Developer(s) Timothy Closs Composer(s) Rob Hubbard Genre(s) Action game | Publisher(s) Firebird Software Release 1987 | |
Platform(s) Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum | ||
I, Ball is a shoot 'em up computer game published for the Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum in 1987 by Firebird. It was programmed by Timothy Closs. The C64 version features music written by Rob Hubbard, based on two tunes by Cabaret Voltaire called "Whip Blow" and "I Want You". Hubbard was commissioned to write music based on the style of the band.
The player takes the role of the eponymous Ball and gameplay takes the form of a vertically scrolling shoot 'em up. It was also one of the first games to feature a wide range of power-ups (via power discs). Both versions also featured some memorable synthesised speech.
It was followed by a sequel, I, Ball 2, released later the same year.
Reception
Reviews were largely positive, with CRASH magazine awarding the Spectrum version of the game 90% and describing it as "a great little game with plenty of lasting appeal". Zzap64 awarded the C64 version 80%, calling it "unusual and competent"