Jon Ritman
Head Over Heels creator
Jon Ritman created Head Over Heels and Batman, mastering the isometric genre while partnering with Bernie Drummond on visually distinctive adventures.
Jon Ritman refined the isometric adventure genre that Ultimate pioneered. Working with artist Bernie Drummond, he created Batman and Head Over Heels—games that matched Ultimate’s technical achievement while adding depth through clever puzzle design and memorable characters.
Fast facts
- Key works: Match Day, Batman, Head Over Heels.
- Artist partner: Bernie Drummond.
- Platform focus: ZX Spectrum.
- Style: Isometric adventures, sports games.
Key works
| Title | Year | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Bear Bovver | 1983 | Arcade |
| Match Day | 1984 | Football |
| Match Day II | 1987 | Football |
| Batman | 1986 | Isometric adventure |
| Head Over Heels | 1987 | Isometric adventure |
How the games reviewed
CRASH’s December 1988 profile summarises him by his football games: best known for Match Day (86%, Issue 13) and Match Day II (91%, Issue 48).
| Game | Score | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Head Over Heels | 97% | CRASH |
| Batman | 93% | CRASH, Issue 28 |
| Match Day II | 91% | CRASH, Issue 48 |
| Match Day | 86% | CRASH, Issue 13 |
Match Day is the one worth pausing on, because the press disagreed about it sharply: CRASH’s 86% sat against 50% from Sinclair Programs for the same game.
Batman (1986)
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Release | Ocean, May 1986, £7.95 |
| Engine | Custom isometric (not Filmation clone) |
| Puzzle design | Item collection and use |
| Presentation | Atmospheric for 8-bit |
Technical approach
Ritman wrote his own isometric engine:
- Room-based like Ultimate
- Different rendering approach
- Sprite-based characters
- Item interaction system
Head Over Heels (1987)
| Innovation | Implementation |
|---|---|
| Two characters | Control Head and Heels separately |
| Combined abilities | Join together for new powers |
| World design | 300+ rooms across 5 worlds |
| Puzzle depth | Character switching puzzles |
Character design
| Character | Ability |
|---|---|
| Head | High jumps, fires doughnuts |
| Heels | Fast movement, carries objects |
| Combined | All abilities together |
This dual-character mechanic predated similar designs by years.
The Ritman/Drummond partnership
Bernie Drummond provided:
- Character design (Head and Heels)
- Room graphics
- Visual style
- Distinctive aesthetic
The partnership produced Ritman’s most celebrated work.
Match Day series
Before isometric adventures:
- Match Day (1984) defined Spectrum football
- Match Day II (1987) added features
- Competitive multiplayer focus
- Smooth, responsive controls
Design philosophy
| Principle | Application |
|---|---|
| Clever puzzles | Logic over reflexes |
| Personality | Memorable characters |
| Completeness | Fully explorable worlds |
| Polish | Refined controls |
Legacy
Ritman’s influence:
- Isometric adventure design
- Character-switching mechanics
- British game aesthetics
- Licensed game quality
Later work
- Monster Max (Game Boy, 1994)
- Departure from games industry
- Occasional retro event appearances