Producer: Fantasy, 16K
£5.50

Centre screen is the Black Hole, from which emerge three types of alien craft. Two of your weapons are deflected by the force of the Black Hole, which makes aiming difficult, and the third weapon has a limited range. Indiscriminate shooting leads to loss of power, and the aliens fire back. To make matters worse there is space debris to avoid on the left of screen, the area to which you're confined. Control in eight directions, but too many keys make this game hard to enjoy, and there are too many for a joystick to handle.

Producer: Fantasy, 16K
£5.50

Centre screen is the Black Hole, from which emerge three types of alien craft. Two of your weapons are deflected by the force of the Black Hole, which makes aiming difficult, and the third weapon has a limited range. Indiscriminate shooting leads to loss of power, and the aliens fire back. To make matters worse there is space debris to avoid on the left of screen, the area to which you're confined. Control in eight directions, but too many keys make this game hard to enjoy, and there are too many for a joystick to handle.

Producer: Fantasy, 16K
£5.50

Centre screen is the Black Hole, from which emerge three types of alien craft. Two of your weapons are deflected by the force of the Black Hole, which makes aiming difficult, and the third weapon has a limited range. Indiscriminate shooting leads to loss of power, and the aliens fire back. To make matters worse there is space debris to avoid on the left of screen, the area to which you're confined. Control in eight directions, but too many keys make this game hard to enjoy, and there are too many for a joystick to handle.

NEW CONCEPT IN EMPTY SPACE

The manufacturer of Black Hole, for the 16K and 48K Spectrum, claims that the concept of this space game is completely new. So far as we can tell, the claim is not exaggerated.

The player must move around a black hole using positive and negative ion guns and a neutron blaster to destroy the hordes of aliens which spin and slide down the screen with terrifying speed.

The explosion effects are some of the best we have seen and the effects of the weapons are very interesting. When the player fires the neutron gun the ray emits curves, destroying everything in its path. That deadly advantage is soon equalled by the invaders, who storm down the screen destroying everything but the black hole which glows with odd colours.

The game has a learning mode in which you can practise your destructive talents. That mode contains no score and your spaceship will not be destroyed as in the play mode.

As a first effort in the Spectrum market, Quest Software has produced an entertaining and original space game. Black Hole costs £5.50.

PRICE: £5.50
Memory: 16K

The idea of the game is that alien space craft are using the Black Hole to gain entrance to other galaxies. Unfortunately their intent is destructive, hence your task is to inflict as much damage on them as you possibly can. You have two weapons, the Positive and Negative Ion gun, and a Neutron Blaster. The large scale advertising campaign that Quest have launched for this program seems to suggest some amazing graphics. Yes the graphics are good, but personally, I found the 2D effect rather confusing because it just doesn't look right. However, all in all, not a bad piece of software.