Battle Of The Toothpaste Tubes - smile, go on , smile
Yes, you did read that title correctly . Intrigued? Read on my friends ....
Although this was released in 1983 by K-Tel it was a few years later that I discovered this game. Another work colleague of my father no longer valued his copy . We never actually saw the cover art for this game if you get my drift.
The title itself was enough to make me want to load up this game straight away. I feel I should point out that I was no great lover of toothpaste tubes, toothpaste, teeth or dentists. In fact for years I was too scared of dentists to go ( I now go to them, but am still scared, I just make sure they know that before they go near me!) A nice friendly instruction screen to start, always good when you don't have the cassette inlay to enlighten you.
The title itself was enough to make me want to load up this game straight away. I feel I should point out that I was no great lover of toothpaste tubes, toothpaste, teeth or dentists. In fact for years I was too scared of dentists to go ( I now go to them, but am still scared, I just make sure they know that before they go near me!) A nice friendly instruction screen to start, always good when you don't have the cassette inlay to enlighten you.
And away on the adventure we go.....er..okay...yes, there are indeed two kinds of toothpaste tubes, toothbrushes and a set of marching dentures. We can fire toothpaste, and so can the other toothpaste tubes. You have got to give the game that, it does what it says on the tin! But there has to be more to this game surely? Wait , it's the fluoride shield! Ta Da!!! Protection from toothpaste for a bit. Yes, I know that makes no sense!
That really was the game. One screen, fire toothpaste, avoid toothpaste and dentures . So why dear reader is this game enshrined in my heart?
It was the game that for me made me realise that anything in a computer game is possible if you have the imagination. It may not be an epic game , but the fact that someone thought of it, had persuaded someone else to believe in this idea and presumably at least a few people had bought it amazed me at the age of 12. Up to now I had only played 'popular' games, games that received big ratings in computer magazines , or games that shop assistants recommended. But here was something else, something that for all it's correct dental hygiene , had that little touch of anarchy , those little seeds of quirkiness that I craved.
It was the game that you had but your friends didn't, the game they would come over just to see in play to prove that it existed (and then we spoke of it no more.) It was a conversation starter , an ice breaker , a way of cutting tension. The title of the game itself was enough to make someone smile (pretty good for a game about toothpaste.)
I personally think that in the grand scale of things that is worth more than reaching number one on the software charts or winning a Golden Joystick Award. The software designers that take that risk to be different , to embrace the spirit of the ZX Spectrum and to be quirky.
I raise a glass to those people who design games where you don't rule an empire, don't save the world, don't raise an army.....instead you raise a smile.
I personally think that in the grand scale of things that is worth more than reaching number one on the software charts or winning a Golden Joystick Award. The software designers that take that risk to be different , to embrace the spirit of the ZX Spectrum and to be quirky.
I raise a glass to those people who design games where you don't rule an empire, don't save the world, don't raise an army.....instead you raise a smile.