Moral Decline
Target Renegade (Imagine, 1988): As blatant an advert for vigilantism as you were ever likely to see. Thanks to TR’s seductive scrolling and exciting “beat ’em up” action we all learnt that the correct course of action following an injustice against our family was not to inform the police, but to take immediately to the streets in a frothing whirl of vengeance. Further gameplay usefully informed us that all women are violent prostitutes and that motorcyclists are good for nothing other than fly-kicking from their mounts and punching repeatedly on the kerb.
Dystopi-o-meter: Three brutal pool cue beatings out of five.
Spy Hunter (Midway, 1985): Although the player was ostensibly a ‘goodie’, how are we to know what calibre of information the hunted spies of the title were carrying? Maybe they were desperately attempting to deliver vital folders of terrorist-defying data, if only that ruthless assassin in the white car would stop shooting at them. Speculation aside, this game was clearly all about exceeding sensible speed limits, driving like a maniac and forcing friend or foe alike off the road and, if possible, into rivers. A shocking lack of respect for basic highway law was topped off with a masterclass in how to launch surface-to-air missiles at innocent helicopter pilots.
Dystopi-o-meter: Roadrageous.
Scrabble (Mastertronic, 1987): Not the first choice in a list of games likely to shake the foundations of society, perhaps - but closer examination revealed a dark secret at its heart. Due to a lack of in-built dictionary capabilities (something of an oversight, surely), Spectrum Scrabble relied upon the virtuous honesty of the contestant. “Is this a word?” it would ask, wide-eyed and innocent, as you slapped XYXZQZ down on a triple word score. They may as well have coded a black screen with the phrase “cheating gets results!” repeated ad infinitum.
Dystopi-o-meter: Dupliciticious (21 points).
Political Meltdown
Armageddon Man (Martech, 1987): An exaggerated version of our future globe hangs in delicate political balance. World powers must be encouraged and appeased in equal measure whilst food and energy resources are rationed with a firm but fair hand. The clock of conflict is ticking perpetually toward the hour of destruction, but with a wise head in command maybe, just maybe, a full scale war can be avoided. And what was the only entertaining part of this game? Aggravating nations to hasten the total thermonuclear destruction of the planet, of course. Then doing it again and trying to beat your previous time.
Dystopi-o-meter: Nine nuclear winters out of ten.
