Joe Blade

Reader's Guide

Joe Blade is notable as a budget-priced game that achieved commercial success, reaching number one in the UK charts. Its reception was mixed: Ron Stewart for Page 6 said 'It is not a great game, but for under a tenner what do you expect. There is enough game play here to keep you going for a while.' Arnie Katz & Joyce Worley for Ahoy!'s AmigaUser called it 'an exceptionally well programmed product' with 'animated illustrations and jaunty soundtrack.' Computer and Video Games said 'Nice and cheap with ace graphics, Joe Blade certainly cuts it. A good buy.' Crash described it as 'extremely playable and addictive.' The game was ported to multiple platforms and spawned two sequels, Joe Blade 2 (1988) and Joe Blade 3 (1989).

Did You Know?

• In Germany, the game peaked at number 7.
• The game was ported to the Acorn Electron, BBC Micro, Atari 8-bit computers, MSX, Amiga, and Atari ST.
• Two sequels were published: Joe Blade 2 in 1988 and Joe Blade 3 in 1989.

A Radical Reimagining of the Hero

Joe Blade 2 marked a dramatic departure from its predecessor in both tone and mechanics. Where the first installment cast Blade as a soldier in a gritty, realistic setting, the sequel reimagined him as a vigilante patrolling city streets, clearing out criminals and rescuing elderly pensioners. The combat system was overhauled entirely: rather than wielding a gun, the player dispatched enemies by leaping over them and striking with their feet. Adding to the surreal atmosphere, rescuing civilians triggered a brief puzzle sub-game in which the player had to organize a pattern of symbols. Four distinct variations of this mini-challenge existed, each demanding completion within a sixty-second window. The overall effect was a game that felt almost dreamlike compared to the harder-edged realism of the original. Notably, the sequel was also significantly easier, with many players reporting they could finish the entire game in a single hour-long session.

The Spectrum Loader and Technical Quirks

One of the most memorable technical touches in Joe Blade 2 was exclusive to the ZX Spectrum release. The game shipped with an Invade-a-Load-style loading screen created by programmer Andy Severn, branded as Loada-Game. Rather than simply displaying a progress bar while data loaded from tape, Severn embedded a fully playable version of Pac-Man directly into the loader, turning what was typically a tedious wait into a brief, interactive diversion. This kind of creative loading-screen design was a hallmark of the British home-computer scene, where developers squeezed as much personality and playfulness into every byte as possible. The Loada-Game loader gave Spectrum owners a small taste of arcade nostalgia before the actual game even began, and it became a point of distinction for the platform's version of the sequel. In an era when loading times could stretch into minutes, such flourishes were both a practical comfort and a showcase of the programmer's flair.

A Mixed but Warm Critical Reception

Critics responded to Joe Blade 2 with a blend of enthusiasm and mild frustration. Paul Rixon in New Atari User acknowledged that the original felt more instantly accessible, though he attributed this partly to missing instructions in his preview copy, and still urged arcade fans to pick up the sequel without hesitation. Crash magazine praised the game as short-term playable, a vote of confidence in its immediate fun. Computer and Video Games, reviewing the Atari ST edition, simply told fans of the first game to grab the toute-de-suite. However, not all reviews were glowing. Richard Henderson in Computer Gamesweek felt the graphics were solid but the screens lacked variety and the sprites moved too slowly to sustain enjoyment. Sinclair User offered a memorable analogy, comparing the experience to watching a ballet—pretty and artistic, but leaving one wishing someone would cut loose with a machine-gun. The consensus pointed to a charming but somewhat shallow sequel.

Position in the Series and Lasting Identity

As the second entry in the Joe Blade series, the sequel defined itself largely through contrast with the original. Its lighter, more whimsical tone—vigilante foot-kicks, symbol-puzzle sub-games, and an overall surreal feel—stood in sharp relief to the comparatively gritty realism players had experienced in the first title. This tonal shift made the game considerably easier, to the point where many players could clear it in a single hour-long sitting, a far cry from the challenge the original presumably demanded. Reviewers consistently framed the sequel as a natural follow-up for fans of the first game, with CVG's toute-de-suite recommendation and Rixon's advice to grab a copy without hesitation underscoring its identity as a companion piece rather than a standalone landmark. The game's legacy, then, is that of a charming, accessible sequel that leaned into surrealism and simplicity, cementing Joe Blade as a series willing to reinvent its hero's role with each new chapter.

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