Producer: Crystal Computing
Memory Required: 48K
Recommended Retail Price: £6.50
Language: machine code

A word of warning first! Crystal have been clever, the program has a special loader and instead of the usual interference lines in the border area while the game is loading it remains clear. You might be tempted to think that something has gone wrong and restart, but leave the tape running and all will be well. As the loading - continues, the game screen details are slowly built up to reveal the traditional appearance of a defender game.

Once loading is complete you are asked whether or not you have a Fuller box connected. If you have then spectacular sound effects are produced. Unfortunately, if you are not possessed of an amazing Fuller box, then the program is quite silent.

The game itself is a pretty classic copy of Defender.

COMMENTS

Keyboard positions: 4 directional keys are in line which is not the best arrangement. Z/X left/right, N/M up/down, A to G fire laser, H to ENTER, smart bombs (2).
Joystick options: AGF, Protek, Kempston, Fuller
Keyboard play: very responsive
Use of colour: very little
Graphics: very good
Sound: none unless used with Fuller box
Skill levels: 1
Lives: 3

This is one of the best copies of the original I have seen, and includes Landers, Bombers, Mutants, Swarmers and pods, your craft has a laser and smart bombs and flies forward and in reverse. At the top there is a long range scan - a very good one, you really can use it for lining up a laser blast. The graphics are very smooth but not colourful - another feature which is true to the original. Pity about the sound, it makes it very dull to play.

It's all very well offering "spectacular sound effects" through the Fuller box, but I wonder how many people have them? The excellent graphics include some of the best cosmic explosions I've yet seen, but all in full stereo silence. Even the muted buzzing of my Spectrum is preferable to this! That apart, we have here a classic copy of an arcade favourite. The scrolling landscape is the usual zig zag line with small humanoids dotted about waiting to be grabbed by the green aliens. It all moves very fast and, if you like the type, is very addictive.

It could have been like Star Wars with a Fuller box on board. If this is the way games are going for the Spectrum I'd better get CRASH to provide me with one! It seems a bit mean not to have given the disadvantaged un-Fullerised player a bit of murky sound to be going on with. It's a pity because this is otherwise a good and playable game. The detail is nice, especially Crystal's familiar Hall of Fame where 16 previous players with names like Muad'Dib, Czar Murdicog and the Headless and Greatheart Silver are already listed. Another drawback is the awkward control keys.

Producer: Crystal, 48K
£6.50 (1)

A word of warning - this game (indeed all new Crystal programs) has a special loader which makes you think it isn't loading properly. It is a classic copy of the famous arcade original and features Landers, Bombers, Mutants, Swarmer and Pods. There is an excellent radar screen, one you can really use for lining up shots, and spectacular explosion graphics. Sadly unless you own a Fuller Box, the game is totally silent. As usual with 'Defender' games, there is not much colour, but the graphics are fast end smooth. All in all probably the best version for the Spectrum yet. Rather awkward control keys Z/X left/right and N/M up/down, A to G fire laser, H to ENTER smart bombs. Joystick: AGF, Protek, Kempston, Fuller. CRASH rating, playable and addictive, overall 70% M/C

Producer: Crystal, 48K
£6.50 (1)

A word of warning - this game (indeed all new Crystal programs) has a special loader which makes you think it isn't loading properly. It is a classic copy of the famous arcade original and features Landers, Bombers, Mutants, Swarmer and Pods. There is an excellent radar screen, one you can really use for lining up shots, and spectacular explosion graphics. Sadly unless you own a Fuller Box, the game is totally silent. As usual with 'Defender' games, there is not much colour, but the graphics are fast end smooth. All in all probably the best version for the Spectrum yet. Rather awkward control keys Z/X left/right and N/M up/down, A to G fire laser, H to ENTER smart bombs. Joystick: AGF, Protek, Kempston, Fuller. CRASH rating, playable and addictive, overall 70% M/C

EFFECTIVE DISPLAY

Arcade games on the 48K Spectrum are still all the rage but it is difficult to find one to better the original. That is the case with Invasion of the Body Snatchas from Crystal Computing.

The name of the game may be different but the concept is still that of Defender. You must pilot your spaceship left and right over the alien landscape, shooting-down aliens, avoiding mutants if possible, and rescue refugees from certain death.

Sex equality has finally reached the Spectrum as the refugees are women as opposed to the men of the original. That is not the kind of equality most people have in mind, though, as the women are dropped from staggering heights.

The screen display is effective and, if you were to put the computer under the table, you would not know the game was running on such a small machine.

This time Crystal has added sound and it is very effective. You can, however, access the buzzing and zapping noises only through a Fuller sound box. That is not a deficiency in the program as, with the type of sound being created, you would not be able to gain a true appreciation through the tiny Spectrum speaker.

If you are sufficiently clever and quick-witted you will gain entry into the Hall of Fame. The high-score table is sure to gain notoriety as the program will trap certain names and phrases typed into it and output messages from Crystal Computing. It was distracting trying to find the names which put up the messages, though it was nearly as enthralling as playing the game.

Invasion of the Body Snatchas is an essential buy for all arcade fans. It can be obtained from Crystal Computing, 2 Ashton Way, East Herrington, Sunderland SR2 3RX.

MEMORY REQUIRED: 48K

Contrary to expectation, there have been very few implementations of the popular arcade game 'Defender' for the Spectrum. This has had little to do with the actual marketability of the game, as can be seen from the quality of sales made on those available. This lack of competition has been to the disadvantage of the games player.

Till now, with the introduction of the Invasion of the Body Snatchers, from Crystal. 'I.O.B.S.', which is a full implementation of the arcade game, includes a full radar, Hall of Fame, etc. Obviously few points can be awarded for originality, but on the other hand it is the quality of the implementation which puts it so far above the rest. The explosions, especially those of yourself are graphically fantastic - see the original. Movement of yourself, the enemy and the bodies is not just smooth, but very smooth and fast, very fast.

As more and more aliens materialize on the screen the whole game gets frantic indeed. All the normal functions are available - forward, reverse, fire and smart bombs. Firing is not auto repetitive which makes the game more difficult still. Scoring is on-screen, with bonuses added for the number of bodies left after each wave of attackers. If, of course, you manage to score one of the top scores you can enter your name (or message) on the Hall of Fame.

Sound on the Spectrum could hardly do justice to such an impressive program, so Crystal have opted to support the Fuller Music Box only. This is rather awkward for those who do not own one, but another sacrifice which would have to be made when using the Spectrum's own sound is that of speed. The Spectrum does not allow you to send a sound to the noise circuitry and let it get on with the production whilst you get on with the rest of the program - the Fuller Box does, hence allowing the game to run faster. Not surprisingly the sound effects produced are very good, a credit to both Crystal and Fuller.

As often is the case, life is made a great deal easier with the use of a joystick, and this game is no exception. Fast and precise actions are the name of the game, a very enjoyable and addictive game. Highly recommended.