- Original Release: 1989
- Developer: Quixel
- Publisher: Domark
- Platform: Commodore Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, MSX, BBC Micro
- Version played: Commodore Amiga
![](https://djcube.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ltk-box-s.jpg)
![Licence to Kill (Commodore Amiga)](https://djcube.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ltk-004.jpg)
Coming from developers Quixel, Licence to Kill is a vertical scrolling shooter depicting events from Licence to Kill. The game is comprised of 5 very short, but difficult, missions, with some fun gameplay. While the style of the game remained the same throughout, the gameplay itself varies through each level.
![Licence to Kill (Commodore Amiga)](https://djcube.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ltk-002.jpg)
The first mission has you chasing a jeep in a helicopter. If you fly fast, the helicopter will get lower, allowing you to attack the jeep. The objective is to get to the end of the level, but destroying the jeep will help with the start of the second level.
![Licence to Kill (Commodore Amiga)](https://djcube.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ltk-003.jpg)
Next up is an on foot section, which is the longest level of the game (around 3-4 minutes). If you hold the fire button, you can adjust your aim to shoot diagonal or sideways. There’s no automatic scrolling in this one, so you can kill enemies at your own pace.
![Licence to Kill (Commodore Amiga)](https://djcube.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ltk-005.jpg)
Next you take to the skies as you dangle from a helicopter, there’s no enemies here, you just need to stay on top of the plane long enough for Bond to lock on to it.
![Licence to Kill (Commodore Amiga)](https://djcube.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ltk-008.jpg)
In the water, Bond has no weapons, but can punch divers carrying harpoons to attack other enemies. You can also dive underwater to dodge enemy fire. You need to latch on to the water plane to get back in the sky.
![Licence to Kill (Commodore Amiga)](https://djcube.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ltk-010.jpg)
In the final mission, you start off in a plane before jumping onto a truck. You then have to destroy all the other trucks to stop Sanchez and defeat the game.
The game is good fun, but once you figure out what to do in each level, it’s incredibly short – around 12 minutes if you don’t rush.
Other versions
MS-DOS
This version has the nicest graphics, but I found it to be buggy, with sprites flickering out of existence and some hits not detected, which is why I ended up playing the Amiga version.
Atari ST
This version is identical to the Amiga version
Commodore 64
Heading to the 8 bit versions, the C64 version attempts to keep the detailed backgrounds, making it hard to see what is happening on screen due to how busy it is.
Amstrad CPC
While the graphics are toned down from the Commodore 64, the simpler style makes it look nicer.
ZX Spectrum
Things get even more basic, this version has a lot of outlines instead of coloured sprites.
MSX
The MSX version is similar to the ZX Spectrum, but the colours are more muted.
BBC Micro
This version is again based on the ZX Spectrum version, but the game only displays two colours at a time, including the menu.
NES (Cancelled)
A version of this game was in development for the NES by Tengen. While the final level hadn’t been made, Domark considered the game finished, but decided to not publish the game as it was too long after the other versions
Sega Master System (Possibly)
A few places online state that a Master System version of this released in South Kora in 1996, but I can’t find any concrete details or imagery.
Browse Games By Year
Unreleased, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969
1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979
1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989
1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009