Probably the world's first
rotating 3D tower computer game. Quite technichally advanced for
its time, this
puzzle/
platformer was released by
Hewson Consultants in 1987, and was eventually
converted to almost every system available at the time. The ones I know are:
Amiga,
Atari,
Amstrad CPC,
Commodore 64,
Game Boy,
NES,
PC and
ZX Spectrum. At least on NES and Gameboy, the game was renamed
Castelian.
The hero, Pogo (called Julius on the NES), is a small, green, two-legged creature who must climb and destroy the eight mystical towers which have suddenly appeared in his oceanic backyard.
As you move the joystick, the seemingly-3d tower rotates incredibly smoothly while Pogo walks in one spot, giving the impression of a rotating camera. This is when the player is impressed by the skill of programmer John M. Phillips. Pogo must jump, shoot and dodge his way up eight increasingly difficult towers to finish the game, as well as catching fish from his submarine between levels.
Only eight levels, you say? Not a problem. You must fight off bouncing enemies, jump chasms and avoid traps as you ascend the towers, sometimes going through doors in the structure and out the other side (hopefully). Even the first level can take a while to finish, and this game has you hooked from the start.
With a very nice title tune, the C-64 version of this game ranks very high in my list of Best Games I Never Had the Patience to Finish.