Head Over Heels - Rife With Complex Symbolism?

Thanks to an anonymous reader for pointing to a Gamestudies.org research paper claiming to chart 'interactivity and signification' in classic '80s videogame Head Over Heels. This academic paper notes the presence of a Prince Charles sprite in the classic puzzle/platformer, explaining: "There are puzzles where Head or Heels move a chess piece suspiciously similar to the crown prince of England. On the first semantic level of the game this act is metonymically self-reflexive, referring to the act of playing the game... on the second semantic level, the puzzle metaphorically refers to the way in which Charles has been manipulated to marry Diana." It concludes, marvellously, in finding "...an allegorical reading of the game in terms of love and marriage which for a contemporary English audience may have carried references to the failed marriage between Charles and Diana."

Comments

You've got to be kidding me.

[redfiveneo]

Next thing you know, we'll be calling Boomer (SOCOM 1) George Bush, and someone will write a paper on it.

Bloody Hell

[Gleng]

I used to play this game so much back in the 80's. The cassette never left the tape drive of my Amstrad CPC 464. Well, it was either that or Elite.

I specifically remember that the "Prince Charles" piece that this guy is on about was supposed to be some kind of robot/vampire I think, and didn't look much like Prince Charles at all. I can imagine Jon Ritman and Bernie Drummond would be shaking their heads in bafflement over that whole article.

I think someone needs to remind this guy that the shiny side of the foil goes on the outside.

Right, those screenshots have made me want to go and fire up my 464 emulator.

Re:Bloody Hell

[Anonymous Coward]

It loked most like prince charles on the c64 versions (other machines had lower screen reses). The (brilliant) remake is largely based on the spectrum version, and despite the much higher res, the developers opted to make the guy look like the speccy/amstrad blob rather than the prince charles of the c64 version.

No Duh

[illuminata]

Symbolism is apparent everywhere, I'll give some more examples.

Mario and Peach are symbolic of the struggle between love, jealousy, and trying to get some alone time without having envious little rat bastards following you constantly.

Sonic the Hedgehog is symbolic of the fact that you indeed can breeze through life with the use of speed, and that speed isn't such a bad thing after all.

The Final Fantasy series is symbolic of coming to terms with your sexuality, which is especially true as you progress through X-2.

The Grand Theft Auto series is symbolic of love, care, compassion, and why all are necessary to complete your goals.

The Resident Evil series is symbolic of the constant fight between the communists and those who wish to be free.

Keep looking, symbolism is everywhere!

Huh.

[mrseigen]

While I disagree with the author's quest to find symbolism in this game, it is an excellent game and the interpretation of it certainly makes me think twice.

The videogame industry needs more analysis, not just "what to buy".

Re:Huh.

[Maserati]

Read the article, www.gamestudies.org is a site devoted to the scholarly treatment of sprites and blits.

Weed

[WasterDave]

I see someone's had their new years joint then?

Dave

I didn't read the article but

[cjthompson]

It sounds like someone is talking bollocks.

Re:I didn't read the article but

[Anonymous Coward]

I have read the article, and they are.

Here's the PC remake for HoH

[Anonymous Coward]

http://retrospec.sgn.net/games/hoh/

There's even a Luni.. err Linux port; sadly it is x86 only.

Wow

[Osmosis_Garett]

People will write about anything for a thesis!

remake version downloadable

[Anonymous Coward]

You can play a remake of HoH make by Retrospec (freeware; Windows, Linux and Mac versions available)

Re:remake version downloadable

[Gleng]

Downloading the Linux version now. Using the wallpaper. ;)

Thanks for that!

Indeed

[clambake]

Quake symbolizes mankind's need to repress the animal tendancies of the id and sub-ego with colorful high velocity projectiles fired from the rooftops of castles.

Re:Indeed

[obeythefist]

No, Quake symbolises man's need to use force and power to elevate ourselves into the stars. Using the metaphor of power, indeed, the very "rockets" we use to get to the moon, one can then use a "rocket" on one's feet, and leap towards the sky!

Re:You've got to be kidding me.

[bj8rn]

I personally could even agree with the interpretation of the game as an allegory of love and friendship, but this thing about Charles' and Dianas marriage is a bit too much.

Oh well, I guess we should be glad that they didn't interpret Head Over Heels as an allegory of, I dunno, the Queen being on the throne of England, or the government (head) happily ruling over the people (heels) in some sort of totalitarian utopia :7 Just call it "Deconstruction" and everything you say is correct, as everything is subjective...

And...

[DAldredge]

And sometimes a Hedgehog is just a Hedgehog, and sometimes he is a porn star.

Re:And...

[c.emmertfoster]

Perhaps you are thinking of Mario?

Remake Here

[eviltypeguy]

Speaking of Head Over Heels, you can find the remake here:

Windows 98+, Linux, Mac OS X, BeOS:

http://retrospec.sgn.net/games/hoh/

Linux, Win, Mac, Beos port. My life is good!

[julie-h]

This is perhap the greatest game of all time. And now can I play it again on my Linux box, with superb graphics and code!!!

Thanks! Thanks! Thanks!!!

Super Mario Brothers: A Literary Criticism

[Pendersempai]

Reminds me of an Everything2 classic.

Super Mario Brothers: A Literary Criticism