| Now games of movies and even vice-a-versa movies made of games are commonplace now. However back in the early 1980s this was a rare cross-over event. One of the ones that stands out the most of the few, is the game tie-in of the Sam Raimi movie The Evil Dead from 1981. The controversial horror splatter movie was cut for UK release, and was infamously added to the BBFC list of videos known as Video Nasties. In 1984 the game maker Palace Virgin Gold released the tie-in game of the movie. Initially released on the Commodore C64, and then later on the ZX Spectrum packaged with the 1985 game Cauldron. Rumour is the Spectrum version was slipped in under the radar, due to the controversy over the movie. The cover image on cassette for the C64 was brilliant, and the whole package offered so much promise. Unfortunately the game didn't deliver. It featured a top-down view (always a loser in any computer game), of the cabin in the woods. You play Ash, and must deal with your possessed friends. |
You must wonder around the cabin, closing doors and windows to prevent the Evil Dead getting into the cabin. As once the floating yellow cloud does, it will hover over your friends and turn them into demonic possessed killer zombies. The green monsters will come and attack you. What to do? Fortunately there are random weapons that pop-up in the cabin. The usual tool for dismembering, like a sword, an axe, a spade and a yellow kind of pointy stick shaped thing. Anyway, run over these weapons and Ash can go happily hacking and slashing at his mates. A whacked mate breaks into three parts, which float around the cabin making these more difficult for poor old Ash. The arms, legs and limbless torso chase you around, so you must dispose of them before the next onslaught comes.
That's about it. Five to ten minutes into the game and you can feel an evil presence descend into the room, and take-over your soul. As you reach for the cassette tape, an uncontrollable desire to snap it in two. However, your good geek spirit breaks through, and you realise that this stupid game will hold some twisted cultural value in about 30 years.
That's about it. Five to ten minutes into the game and you can feel an evil presence descend into the room, and take-over your soul. As you reach for the cassette tape, an uncontrollable desire to snap it in two. However, your good geek spirit breaks through, and you realise that this stupid game will hold some twisted cultural value in about 30 years.