Killed Until Dead
Killed Until Dead is a 1986 adventure game developed by Artech and published by Accolade for the Apple II, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum.
Killed Until Dead
- Date
- 1986
- Genre
- puzzle video game
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
Killed Until Dead is a 1986 adventure game developed by Artech and published by Accolade for the Apple II, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum.
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Documentary evidence
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wikidata · Q55138188 · wikipedia · Killed Until Dead
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Developer — Artech • Designer — * Michael Bate • Rick Banks • Programmer — MaryLou O'Rourke • Artist — * Scott Fiander • Grant Campbell • Composer — Paul Butler • Platform — Commodore 64, Apple II, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum • Released — C64December 1986 Apple IIJuly 1987 CPC, ZX Spectrum • Genre — Adventure • Modes — Single-player
Gameplay
Gameplay
The game seems to be inspired by Cluedo, where the player must eliminate clues as they get closer to stopping the crime, the objective being to prevent a murder before it happens. Gameplay mainly revolves around interrogating key suspects and interviewing them about other people, places, and objects. False accusations can result in the player getting killed, lending to the game's humorous ironic sentiments.
Plot
Plot
Five mystery writers have gathered at a mansion and one of them plans to murder another. The player takes the role of Hercule Holmes, who must piece together all aspects of the crime in order to solve the case. The player can search suspect's rooms, confront them with evidence, and order cameras to record secret meetings.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
- Canada
Named but not plotted · 1
Killed Until Dead is associated with Canada.
Country
Reception
The game was well-received, garnering positive to average reviews. Crash magazine deemed Killed Until Dead both involved and highly entertaining. Aktueller Software Markt gave the game a score of 9.6 out of 12, while Happy Computer offered a rating of 76%. Computer and Video Games praised the humorous cartoon animations and frequent sound effects. Comparing Killed Until Dead to Clue, Compute!'s Gazette liked the game's user interface, note system, and humor, concluding that it "fits in very well with Accolade's impressive line of 64 software". Roy Wagner reviewed the game for Computer Gaming World, and stated that "The game is great family or group entertainment. The graphics and animation are tremendous; the presentation is very much like a movie; and the humor in the game is outstandingly funny. All puns are very much intended."
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Availability Update. Computer Entertainer. 5. 11. 14. February 1987.
- 2.Availability Update. Computer Entertainer. 6. 5. 14. August 1987.
- 3.Game review, Crash magazine, Newsfield Publications, issue 42, July 1987
- 4.Rothwell, Mark. Killed Until Dead. Crash. Newsfield. 42. 96–97. July 1987. 0954-8661.
- 5.Kleimann, Manfred. Adventure Corner - "Das Gargoyle-Komplott" - oder: Wie begeht man den perfekten Mord?. Aktueller Software Markt. Tronic Verlag. 60–61. April 1987.
- 6.Schneider-Johne, Boris. Rest Der Welt - Killed Until Dead. Happy Computer. Markt&Technik. 21. 95. 0931-5829.
- 7.Marshall M. Rosenthall. C+VG Adventure: 2 Reviews - Killed Until Dead. Computer & Video Games. EMAP Publishing. 66. 69. April 1987. 0261-3697.
- 8.Randall, Neil. Killed Until Dead. Compute!'s Gazette. ABC Publishing. 5. 7. 46–47. July 1987. 0737-3716.
- 9.Wagner, Roy. Killed Until Dead. Computer Gaming World. Golden Empire Publications. 37. 14–15. May 1987. 0744-6667.
References
Citations
References
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Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 20 August 2026.
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