Platoon
Release Date  1988/Jan/25
Original Publisher  Ocean Software Ltd (UK)
Min. Hardware  ZX-Spectrum 48K/128K
Language  English
Genre  Arcade Game: Shoot-em-up
Max. Players  1
Original Price  £9.95
Features  AY Sound, Multi-Genre, Multi-loader in 48K mode
Controls  Cursor, Interface 2 (right), Kempston Joystick, Redefineable keys
Tie-in Licences  Platoon (Movie) from Hemdale Film Corporation (USA)
Other Platforms  Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, NES, PC/DOS
Average mag. score  79.00% (6 reviews)
Martijn's WoS score  77.8% (46 votes)

Re-releases
     #1 - Erbe Software S.A. (Spain)(1988)
     * Release price: 875.00 Ptas
     #2 - IBSA (Spain)(1988)
     #3 - The Hit Squad (UK)(1990)as "MOVIE COLLECTION 09: Platoon"
     * Release price: £2.99

Authors/Contributors
     Ocean Software Ltd (UK) - Game Design/Concept
     Sean Pearce (UK)at Choice Software Ltd - Code
     David Lyttle (UK)at Choice Software Ltd - Code
     Simon Butler (UK)at Choice Software Ltd - ?
     Mark R. Jones (UK)at Choice Software Ltd - Load Screen
     Andy Sleigh (UK)at Choice Software Ltd - ?
     David Whittaker (UK)at Choice Software Ltd - Music

Authors according to SPOT/SPEX
     Zach Townsend <Zach Townsend>
@ Choice Software <Choice Software Ltd (UK)>
*** Data provided by SPOT/SPEX is unconfirmed. Please help us validate this information!

Review Awards
     "Crash Smash"at Crashissue v.1 #50 - 1988/Marpage 90

Known Errors
     Bugfixes provided by Cristian Secara:
  • In the original release, if a tape error occurs when loading a level, you cannot reload that level. Also the original levels have different lengths and, when loading certain levels in 128K mode, some bytes are lost.
  • In level 1, pressing control keys simultaneously may crash the game.
  • In level 2, if you drop a grenade inside a house in the village, you instantly appear outside the house and cannot continue playing.
  • Both the original release and Hit Squad re-release are incompatible with +2A/+3.
  • From the main screen, if you type "EQUINOXE" to enter cheat mode, the "CHEAT" message appears but nothing else changes. In the BUGFIX version, cheat mode works as follows:
    1. The forest: infinite lives
    2. The village: infinite lives
    3. The tunnel system: infinite lives (also unlimited ammunition until the enemy soldier behind the table is killed)
    4. Skirt by night: infinite lives
    5. The 3D jungle: infinite lives and unlimited time
    6. The bunker: infinite lives

Modified "BUGFIX" file provided by Cristian Secara (including additional intro screen adapted from the Commodore 64 version).

Remarks
     The inlay says "With this special pack: Original Motown recording of 'Tracks Of My Tears' by Smokey Robinson". It also comes with a photo of the Platoon cast and a full-size competition entry to win a copy of the film on video.

Compilations
     Full version in2 Por 1: Platoon + Arkanoid - Revenge of Dohby Erbe Software S.A. (Spain)
     Full version inThe In Crowd(1988)by Ocean Software Ltd (UK)
     Full version inTotal(1989)by Erbe Software S.A. (Spain)
     Unauthorized version inLoad 'n' Run issue 52(1988/Sep)by Magazine Load 'n' Run - covertape from issue #52 - 1988/Sep- titled "Commando"

Main File Downloads
     FilenameReleaseMachineSchemeLanguageComments
 Platoon48V1.tzx.zipOriginalZX-Spectrum 48K(SpeedLock 6)English - 48 v1
 Platoon48V2.tzx.zipOriginalZX-Spectrum 48K(SpeedLock 7)English - 48 v2
 Platoon48.z80.zipOriginalZX-Spectrum 48K(???)English
 Platoon128.z80.zipOriginalZX-Spectrum 128K(???)English
 Platoon.dsk.zipOriginalZX-Spectrum 128 +3(None)English
Platoon(BUGFIX).tap.zipOriginalZX-Spectrum 48K(???)English
Platoon(ErbeSoftwareS.A.).tap.zip#1ZX-Spectrum 48K/128K(None)English
Platoon(ErbeSoftwareS.A.).tzx.zip#1ZX-Spectrum 48K/128K(None)English
Platoon(IBSA).tzx.zip#2ZX-Spectrum 48K/128K(None)English
 Platoon(TheHitSquad).tzx.zip#3ZX-Spectrum 48K/128K(SpeedLock 7)English - (incomplete - side B missing)
 Platoon128.tzx.zip#3ZX-Spectrum 48K/128K(SpeedLock 7)English

Additional File Downloads
     FilenameSizeReleaseTypeLanguageComments
     Platoon.scr6,912OriginalLoading screen
     Platoon.gif5,506OriginalRunning screen
     Platoon_Front.jpg392,239OriginalInlay - Front
     Platoon_Back.jpg495,897OriginalInlay - Back
     Platoon_Tape.jpg85,574OriginalMedia scan
     Platoon_Tape_2.jpg94,665OriginalMedia scan
     Platoon.ay.zip5,035OriginalRipped in-game/theme music in AY format
     Platoon.mp3.zip4,719,494OriginalSampled in-game/theme music in MP3 format
     Platoon.pdf305,238OriginalInstructionsEnglish
     Platoon.txt15,293OriginalInstructionsEnglish
     Platoon(EN).pdf1,640,781OriginalInstructionsEnglish
     Platoon.jpg413,309OriginalGame map
     Platoon_2.png260,308OriginalGame map
     Platoon_3.jpg1,041,199OriginalGame map
     Platoon_Level1+2.jpg224,033OriginalGame map
     Platoon_Level1.jpg77,161OriginalGame map
     Platoon_Level2+3.jpg201,393OriginalGame map
     Platoon_Level2.jpg72,432OriginalGame map
     Platoon_Level3.jpg166,939OriginalGame map
     Platoon_Level3_2.jpg51,843OriginalGame map
     Platoon_ProposedGameSpecs1.jpg94,638OriginalGame additional material
     Platoon_ProposedGameSpecs2.jpg127,199OriginalGame additional material
     Platoon_ProposedGameSpecs3.jpg120,339OriginalGame additional material
     Platoon_ProposedGameSpecs4.jpg86,953OriginalGame additional material
     Platoon_Storyboard1.jpg83,979OriginalGame additional material
     Platoon_Storyboard2.jpg107,961OriginalGame additional material
     Platoon_Storyboard3.jpg293,339OriginalGame additional material
     Platoon_Storyboard4.jpg315,308OriginalGame additional material
     Platoon_Storyboard5.jpg301,724OriginalGame additional material
     Platoon_Storyboard6.jpg311,798OriginalGame additional material
     Platoon_Storyboard7.jpg132,161OriginalGame additional material
     Platoon_Poster.jpg1,013,219OriginalPoster
     platoon.rzx0OriginalRZX playback file - Recorded by xmikex (with rollback)
     Platoon (1988)(Ocean Software).pok1,019OriginalPOK pokes file
     Platoon_Competition.jpg204,981Original? - Competition
     Platoon_Photo.jpg394,734Original? - Photo
     Platoon(ErbeSoftwareS.A.).jpg62,573#1Inlay - Front
     Platoon(ErbeSoftwareSA)_Front.jpg309,134#1Inlay - Front
     Platoon(ErbeSoftwareS.A.).txt13,345#1InstructionsSpanish
     Platoon(ErbeSoftwareS.A.).jpg243,109#1Advertisement
     Platoon(IBSA).jpg88,609#2Inlay - Front
     Platoon(HitSquad).jpg465,559#3Inlay - Front
     Platoon(HitSquad)_Back.jpg331,074#3Inlay - Back
     Platoon(MOVIECOLLECTION09-Platoon)(HitSquad)_Tape.jpg82,906#3Media scan

Magazine Reviews
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #7-1988/Aprpage 59- Review: 530/1000
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #77-1988/Marpage 42- Review - not a Spectrum article
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #102-1990/Maypage 62- Review: 94%
     Crashissue v.1 #50-1988/Marpage 90- Review: 93%
     MicroHobbyissue #164-1988/Marpage 34- Review - Nuevo
     New Computer Expressissue #144-1991/Aug/10page 51- Review
     Sinclair Userissue #72-1988/Marpage 12- Review: 8/10
     The Games Machineissue #3-1988/Febpage 56- Review - not a Spectrum article
     The Games Machineissue #4-1988/Marpage 60- Review: 84%
     Your Sinclairissue #28-1988/Aprpage 39- Review: 7/10
     ZX Magazínissue 1994/Janpage 6- Review

Magazine References
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #4-1988/Janpage 9- News/Note
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #8-1988/Maypage 86- Map
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #10-1988/Julpage 31- Feature - Licence To Thrill?
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #11-1988/Augpage 85- Map - map part 3
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #13-1988/Octpage 57- Feature - 100 Top Games
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #13-1988/Octpage 57- Tips
     Bajtekissue special "9 Gier Komputerowych"page 9- Map
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #75-1988/Janpage 142- Preview
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #77-1988/Marpage 102- Map - map part 1
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #77-1988/Marpage 103- Tips
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #77-1988/Marpage 106- Tips
     Crashissue v.1 #41-1987/Junpage 11- News/Note
     Crashissue v.1 #47-1987/Decpage 132- Preview
     Crashissue v.1 #50-1988/Marpage 38- Map
     Crashissue v.1 #50-1988/Marpage 92- CompoEntry
     Crashissue v.1 #51-1988/Aprpage 64- Map
     Crashissue v.1 #52-1988/Maypage 77- CompoResult
     FIFOissue #7-1991page 29- Map
     MicroHobbyissue #163-1988/Febpage 15- Preview - Premiere
     MicroHobbyissue #164-1988/Marpage 36- Map - Mapa
     MicroHobbyissue #171-1988/Junpage 52- Feature - Justicieros
     Popular Computing Weeklyissue v.6 #49-1987/Dec/10 special "week#2"page 5- News/Note
     Popular Computing Weeklyissue v.7 #6-1988/Feb/11 special "week#2"page 20- News/Note
     Sinclair Userissue #63-1987/Junpage 20- News/Note
     Sinclair Userissue #68-1987/Novpage 113- Preview
     Sinclair Userissue #70-1988/Janpage 111- Preview
     Sinclair Userissue #73-1988/Aprpage 15- Tips
     Sinclair Userissue #73-1988/Aprpage 16- Map
     Sinclair Userissue #73-1988/Aprpage 31- Offer
     Sinclair Userissue #73-1988/Aprpage 86- CompoEntry
     Sinclair Userissue #76-1988/Julpage 15- Map
     Sinclair Userissue #76-1988/Julpage 73- CompoResult
     Sinclair Userissue #124-1992/Junpage 13- Hack/Poke
     The Games Machineissue #2-1987/Decpage 15- Preview
     Your Sinclairissue #19-1987/Julpage 5- News/Note
     Your Sinclairissue #25-1988/Janpage 10- Preview
     Your Sinclairissue #26-1988/Febpage 18- Preview
     Your Sinclairissue #28-1988/Aprpage 7- CompoEntry
     Your Sinclairissue #28-1988/Aprpage 32- Map
     Your Sinclairissue #29-1988/Maypage 21- Tips
     Your Sinclairissue #30-1988/Junpage 32- Map
     Your Sinclairissue #31-1988/Julpage 31- Map
     Your Sinclairissue #33-1988/Seppage 74- CompoResult
     Your Sinclairissue #34-1988/Octpage 34- Hack/Poke
     Your Sinclairissue #36-1988/Decpage 34- Hack/Poke
     Your Sinclairissue #56-1990/Augpage 23- Feature - Complete Guide to Shoot-em-ups
     Your Sinclairissue #63-1991/Marpage 36- Tips

Magazine Advertisements
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #5-1988/Febpage 124- Full-page ad
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #6-1988/Marpage 116- Full-page ad
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #9-1988/Junpage 18- Full-page ad
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #11-1988/Augpage 64- Advert
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #76-1988/Febpage 139- Full-page ad
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #78-1988/Aprpage 50- Full-page ad
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #80-1988/Junpage 99- Full-page ad
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #83-1988/Seppage 100- Advert
     Crashissue v.1 #49-1988/Febpage 4- Full-page ad
     Crashissue v.1 #51-1988/Aprpage 22- Full-page ad
     Crashissue v.1 #53-1988/Junpage 115- Full-page ad
     Crashissue v.1 #54-1988/Julpage 24- Advert
     Crashissue v.1 #74-1990/Marpage 4- Advert - The Hit Squad advert
     Crashissue v.1 #75-1990/Aprpage 49- Advert - The Hit Squad advert
     Crashissue v.1 #76-1990/Maypage 49- Advert - The Hit Squad advert
     Crashissue v.1 #77-1990/Junpage 49- Advert - The Hit Squad advert
     Sinclair Userissue #72-1988/Marpage 100- Full-page ad
     Sinclair Userissue #74-1988/Maypage 49- Full-page ad
     Sinclair Userissue #77-1988/Augpage 2- Advert
     Sinclair Userissue #98-1990/Aprpage 25- Advert - The Hit Squad advert
     Sinclair Userissue #100-1990/Junpage 59- Advert - The Hit Squad advert
     The Games Machineissue #4-1988/Marpage 108- Full-page ad
     The Games Machineissue #6-1988/Maypage 81- Full-page ad
     The Games Machineissue #8-1988/Julpage 20- Advert
     Your Sinclairissue #27-1988/Marpage 99- Full-page ad
     Your Sinclairissue #29-1988/Maypage 75- Full-page ad
     Your Sinclairissue #31-1988/Julpage 106- Advert
     Your Sinclairissue #33-1988/Seppage 78- Advert
     Your Sinclairissue #51-1990/Marpage 91- Advert - The Hit Squad advert
     Your Sinclairissue #52-1990/Aprpage 14- Advert - The Hit Squad advert
     Your Sinclairissue #53-1990/Maypage 65- Advert - The Hit Squad advert
     Your Sinclairissue #54-1990/Junpage 62- Advert - The Hit Squad advert

Related Magazine Reviews
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #16-1989/Janpage 118- Review (The In Crowd)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #87-1989/Janpage 115- Review - not a Spectrum article (The In Crowd)
     Crashissue v.1 #60-1989/Janpage 92- Review - Crash - Compilation (The In Crowd)
     Your Sinclairissue #40-1989/Aprpage 63- Review: 9/10 (The In Crowd)

Related Magazine References
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #16-1989/Janpage 116- Feature - We Wish You A ... Cheapy Christmas (The In Crowd)
     Crashissue v.1 #60-1989/Janpage 92- Feature - Collectable Consumables (The In Crowd)

Related Magazine Advertisements
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #15-1988/Decpage 98- Full-page ad (The In Crowd)
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #16-1989/Janpage 196- Full-page ad (The In Crowd)
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #18-1989/Marpage 83- Full-page ad (The In Crowd)
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #20-1989/Maypage 54- Full-page ad (The In Crowd)
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #24-1989/Seppage 28- Advert (The In Crowd)
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #24-1989/Seppage 86- Advert (The In Crowd)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #86-1988/Decpage 73- Full-page ad (The In Crowd)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #87-1989/Janpage 94- Full-page ad (The In Crowd)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #88-1989/Febpage 32- Full-page ad (The In Crowd)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #89-1989/Marpage 99- Full-page ad (The In Crowd)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #90-1989/Aprpage 6- Two-page ad (The In Crowd)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #91-1989/Maypage 54- Full-page ad (The In Crowd)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #93-1989/Jul special "93a"page 75- Full-page ad (The In Crowd)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #94-1989/Seppage 88- Advert (The In Crowd)
     Crashissue v.1 #59-1988/Decpage 30- Full-page ad (The In Crowd)
     Crashissue v.1 #61-1989/Febpage 15- Full-page ad (The In Crowd)
     Crashissue v.1 #63-1989/Aprpage 90- Two-page ad (The In Crowd)
     Crashissue v.1 #65-1989/Junpage 22- Two-page ad (The In Crowd)
     Crashissue v.1 #67-1989/Augpage 2- Two-page ad (The In Crowd)
     Crashissue v.1 #68-1989/Seppage 51- Advert (The In Crowd)
     New Computer Expressissue #7-1988/Dec/24 special "Issues 7 & 8"page 7- Full-page ad (The In Crowd)
     New Computer Expressissue #11-1989/Jan/21page 7- Full-page ad (The In Crowd)
     Sinclair Userissue #81-1988/Decpage 124- Full-page ad (The In Crowd)
     Sinclair Userissue #82-1989/Janpage 44- Full-page ad (The In Crowd)
     Sinclair Userissue #84-1989/Marpage 33- Full-page ad (The In Crowd)
     Sinclair Userissue #86-1989/Maypage 19- Full-page ad (The In Crowd)
     Sinclair Userissue #87-1989/Junpage 2- Two-page ad (The In Crowd)
     Sinclair Userissue #90-1989/Seppage 9- Advert (The In Crowd)
     Sinclair Userissue #91-1989/Octpage 36- Advert (The In Crowd)
     The Games Machineissue #14-1989/Janpage 119- Full-page ad (The In Crowd)
     The Games Machineissue #23-1989/Octpage 4- Advert (The In Crowd)
     Your Sinclairissue #37-1989/Janpage 129- Full-page ad (The In Crowd)
     Your Sinclairissue #38-1989/Febpage 108- Full-page ad (The In Crowd)
     Your Sinclairissue #40-1989/Aprpage 14- Two-page ad (The In Crowd)
     Your Sinclairissue #41-1989/Maypage 2- Two-page ad (The In Crowd)
     Your Sinclairissue #42-1989/Junpage 5- Full-page ad (The In Crowd)
     Your Sinclairissue #43-1989/Julpage 2- Two-page ad (The In Crowd)
     Your Sinclairissue #45-1989/Seppage 21- Advert (The In Crowd)

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