Space Gun 128k (1992) Walkthrough + Review, ZX Spectrum
19Huge playlist archive with games from 1982-1992: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxOanVBhqd3uy0uOIHzPaxfOp53uJLX7-
Many more games from the 80s can be found here:
Racing games: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxOanVBhqd3vkkE35mCw6x63QFBnU9Xsi
AY / GFX improved games: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxOanVBhqd3t74YnYAJA9p4vMQYZYCJWX
INTRODUCTION (From the manual):
In the year 2039AD man has begun deep space exploration. However, throughout the deep expanse of space there are many unknown dangers awaiting weary travellers and explorers.
From a crippled ship a distress call is transmitted. You have received the message. Will you be able to rescue the helpless hostages from the clutches of the astral hijackers?
Travel through corridors and rooms packed with aliens of all sizes, searching for survivors, and out onto the planet surface to more dangerous regions.
GAMEPLAY (From the manual):
Travel through the corridors of the spaceship and the barren planet surface searching for trapped hostages who must be rescued. As you pass walls flashing lights may appear and firing at these will produce one of the following pickups which can be collected by shooting them:
a flame thrower - scorch those aliens!
a grenade - blow 'em to smithereens!
a blade - cut 'em in two!
a freeze gun - leave 'em standing!
body armour - protect yourself!
red tube - refresh yourself with some energy units
yellow tube - restore yourself to full energy
If a weapon is continually fired its recharge rate will drop and its firepower will become less and less effective. The weapon's recharge rate will increase if firing is ceased.
In some parts of the complex you will encounter large guardians which must be conquered before you can continue.
You will fail in your mission if you lose all your energy or lose all your hostages.
On some implementations you may have a choice of direction to travel at certain points in the complex. Select a direction by shooting the appropriate arrow which will appear.
REVIEW:
This is a 3D game that plays itself, it will scroll either left or right or move into the screen, “all” you have to do is controlling the crosshairs, blast down the aliens, and free the hostages.
This is easier said than done because sometimes the screen is totally packed with aliens. It is important to shoot the flashing lights on the walls because this will give you new energy and extra supplies of your special limited extremely powerful weapons (shown at the bottom left of the screen).
This is a ZX Spectrum 128k exclusively game, it is from 1992 and it was Ocean’s last release for the ZX Spectrum. And we must say Ocean left the Spectrum scene with dignity, because this is a very polished game. Everything is highly colorful and moving at decent speed, and this is easily the best version for the 8 bit computers.
Some positives:
Good use of color on everything.
Descent speed.
A lot to shoot – plenty of action.
Boss fights.
Cut scenes / screens.
2 player co-operative mode.
Some negatives:
It gets extremely tough!
At later points you NEED the extras from the walls but it is almost impossible to shoot because the crosshairs isn’t accurate enough so you can hurry up and shoot it before it gets covered by aliens.
There is a lot of credits / continues so you can proceed after you died, but you will also need those to have a chance for completing the game. You have to save your special weapons for the bosses, and the small flying aliens that will drain you for energy in a hurry if you do not get them shot. If you use special weapons on the wrong places, or you miss getting new ones from the walls, you will miss those later and then it is bye bye!
A tough game but very well presented and the 2 player co-operative mode, which also makes the game easier, is ace!
The game was published by Ocean Software Ltd in 1992.
Rating: 91%
128k tape: http://www.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/games/s/SpaceGun.tap.zip