Grange Hill

Grange Hill is an arcade adventure based on the British children’s television series, featuring Luke “Gonch” Gardner and his best friend Paul “Hollo” Holloway during the mid-1980s.

Gonch’s Walkman has been confiscated for use during lessons and then stolen from the staffroom. The two friends must sneak back into the school, search for it, and return home before midnight to avoid punishment. The adventure involves collecting and using objects in the correct locations while interacting with characters such as Imelda, the school bully, and Mr Griffiths, the caretaker.

The main side-view, flick-screen area lets you control Gonch, jump over obstacles, and explore the school. Touching hazards ends the game. A text panel describes locations, objects, and conversations, while a menu provides actions including picking up, dropping, examining, using, giving, taking, and talking. The clock starts at 15:50, with 15 seconds of real time equal to one minute in the game.

Release Information

• Release date: 31 December 1986
• Platforms: Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, Commodore C64/128/MAX, and Sinclair ZX Spectrum
• Developers: Argus Press Software Ltd.; Binary Design, Ltd.
• Publishers: Argus Press Software Ltd.; Bug-Byte Software