- Cosmic Guerilla
-
Cosmic Guerilla 
Developer(s) Crystal Computing Publisher(s) Crystal Computing Platform(s) ZX Spectrum Release date(s) 1983 Genre(s) Shoot 'em up Mode(s) Single player, two player Media/distribution Cassette System requirements 16K RAM
Cosmic Guerilla is a ZX Spectrum video game developed and published by Crystal Computing in 1983. It is a non-scrolling vertical shoot 'em up similar to Space Invaders, converted from a 1979 Japanese arcade game by Universal.[1] The game was developed in 100% machine code.[2]
Contents
Gameplay
The aliens steal shields protecting the player's stock of lives
Cosmic Guerilla is a two-dimensional fixed shooter game. The player takes control of a laser cannon at the bottom of the screen whose movement is limited to left and right, and must fire at the aliens above.[2] In contrast to Space Invaders the aliens are arranged in a single vertical line on each side of the screen,[3] with their movement being towards the centre, one or more at a time, in an attempt to capture and remove the player's shields.[4] The aliens cannot be hit by the player's shots until they begin to move, and the player may only fire one projectile at a time,[5] preventing weapon spamming. Once a row of shields has been removed, one of the player's "lives", is exposed and able to be captured.[4] Occasionally a very fast "mothership" will appear and traverse the screen just above the player dropping bombs.[5]
There are six levels of difficulty[5] along with four game modes[4] allowing combinations of the regular game, bonus enemies, and faster aliens. There is also a two player mode where players take alternative turns.[4]
Reception
Cosmic Guerilla was invariably compared to Space Invaders, though Sinclair User described it as the "next step up", with its different scenarios and object arrangement.[3] Home Computing Weekly, Sinclair User and ZX Computing all praised the game's smooth graphics,[3][2] though HCU felt that better use could have been made of the sound.[4] The game was generally well received, and described variously as "incredibly addictive" and "very playable",[3] and "highly recommended".[2][5]
References
- ^ Original arcade flyer, Universal Co. Ltd., hosted by exotica.org
- ^ a b c d Cosmic Guerilla review, ZX Computing, issue August/September 1983 (p.107), Argus Specialist Publications
- ^ a b c d Cosmic Guerilla review, Sinclair User, issue 17 (p.32), ECC Publications, August 1983
- ^ a b c d e Cosmic Guerilla review, Home Computing Weekly, issue 36 (p.17), Argus Specialist Publications, November 1983
- ^ a b c d Cosmic Guerilla review, CRASH, issue 1 (p.46), Newsfield Publications, February 1984
External links
Crystal Computing 1983 Halls of the Things • Rommel's Revenge • The Dungeon Master • Zeus Assembler • Cosmic Guerilla1984 Invasion of the Body Snatchas! • The Island • The Warlock of Firetop MountainPlatforms Amstrad CPC • Commodore 64 • Dragon 32 • ZX81 • ZX SpectrumCategories:- 1983 video games
- ZX Spectrum games
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
.jpg){kind=link}