The Flintstones (1988 video game)

Grandslam Entertainments

Industry	Video games
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Products	The Flintstones (1988 video game)

The Flintstones is a 1988 video game adaptation of the 1960s TV show The Flintstones. Created by Teque Software Development and released by Grandslam Entertainments, it debuted in Europe on platforms including Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MSX, and ZX Spectrum. A version for the Master System arrived later, in 1992.

Gameplay

Gameplay remains consistent across all versions. The title consists of four distinct stages. It starts with Fred Flintstone finishing his shift at a rock quarry, shouting "Yabba dabba doo!"—the only spoken line utilizing speech synthesis; all other dialogue is conveyed through speech balloons.

Fred’s initial goal is to go bowling with Barney Rubble, but first he must paint the living room in preparation for Wilma's mother’s visit. Players take control of Fred as he applies paint while preventing Pebbles from drawing on the walls; the paintbrush itself is represented by a squirrel that can escape and must be recaptured.

In the second stage, Fred hurries to the bowling alley, dodging rocks that can damage his vehicle and force him to find replacement wheels. The third stage features a bowling competition against Barney. The final phase involves rescuing Pebbles from a construction site while competing against Barney and avoiding various dangers.

There is also a practice mode allowing players to explore each area freely. The soundtrack includes a version of the TV series theme composed by Ben Daglish, which plays throughout most versions except for the ZX Spectrum release.

Reception

The Games Machine criticized the bowling stage for its "tedious pin restacking after each throw – this realism goes too far." However, the publication complimented the music and remarked that the graphics "could rival the TV cartoon," concluding, "With patience, The Flintstones offers an entertaining yet generally challenging experience." The Atari ST edition was reported to be nearly identical to the Amiga release, aside from slightly inferior sound quality.

When reviewing the Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum editions, The Games Machine noted all maintained "impressive cartoon-style" visuals and challenging gameplay. The Commodore 64 version ran at a decent speed, whereas the Spectrum and Amstrad CPC iterations were slower, leading to player frustration.

Chris Jenkins from Computer and Video Games praised both graphics and audio but considered the bowling segment as the least engaging part. He summarized that the game "is a polished and professional product worthy of attention." John Butters of Atari ST User lauded the music, sound effects, and "flawless" graphics but felt the game became more frustrating than addictive over time. Andy Richards, also writing for Atari ST User, commended every aspect including gameplay mechanics.

A reviewer from ST Action described the painting stage as innovative but demanding, while finding the bowling section lacking in thoughtful design. Another critic highlighted sluggish controls and slow pacing in both painting and bowling segments, ultimately deeming the game unworthy of recommendation.

Paul Glancey of Zzap!64 gave a negative review of the Commodore 64 version, citing poor sprite work, weak background visuals, irritating music, frustrating painting controls, and outdated mini-games. He remarked that licensed TV games rarely succeed. Paul Sumner praised audio elements but criticized character representation and difficult gameplay caused by unresponsive controls; he concluded it had minimal replay appeal.

External links

• The Flintstones on MobyGames