Katakis

Katakis
Cover art of Katakis
Developer(s)	Manfred Trenz (C64) Factor 5 (Amiga)
Publisher(s)	Rainbow Arts
Platform(s)	Amiga Commodore 64 iOS(At ZX Spectrum Collection)
Release date(s)	1988 (1989)
Genre(s)	Scrolling shooter
Mode(s)	Single player Multiplayer

Katakis is a side scrolling shooter style arcade game developed for the Commodore 64 by Rainbow Arts in 1987, and converted to the Commodore Amiga by Factor 5 in 1988. It was re-released as Denaris in 1989.

Introductory plot

The game takes place on the planet Katakis, a human colony in deep space. There, scientists developed machinery with advanced artificial intelligence capabilities. However, the machines eventually evolved beyond the control of their human creators and overtook the planet. The humans attempted to retaliate through the use of nuclear ballistic missiles, but the machines survived.

The colonists' remaining plan is to use a series of DS-H75 Eagle Fighter space gliders to attack the machines and retake the planet.

Gameplay

Katakis battle scene from the Commodore 64 version.

Katakis has a very similar theme as the game R-Type, with multiple levels, power-ups and various end-bosses. Players must eliminate enemy opponents to reach various end bosses. One major innovation is the fact that the two-player mode features the second player controlling the Force module. This creates an unusual play strategy of the attacker and the defender, since the main ship is vulnerable to enemy fire and hazards.

Controversy

Activision objected to the similar style of Katakis to their side-scroller arcade game, R-Type. This was compounded by the contract Factor 5 had with Activision to perform the Amiga port of the game. Factor 5 modified the gameplay and level layout slightly and re-released Katakis as Denaris in 1989.

Hardware platforms

Originally developed for the Commodore 64^[1] platform, the game was also ported to the Commodore Amiga. Note that the Commodore 64 version of Denaris should not be confused for the similar space game Denarius, a top-down space scroller game.

References in or from other works

• On the Commodore 64 version, the music on some levels is similar to The Delta Force theme music.
• The boss of one of the levels is clearly a rip-off of the Captain Power character called Soaron.
• In Turrican II (also designed by Manfred Trenz) there's plenty of reference to the Commodore 64 version of Katakis. At the end of level 2-2, the main character takes off in a fighter resembling the one from Katakis. During the take-off sequence, the fighter's drone pod can also briefly be seen, hanging from the ceiling. From that point, and for the whole world 3 duration, the game turns from a platform shooter to a scrolling shooter. There's even an easter egg: before level 3-2's end boss, a Katakis bonus container ship appears. If shot down, it reveals a "question mark" (?) bonus (unique in the whole Turrican II gamemap) that, if picked up, makes appear a helicopter walker robot, towing a banner with "KATAKIS LIVES!!!" written on it.

Current status

Factor 5 has released the Amiga version of Katakis as freeware as follows:

"Katakis, R-Type and BC KID are not provided for the public domain. You are entitled to download and use these games only for non-commercial purposes. All copyrights are retained by their owners. Any distribution of this data through any medium unless specifically permitted by the copyright owners is not allowed."^[2]

Katakis has also found a modern day clone in the game Takatis by Poke53280.

References

1. ^ http://hol.abime.net/2549
2. ^ Classics for free

• Katakis Info and Denaris Info at Amiga Hall of Light
• Katakis Free Download from Factor 5