Head Over Heels

Head over Heels, an original game developed and published by Ocean Software, released in 1987.

Longplay Information

Author(s): MadMattyMadMatty
System: Commodore 64
Region:
Language:
Subtitle Language:
Additional Info: No information available
Publication Date: 09/03/2022
YouTube Release: 31/12/2025
Duration: 01:27:55
File Size: 129.34 MB (132444.00 KB)
Downloads: 174 downloads
File Links:

Archived Submission Thread

Screenshot

Player's Review

"Hi! My name's Mr.. Head. Some say I'm the one with the brains but I don't think my flat footed friend would agree. I'm a realsharp shooter, but without my pal Mr.. Heels I'd get nowhere fast... or slow! I can jump like a flea and even glide but Heels is the Daley Thompson of the two of us - he's FAST! Together, if we can find each other, we really do make an awesome twosome, and that's the only way we can overcome the emperor Blacktooth. The last time we entered Castle Blacktooth we found the crowns of THREE of the suppressed kingdoms but by the time I'd run out of doughnut ammunition and my buddy was lost somewhere in the Safari world - it was the closest we had come to defeating that rapscallion - we were jumping for joy., splitting our sides, dying with laughter... we were Head over Heels!"

Ocean released this on just about every 8/16bit home computer at the time. The C64 version appears very much based on the Spectrum version and shares the same high detailed monochrome graphics. However the game runs at nearly half the speed and really chuggs if there are enemies on screen. Some screens and there solutions are slightly different to the Spectrum game though and very much like the Amiga game.

The game is displayed in isometric form which was quite popular ont he spectrum as they generally ran quite smoothly. Not so much on the C64. You take control of Heels and head which have different abilities. Some rooms require one or the other to take specific routes or solve particular rooms. Head can jump higher and fire donuts to freeze enemies. Heels can move faster and carry a single item. The two can be combined and are then able to move quickly as well as jump higher and further.

The game is split up into multiple zones via transporters and your objective is to explore each area, find the five crowns and defeat the emperor. I have shown most rooms and where all collectables are for lives and abilities. Just a few rooms I didn't visit like the dungeon pit you have to climb out of to get back to where you were should you accidently fall into it.

I followed Philip Kendall's game guide for the most part with just a few minor deviations. I was never a big fan of these style of games mainly due to the size of them. they do require some precision movements much like dizzy games which can lead to some frustration. However the game does save your position after completing areas and maybe collecting fish allowing you to continue or start a new game from the main menu.

Overall, while not playing to badly on C64 I think it plays much better on the Spectrum or Amiga. There is not much C64 music and the little there is, It's another game that doesn't want you to hear the full soundtrack until the very end of the game. You cant do everything on the joystick and need to use keyboard controls which can act very sluggishly. Shift to fire, F3 to Pickup/drop an item, F5 to swap or combine character and Commodore key to jump collect at same time. Joystick fire Jumps.

00:00:00 Marketplace
00:14:06 Main Teleport Station
00:20:45 Penitentiary
00:33:00 Safari
00:47:02 Book World
00:58:43 Egyptus
01:11:45 Blacktooth
01:20:42 Freedom!