TOTAL REWRITE! The Story Of Ocean Software's TOTAL RECALL Games! 🕹️ + AMSTRAD CPC Longplay & Review!

#totalrecall #amstrad #c64 #zxspectrum #amiga #ocean
TOTAL REWRITE! The Chaotic Story Of Ocean Software's TOTAL RECALL Games! Plus - Amstrad CPC Longplay & Review!
The story behind the creation of Ocean's Total Recall game is both a crazy and chaotic one, and also a fascinating insight into British game development in the late 80's and early 90's. A cautionary tale of being lazy with film licences, and of infighting, blazing rows, dope smoking artists, two scrapped games, and developers working all hours to meet a Christmas deadline that looked impossible. Added into that we have the recovery of previously thought lost forever early scrapped versions of the game, which you will see running in this video!
So here we're going to retell this story and go over the full history of Ocean's Total Recall game across all the systems it appeared on, via Simon Butler's story plus interviews I've done with ex-Ocean staff James Higgins, John Meegan, Mark R Jones and Bill Harbison! Including footage from the lost and recovered C64 and ZX Spectrum early Total Recall games, and later a comparison of the final released Ocean versions. PLUS you also get the full Amstrad CPC version longplay & review in the latter half of the video!
We're lucky to have such insight and detail into this story, and that's all thanks to Frank from the gamesthatwerent.com website, Simon Butler for retelling his story there and also speaking to me, and several other ex-Ocean staff who I interviewed for this video!
Again, thank you to Frank for his hard work recovering the C64 version and Mark R Jones (ex-Ocean) for discovering the Spectrum one!
For the full story and download of the C64 recovered version, please check out - www.gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64...
Thank you again to Frank for his kind permission to allow me to use bits from his article there.
Simon's Dinosaur Pie website - dinosaur-pie.co.uk/
Thank you again to Simon Butler for his kind permission to use bits from his 'Creator Speaks' story on the Games That Weren't Total Recall section.
Amstrad Total Recall - www.cpc-power.com/index.php?p...
Thank you to Mark R Jones for the old Ocean photos and speaking to me. And thank you to James, John and Bill also for speaking to me!
(c) Ocean Software 1990
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Background music featured - "Galactic", "Equinox", "Timeless" & "Illuminate" by "24:7" - 247retro.bandcamp.com/
Timings -
00:00 Video Intro
00:43 Chapter 1: Introduction
02:45 Chapter 2: Movie Overview
05:15 Chapter 3: Ocean & Active Minds
08:28 Chapter 4: Disaster At (In)Active Minds!
12:23 Chapter 5: Ocean's Xmas Crunch!
19:18 Chapter 6: Lost Versions Recovered!
22:15 All Versions Comparison
30:11 Amstrad Longplay & Review
55:02 Amstrad Bonus Content
57:13 Outro

[@JH91320]

Excellent video. Really enjoyed that little trip down memory lane. I especially enjoyed the Easter Eggs at the end. I'd completely forgotten about those.

[@Xyphoe]

Just so people know - this is James Higgins! KZbin mangles usernames in comments. Thank you again James for talking to me and sharing your recollections/stories! Much appreciated and glad you enjoyed my silly little video! Hopefully we can chat again in the future about other games :)

[@GamesThatWerent]

Amazing work Xyphoe! Thanks for the mentions on the C64 side and for pulling everything together in such a brilliant way with information on all the different versions.

[@Xyphoe]

Thank you Frank! As I've just said on Twitter - none of this would have been possible without your hard work and dedication, and of course Simon's great story telling there! Cheers for giving your kind permission for using your site and section on the game there for the basis for this! 👍

[@manshovel]

Dude, I'm peeping this video right now and I have to commend you on what a great job you've done researching, scripting, filming, and editing this jimmy jammy. Pro vid on an interesting history of this game in all its variations. Great work, Xyphoe! 🎉

[@Xyphoe]

Thanks man, I really appreciate that - what a lovely comment! Glad you appreciate everything that's gone in here! Cheers! OI OI! \m/

[@Legion_Centurion]

Excellent video, great research into the entire project its history how it came to be and all about Ocean which a publisher one that i liked so👍💎⭐ Arnold- "I dont like this uzi 9mm" "So il have a Total Refund" "I'll put this cookie down" "I have to get to the chhhoopppeerr, arrrgghh" "Come on Cohagen you got what you want, give these people aaaaaaiiiiirrrrrr😂 The game was ok for me, and was great how you showed all the history an knowledge an all that parts that you even had thier permission to use, another great presentation my Emperor @Xyphoe 🎖🎖🎖🎖

[@lewiswaddo5045]

A little Christmas treat from Xyphoe! Great video!

[@Xyphoe]

Thanks mate! Glad you enjoyed it! Merry Xmas to you and the family! 🎄

[@Mooza1976]

Great video. I appreciate it must have taken ages!

[@Xyphoe]

Thank you mate! It was a long time in the works!! The irony isn't lost on me that this nearly didn't make it out in time for Xmas either!! 😂

[@psychodraculo]

Great work Xyphoe! A small documentary covering all aspects of the game's creation there! I never quite liked this game because of the insane difficulty. Never got passed level 1 as a child. I remember the cover tape from AA with the demo.

[@Xyphoe]

Cheers mate! I think I only ever beat level 1 once ... and that was me DONE with the game as a kid! Felt like I had completed the whole game! Level 2 the driving level wasn't much cop to beat... and being presented with level 3 and dying fairly quickly... that was me over and done with the game! Ha!

[@Banifieque02]

Thankyou!!! amazing video and excellent research! wow

[@Xyphoe]

Thank you! That's very kind of you to say so! 👍

[@djcactus]

Great video. Had it on the Amiga , I always wanted mutant dance (the song from the strip club) in it. But now realise why that probably wasn't possible

[@zawtowers]

Cracking work on this Xyphoe, and kudos for you for crediting Frank's GTW site, Simon Butler, and all the other folks who happily helped you out. I think from memory the C64 version might have *just* got to shops before Christmas but definitely would have been very tight. The sensible thing otherwise would have been to release the other versions the same day as the VHS home video release (21st Jan 1991, as mentioned on the C64's loading screen of the tape version) - however, I'm not sure if that date had already passed for the CPC release as the loading screen there says the video is out now. So that may also be a clue for you.

[@Xyphoe]

Thank you mate! Good thinking mate... tbh Ocean probably didn't care at that point and just wanted it out ASAP, but there was likely money on the table / a deal in place with VHS distributors to advertise the release - and loading screens were changed accordingly? I have no idea if Mark would remember, or maybe Bill Harbison might from Robocop days.

[@jonasm8220]

Hi Xyphoe, I hope you and your family are well😊. When I saw this title I knew I had to check it out! I thought the game was pretty good so it was a surprise to learn that the development was a real nightmare! As always thanks for all the effort you put into these videos and keep then coming! Happy new year mate😊

[@Xyphoe]

Thank you mate, glad you enjoyed and see the effort that went into this one :) Cheers!

[@frishnit]

That demographics segment was entirely worth subscribing as a patreon. Exactly how Phillip K Dick saw this playing out!

[@Xyphoe]

He has a very apt surname! 🌭

[@simonbutler-bq8yb]

The Amiga graphics you showed were done by another of Ocean's ex-artists who was also called Mark Jones. Not by Mark R Jones.

[@mlucifersam]

Correct. That was Mark K. Jones who was a couple of years older than me. He was Mark Jones Senior and I was Mark Jones Junior. He did the platform levels graphics and I did the level graphics for the 2 car chase sequences, one in a street and the other on Mars.

[@Xyphoe]

Thank you! Yes - I absolutely forgot to add that Mark K Jones (the 'senior' Mark Jones!) did the platforming section graphics as Mark R Jones confirms in this thread, annoyed now I missed that out - accuracy and credit is important here and to me. Cheers for pointing that out and again for permission in using your story on the GTW website. 👍

[@lewiswaddo5045]

Simon Butler is a great chap, and I’m so glad you went in and involved the stories direct from the developers.

[@Xyphoe]

Yes it was really kind of Simon to speak to me, whilst I didn't bother him for more quotes - his story is already there on the website, but to just clear up some more details (and give me permission to use his story) - which was great of him because his experience there was probably quite a sore one that he likely wants to forget.

[@SwainyAtRetroAsylum]

I certainly got my Spectrum copy in early January.

[@Xyphoe]

I'm surprised they got it duplicated and distributed that fast when James was still working on it through the Xmas holidays!

[@SwainyAtRetroAsylum]

@@Xyphoe Yeah, the only reason I remember is because I was climbing the walls after being stuck indoors over the Christmas period (back when everything shut down completely over the Christmas period apart from the newsagents).

[@Xyphoe]

@@SwainyAtRetroAsylum Yea they must have had the boxes/manuals ready printed and manufactured prior to the game being finished I guess... quite risky! So just had to get the game to the cassette duplicators and run off the batches.... then put together and off on the lorries to shops! Massively assuming, etc! But getting it in early Jan is a good plan because kids often got 'Xmas money' from grans, uncles, etc and wanted to spend it. Would make up for lost Xmas sales.

[@paulhagger5261]

See you at the party Richter!

[@amjh4lah809]

First comment, 9th like and crazy early 😊

[@Xyphoe]

Congrats! Merry Xmas! 🎄

[@amjh4lah809]

@@Xyphoe Thank you! Merry Christmas to you, too!! 🎅🏻

[@ConfuserUsed]

Do you score the game? I couldn't find it on the video.

[@Xyphoe]

Yes, my final review score at the 47:14 mark, although my review summary I think starts before that :)

[@andyukmonkey]

I'll have you know I'm a male of only 39 years old

[@Xyphoe]

A mere young whipper-snapper you! grrr * shaky fist * 😂

[@belstar1128]

I don't get why people would be nostalgic for the games made by ocean in this period. they where no good they just sold well because they where based on popular movies.

[@plisskensghost2951]

How about just let people like what they like. I'm sure there's stuff you like that others would find rubbish.

[@Xyphoe]

I think we all have our own reasons (and periods) for being nostalgic. Depends when you were born, what games you got and when, personal preferences too, etc. There's also a little bit of a divide between those who prefer early period Ocean and late 80's Ocean when they went licence heavy. In terms of Total Recall... if you were an ST/Amiga person... I don't think there's much to be excited/nostalgic by here tbh as neither game grabbed me. The 8-bit ones were far more interesting. Saying they were no good is perhaps a little bit harsh though, it's all subjective of course.

[@jonasm8220]

Ocean did struggle at first but eventually came up with a formula for video game design that worked. For me Robocop and Batman were excellent games and they still are as far as 8 bit/16 bit goes. While Ocean were responsible for some dodgy titles early on I wouldn't say all their games were rubbish. I am a bit of an old timer though....

[@belstar1128]

@@jonasm8220 I think they had talent but the games were rushed so sometimes they were good but other times they didn't have time to fix the controls .so the games were not good. but i prefer games that are original ideas or based on movies and books that are not brand new. like when they made games based on movies that were already 10 years old they could take their time .

[@mehere3013]

some of the games were ace

[@cpccrackers]

It's true, the digital screen is very pretty, it must be a rather successful video transfer (vidi rombo ? Perhaps..) a good game even if the rest of the graphics are poor.