Thank you for another very entertaining video! Although I have no experience with gamebooks, I consistently enjoy your Fighting Fantasy Retrospective reviews. I love seeing the artwork. And I get a kick out of your gleeful laughter! 😄 Regarding the film "The Road Warrior," it was released in the US in 1982, and for some reason I really wanted to see it. I'm not sure why, as I had not seen (or even heard of) "Mad Max," and I also generally avoid violent motorcycle gang type movies. But I read a review of "The Road Warrior" in a magazine and was intrigued (can't remember why). I talked two friends of mine into joining me, and we made the hour's drive to a theater in the nearby city where it was showing. Nobody had high expectations, but all three of us really enjoyed the movie, mostly due to the well done and engrossing action and stunts. Since then I have seen "Mad Max" and "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome" and think they are okay, but I did not enjoy them nearly as much as "The Road Warrior."
I think Road Warrior is the movie that best conveys the sheer fun of film-making. You can just tell the crew had a ball making it! There's a manic glee in the way the stunts are shot and choreographed. Love it.
My other friend Sombrecoeur wrote: ""I’ve wanted to read that book for so long! I loved the atmosphere and the story; I really felt like I was in the movie Mad Max (which I enjoy a lot). I didn’t want the story to end! Plus, there are three types of combat: hand-to-hand, shooting, and vehicular. The last one is the most prominent in the book, to the detriment of the other two, and that’s a shame. I would have liked to see more fights with a baseball bat or brass knuckles and have several duels with revolvers (note that ours has unlimited ammo). But I won’t complain, because even though they aren’t plentiful, the fights are well-crafted (you can really imagine yourself firing at the opponent with a machine gun and rockets). Of course, we owe a lot to our car, "The Interceptor," which is, let’s say, very well equipped (with spikes we can drop on the pursuing car, spreading oil to make it skid, etc.). In fact, it’s so equipped and the adventure seems so short that we hardly ever get the chance to use all these accessories. I mentioned the game’s lifespan, and I find that to be a downside. I don’t know why, but I feel like I finished the book quickly… well, it must be said that I loved the story, so maybe that’s why time flew by. Speaking of the atmosphere, Ian Livingstone must have been a fan of Mad Max too, because he perfectly captures the same kind of vibe when he writes about the hero passing by wrecked cars, ruined homes, and when he describes the hero speeding along because the police no longer exist, you can really feel that the story takes place in a desolate nation. What I also liked was the prologue… it’s chilling, an entire population disappearing like that… In this volume, there aren’t really any memorable moments, except for the Hell Race, which is well executed! In fact, it’s mostly the settings that the hero traverses that stick in your mind by the end of the book. As for the illustrations, I find them quite successful, even if they aren’t stunning. They fit well with the universe they illustrate. Regarding difficulty, it’s well-balanced in terms of challenge and enemies; the only real challenge is finding fuel cans. In summary, a book with an excellent atmosphere, very well written, with a simple but effective story. The inspiration from Mad Max is obvious, but Ian Livingstone manages to create the same atmosphere. The idea of a customized car is great, and it’s a pleasure to engage in several fights with it. For a Livingstone book, it’s far from insurmountable. A very good book.""
A fascinating entry in the series. There was no sense of speed from this book and I remember being bemused by those illustrations, especially the illustration of those blank buildings.
M friend Milos wrote: ""The 13th volume of the Fighting Fantasy series, Highway Fighter is a new work by Ian Livingstone. The author steps off the beaten path in this book, immersing us in the violent and wild universe of a post-apocalyptic world reminiscent of Mad Max. We take on the role of a driver tasked with transporting grain for fuel between New Hope and the San Angelo refinery. Oil is scarce, and the roads are treacherous, so we are equipped with a heavily armed Dodge Interceptor. The ever-present danger is vividly conveyed through the author’s descriptions (desolate highways littered with wrecks, ruthless mercenaries…) and the clean, detailed illustrations by Kevin Bulmer. In this explosive mix of action, shootouts, and various explosions, there's hardly a moment to get bored. Some scenes are truly epic, particularly the hellish race that features a rodeo with a tactical twist that I greatly appreciated. The characters, though few in number, leave a lasting impression: the duo with Amber, the battle against the Animal and his pack of death dogs, not to mention Peter the mechanic and a few pilots encountered in duels along the roads (like Leonardi, for example). One unique aspect is the option to rescue President Sinclair in a side quest. The focus is clearly on action (chases, shootouts…), and as a result, there are numerous and varied combat encounters. Special new rules for this book allow us to confront all these gangs of thugs from within the vehicle (with machine guns, rockets, etc.), using a revolver or even melee weapons. The adversaries, whether human (mostly road pirates) or mechanized (tanks, motorcycles, helicopters…) are not too dangerous given the arsenal at our disposal. This should delight action fans. The special adventure sheet helps us track the evolution of our armament and vehicle modifications. Contrary to the author's usual style, multiple routes (each with their advantages and disadvantages) allow us to complete the mission. So where does the challenge lie? It stems from the fact that fuel is scarce, requiring us to choose our path wisely to avoid running out and abruptly ending our journey. The essential items are not too numerous and shouldn’t pose major problems. Without being a sharpshooter or an exceptional driver, it's best to have good stats, as the world of Mad Max is not for the faint-hearted! In summary, Highway Fighter delights us with its intense scenes and urban rodeos, but most importantly, its originality. One downside is the book's lifespan; perhaps that's a flaw in its strengths: you hardly notice the time passing. A must-have for any fan of the genre!"
Never got to this one. I kinda like the artist who did the cover, he did a bunch of other sci fi covers. Did you ever hear of the Car Wars tabletop game? A post apocalyptic setting, not quite as desolate as Road Warrior, but folks modify cars with guns, turrets and armor both in arenas and just in roaming around the countryside. Good stuff from the 80’s
Always smile when I see another entry in this series. I remember trying this one back in the day, but didn't get on with it, I think it was the setting. I enjoyed House of Hell as it was (to me) modern day. And of course the fantasy aspects, but not the scifi. Be interesting to see what you think of it. Now pressing play on tape >>>
I kind of remember these books. But only read a couple. But by then ZX Specrums came in, (or Vic 20s in my poor case) and then VHS! (but my dad bought a Betamax) 🤨
Yet another one I don't have, but I do know it fairly well because (well, if it came out in 85, I'd be 12) I was one of those awful kids who never saved up enough pocket money to buy the books, so ended up reading them pretty much in WHSmith's, or at least read it until the shop owners cottened on to what I was up to and told my to either buy it or get out!!!
@@michaelbartlettfilm Yep... I used to do that with 2000AD as well (mainly with the Christmas annuals). We both deserve to be locked up for 5 drokking years in iso cubes!
I enjoyed this back in the day. But I thought the whole mission to "get some oil" for your town was a bit meh. What about get some nuclear material for your town's defunct plant? That could have been weightier. Maybe you needed to find a radioactive suit to survive the plant for instance. Or a mask. I thought in the end "all this? For oil?" Still, I enjoyed the car versus car battles. I was reminded of Knight Rider episodes like Kitt versus Karr. Glen Larson who produced Knight Rider said that a car is like a horse in a TV show; they both do the same thing.
@@michaelbartlettfilm I loved the backstory of Knight Rider. He was a police officer called Michael Long. Then his face gets disfigured by a criminal gang in a shoot out. He's remade into a new person called Michael Knight. At first he says he wants nothing to do with any of that. Until he's shown his talking cat KITT. The show had its faults. The lack of a consistent villain except for great episodes like Knight of the Juggernaut. About five years ago the whole series start to finish was on late night TV so I re-watched all of Knight Rider. Hasselhoff had his limits as an actor! The episode where he played "good" and "bad" Michael Knight [Garth] in the same episode was comically bad. Cynics would say no wonder he ended up on Baywatch as beefcake.
Thank you for another very entertaining video! Although I have no experience with gamebooks, I consistently enjoy your Fighting Fantasy Retrospective reviews. I love seeing the artwork. And I get a kick out of your gleeful laughter! 😄
Regarding the film "The Road Warrior," it was released in the US in 1982, and for some reason I really wanted to see it. I'm not sure why, as I had not seen (or even heard of) "Mad Max," and I also generally avoid violent motorcycle gang type movies. But I read a review of "The Road Warrior" in a magazine and was intrigued (can't remember why). I talked two friends of mine into joining me, and we made the hour's drive to a theater in the nearby city where it was showing. Nobody had high expectations, but all three of us really enjoyed the movie, mostly due to the well done and engrossing action and stunts. Since then I have seen "Mad Max" and "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome" and think they are okay, but I did not enjoy them nearly as much as "The Road Warrior."
I think Road Warrior is the movie that best conveys the sheer fun of film-making. You can just tell the crew had a ball making it! There's a manic glee in the way the stunts are shot and choreographed. Love it.
My other friend Sombrecoeur wrote: ""I’ve wanted to read that book for so long! I loved the atmosphere and the story; I really felt like I was in the movie Mad Max (which I enjoy a lot). I didn’t want the story to end! Plus, there are three types of combat: hand-to-hand, shooting, and vehicular. The last one is the most prominent in the book, to the detriment of the other two, and that’s a shame. I would have liked to see more fights with a baseball bat or brass knuckles and have several duels with revolvers (note that ours has unlimited ammo). But I won’t complain, because even though they aren’t plentiful, the fights are well-crafted (you can really imagine yourself firing at the opponent with a machine gun and rockets). Of course, we owe a lot to our car, "The Interceptor," which is, let’s say, very well equipped (with spikes we can drop on the pursuing car, spreading oil to make it skid, etc.). In fact, it’s so equipped and the adventure seems so short that we hardly ever get the chance to use all these accessories. I mentioned the game’s lifespan, and I find that to be a downside. I don’t know why, but I feel like I finished the book quickly… well, it must be said that I loved the story, so maybe that’s why time flew by. Speaking of the atmosphere, Ian Livingstone must have been a fan of Mad Max too, because he perfectly captures the same kind of vibe when he writes about the hero passing by wrecked cars, ruined homes, and when he describes the hero speeding along because the police no longer exist, you can really feel that the story takes place in a desolate nation. What I also liked was the prologue… it’s chilling, an entire population disappearing like that… In this volume, there aren’t really any memorable moments, except for the Hell Race, which is well executed! In fact, it’s mostly the settings that the hero traverses that stick in your mind by the end of the book. As for the illustrations, I find them quite successful, even if they aren’t stunning. They fit well with the universe they illustrate. Regarding difficulty, it’s well-balanced in terms of challenge and enemies; the only real challenge is finding fuel cans.
In summary, a book with an excellent atmosphere, very well written, with a simple but effective story. The inspiration from Mad Max is obvious, but Ian Livingstone manages to create the same atmosphere. The idea of a customized car is great, and it’s a pleasure to engage in several fights with it. For a Livingstone book, it’s far from insurmountable. A very good book.""
Thanks again for posting!
A fascinating entry in the series. There was no sense of speed from this book and I remember being bemused by those illustrations, especially the illustration of those blank buildings.
Yeah, they're not exactly excitement city! I'm weirdly fond of them, though.
M friend Milos wrote: ""The 13th volume of the Fighting Fantasy series, Highway Fighter is a new work by Ian Livingstone. The author steps off the beaten path in this book, immersing us in the violent and wild universe of a post-apocalyptic world reminiscent of Mad Max. We take on the role of a driver tasked with transporting grain for fuel between New Hope and the San Angelo refinery. Oil is scarce, and the roads are treacherous, so we are equipped with a heavily armed Dodge Interceptor. The ever-present danger is vividly conveyed through the author’s descriptions (desolate highways littered with wrecks, ruthless mercenaries…) and the clean, detailed illustrations by Kevin Bulmer. In this explosive mix of action, shootouts, and various explosions, there's hardly a moment to get bored. Some scenes are truly epic, particularly the hellish race that features a rodeo with a tactical twist that I greatly appreciated.
The characters, though few in number, leave a lasting impression: the duo with Amber, the battle against the Animal and his pack of death dogs, not to mention Peter the mechanic and a few pilots encountered in duels along the roads (like Leonardi, for example). One unique aspect is the option to rescue President Sinclair in a side quest. The focus is clearly on action (chases, shootouts…), and as a result, there are numerous and varied combat encounters. Special new rules for this book allow us to confront all these gangs of thugs from within the vehicle (with machine guns, rockets, etc.), using a revolver or even melee weapons. The adversaries, whether human (mostly road pirates) or mechanized (tanks, motorcycles, helicopters…) are not too dangerous given the arsenal at our disposal. This should delight action fans.
The special adventure sheet helps us track the evolution of our armament and vehicle modifications. Contrary to the author's usual style, multiple routes (each with their advantages and disadvantages) allow us to complete the mission. So where does the challenge lie? It stems from the fact that fuel is scarce, requiring us to choose our path wisely to avoid running out and abruptly ending our journey. The essential items are not too numerous and shouldn’t pose major problems. Without being a sharpshooter or an exceptional driver, it's best to have good stats, as the world of Mad Max is not for the faint-hearted!
In summary, Highway Fighter delights us with its intense scenes and urban rodeos, but most importantly, its originality. One downside is the book's lifespan; perhaps that's a flaw in its strengths: you hardly notice the time passing. A must-have for any fan of the genre!"
Milos' review is so much more articulate than my own - he makes the game sound beautiful! Thanks for posting.
This book is nice! Tge boss fiight is incredible.
Forgot to mention the Animal!
@@michaelbartlettfilm Batista the Animal
A fun entry here by Sir Ian, very Mad Max, so I'm guessing Ian was a fan.
Looking forward to conquer this one for his uniqueness in the lineup.
Great review again. Please keep going.
Thanks for the encouragement. Like a true adventurer, I shall keep on!
Never got to this one. I kinda like the artist who did the cover, he did a bunch of other sci fi covers.
Did you ever hear of the Car Wars tabletop game? A post apocalyptic setting, not quite as desolate as Road Warrior, but folks modify cars with guns, turrets and armor both in arenas and just in roaming around the countryside. Good stuff from the 80’s
From Steve Jackson games! Good old Jacko.
Always smile when I see another entry in this series. I remember trying this one back in the day, but didn't get on with it, I think it was the setting. I enjoyed House of Hell as it was (to me) modern day. And of course the fantasy aspects, but not the scifi. Be interesting to see what you think of it. Now pressing play on tape >>>
House of Hell is way better, but this one's a laugh, I reckon
I kind of remember these books. But only read a couple. But by then ZX Specrums came in, (or Vic 20s in my poor case) and then VHS! (but my dad bought a Betamax) 🤨
Ah, ZX Spectrum... I must make another vid about the games I played back in the day.
Yet another one I don't have, but I do know it fairly well because (well, if it came out in 85, I'd be 12) I was one of those awful kids who never saved up enough pocket money to buy the books, so ended up reading them pretty much in WHSmith's, or at least read it until the shop owners cottened on to what I was up to and told my to either buy it or get out!!!
Ah, WH Smiths, sneaking a read of the latest 2000AD... Happy days...
@@michaelbartlettfilm Yep... I used to do that with 2000AD as well (mainly with the Christmas annuals). We both deserve to be locked up for 5 drokking years in iso cubes!
Your breakdown of the books are so much fun - have you had a chance to play through The Dungeon On Blood Island yet?
Yep, all the way through to the end! Good fun sequel to Deathtrap Dungeon and Trial of Champions.
I enjoyed this back in the day. But I thought the whole mission to "get some oil" for your town was a bit meh. What about get some nuclear material for your town's defunct plant? That could have been weightier. Maybe you needed to find a radioactive suit to survive the plant for instance. Or a mask. I thought in the end "all this? For oil?" Still, I enjoyed the car versus car battles. I was reminded of Knight Rider episodes like Kitt versus Karr. Glen Larson who produced Knight Rider said that a car is like a horse in a TV show; they both do the same thing.
# Doo-da-da-doo, doo-da-da-doo, doo-der-doody-dooooo...
@@michaelbartlettfilm I loved the backstory of Knight Rider. He was a police officer called Michael Long. Then his face gets disfigured by a criminal gang in a shoot out. He's remade into a new person called Michael Knight. At first he says he wants nothing to do with any of that. Until he's shown his talking cat KITT. The show had its faults. The lack of a consistent villain except for great episodes like Knight of the Juggernaut. About five years ago the whole series start to finish was on late night TV so I re-watched all of Knight Rider. Hasselhoff had his limits as an actor! The episode where he played "good" and "bad" Michael Knight [Garth] in the same episode was comically bad. Cynics would say no wonder he ended up on Baywatch as beefcake.
@@musicalneptunian Doesn't stop him being popular in Germany, though. They love the Hoff!
@@michaelbartlettfilm That was because he sang that "freedom" song on the Berlin wall as it was being demolished.