One of those moments when you go from not again to wow. You will understand more when reading this Destroyer review.
Once again we explore the VIC 20 and its simplicity when it comes to graphics and gaming experiences. We are again stuck with that white background colour, and with the green and pink effects. I really dont understand who came up with the idea that this was a nice and sensitive mix of colours for your eyes.
To the actual game. The plot is that you have been sent out into the pacific with the mission to keep the sea clear from submarines. While doing your mission you are under constant fire from crossing airplanes in the sky,
Do it on time, check the timebar in the bottom of the screen to reach next level of experiences.
Gosh, this is one of those games that to start with makes you crazy with all the combination of keys you need to use during the game. Your first thought is crap. When it really is you lacking the mastery of using the keys at the right time.
When passing that first difficulty with understanding the keys this actual game becomes a drug. You can play it for hours and you just want to beat your highscore again.
This is the proof of that simple games are sometimes the most fun to play.
%
Our Playability Rating
In the Magazines
A fair amount of action for the basic Vic, with attacks corning from submarines and bombers. A radar scanner gives you an early warning as to the direction of the raiding aircraft, but you’ll be alerted even earlier thanks to the sound effects. Two guns and depth-charge pads are your means of retaliation: along with direction controls, this means six keys need pressing almost continuously.
Even though the game is good fun. I do feel that more colour could have been added and the explosions improved. The verdict: not an essential part of a collection, but perfectly acceptable nevertheless.
from Commodore User Issue 10 July 1984 By LS
On the covers
Once again a vivid cover from Sumlock /Livewire. The stamp is title just mixing into the action on the cover. The selection of colours are tasty and gives you that feeling of must play.
I’m pretty sure more than one kid was glimpsing at the cover in the store and having it on the wish list.
Destroyer Sumlock Cover
%
Our Cover Rating
DESTROYER
GAME DESCRIPTION
DESTROYER is a game written in 6502 Machine Code for fast action response and runs in the 3.5K memory of the un-expanded VIC 20. Full Hi-res colour graphics and novel sound effects are used to produce a very exciting game. The action starts while you are in command of the . destroyer HMS VICtory and you have been instructed to destroy all the enemy submarines in your area with depth charges.
Your presence is threatened by underwater mines which are released continually by the subrriarines and you are under attack from the air by bombers with deadly accuracy. The ships radar scanner will give you early warning of the air attack including the direction of its flight path and you must attempt to shoot them down before they bomb your ship.
LOADING INSTRUCTIONS
Ensure the tape is rewound. Depress the SHIFT and RUN/STOP keys together. The VIC will respond with PRESS PLAY ON TAPE. Despress the PLAY key on the cassette unit and VIC will automatically load and run the program. Operating instructions will appear when the program is fully loaded.
DO:NOT STOP THE CASSETTE UNIT OR TOUCH THE KEYBOARD UNTIL THE GAME IS COMPLETELY LOADED.
NOTE: A TV SET CREATES INTERFERENCE WHICH PREVENTS PROGRAMS FROM LOADING CORRECTLY. ENSURE THAT THE CASSETTE UNIT IS AS FAR AWAY FROM THE TV WAS POSSIBLE.
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
OPERATION
MOVE SHIPLEFT 'A' key
MOVE SHIPRIGHT 'D' key
DEPTHCHARGELEFT 'S' key
DEPTHCHARGE RIGHT 'K' key
ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN LEFT 'J' key
ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN RIGHT 'L' key
THE INDICATORS ALONG THE TOP OF THE SCREEN ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Points are scored according to the numbers that appear as the depthcharges hit the submarines. The whole game runs for a time period which is indicated by a changing strip at the bottom of the screen. You have 4 ships (lives) and,.if you survive the time period a bonus will be added to your score according to the number of planes shot down. As each time or battle period is survived the bonus for bombers shot down increases and the frequency of the mines and bombers becomes greater.
When you hear a bomber coming keep your eyes on the radar scanner to find its direction but watch out for those deadly mines.
