]

steve, we had a game on our acorn which involved working your way to the centre of a mao avoiding the glass bowls dropping on you can you help, cheers

[SteveBenway]

That doesn't sound familiar, I'm afraid. That being said, it's a long time since I played most of my electron games, so it may yet turn up in the videos I'll be doing soon.

[sicboypeachy]

Omg that first lvl is ridiculously hard! One hit and your dead??!! Gunna see if i can find it on my Atari see if its the same

[kevin12567]

Only other video I could find of this game is an Atari 8-bit conversion, but in it you can see the faces can be shot away.

[SteveBenway]

Ah, cool. Thanks for that. I'll give that a try next time I play it.

[happypranksgiving]

How are you even supposed to get past that face without dying? Can you crawl or something?

[SteveBenway]

I don't know. I didn't get past it without dying, but that seemed to be the only way to make progress... by jumping into it and losing a life.

[HeartfeltDawn]

When you jump over the bolts the face spits out, you have to fire a dagger at the same time. It is possible to kill it. Thus speaks someone who completed Hobgoblin! It was frustrating but nothing will ever be more frustrating than Micropower's Ghouls.

[HeartfeltDawn]

Oh, and add Psycastria to that 'close to impossible to finish' list.

[Foebane72]

I've decided that if the game's title has to fill a THIRD of the WHOLE SCREEN, then the game itself SUCKS!

[lettersfromtheleft]

Games like this make me wonder if the game developers ever had anyone play this before they released it?

[SteveBenway]

It could be worse.

Remember that Scramble clone I played on the MTX512?

This game should at least be possible to make progress through, with practice.

Now if I can just work out what that "practice" word means.... ;-)

[ArcadeMeister]

Strange...I'm having some real trouble posting comments on YT right now...it should be 6:19 -6:30, anyway. If duplicate comments get put up, please delete them.

[ArcadeMeister]

Interesting game. I personally disagree with what you said, though at 6:25 - 6:30. I'm not saying ALL games should be that difficult but imo, there should be SOME, so you have some that cater to the gamers who want a challenge, whilst including others that appeal to everyone else. Great video, though! :D

[SteveBenway]

That's certainly a fair point.

I think I'm probably spoiled by more modern games, where you get to play through masses of content, without having to be very good, while with retro games, I tend to go for instant gratification... the pick up and play type of game.

So like you say, there's a place in the market for games that require commitment and practice.

[sonoNEKO]

There ought to be some difficult games, but this is ridiculous. It's worse that the actual Ghosts and Goblins game, it's just an excersize in memorization...difficulty is nice when it's fair, like some of the rooms in the later levels of The Legend of Zelda full of Wizzrobes and Blue Darknuts that require you to be good at dodging, but you shouldn't have to memorize the level...

[TheRayCoder]

Hi SteveBenway, I sent you a message. Can you let me know here if you got it or not. Thanks :-)

[SteveBenway]

I got your message. Just reading it now. I'm quite fascinated. :)

[wuerdelos]

Thank you for sharing this, I enjoyed watching it.

[GlockNinja]

LOL, the computer cheated. LOL we have come a long ways and we have a long ways to go.