Absorbing, thrilling action in a creepy setting by using minimalist design was another attempt Richard Bayliss tried to implement into the game Darkland with the help of the SEUCK (Shoot'Em Up Construction Kit) engine. The programmer is no stranger to this type of development environment. He has his own website on which several hundreds of his games and demos for the C64 are offered. The screenshots on the itch.io website gave me reason to hope that the creative spark leaps over to him and that the result was not just another faceless blast-the-baddies game.
Too few people remember that SSI stood for Strategic Simulations Inc.. Founded by a big tabletop wargaming nerd, for much of their existence, the company pushed out large amounts of titles in exactly that genre. Usually making no concessions towards accessibility. Taking on a second nerd topic, roleplaying games, finally brought them out of the niche in the mid-80s, and the acquisition of the D&D licence changed their public image drastically. Though in 1983, Geopolitique 1990 was still very much the old SSI. At its best in some regards. But also at its most obscure.