Wanted: Monty Mole | |
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Developer(s) | Peter Harrap[1] (Spectrum) Antony Crowther (C64) |
Publisher(s) | Gremlin Graphics |
Platform(s) | Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum |
Release |
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Genre(s) | Platformer |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Wanted: Monty Mole is a platform video game published in July 1984[2] for the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64 home computers. It is the first game released by Gremlin Graphics[2] and the first game in the Monty Mole series. Monty Mole is a fictional mole created by Ian Stewart, the director of the company.[2]
The player controls the titular mole who has to travel around a coal mine collecting pieces of coal and other miscellaneous objects while avoiding various nasties and the infamous crushers.[3] The style of gameplay is typical of platform games of the 1980s. The ZX Spectrum version is a flip-screen game while the Commodore 64 version uses scrolling.[4] The game was inspired by the UK miners' strike of 1984–85, and even featured a character based on union leader Arthur Scargill.[3]
Wanted: Monty Mole reached number 2 in the all-formats sales charts behind Daley Thompson's Decathlon [5] in the week up to 13 September 1984. It topped the ZX Spectrum charts in the same week[5] before being replaced by Daley Thompson's Decathlon the following week.[6] Gremlin Graphics reported that they had sold 20,000 copies in the first six weeks.[7]
The game received a positive reception from critics. Crash rated it 92%, describing it as a "fantastic Jet Set Willy type of game with excellent graphics and a good use of colour throughout".[8] Personal Computer Games gave it 80%, saying "if you can put up with a measure of frustration, Monty Mole will unearth a great deal of action for your money", while also praising the graphics.[9]
It also won Crash magazine's readers award for best platform game in 1984.[1]