Vendetta (1989 video game)

Vendetta
Cover art
PublisherSystem 3
PlatformsAmstrad CPC
Commodore 64
ZX Spectrum
Release1989
GenreBeat 'em up
ModeSingle-player

Vendetta is a 1989 beat 'em up video game released by System 3 for the Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum.

Plot

The protagonist is an ex-military veteran and soldier of the higher calibre. His brother is a military scientist involved in the development of top-secret nuclear weapons technology. A terrorist group kidnap the protagonist's brother and his daughter, and are intent on obtaining the formula to generate deadly weapons.[1]

The protagonist sets out the rescue his brother and niece, and eliminate the terrorist group.

Gameplay

The game is presented in an isometric view - the player, controlling the ex-military veteran, must fight his way through various levels populated by terrorists, collecting necessary items in the process.

There are four isometric levels (Docklands, Army Base, Airport and Central Park) and the player is required to navigate from one level to the next by way of a driving minigame.

The player is initially armed with a knife, but can collect grenades, an AK-47 and an Uzi (as well as ammunition) to assist with defeating the terrorists.

Development

Vendetta was based on the same rendering method and display used by The Last Ninja, but used a rewritten engine. This game engine was then used for the game Last Ninja 3.[2]

Reception

Vendetta received a Sizzler award (93%) from Zzap!64[3], a Crash Smash award from Crash magazine[4], and a Hit award from C+VG magazine[5].

References

  1. ^ "Vendetta Manual". Internet Archive. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  2. ^ Last Ninja fan page Archived 2009-11-07 at the Wayback Machine, "The Vendetta engine was written from scratch and then used as the basis for LN3."
  3. ^ ZZap 64 Issue February 1990, page 016
  4. ^ Game review, Crash magazine, Newsfield Publications, issue 78, July 1990
  5. ^ Game review, Computer + Video Games issue 102, April 1990