Super Robin Hood
A budget platformer based on the Robin Hood folklore.
In 1986, the Oliver twins created Super Robin Hood, a budget platformer for UK home computers published by Codemasters. Players control Robin Hood, navigating ladders and platforms through the Sheriff of Nottingham's castle to rescue the captive Maid Marian from enemies.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Oliver Twins
- Publisher
- Codemasters
- Released
- November 1986 (Super Robin Hood), January 1993 (Legend Quest)
- Genre
- Platform
- Modes
- Single-player
- Composer
- Jon Paul Eldridge (Amstrad CPC)
- David Whittaker (ZX Spectrum)
- Allister Brimble (Legend Quest)
- Platforms
- Amstrad CPC
- ZX Spectrum
- Commodore 64
- Atari ST
- Amiga
- NES
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
In Super Robin Hood, players guide the legendary outlaw through the Sheriff of Nottingham’s castle to free Maid Marian. The castle is a sprawling maze split into multiple floors, filled with archers and spiders, and connected by moving platforms and ladders. Early versions show one fixed screen at a time, while later editions scroll sideways across each floor. Robin can walk, jump, climb, and duck, and he fights enemies using his bow and arrows. Scattered throughout are tablets that restore health, red hearts that add points, and keys that unlock new platforms. To rescue Marian, players must gather every red heart. Points come from defeating foes and picking up items. In the re-release, each floor has its own look: rocky lower dungeons, castle rooms like banquet halls and bedrooms, and fortified towers, with Marian held in the highest chamber.
Development and release
Andrew and Philip Oliver finished their A-levels and planned to study electrical engineering, but at a meeting with their advisor, Terry Hall, they said they wanted to make video games instead. Hall suggested their parents let the twins take a year off to get the idea out of their system. Their parents, Malcolm and Jenny, agreed on the condition that the brothers treat it like a real business. Their father added that if they could earn a steady income, they could skip college. Using the UK's Enterprise Allowance Scheme, the Olivers founded Complex Computer Software. To prepare for the September 1986 Personal Computer World trade show, they needed a game idea to sell to publishers. The success of the 1984 Ghostbusters game convinced them a well-known name was essential for enough sales to sustain a business. Unable to afford a license, they chose Robin Hood after watching Robin of Sherwood. The folklore gave them a basic plot, and they designed a castle level where the player rescues Maid Marian and steals treasure. They also felt Robin's arrows made better gameplay than guns and carried less negative political baggage. At the Olympia exhibition in London, they met Richard and David Darling, who had just started Codemasters. After showing their portfolio, the twins pitched the Robin Hood game and named a price. David Darling offered a sum the Olivers called stunning compared to their past earnings. They shook hands on the deal and promised the finished game in one month, aiming for a Christmas release.
Reception
By February 1987, the game had sold over 10,000 units. Video game magazines such as Amstrad Action praised the value of the game as a budget title but had a mixed response to the gameplay. Editor Bob Wade praised the gameplay for being easy to pick up and having a good sized world, though he noted the platforming action was unoriginal and the problems lacked variety. Three Amstrad Computer User staff members viewed the game favourably, calling it OK, a jolly little game, and enjoyable. The ports also had a mixed reception but were rated less favourably. Your Sinclairs reviewer wrote that the Spectrum version's easy scrolling action was instantly appealing, noting the lack of a timer as a positive. Crash magazine's editors were more critical of the Spectrum port; Ben disparaged the game's longevity, while Ricky noted that players with appropriate expectations would enjoy it for the budget price. Reviewing the Smash 16 compilation, Commodore Forces Miles Guttery compared the original negatively to the 16-bit remake, criticising the damage taken from falls and the lack of a vertical jump.
Legacy
The profits from Super Robin Hood let the Oliver twins buy a second Amstrad CPC with a Maxam ROM, so they could both code at once. That game’s success kicked off a steady working relationship with Codemasters. The Darling brothers soon asked for another title, and the twins built a spiritual follow-up, Ghost Hunters, using the same design but adding two-player play. They kept collaborating with Eldridge on their Codemasters projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
What platforms is Super Robin Hood available on?
Super Robin Hood was released for Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Atari ST, Amiga and NES.
Who composed the music for Super Robin Hood?
The music for Super Robin Hood was composed by Jon Paul Eldridge (Amstrad CPC), David Whittaker (ZX Spectrum), Allister Brimble (Legend Quest).
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