Period Reviews
How the magazines of the 1980s received Palace Software's output - and how those reviews read today.
Barbarian: The Ultimate Warrior (1987)
Zzap!64 · Issue 27 · July 1987
96%
"Utterly brilliant... an adrenalin-pumping experience. The one-on-one combat is perfectly implemented and the animation is superb for a C64 game."
Crash · Issue 40 · May 1987
Gold Award
"Stunning gameplay... the best beat-'em-up on the Spectrum. The controls are responsive, the moves are satisfying, and the atmosphere is unmatched."
ACE · Amiga version
917/1000
"Superb animation and excellent two-player combat. The Amiga version makes the most of the hardware's capabilities and delivers a genuinely exciting fighting game."
Three decades on, Barbarian's critical reception holds up. The Zzap!64 96% was genuinely earned - the C64 version delivered sixteen moves, two-player combat, and animation quality that challenged contemporary arcade conversions. The controversy over the cover art never touched the gameplay scores.
Barbarian II: The Dungeon of Drax (1988)
Zzap!64 · 1988
88%
"A worthy sequel... the action never lets up. The shift to side-scrolling action was a bold choice and it pays off. Richard Joseph's score is once again outstanding."
Amiga Power · Amiga version
Good
"The Amiga version benefits from the hardware's power. The scrolling is smooth, the sprites are well-animated, and the audio showcases what Richard Joseph can do with a proper sound chip."
Advanced Pinball Simulator (1988)
Zzap!64 · Gold Medal
93%
"A Gold Medal winner and deservedly so. The physics are the most realistic we've seen on the C64 - this is pinball as it should be, fast and satisfying."
Crash · Spectrum version
Highly rated
"Advanced Pinball Simulator translates well to the Spectrum. The ball physics feel right and the table is well designed. A surprisingly compelling game."
Cauldron (1985)
Crash · 1985
Recommended
"Cauldron is a slick, fast-moving platform game with excellent C64 graphics. The witch-on-a-broomstick concept is fresh and the scrolling is impressively smooth."
Zzap!64 · C64 version
High
"Palace Software demonstrate exactly why they're worth watching. Cauldron moves fast, looks great, and Richard Joseph's music gives it an atmosphere all its own."
Archive Sources
Magazine scans for verification and further reading: