Rambo
Aliases  Rambo: First Blood Part II
Release Date  1985
Original Publisher  Ocean Software Ltd (UK)
Min. Hardware  ZX-Spectrum 48K
Language  English
Genre  Arcade Game: Shoot-em-up
Max. Players  2 (Alternating)
Original Price  £7.95
Controls  Cursor, Interface 2 (left), Interface 2 (right), Kempston Joystick, Redefineable keys
Tie-in Licences  Rambo: First Blood Part II (Movie) from Anabasis Investments N.V. (USA), Carolco Pictures Inc (USA)
Other Platforms  Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64
Average mag. score  76.43% (7 reviews)
Martijn's WoS score  68% (72 votes)

Re-releases
     #1 - Erbe Software S.A. (Spain)(1986)
     #2 - IBSA (Spain)(1988)
     * Release price: 500.00 Ptas
     #3 - The Hit Squad (UK)(1989)as "MOVIE COLLECTION 01: Rambo"
     * Release price: £2.99

Authors/Contributors
     David J. Anderson (UK)at Platinum Productions - ?
     F. David Thorpe [Frederick David Thorpe] (UK)at Platinum Productions - Load Screen

Known Errors
     Bugfixes provided by g00db0y:
  • The game crashes when you shot down the Russian gunship at the end. This problem was caused by executing instruction LDIR (setting BC to zero), then instruction LDI twice (setting BC to $FFFE), then another instruction LDIR after setting only C register instead of BC, as follows:
    $A29C LDIR
          LD (IY+0),8
          POP HL
          LD E,LX
          LD D,HX
          LDI
          LDI
          INC HL
          INC DE
          INC HL
          INC DE
          LD C,6
          LDIR
    The following patch fixes the problem in the same number of bytes:
    $A29C LDIR
          LD (IY+0),8
          POP HL
          LD E,LX
          LD D,HX
          LD C,2          ; Fixed using POKE 41639,14: POKE 41640,2
          LDIR            ; Fixed using POKE 41642,176
          INC HL
          INC DE
          INC HL
          INC DE
          LD C,6
          LDIR
  • The original release was incompatible with +2A/+3 (the Hit Squad re-release works fine).
    Fixed using POKE 26393,59

Modified "BUGFIX" files provided by g00db0y (edited TAP image) and jp (SpeedLock 1 loader patch for the original TZX image)

Compilations
     Full version inLive Ammo(1987)by Ocean Software Ltd (UK)
     Full version inLos 40 Principales Vol. 4(1987)by Erbe Software S.A. (Spain)
     Full version inScreen Heroes(1987)by Ocean Software Ltd (UK)
     Full version inThey Sold a Million 3(1986/Oct/13)by The Hit Squad (UK)

Main File Downloads
     FilenameReleaseMachineSchemeLanguageComments
Rambo.tap.zipOriginalZX-Spectrum 48K(???)English
 Rambo.tzx.zipOriginalZX-Spectrum 48K(SpeedLock 1)English
Rambo(BUGFIX).tap.zipOriginalZX-Spectrum 48K(???)English
Rambo(BUGFIX).tzx.zipOriginalZX-Spectrum 48K(None)English
 Rambo(ErbeSoftwareS.A.).tzx.zip#1ZX-Spectrum 48K(Unspecified custom loader)English
 Rambo(IBSA).tzx.zip#2ZX-Spectrum 48K(Unspecified custom loader)English
 Rambo(TheHitSquad).tzx.zip#3ZX-Spectrum 48K(SpeedLock 7)English

Additional File Downloads
     FilenameSizeReleaseTypeLanguageComments
     Rambo.scr6,912OriginalLoading screen
     Rambo.gif3,978OriginalRunning screen
     Rambo.jpg346,154OriginalInlay - Front
     Rambo.ay.zip4,765OriginalRipped in-game/theme music in AY format
     Rambo.txt5,663OriginalInstructionsEnglish
     Rambo(EN).pdf98,392OriginalInstructionsEnglish
     Rambo.gif82,755OriginalGame map
     Rambo.jpg104,522OriginalGame map
     Rambo_2.png91,087OriginalGame map
     Rambo_3.jpg560,044OriginalGame map
     Rambo.jpg160,897OriginalAdvertisement
     rambo.rzx0OriginalRZX playback file - Recorded by Martin Mangan - On the hardest level
     Rambo-BUGFIX-Patch_SourceCode.zip700OriginalBUGFIX source code - Patch source code
     Rambo (1985)(Ocean Software).pok300OriginalPOK pokes file
     Rambo(ErbeSoftwareS.A.).jpg109,930#1Inlay - Front
     Rambo(ErbeSoftwareS.A.).txt4,725#1InstructionsSpanish
     Rambo(ErbeSoftwareS.A.).jpg247,901#1Advertisement
     Rambo(IBSA).jpg65,197#2Inlay - Front
     Rambo(HitSquad).jpg241,769#3Inlay - Front
     Rambo(HitSquad)_Back.jpg18,928#3Inlay - Back

Magazine Reviews
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #26-1989/Novpage 113- Review: 4/5
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #52-1986/Febpage 15- Review - not a Spectrum article
     Crashissue v.1 #26-1986/Marpage 124- Review: 79%
     Crashissue v.1 #67-1989/Augpage 44- Review: 78%
     MicroHobbyissue #59-1985/Decpage 12- Review - Nuevo
     Popular Computing Weeklyissue v.5 #4-1986/Jan/23 special "week#4"page 13- Review
     Sinclair Userissue #48-1986/Marpage 35- Review: 3/5
     Your Sinclairissue #3-1986/Marpage 28- Review: 8/10
     Your Sinclairissue #46-1989/Octpage 47- Review: 80%
     Your Sinclairissue #60-1990/Decpage 59- Review - Your Sinclair - Article Re-review: 78%
     ZX Magazínissue 1994/Janpage 2- Review

Magazine References
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #48-1985/Octpage 13- News/Note
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #57-1986/Julpage 92- Tips
     Computer Gamerissue #7-1985/Octpage 8- News/Note
     Crashissue v.1 #30-1986/Julpage 66- Map
     Crashissue v.1 #36-1987/Jan special "Christmas Special 1986/87"page 96- Tips
     Crashissue v.1 #59-1988/Decpage 60- Hack/Poke
     Die Speccy CDissue 1996/Janpage 0- Tips
     Home Computing Weeklyissue #127-1985/Aug/27 special "week#4"page 6- News/Note
     MicroHobbyissue #71-1986/Marpage 25- Tips - Micromania
     MicroHobbyissue #127-1987/Maypage 29- Tips - Tokes
     MicroHobbyissue #181-1988/Novpage 48- Preview - Premiere
     MicroHobby Especialissue #3-1986/Jun special "Especial"page 19- Tips - Tokes
     Sinclair Userissue #47-1986/Febpage 10- News/Note
     Sinclair Userissue #49-1986/Aprpage 29- Tips
     Sinclair Userissue #50-1986/Maypage 22- Tips
     Sinclair Userissue #51-1986/Junpage 18- Map
     Sinclair Userissue #51-1986/Junpage 18- Tips
     Sinclair Userissue #68-1987/Novpage 16- Hack/Poke
     YS Smash Tipsissue 1988/Augpage 38- Hack/Poke
     Your Computerissue v.5 #10-1985/Octpage 17- News/Note
     Your Sinclairissue #1-1986/Janpage 52- CompoEntry
     Your Sinclairissue #5-1986/Maypage 24- Letters
     Your Sinclairissue #5-1986/Maypage 27- Tips
     Your Sinclairissue #5-1986/Maypage 54- CompoResult
     Your Sinclairissue #7-1986/Julpage 17- Letters
     Your Sinclairissue #28-1988/Aprpage 29- Hack/Poke
     Your Sinclairissue #55-1990/Julpage 46- Tips
     Your Sinclairissue #56-1990/Augpage 24- Feature - Complete Guide to Shoot-em-ups
     Your Sinclairissue #60-1990/Decpage 59- Feature - Complete Guide to Film & TV games
     Your Spectrumissue #20-1985/Novpage 5- News/Note
     Your Spectrumissue #21-1985/Decpage 56- Feature - Rambo
     Your Spectrumissue #21-1985/Decpage 57- Map

Magazine Advertisements
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #48-1985/Octpage 41- Full-page ad
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #51-1986/Janpage 85- Full-page ad
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #52-1986/Febpage 11- Advert
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #54-1986/Aprpage 63- Full-page ad
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #58-1986/Augpage 6- Advert
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #93-1989/Jul special "93a"page 115- Advert - The Hit Squad advert
     Computer Gamerissue #10-1986/Janpage 33- Full-page ad
     Computer Gamerissue #11-1986/Febpage 11- Advert
     Computer Gamerissue #17-1986/Augpage 42- Advert
     Crashissue v.1 #21-1985/Octpage 139- Full-page ad
     Crashissue v.1 #23-1985/Decpage 161- Full-page ad
     Crashissue v.1 #24-1986/Jan special "Christmas Special 1985/86"page 3- Advert
     Crashissue v.1 #25-1986/Febpage 43- Advert
     Crashissue v.1 #26-1986/Marpage 3- Advert
     Crashissue v.1 #27-1986/Aprpage 7- Advert
     Crashissue v.1 #29-1986/Junpage 2- Advert
     Crashissue v.1 #31-1986/Augpage 4- Advert
     Crashissue v.1 #69-1989/Octpage 23- Advert - The Hit Squad advert
     Popular Computing Weeklyissue v.4 #47-1985/Nov/21 special "week#3"page 52- Full-page ad
     Popular Computing Weeklyissue v.4 #48-1985/Nov/28 special "week#4"page 55- Full-page ad
     Popular Computing Weeklyissue v.5 #5-1986/Jan/30 special "week#5"page 40- Full-page ad
     Sinclair Userissue #44-1985/Novpage 2- Full-page ad
     Sinclair Userissue #46-1986/Janpage 23- Advert
     Sinclair Userissue #47-1986/Febpage 51- Full-page ad
     Sinclair Userissue #48-1986/Marpage 3- Advert
     Sinclair Userissue #88-1989/Julpage 57- Advert - The Hit Squad advert
     Sinclair Userissue #89-1989/Augpage 9- Advert - The Hit Squad advert
     Sinclair Userissue #91-1989/Octpage 69- Advert - The Hit Squad advert
     The Games Machineissue #20-1989/Julpage 19- Advert - The Hit Squad advert
     Your Computerissue v.5 #11-1985/Novpage 2- Full-page ad
     Your Sinclairissue #1-1986/Janpage 113- Advert
     Your Sinclairissue #4-1986/Aprpage 97- Advert
     Your Sinclairissue #7-1986/Julpage 96- Advert
     Your Sinclairissue #8-1986/Augpage 96- Advert
     Your Sinclairissue #10-1986/Octpage 104- Advert
     Your Sinclairissue #43-1989/Julpage 48- Advert - The Hit Squad advert
     Your Sinclairissue #46-1989/Octpage 66- Advert - The Hit Squad advert

Related Magazine Reviews
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #4-1988/Janpage 97- Review (Live Ammo)
     Sinclair Userissue #57-1986/Decpage 59- Review: 4/5 (They Sold a Million 3)
     Sinclair Userissue #69-1987/Decpage 119- Review: 9/10 (Live Ammo)

Related Magazine References
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #4-1988/Janpage 95- Feature - Christmas Crackers (Live Ammo)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #75-1988/Janpage 8- News/Note (Live Ammo)
     Sinclair Userissue #56-1986/Novpage 111- Preview (They Sold a Million 3)
     Sinclair Userissue #70-1988/Janpage 27- Feature - Kamikaze's Guide to Compilations (Live Ammo)
     Your Sinclairissue #23-1987/Novpage 7- News/Note (Live Ammo)

Related Magazine Advertisements
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #2-1987/Novpage 88- Full-page ad (Live Ammo)
     ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment)issue #10-1988/Julpage 58- Advert (Live Ammo)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #61-1986/Novpage 108- Full-page ad (They Sold a Million 3)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #63-1987/Janpage 141- Full-page ad (They Sold a Million 3)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #65-1987/Marpage 44- Full-page ad (They Sold a Million 3)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #67-1987/Maypage 99- Advert (They Sold a Million 3)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #73-1987/Novpage 163- Full-page ad (Live Ammo)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #75-1988/Janpage 147- Full-page ad (Live Ammo)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #77-1988/Marpage 118- Full-page ad (Live Ammo)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #78-1988/Aprpage 71- Advert (Live Ammo)
     C&VG (Computer & Video Games)issue #80-1988/Junpage 13- Advert (Live Ammo)
     Computer Gamerissue #21-1986/Decpage 73- Full-page ad (They Sold a Million 3)
     Computer Gamerissue #22-1987/Janpage 51- Full-page ad (They Sold a Million 3)
     Computer Gamerissue #25-1987/Aprpage 67- Full-page ad (They Sold a Million 3)
     Computer Gamerissue #26-1987/Maypage 73- Advert (They Sold a Million 3)
     Crashissue v.1 #34-1986/Novpage 157- Full-page ad (They Sold a Million 3)
     Crashissue v.1 #36-1987/Jan special "Christmas Special 1986/87"page 82- Full-page ad (They Sold a Million 3)
     Crashissue v.1 #47-1987/Decpage 6- Full-page ad (Live Ammo)
     Crashissue v.1 #49-1988/Febpage 21- Full-page ad (Live Ammo)
     Crashissue v.1 #52-1988/Maypage 38- Advert (Live Ammo)
     Popular Computing Weeklyissue v.5 #44-1986/Oct/30 special "week#5"page 64- Full-page ad (They Sold a Million 3)
     Sinclair Userissue #57-1986/Decpage 96- Full-page ad (They Sold a Million 3)
     Sinclair Userissue #58-1987/Janpage 14- Full-page ad (They Sold a Million 3)
     Sinclair Userissue #59-1987/Febpage 14- Full-page ad (They Sold a Million 3)
     Sinclair Userissue #60-1987/Marpage 115- Full-page ad (They Sold a Million 3)
     Sinclair Userissue #61-1987/Aprpage 36- Full-page ad (They Sold a Million 3)
     Sinclair Userissue #68-1987/Novpage 124- Full-page ad (Live Ammo)
     Sinclair Userissue #73-1988/Aprpage 91- Advert (Live Ammo)
     Sinclair Userissue #76-1988/Julpage 33- Advert (Live Ammo)
     The Games Machineissue #5-1988/Aprpage 36- Advert (Live Ammo)
     The Games Machineissue #7-1988/Junpage 22- Advert (Live Ammo)
     Your Computerissue v.6 #12-1986/Decpage 83- Full-page ad (They Sold a Million 3)
     Your Computerissue v.7 #2-1987/Febpage 84- Full-page ad (They Sold a Million 3)
     Your Sinclairissue #11-1986/Novpage 62- Full-page ad (They Sold a Million 3)
     Your Sinclairissue #12-1986/Decpage 88- Full-page ad (They Sold a Million 3)
     Your Sinclairissue #15-1987/Marpage 61- Full-page ad (They Sold a Million 3)
     Your Sinclairissue #23-1987/Novpage 84- Full-page ad (Live Ammo)
     Your Sinclairissue #25-1988/Janpage 116- Full-page ad (Live Ammo)
     Your Sinclairissue #27-1988/Marpage 32- Full-page ad (Live Ammo)
     Your Sinclairissue #28-1988/Aprpage 105- Advert (Live Ammo)
     Your Sinclairissue #30-1988/Junpage 100- Advert (Live Ammo)

Links
     Centre for Computing History(Information - in English)
     MobyGames(Information - in English)
     Modern ZX-Retro Gaming(Information - in English)
     RZX Archive(Information - in English)
     RZX Archive - YouTube(Information - in English)
     Speccy Screenshot Maps(Information - in English)
     Spectrum +2A/+3 Incompatibility(Information - in English)
     The Tipshop(Information - in English)
     Wikipedia(Information - in English)
     ZX Spectrum Reviews(Magazine Reviews)
     Spectrum 2.0(User Reviews)
     The TZX Vault(Software Preservation)
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