About the Amstrad GX4000

Mean Machines was originally going to cover NEC's PC Engine console, but this was dropped at the last moment for the GX4000 - Amstrad's ill-fated attempt to enter the games console market. The console was released in 1990 and was based on the still-popular CPC technology. The GX4000 was actually a modified CPC6128+ computer.

The console had impressive enhanced graphics and sound, a huge colour palette of 4096 (more than the 16 bit Sega Mega Drive), hardware sprites and hardware scrolling. However, it quickly became clear that the extra colours didn't mean the games would look any better.

It retailed for a reasonable £99 and came bundled with the so-so driving game 'Burnin' Rubber'. However the lack of decent software meant the machine quickly faded at retail, and Mean Machines dropped coverage of the GX4000 after a few issues. The joypads were also designed by a sadist.

Amstrad GX4000 Reviews

Game Title	PDF	Magazine	Genre	Publisher	Score
Epyx World of Games		MM - 9	Sports Game	Epyx	59%
Fire and Forget 2		MM - 2	Driving Game	Titus	33%
Gazza's Football		MM - 4	Sports Game	Empire	76%
Navy Seals		MM - 3	Platform Game	Ocean	76%
Pang		MM - 3	Platform Game	Ocean	93%
Robocop 2		MM - 3	Platform Game	Ocean	74%
Switchblade		MM - 4	Platform Game	Gremlin	91%