4th Dimension

Based in Sheffield, they used to be known as Impact Software and they sold budget games for a fiver, they subsequently changed names to 4th Dimension. They also released cheat discs under the Impact Software label.

4th Dimension was a company that really specialised in the Archimedes side of things, they entered pretty late into the Beeb Games market, at least in the late 80's, when it was really not commercially viable to just support the Beeb on it's own. However, they did produce a number of really good games for the BBC. Most are also available on the RISC machines.

Most of the games came in a rather nice 'video case' and has good manuals, with a 40/80t disc. Some however came in the 'jewel case' format typical of Superior.


Arcade Soccer

Released: 1989

Author: Unknown

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Probably the best looking Soccer game on the Beeb, and it is very fast flowing. The graphics are a bit bland in the game, but the menu options and graphical effects used on them are great. This is definitly the best soccer game on the beeb, and you can score some cracking goals!

Clogger

Released: 1988

Author: Unknown

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This is a game in the style of Repton, but I suppose it has more of a slower gameplay, but with more varied puzzles. The graphcis are nice, and move extremely smoothly, possibly more smoothly than Repton. They are very nice, and you have to do things like create pictures out of blocks, by pushing them into the right place. You are a sort of three legged lawnmower character, and have to collect the cakes on the screen. Worth playing if you like that sort of game, and even if you don't!

E-Type

Released: 1990

Author: Unknown

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This is an excellent racing game. It has brilliant graphics, it runs really fast, and REALLY smoothly. It is sort of like Outrun, in that you have to pass through a number of check points. It has lovely scenery, and best of all, you HAVE to run Policemen over to get extra seconds on the timer! The graphics are some of the best I have scene on the BBC, and are suprisingly detailed with hills and mountains in the background on some levels, and lots of trackside objects.

Holed Out

Released: 1989

Author: Unknown

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A really good golf game for the beeb. Has great scenery, and plays a tough game. There were also extra courses available for this, in two packs I think.

Inertia

Released: 1990

Author: Unknown

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A weird game, you are in control of a ball, and must roll over a pads, collecting things. You take control of a pretty uncontrollable gyroscope, and have to guide it around, you have to run over all the special squares on the level which gets you an extra life. It is almost exactly the same thing as Gyroscope by Melbourne House, so I've heard. The graphics are very good, nicely done in a high-res isometric view, and the spinning top moves very realistically. It is the best of this type of game, one of the only times where Superior lose out to another company.

Nevryon

Released: 1990

Author: Unknown

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A really good looking side scrolling Shoot-em-up. This was programmed (I read in the Micro User) by a bloke who got bored of his Acorn, and turned his efforts to the Beeb again. It is definitly great fun, just like R-type in the arcades, and is extremely well programmed. The graphics can be shown in a small low-res window, or an extremely small high-res one, it is a nice option, but I would have preferred a full-screen game, nevertheless it is very impressive, with loads of enemies and power-ups.

Orbital

Released: 1989

Author: Unknown

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A highly original game, in this you are a little ball and have to spin around the isometrically designed single screen levels, the only problem is that you can't go down a level and then back up, so if you go below the level of one of the balls, you are stuck. It is a nice mixture of arcade action and strategy as you have a time limit, and monsters chase you, but you have to plan out the levels first.

Q-Master

Released: 1991

Author: Unknown

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UIM

Released: 1989

Author: Unknown

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An underwater version of Elite, this one is so big that you need 16k of Sideways RAM to run it! I think it is overly complicated though, and that does detract a bit from the game. It definitly needs a joystick to play properly. You are in control of the UIM - Ultra Intelligent Machine, and have to go through many missions, around 100 actually! It is extremely detailed, and if you have done everything that is to be done in Elite, then it is a great game.

White Magic

Released: 1989

Author: Unknown

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This was a Role Playing game, where you play a wizard or another mystical character, you get a choice of four. It is really a sort of gauntlet clone, and the graphics are roughly the same style as Pipeline and Ravenskull from Superior. The main thing is that the graphics clash a bit and the gameplay is at times a bit too fast, but it uses some great graphical effects, and is very playable.

Zenon

Released: 1988

Author: Unknown

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Top draw arcade shooter, you are a spaceman and you have to basically destroy everthing that comes your way! The graphics are pretty good, the only bad point is the slow-down which occurs when a lot of stuff is on the screen. A good game that really shows off the beebs power.