SYNC SOFTWARE PROFILE
Name: ZX-Galaxian
Type: Arcade fantasy
System: ZX81; ZX80 8K ROM,
SLOW mode; 4K RAM
Format: Cassette
Language: Z80 Machine Code
Summary: A challenging game and a
good implementation of
the arcade game
Price: £3.95; £1.00 s&h for U.S.
Manufacturer:
Artic Computing
396 James Reckitt Avenue
Hull, N. Humberside HU8 OJA
United Kingdom
ZX-Galaxians is a good adaptation to the ZX81 of the popular arcade game of the same name. You are being attacked in deep space by formations of hostile Galaxians, and it is your mission to prevent them from attacking Earth by zapping them with your laser gun as they break out of formation and hurtle towards you.
After being loaded, the game runs automatically. The title appears in large letters at the top of the screen, a bit of information about the game is shown and you press any key to start. Four rows of eight galaxians appear hovering above your base. On the right side of the screen you will see the details of which buttons to press, what the current score is, what the high score is together with the name (up to six letters) of the high scorer, and a graphical representation of how many ships you have left.
The thirty-two galaxians move left to right and back again. Your controls are 5 for left, 8 for right and 0 for fire. Occasionally one or more galaxians break out of the formation and dive about the screen, dropping bombs as they go. You get 10 points for each galaxian shot in formation and 20 points for those shot in mid-flight. The movement of your base is very smooth due to good use of the ZX81’s graphics. When your base gets hit either by a galaxian or by a galaxian’s bomb, the explosions are quite good.
Unlike the real Galaxians (TM), this game does not have the starry background. In addition the formation is rectangular. The letter “V” is used to represent the galaxians, and those flying around the screen are made up from the graphic symbols on letters Q, W, E and R, depending upon their direction of flight.
If you are a keen arcade player, then ZX-Galaxians is for you. It is the best version of this game that I have played, and makes good use of the ZX81’s graphics.