Retromuseums

Destroyer Review

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.

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

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 SHIP LEFT 'A' key

MOVE SHIP RIGHT 'D' key

DEPTHCHARGE LEFT '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:

SCORE, SHIPS LIVES, RADAR SCANNER, PLANES SHOT, HI-SCORE.

POINTS

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.

Gun Fight Review

Compete against your best friend and you will know how good your friendship is. Read more about the game in this Gun Fight review.

A simple game, but are not the simple games we love most? The plot easy, a duel between two friends. Who will draw his gun first? The layout is ok for being on the vic 20, even though I have never understood the selection of white as the background colour.

You hunt each other for the perfect shot, then one hitting most times during the selected time slot. You can choose between one to nine minutes of game play.

In my opinion a simple game, but a great idea to spend time and compete against each other. Gun Fight is really worth playing.

If the case is that you have no friend, your VIC 20 will take that role and let you play against him/her. Not as much fun though as this type of game consists of sharing the experience.

This version from Sumlock (Livewire) should not be mixed up with the game with the same title from Solar Software.

In the Magazines

Let me say straightaway that you may be disappointed with the representation of the gunslingers. That apart, though, the graphics are fair enough – purple rocks, green trees and yellow cacti. Essentially this program is intended as a two player duel, though the computer will act as a stand-in.

Start by selecting the duration of combat, up to nine minutes, then jockey for position and pump in some killer shots. Seek cover behind a cactus at your peril, for they can be shot away, and beware of bullets ricocheting off rocks. It goes without saying that respective tallies are displayed continuously. With a different layout for each contest, and decent sound effects, this tape should find itself on plenty of short lists.

From Commodore User Issue 10 July 1984 by LS

On the covers

A top of the line cover. The bandits ready to enter a duel. I really like the brownish/orange colours giving us that sandy western look. I also like how they’ve combined the logo of the game with the actual main characters of the game.

This is a really nice one and as always with Livewire, you never get disappointed with the fresh covers. Always visualising so much action and makes the title blend in.

Gun Fight gives it to us from start to end. I reckon that this made this game sell good.

GAME DESCRIPTION

GUNFIGHT is a game written in 6502 Machine Code and runs in the 3.5K of the un-expanded VIC 20. Hires colour graphics and realistic sound effects are used to provide the best in computer entertainment. It may be played by ONE player against the computer or by TWO players against each other at the same time, one using the KEYBOARD and the other a JOYSTICK.

The game takes place on the range in the bad west with two gunslingers shooting it out to the death. There are only a few rocks, trees and cacti for cover and there is the constant danger of being killed by ricocheting bullets as well. Rocks and trees can provide cover but the cacti may be shot away.

LOADING INSTRUCTIONS

Remove or disable any memory expansion fitted. Ensure the tape is rewound. Depress the SHIFT and RUN/STOP keys together. The VIC will respond with PRESS PLAY ON TAPE. Depress the PLAY key on the cassette unit and the VIC will automaticallya load and run the program. Operating instructions will appear when the program is fully loaded.

DO NOT STOP THE CASSETTE UNIT OR TOUCH THE KEYS 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 AS POSSIBLE.

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

PLAYER 1 (BLUE GUNFIGHTER) KEYBOARD

Move Left——– A
Move Right—— D
Move Up——— I
Move Down—– N
Shoot Gun——- S

PLAYER2 (RED GUNFIGHTER) JOYSTICK

Move Left——– Push Left
Move Right—— Push Right
Move Up——— Push Forward
Move Down—– Push Backward
Shoot Gun——- Fire Button

NOTE: THE GUNS SHOOT IN THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL. THEY WILL NOT FIRE AT POINT BLANK RANGE.

GAME START

Choose the period of the game duration in minutes by pressing a number from 1 to 9. The screen will then display a selection of game options from 1 to 3. Choose the option you want and the game will commence.

POINTS

One point is given for each kill .and the player with the most points at the end of the time period is the winner. A point is also awarded to your opponent if one of your bullets ricochets and kills you.