Sabre Wulf
Ultimate's jungle adventure
Sabre Wulf combined smooth scrolling, vibrant graphics, and expansive exploration in a hostile jungle, establishing Ultimate's reputation for technical and design excellence.
Overview
Sabre Wulf dropped players into a vast jungle maze swarming with deadly creatures. As Sabreman, players collected four amulet pieces while avoiding rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses, and the eponymous wolf. Ultimate’s smooth scrolling and colourful graphics pushed the Spectrum beyond what seemed possible.
Fast facts
- Developer: Ultimate Play the Game.
- Publisher: Ultimate Play the Game.
- Designer: Tim and Chris Stamper.
- Release: 1984.
Technical achievements
| Feature | Innovation |
|---|---|
| Scrolling | Smooth movement on Spectrum |
| Colour | Minimal clash, vibrant jungle |
| Size | Large explorable world |
| Animation | Fluid character sprites |
Gameplay
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Objective | Collect four amulet pieces |
| Hazards | Animals, natives, the Sabre Wulf |
| Power-ups | Orchids with various effects |
| Structure | Open exploration, no levels |
The orchids
| Colour | Effect |
|---|---|
| Blue | Invincibility |
| Yellow | Speed boost |
| Red | Confusion |
| Magenta | Slow motion |
The Sabre Wulf
The wolf itself:
- Appears randomly
- Cannot be killed
- Must be avoided
- Instant death on contact
World design
256 screens of jungle:
- Interconnected maze
- Memorable landmarks
- Hidden amulet pieces
- No map provided
Reception
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Crash | 93% |
| Sinclair User | 5/5 |
| Your Spectrum | Classic |
Cultural impact
Sabre Wulf established:
- Ultimate’s premium brand
- Spectrum action-adventure template
- Large-world exploration games
- Technical benchmark
The Sabreman series
| Title | Year |
|---|---|
| Sabre Wulf | 1984 |
| Underwurlde | 1984 |
| Knight Lore | 1984 |
| Pentagram | 1986 |