Producer: Softek, 16K
£5.95
Author: Andrew Beale

This is Softek's version of missile defence and it is a close copy of the original. It's graphics are nowehre near as good as Ocean's 'Armageddon'. On the other hand it does have the extra feature of plenty of enemy planes buzzing around to destroy as well as the missiles themselves and the explosions are satisfactory. It is also faster to play than Ocean's version, but somehow less fun. One side of this tape is for the keyboard (with a dreadful layout) and the other side is for the Kempston joystick. The inlay card doesn't tell you that key M is to fire. Eight directional movement, generally okay, but not as playable as Armageddon.

Producer: Softek, 16K
£5.95
Author: Andrew Beale

This is Softek's version of missile defence and it is a close copy of the original. It's graphics are nowhere near as good as Ocean's 'Armageddon'. On the other hand it does have the extra feature of plenty of enemy planes buzzing around to destroy as well as the missiles themselves and the explosions are satisfactory. It is also faster to play than Ocean's version, but somehow less fun. One side of this tape is for the keyboard (with a dreadful layout) and the other side is for the Kempston joystick. The inlay card doesn't tell you that key M is to fire. Eight directional movement, generally okay, but not as playable as Armageddon.

Producer: Softek, 16K
£5.95
Author: Andrew Beale

This is Softek's version of missile defence and it is a close copy of the original. It's graphics are nowehre near as good as Ocean's 'Armageddon'. On the other hand it does have the extra feature of plenty of enemy planes buzzing around to destroy as well as the missiles themselves and the explosions are satisfactory. It is also faster to play than Ocean's version, but somehow less fun. One side of this tape is for the keyboard (with a dreadful layout) and the other side is for the Kempston joystick. The inlay card doesn't tell you that key M is to fire. Eight directional movement, generally okay, but not as playable as Armageddon.

ARCADE APOCALYPSE - MISSILE COMMAND GAMES

Our erstwhile arcade sleuths, CHRIS PASSEY & MATTHEW UFFINDELL duet of their track balls and compare some Spectrum 'Missile Command' type games.

'Missile Command' is the arcade classic in which the player defends six cities from enemy missiles. These missiles leave traces on the screen, splitting up at lower levels to make life more difficult. In addition planes and killer satellites move across the screen dropping more missiles. Heat sensitive missiles (or smart bombs) are able to avoid your defensive explosions and have to be hit accurately (direct hit) or deluged with explosions. Defence is by means of three missile bases, each having ten missiles. Any missile you launch will head for, and detonate at the point where your cross wire sight is set. The game continues until all your cities have been destroyed. The control of the sight is achieved by means of a track ball, which gives a very positive, accurate movement (analogue) and is very necessary for this type of game. The Spectrum games, of course, do not have a track ball provision.

Repulsar by Softek
Retail Price: £5.95
Memory: 16K

This game is very similar to Electro Storm in several ways. It has the central firing base armed with 30 missiles; also the explosions are very short, almost flashes. The graphics are generally okay but colour is poor and stays the same throughout the game (in the original each sheet has a different colour). The missile traces don't split up, and they all tend to descend vertically. The game does contain missile-dropping planes and satellites, which move about very rapidly. The cross wire movement is jerky, especially under Kempston control. Control key play is poor, especially with the accuracy required, so the joystick version is better. This version is unexciting.
CP

This is one of the older Spectrum versions. The inlay states all the control keys with the exception of 'fire', which is nowhere to be found. The cross hairs can be easily positioned with the responsive, well laid out keys. The game itself doesn't really speed as it progresses - just more and more missiles fired at you. Every now and then an alien flies over, dropping more bombs on you. Explosions are shortlived - just a flas of white and it's gone! A fair copy with sound and colour quite well used, but nothing to write home about.
MU

Note on ratings: To be enjoyed to the full, 'Missile Command' games should be played with a joystick (shame there is not a track ball) because keyboard play, in general, cannot give the same degree of accuracy and control. Although the same may be said for many other types of game, we are sure 'Missile Command' fans will agree that this is the game which needs it the most badly. Therefore the ratings given below have been split in two, one for keyboard only play, and one for joystick play. The two reviewers figures have been averaged as, in general, they turned out to be in agreement.

Ratings are given on a scale between zero and 100 points, and do not reflect what a game may receive in a regular review.