Impossible Mission
Release Date  1985
Original Publisher  U.S. Gold Ltd (UK)
Min. Hardware  ZX-Spectrum 48K
Genre  Arcade Game: Adventure
Max. Players  1
Inspiration for  Top Secret
Original Price according to SPOT/SPEX  7.95
*** Data provided by SPOT/SPEX is unconfirmed. Please help us validate this information!
Competitions  C&VG 1984 Golden Joystick Awards
Computer Gamer's Game of the Year Awards 1985
Features  Multi-machine Medium
Controls  Interface 2 (right), Kempston Joystick
Screen Movements  Flip-screen, Vertical Scrolling
Themes  Espionage/Secret Service
Groups  Flippy Flippy
Tie-in Licences  Impossible Mission (Software) from Epyx Inc (USA)
Other Platforms  Acorn, Amstrad CPC, BBC Micro, Commodore 64, Sega Master System
Average mag. score  82.00% (4 reviews)
Martijn's WoS score  81% (51 votes)

Standalone re-releases
     #1 - ABC Soft (Spain)(1985)
     * Release price: 2300.00 Ptas
     #2 - Compulogical S.A. (Spain)(1985)
     * Release price: 2300.00 Ptas
     #3 - D3M Software (UK)(1985)
     #4 - Dro Soft (Spain)(1988)
     #5 - Erbe Software S.A. (Spain)(1987)
     #6 - Ricochet (UK)(1985)
     * Release price: £1.99
     #7 - Bumfun Software (Spain)(2018)
     * Release price: £10.00

Authors/Contributors
     Gary Knight (UK)at Softstone Ltd - ?
     Nick Bruty (UK) - Load Screen

Annual Awards
     Winner of the Game of the Year Awards 1985 - Best Platform Game.

Review Awards
     "C+VG Blitz Game"at C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #50 - 1985/Decpage 22

Known Errors
     Bugfixes provided by Bandit:
  • Game may crash after one play through (especially if you fail to beat the current high score).
    Fixed using POKE 46686,56: POKE 46687,6
  • Sometimes the game cannot be completed because puzzle pieces may be placed underneath certain computer terminals, which the player cannot search (since attempting to do so will access the terminal). Technically the locations of the computer terminals are stored in a table at address $b8c4, so the game code can avoid these locations when distributing lift inits, snoozers and puzzles randomly.
    However this table stores the location of a chest of drawers instead of a computer terminal in room $18 by mistake, so a puzzle may be placed underneath that computer terminal. Also this table stores the location of 44 computer terminals, but the routine at address $a32f only copies 43 locations, so another puzzle may be placed underneath the last computer terminal in room $1f.
    Fixed using POKE 41780,44: POKE 47332,202

Bugfix provided by jp:
  • If you are dialing the agency for help to solve the upper left puzzle, when you do have enough pieces you get the message "NTATION CORRECT*NOT" (this is a hangover from the other agency help "Correct orientation of leftmost pieces"). After the bug is fixed, you will get the message "*A SOLUTION EXISTS*".
    Fixed using POKE 44441,167
  • The password counter (for collected lift inits/snoozes) is not correctly reset between games. This problem is solved resetting the counter explicitly with "$ade5: XOR A / LD ($bf8d),A".
    Fixed using POKE 44517,175: POKE 44518,50: POKE 44519,141: POKE 44520,191
  • The screen is not properly cleared before displaying the "win" sequence. This problem is solved adding an explicit instruction 'CALL $8045' to clear the screen.
    Fixed using POKE 39172,113: POKE 39173,148: POKE 38001,205: POKE 38002,61: POKE 38003,104: POKE 38004,205: POKE 38005,69: POKE 38006,128: POKE 38007,201

Modified "BUGFIX" file provided by jp (built as a patch to load the original speedlock release and apply all fixes automatically).

Series "Impossible Mission"
     1. Impossible Mission(1985)by U.S. Gold Ltd (UK)
     2. Impossible Mission II(1988)by U.S. Gold Ltd (UK)

Compilations
     Full version inACE issue 09(1988/Jun)by Magazine ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment) - covertape from issue #9 - 1988/Jun
     Full version inHistory in the Making(1988)by U.S. Gold Ltd (UK)
     Full version inJulian Rignall's All Time Top Ten(1992/Mar/15)by Beau-Jolly Ltd (UK)
     Full version inPlay It Again(1987)by U.S. Gold Ltd (UK)
     Full version inSummer Gold(1987)by U.S. Gold Ltd (UK)

Main File Downloads
     FilenameReleaseMachineSchemeLanguageComments
ImpossibleMission.tap.zipOriginalZX-Spectrum 48K(???)English
 ImpossibleMission.tzx.zipOriginalZX-Spectrum 48K(SpeedLock 1)English
ImpossibleMission(BUGFIX).tzx.zipOriginalZX-Spectrum 48K(None)English
ImpossibleMission(CompulogicalS.A.).tzx.zip#2ZX-Spectrum 48K(None)Spanish
 ImpossibleMission(D3MSoftware).tzx.zip#3ZX-Spectrum 48K(Unspecified custom loader)English
 ImpossibleMission(DroSoft).tzx.zip#4ZX-Spectrum 48K(SpeedLock 1)English
 ImpossibleMission(ErbeSoftwareS.A.).tzx.zip#5ZX-Spectrum 48K(SpeedLock 1)English
 ImpossibleMission(Ricochet).tzx.zip#6ZX-Spectrum 48K(SpeedLock 1)English

Additional File Downloads
     FilenameSizeReleaseTypeLanguageComments
     ImpossibleMission.scr6,912OriginalLoading screen
     ImpossibleMission.gif3,117OriginalRunning screen
     ImpossibleMission_Front.jpg565,676OriginalInlay - Front - Double jewel case
     ImpossibleMission_Back.jpg176,042OriginalInlay - Back - Double jewel case
     ImpossibleMission_Media.jpg92,874OriginalMedia scan
     ImpossibleMission.zip26,135OriginalInstructionsEnglish
     ImpossibleMission(EN).pdf396,412OriginalInstructionsEnglish
     ImpossibleMission.jpg507,077OriginalGame map
     ImpossibleMission_2.png564,774OriginalGame map
     ImpossibleMission.jpg237,726OriginalAdvertisement
     impossmission.rzx0OriginalRZX playback file - Recorded by AndyC
     ImpossibleMission-BUGFIX-Patch_SourceCode.zip14,402OriginalBUGFIX source code - Patch source code
     Impossible Mission (1985)(US Gold).pok628OriginalPOK pokes file
     ImpossibleMission(CompulogicalS.A.).jpg144,793#2Inlay - Front
     ImpossibleMission(CompulogicalS.A.).txt22,184#2InstructionsSpanish
     ImpossibleMission(D3MSoftware)_Front.jpg581,727#3Inlay - Front - Clamshell case (big)
     ImpossibleMission(D3MSoftware)_Back.jpg597,582#3Inlay - Back - Clamshell case (big)
     ImpossibleMission(D3MSoftware)(FR).pdf620,746#3InstructionsFrench
     ImpossibleMission(DroSoft).jpg78,762#4Inlay - Front
     ImpossibleMission(DroSoft).pdf110,539#4InstructionsSpanish
     ImpossibleMission(ErbeSoftwareS.A.).jpg69,434#5Inlay - Front
     ImpossibleMission(ErbeSoftwareS.A.).zip613,921#5Scanned instructionsSpanish
     ImpossibleMission(Ricochet).jpg559,796#6Inlay - Front - Single jewel case
     ImpossibleMission(Ricochet)_Back.jpg562,012#6Inlay - Back - Single jewel case
     ImpossibleMission(Ricochet)_SideA.jpg69,375#6Media scan
     ImpossibleMission(Ricochet)_SideB.jpg68,433#6Media scan
     ImpossibleMission(BumfunSoftware).jpg330,892#7Inlay - Front - Single jewel case
     ImpossibleMission(BumfunSoftware)_Tape.jpg70,018#7Media scan

Magazine Reviews
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #50-1985/Decpage 22- Review
     Computer Gamerissue #9-1985/Decpage 63- Review
     Crashissue v.1 #22-1985/Novpage 88- Review: 76%
     MicroHobbyissue #69-1986/Marpage 15- Review - Nuevo
     Sinclair Userissue #45-1985/Decpage 30- Review: 4/5
     Sinclair Userissue #76-1988/Julpage 65- Review: 92%
     Your Sinclairissue #23-1987/Novpage 64- Review: 8/10
     Your Spectrumissue #21-1985/Decpage 37- Review

Magazine References
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #9-1988/Junpage 24- CoverGame
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #41-1991/Febpage 63- Feature - The ACE guide to THE GREATEST GAMES of all time (probably)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #43-1985/Maypage 5- Letters
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #46-1985/Augpage 83- Tips
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #49-1985/Nov supplement "Book of Maps"page 14- Map
     Computer Gamerissue #2-1985/Maypage 6- News/Note
     Crashissue v.1 #24-1986/Jan special "Christmas Special 1985/86"page 134- CompoEntry
     Crashissue v.1 #26-1986/Marpage 60- CompoResult
     Die Speccy CDissue 1996/Janpage 0- Tips
     Home Computing Weeklyissue #89-1984/Nov/20 special "week#3"page 1- News/Note - Late start for CBS
     MicroHobbyissue #128-1987/Maypage 29- Tips - Tokes
     MicroHobbyissue #138-1987/Julpage 27- Tips - Tokes
     MicroHobbyissue #145-1987/Seppage 29- Tips - Tokes
     Your Sinclairissue #34-1988/Octpage 25- Tips
     Your Spectrumissue #21-1985/Decpage 37- Feature - Impossible Dream

Magazine Advertisements
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #49-1985/Novpage 28- Full-page ad
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #77-1988/Marpage 55- Full-page ad
     Computer Gamerissue #9-1985/Decpage 99- Full-page ad
     Crashissue v.1 #20-1985/Seppage 132- Full-page ad
     Crashissue v.1 #21-1985/Octpage 2- Full-page ad
     Crashissue v.1 #23-1985/Decpage 172- Full-page ad
     Crashissue v.1 #26-1986/Marpage 79- Advert
     Crashissue v.1 #27-1986/Aprpage 3- Advert
     Sinclair Userissue #44-1985/Novpage 132- Full-page ad
     Sinclair Userissue #46-1986/Janpage 117- Advert
     Sinclair Userissue #48-1986/Marpage 25- Advert
     Your Computerissue v.5 #12-1985/Decpage 2- Full-page ad
     Your Computerissue v.6 #1-1986/Janpage 67- Advert

Related Magazine Reviews
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #16-1989/Janpage 117- Review (History in the Making)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #87-1989/Janpage 110- Review: 69% (History in the Making)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #87-1989/Janpage 113- Review - not a Spectrum article (History in the Making)
     Crashissue v.1 #45-1987/Octpage 106- Review - Crash - Compilation (Summer Gold)
     Crashissue v.1 #60-1989/Janpage 92- Review - Crash - Compilation (History in the Making)
     Sinclair Userissue #82-1989/Janpage 63- Review: 71% (History in the Making)
     Your Sinclairissue #23-1987/Novpage 64- Review: 7/10 (Summer Gold)
     Your Sinclairissue #38-1989/Febpage 72- Review: 6/10 (History in the Making)

Related Magazine References
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #16-1989/Janpage 116- Feature - We Wish You A ... Cheapy Christmas (History in the Making)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #122-1992/Janpage 12- News/Note (Julian Rignall's All Time Top Ten)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #122-1992/Janpage 27- Poster (Julian Rignall's All Time Top Ten)
     Crashissue v.1 #45-1987/Octpage 106- Feature - All Together Now (compilations) (Summer Gold)
     Crashissue v.1 #57-1988/Octpage 113- Preview (History in the Making)
     Crashissue v.1 #60-1989/Janpage 92- Feature - Collectable Consumables (History in the Making)
     New Computer Expressissue #3-1988/Nov/26page 5- News/Note - Money in the Making (History in the Making)
     Your Sinclairissue #37-1989/Janpage 9- News/Note (History in the Making)

Related Magazine Advertisements
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #13-1988/Octpage 2- Two-page ad (History in the Making)
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #16-1989/Janpage 112- Advert (History in the Making)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #83-1988/Seppage 50- Two-page ad (History in the Making)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #87-1989/Janpage 70- Advert (History in the Making)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #87-1989/Janpage 123- Advert (History in the Making)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #88-1989/Febpage 20- Advert (History in the Making)
     Crashissue v.1 #56-1988/Seppage 18- Two-page ad (History in the Making)
     Crashissue v.1 #57-1988/Octpage 22- Two-page ad (History in the Making)
     Crashissue v.1 #61-1989/Febpage 100- Advert (History in the Making)
     The Games Machineissue #14-1989/Janpage 100- Advert (History in the Making)
     Your Sinclairissue #33-1988/Seppage 20- Two-page ad (History in the Making)

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